N400 Unemployment question (part 8)

[keplenk]

Hi All!

My wife and I are filling up both our N400 forms to be submitted next week and I just have a few questions.

I apologize in advanced if my questions may sound stupid (believe me, they really sound silly - I will just take one for the team!) but I had a friend who had a bad experience with naturalization just by simply not just putting N/A or other small things on his form before. I just don't want to make the same mistake.


Part 8 (Page 6 of 20) of the N400 is the portion where you list the employment and schools you attended for the last 5 years.

The N400 instructions states that "Begin by providing information about your current and most recent employment, studies, or unemployment, if applicable. Provide the LOCATIONS and DATES where you worked, were self-employed, were unemployed, or have studied during the last 5 years."

My 1st question: What Location should I put in my on my unemployment? Is it going to be my residence address? or do I just have to put N/A or blank on it?

2nd: I was unemployed from Nov 2010 to Feb 2012 - the date range will go further 5 years - N400 only wants data from the last 5 years. Should I put in those dates for Unemployment or just July 2011 to Feb 2012 (which is exactly 5 years ago from today)?

3rd: I didn't work in a foreign address but there is a section there for "Province or Region" - should I leave it blank or put N/A?

4th: Under Employer or School Name: I will put UNEMPLOYED. Should I put it again in "YOUR OCCUPATION" or just leave Blank or N/A?

5th: Date from and Date To: have only date formatting input. Can I put "PRESENT" or just put today's date? N400 instructions have no mention of this - they just said put "dates"

I might have a few more questions but for now these are the questions I'm struggling with.

Thanks in advanced your your help.

[mskathir]

Re: N400 Unemployment question (part 8)

...
Part 8 (Page 6 of 20) of the N400 is the portion where you list the employment and schools you attended for the last 5 years.

The N400 instructions states that "Begin by providing information about your current and most recent employment, studies, or unemployment, if applicable. Provide the LOCATIONS and DATES where you worked, were self-employed, were unemployed, or have studied during the last 5 years."

My 1st question: What Location should I put in my on my unemployment? Is it going to be my residence address? or do I just have to put N/A or blank on it?

2nd: I was unemployed from Nov 2010 to Feb 2012 - the date range will go further 5 years - N400 only wants data from the last 5 years. Should I put in those dates for Unemployment or just July 2011 to Feb 2012 (which is exactly 5 years ago from today)?

3rd: I didn't work in a foreign address but there is a section there for "Province or Region" - should I leave it blank or put N/A?

4th: Under Employer or School Name: I will put UNEMPLOYED. Should I put it again in "YOUR OCCUPATION" or just leave Blank or N/A?

5th: Date from and Date To: have only date formatting input. Can I put "PRESENT" or just put today's date? N400 instructions have no mention of this - they just said put "dates"

I might have a few more questions but for now these are the questions I'm struggling with.

Thanks in advanced your your help.

Keplenk:
These are all great questions, actually.

I am not an attorney nor have I been trained in immigration law or claim to be any authority in the immigration legal area and neither am I a non-attorney spokesperson. Whatever I have attempted to provide below is purely as suggestive help (not even advice) and should not be considered as legal opinions. Please consult a competent immigration attorney for professional advice & guidance.

That said, here goes:

>>My 1st question: What Location should I put in my on my unemployment? Is it going to be my residence address? or do I just have to put N/A or blank on it?
I would use my residence address. Reinforces the fact that you were present here in the US at the time within the said county. Try not to use N/A where inappropriate even though some of the form fields may seem strange...

>>2nd: I was unemployed from Nov 2010 to Feb 2012 - the date range will go further 5 years - N400 only wants data from the last 5 years. Should I put in those dates for Unemployment or just July 2011 to Feb 2012 (which is exactly 5 years ago from today)?
Go with the dates within the fixed 5-year time frame for the form. You can always explain when asked...

>>3rd: I didn't work in a foreign address but there is a section there for "Province or Region" - should I leave it blank or put N/A?
This one can be an "N/A"

>>4th: Under Employer or School Name: I will put UNEMPLOYED. Should I put it again in "YOUR OCCUPATION" or just leave Blank or N/A?
e.g., - "My occupation is a software engineer but at the time I was unemployed." Ergo, suggest you state your 'profession' in this field and not N/A

>>5th: Date from and Date To: have only date formatting input. Can I put "PRESENT" or just put today's date? N400 instructions have no mention of this - they just said put "dates"
Suggest you use the current date. N/A might provide an unneeded indication that you may continue to have this status until the time of the interview - if 'Unemployed.' Otherwise, if you are actually working someplace, it can be explained at the interview that I am 'still' working with 'this' company or now work at 'company x'

Trust this helps. Or does it..?

Good Luck!

*Again, I am not an attorney nor have I been trained in immigration law or claim to be any authority in the immigration legal area and neither am I a non-attorney spokesperson. Whatever I have attempted to provide is purely as suggestive help (not even advice) and should not be considered as legal opinions. Please consult a competent immigration attorney for professional advice & guidance.