Will be on a 1 month vacation while N-400 is ongoing. How to not miss a mail?

[Csaba Toth]

I started my naturalization procedure this year in March. I had my biometrics appointment on April 23rd. I have been abroad the last 9 years only one time (to renew my passport) and this summer I have to renew it again, and since I have not seen my relatives for many years I'll be away for a full month: the total month of July. What I fear is that according to Murphy's law I'll receive the letter in the beginning of July in my absence about the interview/test appointment happening while I'll be still away. What's the best way to handle this situation?

My wife said that normally we'd just make the USPS STOP our letters, but I think that would just cause the mail to be accumulated and I would miss the mails without USCIS knowing about it. Does USCIS have a method to indicate in advance that I won't be able to receive mail during the month of July? Otherwise the only option I can think of is to give my mail key to someone who can empty my mailbox regularly. Unfortunately the only couple in the apartment complex we are friends with (to the extent that I would trust them with my mail, including my stock trading statements, retirement account statements, etc) will move away in June. So I don't know such deeply trusted person as of now within the complex.
If somehow I could get a hold of the mail (someone collects it and scans it for me) USCIS notices always have the option to postpone an appointment.

Can you advise any solution to avoid missing any mail?

[rayb]

One of you should remain in the U.S. while you are gone to renew your foreign passport and see your relatives..

--Ray B

I started my naturalization procedure this year in March. I had my biometrics appointment on April 23rd. I have been abroad the last 9 years only one time (to renew my passport) and this summer I have to renew it again, and since I have not seen my relatives for many years I'll be away for a full month: the total month of July. What I fear is that according to Murphy's law I'll receive the letter in the beginning of July in my absence about the interview/test appointment happening while I'll be still away. What's the best way to handle this situation?

My wife said that normally we'd just make the USPS STOP our letters, but I think that would just cause the mail to be accumulated and I would miss the mails without USCIS knowing about it. Does USCIS have a method to indicate in advance that I won't be able to receive mail during the month of July? Otherwise the only option I can think of is to give my mail key to someone who can empty my mailbox regularly. Unfortunately the only couple in the apartment complex we are friends with (to the extent that I would trust them with my mail, including my stock trading statements, retirement account statements, etc) will move away in June. So I don't know such deeply trusted person as of now within the complex.
If somehow I could get a hold of the mail (someone collects it and scans it for me) USCIS notices always have the option to postpone an appointment.

Can you advise any solution to avoid missing any mail?

[scorpioz]

Couple of things,

1. Not sure which country you are renewing passport for, but you should be able to do that in the embassy while remaining in US?
2. Did you apply N400 online? If so, the notices are posted on the website, so you should be able to view it at least when/if it comes in, so you don't really need to have some check your mail?
3. If you didn't apply online, you can still add your case to uscis case status website and have it email/text you when there are updates. So at least you will know when case status changes.
4. What is your field office, perhaps check if the average case processing times to get better idea if this is an issue.
5. Lastly, I think (not 100% sure) based on what I read here, if you miss the interview you will need to reschedule. I don't know if it will be any better to have block mail/return mail to USCIS as opposed to just 'missing' the interview and then rescheduling it.

[rayb]

Scorpioz,

Your advice to the OP is good, though may not satisfy his need for a simple answer. I would suggest, however, that a missed interview can result in a denial of the application, requiring a Motion to Reopen, as that has been my experience and an I-485 interview.

Because of recent lengthening of wait times, however, I believe that the eventual interview will be much further away than originally expected, so this whole discussion might be moot.

--Ray B

Couple of things,

1. Not sure which country you are renewing passport for, but you should be able to do that in the embassy while remaining in US?
2. Did you apply N400 online? If so, the notices are posted on the website, so you should be able to view it at least when/if it comes in, so you don't really need to have some check your mail?
3. If you didn't apply online, you can still add your case to uscis case status website and have it email/text you when there are updates. So at least you will know when case status changes.
4. What is your field office, perhaps check if the average case processing times to get better idea if this is an issue.
5. Lastly, I think (not 100% sure) based on what I read here, if you miss the interview you will need to reschedule. I don't know if it will be any better to have block mail/return mail to USCIS as opposed to just 'missing' the interview and then rescheduling it.

[pmf123]

Sign up for USPS informed delivery, won't tell you whats in the letter but you should see any that are going to be delivered

[Csaba Toth]

Sign up for USPS informed delivery, won't tell you whats in the letter but you should see any that are going to be delivered

That's a must, I have this feature for a long time now, very useful, so I'll be able to see if a USCIS mail is about to be delivered.

[Csaba Toth]

Couple of things,

1. Not sure which country you are renewing passport for, but you should be able to do that in the embassy while remaining in US?
2. Did you apply N400 online? If so, the notices are posted on the website, so you should be able to view it at least when/if it comes in, so you don't really need to have some check your mail?
3. If you didn't apply online, you can still add your case to uscis case status website and have it email/text you when there are updates. So at least you will know when case status changes.
4. What is your field office, perhaps check if the average case processing times to get better idea if this is an issue.
5. Lastly, I think (not 100% sure) based on what I read here, if you miss the interview you will need to reschedule. I don't know if it will be any better to have block mail/return mail to USCIS as opposed to just 'missing' the interview and then rescheduling it.

1. Hungary, but the purpose of my visit is also to take care of other bureaucratic issues + more importantly to see my relatives IRL and not just through Skype after so many years.
2. I applied online. I tried to check my case status by the case id I had on the latest mail but I guess it was the wrong number. I'll work more on logging into USCIS and monitoring the case online as well.
4. Fresno is the office and last time I checked it had I think 9 month or similar processing time, but that's I think the end-to-end.
5. This is so important that I won't miss the interview.

The worst case scenario is that I'll tell the apartment complex's management to empty my mailbox periodically. I'll see with USPS Informed digest when USCIS mail comes and I'll instruct them either to express mail it to Europe (normal mail can take 2-3 weeks sometimes), or have them open it and scan it. I won't miss the appointment in any case for sure. That will be one of the most important events within 10 years' time frame (besides getting hired, moving...).

- - - Updated - - -

One of you should remain in the U.S. while you are gone to renew your foreign passport and see your relatives..

--Ray B

This could also be a possibility, but we bought the tickets in January, when I have not started the N-400 yet. I think I'll put my trust in the hands of the apartment complex management. They can enter the apartment anyway for example, and I'd liek them to check it as well periodically, and if I have my mailbox emptied time-to-time could be beneficial. I have not specified before that I live in a complex.

I'm really curious if Murphy's law will apply.

[suziq38]

What a risk. I simply would not risk this after wanting to be a USC for so long, but I hope it works out for you.

Have a nice vacation and try not to worry. I would try to leave my phone number with a good friend or relative and call them every week to see if the letter came in. If they say that the letter came in have them open it and tell you the date of your interview.

It might work out, or it might be Murphy's Law.

Good luck!

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.

[Csaba Toth]

BTW, it all played out well. I got a mail towards the end of my vacation which I saw coming in through USPS Daily Digest. Since it was towards the end of the vacation I knew it could not have pointed to a date within the time I was away and I would get back in time to process it. The apartment management *did not* collect my mail (and thus they didn't notify me about important mail) as originally I agreed with them before I left for the vacation. I had my appointment sometimes after I was back at the US and I'm a citizen since 09/11/2018. Cheers!