travel to INDIA after US citizenship application ???

[lukydr17]

applying for US citizenship ( N-400) - June 15,2011
can i travel to India after applying for 4-6 weeks to meet my wife and parents ?
my local USCIS office is new Orleans.any recent experience?

[lukydr17]

please answer somebody

[nwctzn]

applying for US citizenship ( N-400) - June 15,2011
can i travel to India after applying for 4-6 weeks to meet my wife and parents ?
my local USCIS office is new Orleans.any recent experience?

Your fingerprinting appointment is scheduled typically for a date within 4 weeks after you send in your application. So travel should be fine after you get fingerprinted. However, some applicants are called for a 2nd fingerprinting (because sometimes FBI can reject the first set of prints due to poor quality) and you might miss that 2nd appointment when you are overseas. To play it safe, I would apply once you are back from your trip. You would just have a slight delay and peace of mind.

In case you decide to travel, have someone look out for your mail so that you do not miss any important communication from USCIS. Even if you do not receive a 2nd fingerprinting appointment, you might receive info for your upcoming interview and what documents to bring. But as I indicated above, if I were you, I would apply when I am back from my trip. Just my two cents.

[lukydr17]

so LETS suppose i plan to travel after fingerprinting is done ??
HOW MUCH TIME IT USUALLY TAKES BETWEEN FINGERPRINTING AND INTERVIEW DATE ??

[nwctzn]

so LETS suppose i plan to travel after fingerprinting is done ??
HOW MUCH TIME IT USUALLY TAKES BETWEEN FINGERPRINTING AND INTERVIEW DATE ??

You could be scheduled as fast as 4 weeks for your interview after your fingerprinting. I would suggest to apply after you come back from your travel. From what I have seen from the trackers, rescheduling interviews adds a lot of time and you could lose more than 6 weeks. I think it is not worth taking the risk. You will save a lot of potential headaches if you apply when you are back.

[desiguy2447]

Not worth the risk of being called for an interview only to be in India when informed.

Also once you get your US passport you need to apply for an OCI or PIO. Or if you really need to go to India quick once you get the US passport you can do the VISA for five years or just do a PIO (takes two - four weeks).

[lukydr17]

is there any drawback of getting OCI ?

[lukydr17]

i just read on USCIS website ( updated by USCIS on 4/8/2011)
eligibility requirement
RESIDES CONTINUOUSLY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES FROM THE DATE OF APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION UP TO THE TIME OF NATURALIZATION.

IS THIS TRUE ????

i thought it used to be that you can travel on green card, but just make sure you dont miss any USCIS notice eg. fingerprinting , interview , oath etc.

[lukydr17]

immihelp or any members please reply.. this is crucial for me..

[nwctzn]

As far as I know this means that you need to meet the continuous residence requirements after your application as well; i.e., no trips lasting longer than 6 months. I do not think that they enforce a travel restriction given that some application processing can take really very long.

On the other hand, I am not a lawyer so for a sanity check and peace of mind you should call the 1-800 number of USCIS and speak to a 2nd-Tier agent and verify that you can travel while your application is pending.

[gresham93]

Travel between application for citizenship to interview date might not cause problem but I have a friend who faced severe problem due to travel between interview date and oath ceremony date.

Play it safe, apply after you come back. Nowadays citizenship is fast

[lukydr17]

called USCIS..they say you CAN travel international while n 400 is pending.. just make sure to appear for FP, interview,oath etc and trip should not be longer than > 6 months

[Amy Dhingra]

So did you end up going? Did you have any problems coming back!!?