3/12    For those of you who are naturalized citizens or who somehow know,
        after you have formally filed application for naturalization but
        before you are granted an interview and/or the approval, can you
        leave the country for an extended period of time without jeopardizing
        your application?  I have googled and searched on INS site, but did
        not find the answer.  It must be in some CFR or USC, but that are
        big.  Please answer only if you know the answer.  Appreciate any URL
        too.  Ok, tnx.
        \_ Yes, but you need permission. If you leave the country w/o it,
           you are f*cked.
           \_ That's for leaving Before you file the application, for over
              1 year or 6 months, or there is a requirement for after the
              application is filed also?
           \_ the needed permission is called "advance parole":
              <DEAD>www.immigration.gov/graphics/howdoi/travdoc.htm#parole<DEAD>
              Here is the link for travel:
              <DEAD>www.immigration.gov/graphics/howdoi/registry.htm#travel<DEAD>
        \_ My mom left the US for a few months after filing her application
           for naturalization.  She came back after getting her interview
           notice.  She is currently staying put waiting for her oath
           ceremony after her interview resulted in a "recommended for
           approval", but I believe the immigration officer at the interview
           told her she can leave the country if she wants to.  Consult a
           lawyer.
           \_ How long does it take her to get an interview notice and
              interview itself after filing the application and how long
              to get the ceremony?  Ok tnx.
              \_ She filed in April, had her fingerprint in July, and
                 her interview the day before Thanksgiving.  She got her
                 oath ceremony notice very fast (originally scheduled
                 around late December), but the day before the ceremony,
                 she was informed that the whole ceremony got cancelled.
                 From reading the news, it seemed that in the past, if
                 INS doesn't hear back from FBI, they assume the case is ok,
                 but now, each case needs to be individually approved by
                 FBI, and FBI cannot keep up with the work load, so INS
                 cancels.  Also, it seemed like INS just left the
                 whole pile of cases sitting there until my mom called them.
                 Then things started rolling and they said "4 weeks".
                 3 1/2 weeks later, my mom called again, and was told
                 "one more week" (to get the notice for ceremony).  That's
                 where it is sitting now.  Calling INS can mean long hold
                 times.  I think they then give you a  number for a local
                 INS office to call, which is where you can find someone
                 who can actually check your case.  All this is in Chicago,
                 so it may not apply to you.
                 \_ ** errors corrected **
                 \_ Great, another immigrant come to steal my social
                    security trust fund.
                    \_ I think you don't get any social security unless
                       you work and pay taxes for 10 years.  My mom would
                       get it though since she worked for U of Chicago
                       for some years, back in the 60s.
                       \_ Not so.  She'd get it if her husband had it.  She'd
                          get welfare and a boatload (hah!) of medical bene's
                          just for being here.
                          \_ I think you are mistaken about the "husband"
                             part.  Also, I believe the same 10-year rule
                             applies to medicare and medicaid.
                 \_ My God!  We live in a fascist state!  Look at the huge
                    and privacy destroying hassle we put innocent people
                    through just to be able to live here.  Just because they
                    were born somewhere else is no reason they shouldn't have
                    all the rights of someone who simply had parents here.