Moving with Pending Naturalization

Are you moving out of state with pending US citizenship case? I have been in this dilemma and I felt obliged to share it here so others will not be worried about their case. Why would you postpone your move?

Two weeks after I filed my application, we are talking about moving out of state. There are tons of questions on our mind what to do, how to do it, when to do it, about my application. I have read forums searching for the same situation as I was. None of them could help me, as what I have read the most is stay and wait until the process is done. But would I be willing to wait 3 to 4 months or whenever until I get the interview? So we took the risk, we still moved to note that when we move that was 1 week away from my interview, yes just one week and we didn't wait! Why? Would you be willing to pay 1-2 months rent and bills until your oath is done? Our work required us to move and so we moved.

Here is my US Citizenship Timeline

Mar 24, 2011 - Application Sent to AZ
Mar 28, 2011 - NOA1 Receipt
Apr 26, 2011 - BioMetrics
May 5, 2011 - Received Interview Notice
Jun 7, 2011 - Interview Date in San Francisco, CA

Dilemma starts during the Month of May.

1st week of May - confirmed we are moving out of state
2nd week of May - looked for a place in our new state
3rd week of May - found a place, finalized contract with real estate

May 23, 2011 - AR 11 filed through USCIS website
Note: after filling out the AR11 there's a question about pending case follow the instructions
May 25, 2011 - I called USCIS customer service (as the AR11 instructions)
May 26, 2011 - Dropped off my "Interview Cancellation including original appointment letter" letter to USCIS San Francisco (Here, it should be mailed but since I worked few blocks away from USCIS, I insisted to drop it off)

May 28, 2011 - We moved out of CA and welcome NM
June 6, 2011 - Received Cancelled Interview Letter
Jun 24, 2011 - My case was updated (I subscribe email and SMS), they send me an Interview Appointment Letter

Aug 3, 2011 - Interview Date (PASSED!)
Oath taking

It's less than 5 months process, if I did not cancelled my original appointment in 3 months my application was complete.

Here's the key to make it hassle free, well for me, take note every case varies.

• Look for a place for new address
• File AR11 online plus the pending case form online
• Call USCIS per AR11 instructions
• Write a letter of explanation address to which local office your case was pending at
• Move
• Wait for the next steps from USCIS

It will add a little wait time to transfer all your documents to your new jurisdiction so be patient. Now, I am waiting for my Oath taking appointment this month.