Does the 120-day clock start from when I filed my N-400 or from my interview date?

From the interview — technically, the examination under INA 335 — not from your filing date, and not from an originally scheduled interview date if it was later rescheduled. This is a specific, often-misunderstood point, since many applicants assume the clock runs from filing.

If USCIS tells me my case is 'continued' for a background check, does that change how the 120 days is counted?

This is a genuinely contested area — courts and USCIS have not been fully aligned on how a continuance for something like an incomplete background check interacts with the 120-day period. Treat any confident claim about exactly how it's counted in your case with caution, and get case-specific advice rather than relying on a general rule.

Once 120 days have passed, is going to district court automatically the right move?

Not automatically. Whether it makes sense depends on why the case is actually delayed, whether it's genuinely stalled versus still moving through a legitimate process, and the practical costs and considerations of litigation — this is a case-specific strategic decision, not a default response to hitting the 120-day mark.

Can USCIS still approve or deny my case after I've gone to district court?

In many circumstances, USCIS retains authority to act on the application until the district court has taken it up, so it's possible to receive a USCIS decision after that process has started. The specifics depend on your case and the court involved, which is another reason this isn't a one-size-fits-all calculation.

¿Por Qué USCIS No Ha Decidido Su N-400 Después de la Entrevista?

Escrito por Pouyan Darian · Revisado el 5 de septiembre de 2026

Conforme a INA 336(b), si USCIS no ha tomado una determinación dentro de los 120 días después de su examen de naturalización (entrevista), usted puede pedirle a una corte federal de distrito que decida el asunto o lo devuelva a USCIS con instrucciones. Ese derecho está ligado al conteo de 120 días a partir de la fecha de su entrevista, no de la fecha de presentación — y si conviene ejercerlo en su caso específico depende de por qué está ocurriendo la demora.

¿Su caso lleva más tiempo del esperado?

Una demora larga no siempre es inofensiva. Averigüe si vale la pena actuar ahora.

Revise Su Elegibilidad para la Ciudadanía Solicitar una revisión de caso

¿No está listo para programar?

¿Por Qué USCIS No Ha Decidido Su N-400 Después de la Entrevista?

¿Su caso lleva más tiempo del esperado?

Temas Relacionados de Ciudadanía y Naturalización

¿No está seguro de cuál debería ser su próximo paso migratorio?