Does traveling outside of county affect US citizen wait time?

[kejianping 0]

Hi there!

Once my wife receives her green card, I can see from some previous posts that she can travel internationally. However, if it takes 3 years for my wife to get her US citizenship, does traveling time outside of the US affect the wait time to receiving citizenship?

curtlives

[Otto 83]

Hi there!

Once my wife receives her green card, I can see from some previous posts that she can travel internationally. However, if it takes 3 years for my wife to get her US citizenship, does traveling time outside of the US affect the wait time to receiving citizenship?

curtlives

'Normal' travel should have no affect on her Permanent Residency status. Extended travel - more than a year can affect it which can affect the naturalization process.

What kind/length of travel did you have in mind?

[Reba 2]

Read This and this

[YuAndDan 153]

Periods of absence from the USA longer than 6 months will reset the residency clock.

[Maad 0]

Periods of absence from the USA longer than 6 months will reset the residency clock.

NOT if you apply for and get approved: Form N-470:For a permanent resident alien who must leave the United States for certain employment purposes and wishes to preserve his or her status as an immigrant in order to pursue naturalization.

Approved I-131 is necessary as well

[kejianping 0]

Thanks, this information was quite helpful. You don't know what to look for unless you know how to ask the right questions.

NOT if you apply for and get approved: Form N-470:For a permanent resident alien who must leave the United States for certain employment purposes and wishes to preserve his or her status as an immigrant in order to pursue naturalization.

Approved I-131 is necessary as well

[kejianping 0]

NOT if you apply for and get approved: Form N-470:For a permanent resident alien who must leave the United States for certain employment purposes and wishes to preserve his or her status as an immigrant in order to pursue naturalization.

Approved I-131 is necessary as well

Thanks for the info about the Form N-470. After my wife has been in the states for one year she can filled out this form and if approved she can work in another country without it affecting her visa application. Have you or do you know anyone who has done this?

Edited December 16, 2008 by kejianping

[DI&JR 1]

The instructions state that this is for very specific jobs:

"My absence from the United States is:

1. On behalf of the U. S. Government - Check Box A if you are, or will be employed by, or are under contract with theU.S. Government. This includes members of the U.S.Armed Services.

2. For the purpose of carrying on scientific research on behalf of an American institution of research - Check Box B if you are employed by a qualifying organization.

3. For the purpose of engaging in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the United States on behalf of an American firm or corporation or a subsidiary thereof - Check Box C if you are employed by a qualifying firm or corporation.

4. Necessary to the protection of property rights outside theUnited States of an American firm or corporation engaged in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the United States - Check Box D if you are employed to perform such services.

5. On behalf of a public international organization of which the United States is a member- Check Box E if you are employed by a qualifying organization.

NOTE: Your employment cannot have started until after your admission as a permanent resident.

6. Solely because of my capacity as a clergyman or clergywoman, missionary, nun, or sister of a denomination or mission having a bona fide organization in the United States - Check Box F if you are to serve in such capacity for a qualifying mission or organization."

[pushbrk 12,173]

The instructions state that this is for very specific jobs:

"My absence from the United States is:

1. On behalf of the U. S. Government - Check Box A if you are, or will be employed by, or are under contract with theU.S. Government. This includes members of the U.S.Armed Services.

2. For the purpose of carrying on scientific research on behalf of an American institution of research - Check Box B if you are employed by a qualifying organization.

3. For the purpose of engaging in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the United States on behalf of an American firm or corporation or a subsidiary thereof - Check Box C if you are employed by a qualifying firm or corporation.

4. Necessary to the protection of property rights outside theUnited States of an American firm or corporation engaged in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the United States - Check Box D if you are employed to perform such services.

5. On behalf of a public international organization of which the United States is a member- Check Box E if you are employed by a qualifying organization.

NOTE: Your employment cannot have started until after your admission as a permanent resident.

6. Solely because of my capacity as a clergyman or clergywoman, missionary, nun, or sister of a denomination or mission having a bona fide organization in the United States - Check Box F if you are to serve in such capacity for a qualifying mission or organization."

Yep, the devil is in the details. (instructions in this case)

I'd plan on absences longer than six months resetting the clock for citizenship unless qualified as listed above.

[mimimimimi 0]

Here is the answer regarding the time of absence from the country, on page 17-18: http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/M-476.pdf

In our case, type of applicant - married to a US citizen...:

- REQUIREMENTS:

If you are at least 18 years old and:

Are currently married to and living with a U.S. citizen;

and

Have been married to and living with that same U.S.

citizen for the past 3 years;

and

Your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for the past 3 years. 3 years 3 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the

United States for trips of 6 months or longer.

- TIME AS PERMANENT RESIDENT:

3 years

- CONTINUOUS RESIDENCE:

3 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the

United States for trips of 6 months or longer.

[mimimimimi 0]

The Guide also states:

What if I was outside the United States

between 6 and 12 months?

If you leave the United States for more than 6 months,

but less than 1 year, you have broken

or disrupted your continuous residence

unless you can prove otherwise. Read the

“Document Checklist” in the back pocket of

this Guide to find out what information you

must give to prove you did not break your

continuous residence.

What if I was outside the United States

for 1 year or longer?

In almost all cases,

if you leave the United States for 1 year or

more, you have disrupted your continuous

residence. This is true even if you have a

Re-entry Permit.

If you leave the country for 1 year or

longer, you may be eligible to re-enter as a

Permanent Resident if you have a Re-entry

Permit. But none of the time you were in

the United States before you left the country

counts toward your time in continuous

residence.

If you return within 2 years, some of your

time out of the country does count. In

fact, the last 364 days of your time out of

the country (1 year minus 1 day) counts

toward meeting your continuous residence

requirement.

[kejianping 0]

The instructions state that this is for very specific jobs:

"My absence from the United States is:

1. On behalf of the U. S. Government - Check Box A if you are, or will be employed by, or are under contract with theU.S. Government. This includes members of the U.S.Armed Services.

2. For the purpose of carrying on scientific research on behalf of an American institution of research - Check Box B if you are employed by a qualifying organization.

3. For the purpose of engaging in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the United States on behalf of an American firm or corporation or a subsidiary thereof - Check Box C if you are employed by a qualifying firm or corporation.

4. Necessary to the protection of property rights outside theUnited States of an American firm or corporation engaged in the development of foreign trade and commerce of the United States - Check Box D if you are employed to perform such services.

5. On behalf of a public international organization of which the United States is a member- Check Box E if you are employed by a qualifying organization.

NOTE: Your employment cannot have started until after your admission as a permanent resident.

6. Solely because of my capacity as a clergyman or clergywoman, missionary, nun, or sister of a denomination or mission having a bona fide organization in the United States - Check Box F if you are to serve in such capacity for a qualifying mission or organization."

Yep, the devil is in the details. (instructions in this case)

I'd plan on absences longer than six months resetting the clock for citizenship unless qualified as listed above.

By including the weblink to the Instructions to the N-470. It answered the remaining questions I have. Thanks for all your help.

curtlives