Filling out form N-400 -- a few questions

[Shub 78]

I'm finally getting ready to apply. I've had my green card since 2008 through marriage with a US citizen in 2007, but in June 2009 I left the USA, worked abroad for a year (not for an American company), and came back in June 2010. Since then, I've been living and working in the US non-stop (so it's been over three years of continuous residence).

I'm at part 6 of the form.

Section A asks for the places I've lived in the past 5 years. I wasn't commuting back and forth between the US and Europe while I was working there, and we lived at my dad's apartment there. However we maintained everything in the US, such as bank accounts, credit cards, bank accounts, we paid our taxes and our student loans. We also maintained our address in the US, although since we've always just lived at my mother-in-law's while we were paying off the student loans, it basically means we had our room at her house, with most of our stuff in it.

Anyway, I consider that I didn't abandon my residence in the US, so I was not going to include my address abroad. Good idea? Bad idea?

Section B asks for the names and locations of my employers for the past 5 years. Here, I am inclined to mention my employer abroad for that year I was out of the country. Again, good or bad idea? I feel that I must list that employer here, but not listing my address abroad is in line with my affirmation that I never abandoned my residence in the US. I just don't want my answers to look contradictory. I've been here non-stop for three years now, so I don't know if it matters anyway.

Also, I've always wondered: since I'm eligible to apply for citizenship after 3 years of continuous residence on account of my marriage to a US citizen, and I fit the requirements to apply at this point in time due to having been in the US continuously since June 2010, why do these questions bother me about the past 5 years of history?

[Shub 78]

And a bump -- would love to hear people's thoughts if you can spare the time

[Tom_Jim 40]

I would include your tax transcripts for the past 5 years. As for section B, list everyone - foreign included. I think that if you're gone for more than 6 months, your clock resets.

You definitely want to check that out. You didn't abandon, but if you were gone for more than 6 months during one trip, they can still let you in, but I think your clock resets. I would talk to a lawyer, tbh.

[happilycontent 16]

You should list all places you've lived and worked during the last 5 years. That would include your residence, and work overseas. Not sure why you want to leave that out of the application, but I think lying on your application may cause you trouble during the process.

[Shub 78]

I would include your tax transcripts for the past 5 years. As for section B, list everyone - foreign included. I think that if you're gone for more than 6 months, your clock resets.

You definitely want to check that out. You didn't abandon, but if you were gone for more than 6 months during one trip, they can still let you in, but I think your clock resets. I would talk to a lawyer, tbh.

I was actually never out of the US for 6 months straight as I paid regular visits to deal with various things here. I actually had my removal of conditions biometrics appointment during that period. But that is beside the point at this time, as I have been in the country continuously since June 2010. I know the clock resets after 6 months out of the country, so out of an abundance of caution, I did not apply for citizenship in 2011 even though I would normally have been eligible. Now that it has been 3+ years, I think I'm good.

I'm not going to include tax transcripts for the past 5 years -- official USCIS documents are clear on the issue: include 5 years' worth if you're not married to a US citizen, or 3 years' worth if you are married. I am not in the habit of volunteering information to government administrations.

I did actually speak with a lawyer about this two years ago and he said not even to worry about it and to go ahead and apply back in 2011, but I didn't, and here I am worrying anyway.

You should list all places you've lived and worked during the last 5 years. That would include your residence, and work overseas. Not sure why you want to leave that out of the application, but I think lying on your application may cause you trouble during the process.

Now see, there's the crux of the issue. I'm not trying to lie. I'm trying to be logical. I didn't move back overseas. Officially, I was living in the US, but staying and working abroad. I purposely didn't submit an AR-11 when I went overseas, not because I wanted to conceal that fact or for any other malicious reason, but merely to be logical: my residence was always in the US. So because I didn't submit an AR-11, it would look odd to list an address abroad on my N-400 that they've never heard of. And that is my concern. I will list my overseas employer for sure, though.

Edited October 16, 2013 by Shub

[Shub 78]

Based on further reading I've been doing, I'm increasingly convinced that USCIS doesn't care about addresses outside of the USA, so the overseas address at which I stayed is of no import in the context of an application for naturalization. The purpose of maintaining your current address in USCIS records appears to be so they can contact you. Since I was always reachable at my US address while I was abroad, I don't see how my overseas address is relevant.

Does anyone have further thoughts on the matter?

[CatherineTheGreat 0]

Hey Shub,

I'm filling out my N-400 form and I have the same question. Since you have already submitted and got approved successfully, I wanted to know if you actually opted for listing your father's address while working abroad. My concern is the same: I don't want to lie to immigration officials, but I would like to stay consistent. I claim I did not abandon my residence in the US, but I traveled for study abroad, where I lived temporarily (twice, each under 5.5 months).

Thanks!

[Shub 78]

Hey Shub,

I'm filling out my N-400 form and I have the same question. Since you have already submitted and got approved successfully, I wanted to know if you actually opted for listing your father's address while working abroad. My concern is the same: I don't want to lie to immigration officials, but I would like to stay consistent. I claim I did not abandon my residence in the US, but I traveled for study abroad, where I lived temporarily (twice, each under 5.5 months).

Thanks!

I ended up not listing the address where I lived abroad. They didn't even ask me about any of it -- the only address-related thing they asked about was if I still lived at my current address.

[CatherineTheGreat 0]

Thanks! That's useful to know.