Time outside US - First trip started before 5 years

[vanzachten 0]

I'm a permanent resident that was on an assignment abroad that lasted two years. I have been back in the US for around 4.5 years and plan to apply for citizenship. The table in part 8 asks for travel history for the last 5 years. My first 'trip', which was really my assignment, started before the 5 year period. What I did was to put the date 5 years before filing as the 'date you left the US' in the first column, even though the actual date I left was 1.5 years before that. This way the 'total days outside the US' actually add up to only the days in the 5 year period. Is this the correct way to do this?

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

Let me get this right, so your first trip started prior to the 5 yr range but lasted within the 5yr range?

Say, you traveled in 2000 but you stayed there for 1.5yrs so even though it precedes the 5yr range, the duration falls within the 5yr range.

You will list when you left and when you returned. You will do the math to put down the days outside of US in the past 5yrs (You start counting from last 5 yrs).

Did I interpret your question right?

[Cheezees 1,514]

Let me get this right, so your first trip started prior to the 5 yr range but lasted within the 5yr range?

Say, you traveled in 2000 but you stayed there for 1.5yrs so even though it precedes the 5yr range, the duration falls within the 5yr range. Did you mean 2010?

You will list when you left and when you returned. You will do the math to put down the days outside of US in the past 5yrs (You start counting from last 5 yrs).

Did I interpret your question right?

[mallafri76 1,012]

Since your "trip" ended in the 5 year period, you put the actual date you left the US and how many days you were gone. You know they can check this so you can't just make up a date, you have to put the actual date.

When did you become a permanent resident?

Edited February 26, 2016 by mallafri76

[vanzachten 0]

Yes, you interpreted it the right way. The only thing that would do is that the days outside the US in the last column will not add up between the departure and return date in the first two columns.

I became a resident in 2005, but the two year assignment broke up my 5 year period, so I had to start again when I came back.