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how long can I be "out of US" without being considered abandoned?

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So my wife has some family business issues that require her to go back to China for an extended period of time.  We don't want to risk abandonment of her greencard.  I know technically they say you can't be outside of the U.S. for more than 1 year, and there is also an unofficial rule of no more than 6 months abroad. 

 

When do they start counting the 6 months?  per fiscal year? beginning Jan. 1, 2017?  or since the last trip?

Does that mean 6 months straight during 1 trip? 

or can she break it up like 5 months in China, return to U.S. for 2 months + another 4 months in China = total 9 months out of the year?

or does it mean that the total can't add up to more than 6 months in the year?

 

I also know that "intent" to maintain residence in U.S. is necessary to not be considered "abandoned", we have a house under my wife's name + 1 child together.  Child will remain in U.S. most of the time.  Is that suficient to maintain "intent" to maintain US residence?

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks

 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Romania
Timeline

We just went through this exact same situation. We needed to travel back to Romania to attend to some urgent family issues. We had been hoping while we were there her 10 year green card would have been ready, but after we had been gone about 3 1/2 months, they were still a few months away from us. Our total time abroad was 4 months 5 days. We didn't encounter any issues at all at our pie, he only asked if we were together the whole time and stamped us good to go.

 

We did a ton of research on this issue as things weren't in a stable position for us to leave yet, but there was no way we were going to abandon our hard work to get this far. Here is what I came up with regarding going abroad for an extended period of time.

 

1) The one year rule is pretty much set in stone unless you have the travel waiver which can extend it up to two years, but that is only for very exceptional circumstances.

2) While being gone over a year pretty much guarantees abandonment, they say that border control officers can pull you in yo secondary screening at any time and you should be mindful of this even if your trip is 3-5 months. It is 100% at the officers discretion.

3) In order to file for naturalization, you MUST be on US soil three months prior to filing, we could have filed by now but we are now delayed three months.

4) The definition of physical presence means you maintain a domicile and address in the US you live in. Physical presence is still established for trips of up to 6 months (this is the 6 month rule thing). If you are gone longer than 6 months you have lost your physical presence and it will make getting citizenship very challenging in the future.

5) Your *1 year* starts on the date your passport is first stamped going abroad. The theory is that you MUST be physically in the US for at least half of the year to avoid big issues. Also, it is VERY highly unadvised to take a long trip abroad, return for a short time, and then leave again for a long trip. From what I've read this is a HUGE flag to immigration officers as it looks like you are living abroad and only coming here for brief periods, they have an honest right to assume you've established a new residency abroad.

 

Hope this helps. Plan your trips ahead. Last minute flights are pricey.

6/24/2014 - I-130 Shipped via UPS to Chicago

6/26/2014 - I-130 Received and signed for at USCIS

7/1/2014 - E-mail of acceptance with Receipt number - NoA 1 (Routed to California Service Center)

07/15/2014 - Change of Address via phone call with USCIS, confirmation via e-mail.

7/30/2014 - I-130 Approved at USCIS - NoA 2 E-mail

08/13/2014 - NVC Received Approved I-130 package from USCIS

08/21/2014 - Case Number and IIN created at NVC

08/25/2014 - Case Number and IIN received via phone call. DS-261 Available and completed online.

8/26/2014 - AoS Fee invoiced and paid online.

8/28/2014 - AoS Invoice status PAID

09/04/2014 - Expedite Request response - Must enter Beneficiary Date of Birth - Re-sent exact e-mail with requested info

09/10/2014 - Expedite Request e-mail received as "Under Review"

09/11/2014 - Expedite Request Approved - Confirmation via e-mail from U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania

09/16/2014 - Embassy Received Case from NVC

09/16/2014 - Received E-mail from Embassy to Schedule our Interview and prepare documents

9/23/2014 - Medical Exam at Regina Maria - Results OK

10/01/2014 - Visa Approved!

10/03/2014 - Received Passport with Visa!

11/2/2104 - PoE Atlanta - Welcome to the US!

11/5/2014 - Paid $165 ELIS Fee

8/1/2016 - I-751 Packet sent in for Removal of Conditions!

8/15/2016 - Notice of Action 1 for I-751 - California Service Center

9/29/2016 - Received Biometrics Appointment

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Couldn't agree more with the above response! 

 

Leaving for 9 months of the year, especially with only a short trip home in the US, is a huge red flag and an easy way to get your status abandoned. It seems as though it isn't urgent as you are planning it in advance. My advice would be to skip the trip or keep it much shorter. Very few things are worth that type of risk - your spouse could end up separated from both you AND your child. 

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I'm just going to argue the less scary side. People (even immigration officers) understand emergencies, and we as LPRs are allowed to travel freely.

 

It means 6 months/1 yr straight in one trip. I mean, if your wife develops a pattern of being out of the US more than she's in, there might be some red flags raised, but if not, (like in this situation, where she's going back for an extended trip but otherwise has been mostly in the US. In fact, even if she thought she'd have to be out for a year, she could apply for a re-entry permit and still be ok.

 

The situation where the total time out of the US applies is when she's applying for citizenship. You have to keep track of all your overseas trips and make sure that you've been in the country for half of the time you require to apply (3 or 5 years)

 

 

 

Is your timeline updated?


Oath Ceremony Dec 14th, 2018 I am finally a citizen and done with USCIS for good!

 

 

IR-1/CR-1 Visa:                            

Marriage: 2013-08-05                                   I-130 Sent: 2013-10-07                                                 I-130 NOA1: 2013-10-09                               

I-130 transferred to VSC: 2014-03-12        I-130 NOA2: 2014-03-24                                              NVC Received: 2014-04-07 

Case Number and IIN: 2014-05-05             Sent ENROLL email for EP: 2014-05-06                    Gave email addresses to NVC: 2014-05-08             

DS261 submitted: 2014-05-09                    AOS invoiced and paid: 2014-05-12                           DS261 re-submitted - GRRRR! 2014-05-21               

ENROLL conf. email: 2014-06-05               Submitted AOS documents:2014-06-08                    IV fee email received: 2014-06-23 

IV fee available and paid: 2014-06-24       DS260  submitted: 2014-06-26                                   Case Complete: 2014-07-31                                       

Interview: 2014-09-19 APPROVED!!!          Visa in Hand: 2014-09-24 (Loomis depot)                POE (Pac Hwy Crossing, BC) 2014-11-08 

SSN Card arrived (approx) 2014-11-26     Green Card arrived (approx) 2014-12-17 

Removal of Conditions - I-751:

I-751 Mailed (USPS) Aug 10, 2016             NOA: August 17, 2016 (received Aug 23)                  Biometrics Letter Sent: Sept 23, 2016

Biometrics Letter Rec'd: Sept 30, 2016     Walk-In Biometrics Oct 6, 2016                                    Infopass for I-551 stamp Aug 17, 2017   

Service Request: Dec 27, 2017                   SR Response: Jan 10, 2018 (no prediction)              Senator Inquiry: Jan 5, 2018

Senator Resp: Jan 8, 2018 (60 days)         Service Request 2: Mar 8 2018                                   Senator Inquiry 2: Mar 9 2018

SR 2 Response: Mar 12 (security checks) Senator Response 2: Mar 13, 2018                            Approval (via phone!): Mar 14, 2018

New Green Card Arrived: Mar 22, 2018

Naturalization - N-400: 

Submitted N-400 Online: Feb 4, 2018       Denied for Payment Failure: Feb 8, 2018                     Resubmitted N-400 Online Feb 8, 2018

NOA: Feb 8, 2018                                          Biometrics: Feb 26, 2018                                                Interview: Nov 2,2018 (approved)

Oath: Dec 14, 2018

 

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There's no preset amount of time. Somebody could have been determined to abandon residency after only 1 month, or not at all in a little over 11 months. Beyond that, it's all about making and maintaining ties to the US (and not making those ties abroad). CBP determines if permanent residency was abandoned at POE. CBP will look at the totality of the situation - how long abroad, how long in the US, etc.

 

There is the risk of breaking continuous residency (for naturalization eligibility) if abroad over 6 months on a single trip, or in multiple trips throughout the year (as determined by the IO).

There is a presumption of abandoning permanent residency if abroad over 12 months. Even if CBP determines that it was, she has the right to having an immigration judge hear the case before LPR status is actually revoked.

 

In this case, I would guess that she would be okay to do the 5 months, returning back, then 4 months abroad. But only once...a second short trip back to the US would likely raise big flags on the following return trip.

I would also make sure she's maintaining her ties to the US, including having current/valid state ID/driver's license, making sure she's filing her taxes, etc.

Edited by geowrian

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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my friend was abroad for almost a year on a 10-yr green card. She did come back for short periods of time, and made sure to get a re-entry card before leaving.

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Romania
Timeline

I'm sure people have different opinions, experiences, and thoughts about this.

 

Everything I said was not to scare you but it was information clearly provided from the USCIS  (Google how long can I travel as a lawful permanent resident.

 

And I also found some of my information from immigration lawyers. There are some tthings I mentioned that are 100% factual and there are things that are situational based on your point of entry and your border officer.

 

Before you let anyone here give you an opinion or a different circumstance regarding a situation they know, I highly advise you to do your research on the things I mentioned as most came from the USCIS site and the rest from immigration lawyers.

 

I'm being firm because abandoning residency is a serious issue for families and you would have to start all over with the I130 process if it happens. Do your homework and you and your wife should make a mutual decision based on that. 

6/24/2014 - I-130 Shipped via UPS to Chicago

6/26/2014 - I-130 Received and signed for at USCIS

7/1/2014 - E-mail of acceptance with Receipt number - NoA 1 (Routed to California Service Center)

07/15/2014 - Change of Address via phone call with USCIS, confirmation via e-mail.

7/30/2014 - I-130 Approved at USCIS - NoA 2 E-mail

08/13/2014 - NVC Received Approved I-130 package from USCIS

08/21/2014 - Case Number and IIN created at NVC

08/25/2014 - Case Number and IIN received via phone call. DS-261 Available and completed online.

8/26/2014 - AoS Fee invoiced and paid online.

8/28/2014 - AoS Invoice status PAID

09/04/2014 - Expedite Request response - Must enter Beneficiary Date of Birth - Re-sent exact e-mail with requested info

09/10/2014 - Expedite Request e-mail received as "Under Review"

09/11/2014 - Expedite Request Approved - Confirmation via e-mail from U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania

09/16/2014 - Embassy Received Case from NVC

09/16/2014 - Received E-mail from Embassy to Schedule our Interview and prepare documents

9/23/2014 - Medical Exam at Regina Maria - Results OK

10/01/2014 - Visa Approved!

10/03/2014 - Received Passport with Visa!

11/2/2104 - PoE Atlanta - Welcome to the US!

11/5/2014 - Paid $165 ELIS Fee

8/1/2016 - I-751 Packet sent in for Removal of Conditions!

8/15/2016 - Notice of Action 1 for I-751 - California Service Center

9/29/2016 - Received Biometrics Appointment

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Six months is very much part of the official rules, and is in no way 'unofficial'. 

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume12-PartD-Chapter3.html

https://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-11261/0-0-0-30960/0-0-0-31016.html#0-0-0-19579

 

29 minutes ago, AnnaMaria said:

 

3) In order to file for naturalization, you MUST be on US soil three months prior to filing, we could have filed by now but we are now delayed three months.

 

Nope. 

 

You must be resident in the state you are filing from, for three months preceding the filing.

You are permitted to travel overseas within that period, but not move states, or change ID to a different state. 

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume12-PartD-Chapter6.html

 

"An applicant's residence during any absence abroad of less than one year will continue to be the state or service district where the applicant resided before departure. If the applicant returns to the same residence, he or she will have complied with the three-month jurisdictional residence requirement when at least three months have elapsed, including any part of the absence, from when the applicant first established that residence. "

"If the applicant establishes residence in a different state or service district from where he or she last resided, the applicant must reside three months at that new residence before applying in order to meet the three-month jurisdictional residence requirement."

 

CR1 / DCF (London): 2012 / 2013 (4 months from I-130 petition to visa in hand)

I-751 #1- April 2015 [Denied]

 

April 2015 : I-751 Joint filing package sent fedex next day 09:00am from UK ($lots - thanks). 
Jan 2017: Notification that an interview has been scheduled at a local office. Bizarrely still no RFE... 
Jan 2017: 2hr wait, then interview terminated before it began, due to moving my ID to another state 2 wks prior. New interview 'in a few months...maybe.'   Informed them that divorce proceedings are underway, but not finalised at this time. 
March 2017: An Interview was scheduled - marked as no-show as they didn't actually send out a notification of interview. FML 
April  2017: Filed an official complaint with the ombudsman, and have requested Senator & Congressman assistance
August 2017: Interview - switched to a (finalised) divorce waiver. Told that decision will be made that afternoon, but no problems foreseen with my case. 
October 2017: Letter of Denial received - reason given as 'I-751 petition was not properly filed'. Discovered ex-spouse made false allegations to USCIS in 2015. No opportunity given to review & refute allegations  - contrary to USCIS policy.

I-751 #2 - Oct 2017 - Mar 2021[Denied] 

 

October 2017: Within 72hrs of receiving denial notice, a new waiver I-751, divorce decree & $680 cheque, sent to Vermont via FedEx overnight 9am priority.  
Dec 2019: Filed FOIA request for full A# file
Feb 2020: FOIA request completed - entire A# file received as a .PDF; 197 pages fully redacted, and 80 partially redacted. Don't waste your time!
March 2021: I-751 #2 denied for lack of evidence. No RFE, no interview, and evidence in previous I-751 not reviewed - contrary to policy. Huge errors in adjudication.

N-400 - Feb 2018 - Apr 2021 [Denied]

 

February 2018: N-400 filed online.  $725 paid to the USCIS paperwork wastage fund

February  2019: Interview - cancelled after a four hour wait due to 'missing paperwork' on their end. Promised Expedited reschedule.

March 2021: Interview letter received, strangely dated after I-751 denial. No I-751 interview conducted. N-400 interview and test passed, given 'cannot make a decision at this time' paper due to the ongoing I-751 nightmare...

April 2021: N-400 denial received citing recent I-751 denial as basis for ineligibility, even though it should have been a combo interview 🤯

I AM JACK'S COMPLETE LACK OF SURPRISE

Service Motion - March 2021 [Sent via FedEx & COMPLETELY IGNORED by USCIS]

 

March 2021: Service Motion request sent overnight addressed direectly to field office director, requesting urgent review and re-opening, based on errors in adjudication - citing USCIS policy, AFM and memorandums as basis for errors. This was completely ignored by USCIS.

 I-751 #3 - June 2021 - Jan 2024 [Denied]

 

IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY

June 2021: I-751 #3 (30+lbs/5000 pages of paperwork) & another $680 sent to USCIS via FedEx ($300+..thanks) .... 

June 2021: Receipt issued, card charged, biometrics waived, infopass scheduled for I-551 stamp number ten.....

Feb 2022: RFIE (no, not an RFE, a Request For Initial Evidence) received, for copies of the divorce paperwork that they already have 😑

July 2022: Infopass for I-551 stamp number eleven.....

August 2023: Infopass for I-551 stamp number twelve....

January 2024: Denial received, ignoring the overwhelming majority of the filing, abundance of evidence, and refutation of a provably false allegation. The denial also contradicts itself in multiple places, as if it was written by someone with an IQ <50.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

2024: FML. Seriously. I'm done. 

 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Romania
Timeline

You'e correct. That situation only applies to us because we had been gone for 4 months meaning we have to wait 3 months to file for naturalization. My mistake.

6/24/2014 - I-130 Shipped via UPS to Chicago

6/26/2014 - I-130 Received and signed for at USCIS

7/1/2014 - E-mail of acceptance with Receipt number - NoA 1 (Routed to California Service Center)

07/15/2014 - Change of Address via phone call with USCIS, confirmation via e-mail.

7/30/2014 - I-130 Approved at USCIS - NoA 2 E-mail

08/13/2014 - NVC Received Approved I-130 package from USCIS

08/21/2014 - Case Number and IIN created at NVC

08/25/2014 - Case Number and IIN received via phone call. DS-261 Available and completed online.

8/26/2014 - AoS Fee invoiced and paid online.

8/28/2014 - AoS Invoice status PAID

09/04/2014 - Expedite Request response - Must enter Beneficiary Date of Birth - Re-sent exact e-mail with requested info

09/10/2014 - Expedite Request e-mail received as "Under Review"

09/11/2014 - Expedite Request Approved - Confirmation via e-mail from U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania

09/16/2014 - Embassy Received Case from NVC

09/16/2014 - Received E-mail from Embassy to Schedule our Interview and prepare documents

9/23/2014 - Medical Exam at Regina Maria - Results OK

10/01/2014 - Visa Approved!

10/03/2014 - Received Passport with Visa!

11/2/2104 - PoE Atlanta - Welcome to the US!

11/5/2014 - Paid $165 ELIS Fee

8/1/2016 - I-751 Packet sent in for Removal of Conditions!

8/15/2016 - Notice of Action 1 for I-751 - California Service Center

9/29/2016 - Received Biometrics Appointment

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turns out the family business may require my wife to be take multiple 1 month long trips every other month.  so...1 month in China, then 1 month in the U.S., followed by another month in china, then back in the U.S. for 1 month....so on, so forth...  We are not really concerned about naturalization at this time.  just the ability to live in the U.S. and maintain the green card.

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4 minutes ago, Unknown Guest said:

turns out the family business may require my wife to be take multiple 1 month long trips every other month.  so...1 month in China, then 1 month in the U.S., followed by another month in china, then back in the U.S. for 1 month....so on, so forth...  We are not really concerned about naturalization at this time.  just the ability to live in the U.S. and maintain the green card.

You should be fine, honestly. Especially with it being a month in, a month out, with your wife's ties to the US, it's pretty clear that she's living in the US. She may occasionally get pulled into secondary inspection, but she would then be given a chance to explain what's going on. Just make sure she leaves lots of extra time at the airport so she doesn't miss a flight.

 

Is your timeline updated?


Oath Ceremony Dec 14th, 2018 I am finally a citizen and done with USCIS for good!

 

 

IR-1/CR-1 Visa:                            

Marriage: 2013-08-05                                   I-130 Sent: 2013-10-07                                                 I-130 NOA1: 2013-10-09                               

I-130 transferred to VSC: 2014-03-12        I-130 NOA2: 2014-03-24                                              NVC Received: 2014-04-07 

Case Number and IIN: 2014-05-05             Sent ENROLL email for EP: 2014-05-06                    Gave email addresses to NVC: 2014-05-08             

DS261 submitted: 2014-05-09                    AOS invoiced and paid: 2014-05-12                           DS261 re-submitted - GRRRR! 2014-05-21               

ENROLL conf. email: 2014-06-05               Submitted AOS documents:2014-06-08                    IV fee email received: 2014-06-23 

IV fee available and paid: 2014-06-24       DS260  submitted: 2014-06-26                                   Case Complete: 2014-07-31                                       

Interview: 2014-09-19 APPROVED!!!          Visa in Hand: 2014-09-24 (Loomis depot)                POE (Pac Hwy Crossing, BC) 2014-11-08 

SSN Card arrived (approx) 2014-11-26     Green Card arrived (approx) 2014-12-17 

Removal of Conditions - I-751:

I-751 Mailed (USPS) Aug 10, 2016             NOA: August 17, 2016 (received Aug 23)                  Biometrics Letter Sent: Sept 23, 2016

Biometrics Letter Rec'd: Sept 30, 2016     Walk-In Biometrics Oct 6, 2016                                    Infopass for I-551 stamp Aug 17, 2017   

Service Request: Dec 27, 2017                   SR Response: Jan 10, 2018 (no prediction)              Senator Inquiry: Jan 5, 2018

Senator Resp: Jan 8, 2018 (60 days)         Service Request 2: Mar 8 2018                                   Senator Inquiry 2: Mar 9 2018

SR 2 Response: Mar 12 (security checks) Senator Response 2: Mar 13, 2018                            Approval (via phone!): Mar 14, 2018

New Green Card Arrived: Mar 22, 2018

Naturalization - N-400: 

Submitted N-400 Online: Feb 4, 2018       Denied for Payment Failure: Feb 8, 2018                     Resubmitted N-400 Online Feb 8, 2018

NOA: Feb 8, 2018                                          Biometrics: Feb 26, 2018                                                Interview: Nov 2,2018 (approved)

Oath: Dec 14, 2018

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline
2 hours ago, Unknown Guest said:

turns out the family business may require my wife to be take multiple 1 month long trips every other month.  so...1 month in China, then 1 month in the U.S., followed by another month in china, then back in the U.S. for 1 month....so on, so forth...  We are not really concerned about naturalization at this time.  just the ability to live in the U.S. and maintain the green card.

The frequency of the trips abroad at a month at a time might raise some issues depending on the officer you get at the border when she is reentering the US each time....they may presume she's setting up residency in both countries, if she's leaving the US every other month, for 3 to 4 weeks at a time.

 

All she can do is maintain strong (documented) ties to the US and hope for the best during inspection every other month.

Applied for Naturalization based on 5-year Residency - 96 Days To Complete Citizenship!

July 14, 2017 (Day 00) -  Submitted N400 Application, filed online

July 21, 2017 (Day 07) -  NOA Receipt received in the mail

July 22, 2017 (Day 08) - Biometrics appointment scheduled online, letter mailed out

July 25, 2017 (Day 11) - Biometrics PDF posted online

July 28, 2017 (Day 14) - Biometrics letter received in the mail, appointment for 08/08/17

Aug 08, 2017 (Day 24) - Biometrics (fingerprinting) completed

Aug 14, 2017 (Day 30) - Online EGOV status shows "Interview Scheduled, will mail appointment letter"

Aug 16, 2017 (Day 32) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Interview Scheduled, read the letter we mailed you..."

Aug 17, 2017 (Day 33) - Interview Appointment Letter PDF posted online---GOT AN INTERVIEW DATE!!!

Aug 21, 2017 (Day 37) - Interview Appointment Letter received in the mail, appointment for 09/27/17

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Naturalization Interview--- read my experience here

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Oath Ceremony Notice mailed"

Sep. 28, 2017 (Day 75) - Oath Ceremony Letter PDF posted online--Ceremony for 10/19/17

Oct. 02, 2017 (Day 79) -  Oath Ceremony Letter received in the mail

Oct. 19, 2017 (Day 96) -  Oath Ceremony-- read my experience here

 

 

 

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3 hours ago, Going through said:

they may presume she's setting up residency in both countries, if she's leaving the US every other month, for 3 to 4 weeks at a time.

 

That isn't prohibited though....as long as the US remains the aliens primary place of residence with proof of sustained significant ties to back it up.

CR1 / DCF (London): 2012 / 2013 (4 months from I-130 petition to visa in hand)

I-751 #1- April 2015 [Denied]

 

April 2015 : I-751 Joint filing package sent fedex next day 09:00am from UK ($lots - thanks). 
Jan 2017: Notification that an interview has been scheduled at a local office. Bizarrely still no RFE... 
Jan 2017: 2hr wait, then interview terminated before it began, due to moving my ID to another state 2 wks prior. New interview 'in a few months...maybe.'   Informed them that divorce proceedings are underway, but not finalised at this time. 
March 2017: An Interview was scheduled - marked as no-show as they didn't actually send out a notification of interview. FML 
April  2017: Filed an official complaint with the ombudsman, and have requested Senator & Congressman assistance
August 2017: Interview - switched to a (finalised) divorce waiver. Told that decision will be made that afternoon, but no problems foreseen with my case. 
October 2017: Letter of Denial received - reason given as 'I-751 petition was not properly filed'. Discovered ex-spouse made false allegations to USCIS in 2015. No opportunity given to review & refute allegations  - contrary to USCIS policy.

I-751 #2 - Oct 2017 - Mar 2021[Denied] 

 

October 2017: Within 72hrs of receiving denial notice, a new waiver I-751, divorce decree & $680 cheque, sent to Vermont via FedEx overnight 9am priority.  
Dec 2019: Filed FOIA request for full A# file
Feb 2020: FOIA request completed - entire A# file received as a .PDF; 197 pages fully redacted, and 80 partially redacted. Don't waste your time!
March 2021: I-751 #2 denied for lack of evidence. No RFE, no interview, and evidence in previous I-751 not reviewed - contrary to policy. Huge errors in adjudication.

N-400 - Feb 2018 - Apr 2021 [Denied]

 

February 2018: N-400 filed online.  $725 paid to the USCIS paperwork wastage fund

February  2019: Interview - cancelled after a four hour wait due to 'missing paperwork' on their end. Promised Expedited reschedule.

March 2021: Interview letter received, strangely dated after I-751 denial. No I-751 interview conducted. N-400 interview and test passed, given 'cannot make a decision at this time' paper due to the ongoing I-751 nightmare...

April 2021: N-400 denial received citing recent I-751 denial as basis for ineligibility, even though it should have been a combo interview 🤯

I AM JACK'S COMPLETE LACK OF SURPRISE

Service Motion - March 2021 [Sent via FedEx & COMPLETELY IGNORED by USCIS]

 

March 2021: Service Motion request sent overnight addressed direectly to field office director, requesting urgent review and re-opening, based on errors in adjudication - citing USCIS policy, AFM and memorandums as basis for errors. This was completely ignored by USCIS.

 I-751 #3 - June 2021 - Jan 2024 [Denied]

 

IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY

June 2021: I-751 #3 (30+lbs/5000 pages of paperwork) & another $680 sent to USCIS via FedEx ($300+..thanks) .... 

June 2021: Receipt issued, card charged, biometrics waived, infopass scheduled for I-551 stamp number ten.....

Feb 2022: RFIE (no, not an RFE, a Request For Initial Evidence) received, for copies of the divorce paperwork that they already have 😑

July 2022: Infopass for I-551 stamp number eleven.....

August 2023: Infopass for I-551 stamp number twelve....

January 2024: Denial received, ignoring the overwhelming majority of the filing, abundance of evidence, and refutation of a provably false allegation. The denial also contradicts itself in multiple places, as if it was written by someone with an IQ <50.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

2024: FML. Seriously. I'm done. 

 

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Filed: Other Country: Saudi Arabia
Timeline
9 hours ago, Unknown Guest said:

So my wife has some family business issues that require her to go back to China for an extended period of time.  We don't want to risk abandonment of her greencard.  I know technically they say you can't be outside of the U.S. for more than 1 year, and there is also an unofficial rule of no more than 6 months abroad. 

 

When do they start counting the 6 months?  per fiscal year? beginning Jan. 1, 2017?  or since the last trip?

Does that mean 6 months straight during 1 trip? 

or can she break it up like 5 months in China, return to U.S. for 2 months + another 4 months in China = total 9 months out of the year?

or does it mean that the total can't add up to more than 6 months in the year?

 

I also know that "intent" to maintain residence in U.S. is necessary to not be considered "abandoned", we have a house under my wife's name + 1 child together.  Child will remain in U.S. most of the time.  Is that suficient to maintain "intent" to maintain US residence?

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks

 

If you apply for a travel document (a booklet that looks like a passport) she can stay out of the US for up to two years worry-free.  The travel document can be renewed when it is close to expiring.

After 6 months when she returns she is effectively applying for re-entry.  My wife stayed out 11 months one time and we were questioned at the counter but she didn't go to secondary or anything.  We were travelling together though. 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-131

 

It's easy.  Once they receive the form they will schedule biometrics and after she takes biometrics she can go.  On the form it advises that you can have it sent to the nearest embassy or consulate.  The only risk of leaving early is if the biometrics fail.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline
8 hours ago, mindthegap said:

That isn't prohibited though....as long as the US remains the aliens primary place of residence with proof of sustained significant ties to back it up.

Never said it's prohibited....only that an officer presuming it at the border may cause her some hassle when reentering if the OP is travelling out of the US every two months (and leaving for a month at a time) once they see travel history when scanning the green card.  All depends on the officer she gets and how stringent he/she wants to be....one may not care, another may question her.

 

 

Edited by Going through

Applied for Naturalization based on 5-year Residency - 96 Days To Complete Citizenship!

July 14, 2017 (Day 00) -  Submitted N400 Application, filed online

July 21, 2017 (Day 07) -  NOA Receipt received in the mail

July 22, 2017 (Day 08) - Biometrics appointment scheduled online, letter mailed out

July 25, 2017 (Day 11) - Biometrics PDF posted online

July 28, 2017 (Day 14) - Biometrics letter received in the mail, appointment for 08/08/17

Aug 08, 2017 (Day 24) - Biometrics (fingerprinting) completed

Aug 14, 2017 (Day 30) - Online EGOV status shows "Interview Scheduled, will mail appointment letter"

Aug 16, 2017 (Day 32) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Interview Scheduled, read the letter we mailed you..."

Aug 17, 2017 (Day 33) - Interview Appointment Letter PDF posted online---GOT AN INTERVIEW DATE!!!

Aug 21, 2017 (Day 37) - Interview Appointment Letter received in the mail, appointment for 09/27/17

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Naturalization Interview--- read my experience here

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Oath Ceremony Notice mailed"

Sep. 28, 2017 (Day 75) - Oath Ceremony Letter PDF posted online--Ceremony for 10/19/17

Oct. 02, 2017 (Day 79) -  Oath Ceremony Letter received in the mail

Oct. 19, 2017 (Day 96) -  Oath Ceremony-- read my experience here

 

 

 

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