N-400 Naturalization, travelled abroad for over 6 months, N-400

[AI135 27]

Hello everyone! I decided to start this thread because I couldn’t find any information regarding my situation here. So long story short, I became a conditional resident in Feb 2016, got my Permanent resident card in June 2019 (Yayyy!). I’m planning to apply for Naturalization and my problem is that I don’t know if I am eligible:

I have taken 3 trips outside the US since becoming a resident (Since Feb 2016). 

1. Lasted 325 days - My first trip after becoming a conditional resident. I visited my family. My mom had died at that time and i spent time with my dad because he was ill and i had to renew my passport which took about 4 months. 

2. Lasted 64 days - second trip to 3rd country where I travelled with my dad and sister to get them a medical treatment. 

3. Lasted about a month - Had job interview in a country i travelled the second time and wanted to become their US representative. 

 

My question is : AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR NATURALIZATION? I have been trying to find an answer to my question in forums but no luck. Please if anyone is familiar or has any information regarding my situation, let me know!

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

The requirement is 

• Be physically present in the United States for at least 18 months out of the 3 years immediately preceding the date of filing the application”

So you just have to count the days. USCIS will do the same. They actually will do a count of the days.

 

The other requirement is continuous residency but seems like they let you back in and removed conditions so that probably is fine.

 

Assuming you still live in marital union with a US citizen in the past 3 years?

[AI135 27]

@USS_Voyager thank you for your reply. I haven’t travelled after my last trip. In total i have been in the US for more than 18 months for sure (just not for 18 consecutive months). 

I am still married to my USC wife and my Conditional resident card was replaced based on our marriage recently and i have receiver my permanent resident card. 

 

So even if i travelled outside the US for more than 6 months in a single trip, i am still good to file N-400?

[nyj215 103]

A 6 month trip is presumed to break continuous residency, unfortunately.  

[AI135 27]

1 hour ago, AI135 said:

Hello everyone! I decided to start this thread because I couldn’t find any information regarding my situation here. So long story short, I became a conditional resident in Feb 2016, got my Permanent resident card in June 2019 (Yayyy!). I’m planning to apply for Naturalization and my problem is that I don’t know if I am eligible:

I have taken 3 trips outside the US since becoming a resident (Since Feb 2016). 

1. Lasted 325 days - My first trip after becoming a conditional resident. I visited my family. My mom had died at that time and i spent time with my dad because he was ill and i had to renew my passport which took about 4 months. 

2. Lasted 64 days - second trip to 3rd country where I travelled with my dad and sister to get them a medical treatment. 

3. Lasted about a month - Had job interview in a country i travelled the second time and wanted to become their US representative. 

 

My question is : AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR NATURALIZATION? I have been trying to find an answer to my question in forums but no luck. Please if anyone is familiar or has any information regarding my situation, let me know!

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

I apologize but i made a mistake, my longest trip lasted 229 days 

i know this does not change the fact that it is still over 6 months, but still. Thank you

[AI135 27]

Hello everyone! I decided to start this thread because I couldn’t find any information regarding my situation here. So long story short, I became a conditional resident in Feb 2016, got my Permanent resident card in June 2019 (Yayyy!). I’m planning to apply for Naturalization and my problem is that I don’t know if I am eligible:

I have taken 3 trips outside the US since becoming a resident (Since Feb 2016). 

1. Lasted 229 days - My first trip after becoming a conditional resident. I visited my family. My mom had died at that time and i spent time with my dad because he was ill and i had to renew my passport which took about 4 months. 

2. Lasted 64 days - second trip to 3rd country where I travelled with my dad and sister to get them a medical treatment. 

3. Lasted about a month - Had job interview in a country i travelled the second time and wanted to become their US representative. 

 

My question is : AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR NATURALIZATION? I have been trying to find an answer to my question in forums but no luck. Please if anyone is familiar or has any information regarding my situation, let me know!

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

13 minutes ago, nyj215 said:

A 6 month trip is presumed to break continuous residency, unfortunately.  

Not necessarily. It can be overcome by maintaining ties to the US. 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-3

An applicant may overcome the presumption of loss of his or her continuity of residence by providing evidence to establish that the applicant did not disrupt his or her residence. The evidence may include, but is not limited to, documentation that during the absence: [12] 

The applicant did not terminate his or her employment in the United States or obtain employment while abroad.

The applicant’s immediate family remained in the United States.

The applicant retained full access to his or her United States abode.

Edited June 26, 2019 by USS_Voyager

[AI135 27]

1 minute ago, USS_Voyager said:

Not necessarily. It can be overcome by maintaining ties to the US. 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-3

We have filed Joint Tax returns for the period that i was absent, We have had a joint lease in our names and had a joint bank account. We submitted all those documents when we filed for i-751. Do you think that would be enough to show USCIS that i maintained ties here in the US? We had joint credit cards, also my wife paid for my credit cards while i was away, however i dont know if i will be able to get that information (should be in our joint bank account)

[arken 4,197]

4 minutes ago, AI135 said:

Hello everyone! I decided to start this thread because I couldn’t find any information regarding my situation here. So long story short, I became a conditional resident in Feb 2016, got my Permanent resident card in June 2019 (Yayyy!). I’m planning to apply for Naturalization and my problem is that I don’t know if I am eligible:

I have taken 3 trips outside the US since becoming a resident (Since Feb 2016). 

1. Lasted 229 days - My first trip after becoming a conditional resident. I visited my family. My mom had died at that time and i spent time with my dad because he was ill and i had to renew my passport which took about 4 months. 

2. Lasted 64 days - second trip to 3rd country where I travelled with my dad and sister to get them a medical treatment. 

3. Lasted about a month - Had job interview in a country i travelled the second time and wanted to become their US representative. 

 

My question is : AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR NATURALIZATION? I have been trying to find an answer to my question in forums but no luck. Please if anyone is familiar or has any information regarding my situation, let me know!

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

As long as you have maintained residency in the US like keeping bank accounts, lease, utility bills, having spouse in the US like that, paying taxes, your 229 days trip doesn’t break your continuous residency. Keep the evidences of that period in case you are asked about it. In this case you can apply for it.

Edited June 26, 2019 by arken

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

1 minute ago, AI135 said:

We have filed Joint Tax returns for the period that i was absent, We have had a joint lease in our names and had a joint bank account. We submitted all those documents when we filed for i-751. Do you think that would be enough to show USCIS that i maintained ties here in the US? We had joint credit cards, also my wife paid for my credit cards while i was away, however i dont know if i will be able to get that information (should be in our joint bank account)

I think you're fine, like I said, read the link I posted. 

[AI135 27]

3 minutes ago, USS_Voyager said:

I think you're fine, like I said, read the link I posted. 

Thank you! I thought so too, but wanted to make sure. Should i submit those documents with my N-400?

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

3 minutes ago, AI135 said:

Thank you! I thought so too, but wanted to make sure. Should i submit those documents with my N-400?

Yes

[Dashinka 24,591]

6 minutes ago, AI135 said:

Thank you! I thought so too, but wanted to make sure. Should i submit those documents with my N-400?

Sure.  Good Luck!

[AI135 27]

Thank you all for your answers! I will go ahead and file my N-400. I really hope that everything goes smoothly. Thank you and wish me luck!!!

[tamcloud 92]

If you're filing online, it will ask for the dates of your trips and do the calculations. You'll know then whether or not you're eligible, and won't have to send a payment to find out. Good luck! 

Edited June 26, 2019 by tamcloud