N400 application and frequent travel outside the US

[steve-phuket 10]

my wife is on a 10 year green card issued Dec 2023, we're planning to file N400 next Sept. however we travel a lot outside the US (thailand and europe where we both have family ties), but never more than 5 months at a time and not more than 18 months in 3 years, but we will be close to the 18 month limit. do you think this will be a problem moving forward?

 

i ask because if we are likely to get denied over this i don't want to waste time and money on the N400. i have heard travel history along with tax filing have become major issues for USCIS

 

thanks

[Lil bear 4,575]

10 minutes ago, steve-phuket said:

my wife is on a 10 year green card issued Dec 2023, we're planning to file N400 next Sept. however we travel a lot outside the US (thailand and europe where we both have family ties), but never more than 5 months at a time and not more than 18 months in 3 years, but we will be close to the 18 month limit. do you think this will be a problem moving forward?

 

i ask because if we are likely to get denied over this i don't want to waste time and money on the N400. i have heard travel history along with tax filing have become major issues for USCIS

 

thanks

Only way to know is to get your list together and count. Any day when you were in the US for any length of v time .. eg flight departed or arrived at 00.01 in the morning .. Is counted being physically present in the US. 

[steve-phuket 10]

i keep a spread sheet of the days and carefully manage it so we will be under the 18 month limit, assuming we do not leave the US next summer its will be exactly 293 days. we may do a canada road trip but that would be no more than 2 weeks so still way under the allowed time.

 

i'm just wondering what are the typical interview questions about travel like?

 

[Lil bear 4,575]

12 minutes ago, steve-phuket said:

i keep a spread sheet of the days and carefully manage it so we will be under the 18 month limit, assuming we do not leave the US next summer its will be exactly 293 days. we may do a canada road trip but that would be no more than 2 weeks so still way under the allowed time.

 

i'm just wondering what are the typical interview questions about travel like?

 

They already know your in and out dates anyway. Questions could be raised about how you have maintained your residency while you travelled .. no matter how long or short the trips were .. evidence of drivers licence , insurance, mortgage etc all go to showing that your absences were temporary and that you maintained the US as your domicile during those periods 

[steve-phuket 10]

8 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

They already know your in and out dates anyway. Questions could be raised about how you have maintained your residency while you travelled .. no matter how long or short the trips were .. evidence of drivers licence , insurance, mortgage etc all go to showing that your absences were temporary and that you maintained the US as your domicile during those periods 

ok, well we have a house, pay prop taxes, electric, insurance etc so hopefully that should not be a problem

 

[Lil bear 4,575]

Just now, steve-phuket said:

ok, well we have a house, pay prop taxes, electric, insurance etc so hopefully that should not be a problem

 

Exactly. Go for it ! Nice to be done  with USCIS 

[OldUser 10,106]

If you have records of all trips, have enough days in the US and strong ties to the US, you'll be just fine.