traveling in the US counts for US citizenship

[Travel]

Hello,

I am a green card holder about to apply for US citizenship. In the past I took a 7 month road trip around the US and stayed in different places from hotels to B&Bs and for some time when I was hiking in the mountains just in a tent.

So I did live in the US for those 7 months but I was traveling around and generally lived in hotels for a couple of days at a time.

Does that count as physical presence in the US for N-400 application?

Thanks!

[AmericanWannabe]

Originally Posted by Travel

Hello,

I am a green card holder about to apply for US citizenship. In the past I took a 7 month road trip around the US and stayed in different places from hotels to B&Bs and for some time when I was hiking in the mountains just in a tent.

So I did live in the US for those 7 months but I was traveling around and generally lived in hotels for a couple of days at a time.

Does that count as physical presence in the US for N-400 application?

Thanks!

I assume yes (unless it is illegal for a PR to be a hobo)

[GeneM]

Originally Posted by Travel

Hello,

I am a green card holder about to apply for US citizenship. In the past I took a 7 month road trip around the US and stayed in different places from hotels to B&Bs and for some time when I was hiking in the mountains just in a tent.

So I did live in the US for those 7 months but I was traveling around and generally lived in hotels for a couple of days at a time.

Does that count as physical presence in the US for N-400 application?

Thanks!

Are you serious?
You were physically present in the United States for the 7 months you were enjoying your extended vacation. Why in the world would you ask if it counts as a presence in the US if you never left the country?

[Travel]

The reason why I would ask here is that as a green card holder you have to live & work in the US.

Traveling in the US for 7 months could mean that you are not living in the US but just being a tourist. However after I was done with 7 months I started a company so I started actually making money. When I file the application for citizenship I will accummulate 3 years / 5 years worth of physical presence. However if I subtract the 7 months - then I would not make the 30 months cut.

Also on the N-400 application they ask you what your address was for the past 5 years. Do you just put undefined? I still have all the bills from hotels or credit card statements showing I was buying groceries for example. When I was away for the 7 months I did not have a residence which I was maintaining. At that time I did not even file AR-11 because I would have to file it every 7-10 days. And I do not know what address I would put on an AR-11 when I went hiking and slept in a tent for 7 days......

So you think that everything is okay?

[TheRealCanadian]

Originally Posted by Travel

The reason why I would ask here is that as a green card holder you have to live & work in the US.

No. You have to reside in the US. There is no obligation to work.

Traveling in the US for 7 months could mean that you are not living in the US but just being a tourist.

You are residing in the US, just not in a set location.

However after I was done with 7 months I started a company so I started actually making money.

That's nice, but irrelevant for naturalization purposes.

When I file the application for citizenship I will accummulate 3 years / 5 years worth of physical presence. However if I subtract the 7 months - then I would not make the 30 months cut.

Physical presence is just that, being physically in the US. What you are doing or not doing is not relevant to the discussion.

[qwertyisback]

Originally Posted by Travel

Also on the N-400 application they ask you what your address was for the past 5 years.

I think "Travel"'s above q/s is still unanswered... I don't know the answer but curious to know.

[AmericanWannabe]

Originally Posted by qwertyisback

I think "Travel"'s above q/s is still unanswered... I don't know the answer but curious to know.

It does not matter. No one says we can not be homeless "awaarraa"
here.

[qwertyisback]

Originally Posted by AmericanWannabe

It does not matter. No one says we can not be homeless "awaarraa"
here.

Thats OK. But whats the answer of traveler's q/s?? Which address should he put on N400 application?? Can he say "homeless" in address on N400??

[GeneM]

Originally Posted by Travel

The reason why I would ask here is that as a green card holder you have to live & work in the US.

Traveling in the US for 7 months could mean that you are not living in the US but just being a tourist.
So you think that everything is okay?

Well, if your permanent residency is employment-based and you did not work for the sponsoring employer, there is a chance that you will be questioned, otherwise you can do whatever the heck you want to do with your life.

I still can not understand what you mean by saying that you were not living in the US but being a tourist. I know an older retired couple who every year travel routinely around the country for a month or two, visiting friends, family or just different places in the country. They were born in the US and never left the contiguous 48 states. I told them yesterday that, accoring to your opinion, the were not really living in the US when they were on the road.
They had a really good laugh.

BTW, did you maintain a mailing address while you were travelling?

[AmericanWannabe]

Originally Posted by qwertyisback

Thats OK. But whats the answer of traveler's q/s?? Which address should he put on N400 application?? Can he say "homeless" in address on N400??

Homeless run the risk of public charge test. But for continual
presence test, I don't see any problem. In his case,
he had money so public charge is not issue

[brb2]

Well if you travel around the country after moving out of your "home" what about informing DHS about your "current" address?