3 year overseas assignment starting just as I'm eligible to apply for naturalization

[matthewr]

My company wants to send me overseas next year for a 3-5 year international assignment. I have had a green card since September 2006, which I think makes me eligible to apply for naturalization in June 2011 (5 years minus 3 months). Since September 2006 I have not been outside the country for >6 months, and have already exceeded the 30 months of physical presence I need for naturalization. The problem is that I probably need to start the job overseas in May 2011, before I can apply for naturalization. It's absolutely our intention to come back to the US - we have two sons who are US citizens, and we will be maintaining property, bank accounts etc in the US while we're away, and in fact I will probably have to come back for meetings every month. However, we will be renting out our house while we're away.

Is there any way I can start off the naturalization process and make the move overseas in between the application and the interview? Or am I going to need to either commute between here and Asia (aaargh) or alternatively put everything on hold until we come back whilst applying for preservation of my status? On a more minor note - if you have a green card and a re-entry permit, can you use the US citizens/permanent residents line in the immigration hall? I can't bear the thought of 3+ years of abuse back in the other line

Thanks in advance for any thoughts....

 

[Jackolantern]

Is it a US company? If yes, you may be able to get an N-470 to preserve continuous residence while overseas, if you have also spent 12 consecutive months in the US at any time since becoming a permanent resident (download the N-470 and instructions for details).

Otherwise, if it's a non-US company, the reentry permit will still preserve your green card, but the employment with a foreign company could mess up your citizenship chances. However, if you're returning to the US almost every month and keeping your assets in the US that makes your case stronger. It could go either way.

On a more minor note - if you have a green card and a re-entry permit, can you use the US citizens/permanent residents line in the immigration hall?

Of course. Why not? You're still a permanent resident; the reentry permit doesn't change that.

 

[matthewr]

Thanks. It is a US company. I don't have the spreadsheet at home, but from memory I have never been 365 days continuously in the US because I've had to travel a lot for work since getting here. It seems a bit weird to me that the only thing standing between me and preserving my more than 4 years spent in this country could be a 3 day trip to Switzerland, but I guess I'm not the one who makes the laws.... Not until I've got a passport and run for the Senate, that is.

You made me smile with the last line, though

Thanks again!

 

[Bobsmyth]

It seems a bit weird to me that the only thing standing between me and preserving my more than 4 years spent in this country could be a 3 day trip to Switzerland

Not unless you're so close to losing physical presence requirement, or don't have at least one year of continuous residency for N-470 eligibility.

You'll have to be residing in the US in order to apply for naturalization. The N-470 will only preserve your continuous residency.

 

[Jackolantern]

Well, even if you don't already have 365 consecutive days, maybe you can accumulate them between now and the time you have to relocate abroad.

However, try to find out if anybody else had an N-470 approved or rejected while working for the same company. Sometimes what you think is a US company is not considered a US company by USCIS, because it has some kind of foreign ownership structure that you don't know about.