7 month away while applying for citizenship, 2 trips to USA in the meantime

A

azzuri

Registered Users (C)
Hello,

Do you think I could have any issues at the interview?

Left USA after being laid-off in Oct 2010 to spend time with family and work with a client abroad on behalf of my own LLC, incorporated in USA. Came back in Jan for 10 days, filed N-400 as soon as I became eligible, then back again in March for fingerprinting and now coming back to USA for good in mid May in order to start a consulting project in USA. So total time away 7 months (with two trips to USA in between). Expecting interview in the 2nd half of June.

My wife has always been in USA during that time (also filed for citizenship in the same time), we own the same property were we have always lived in since 2001, always filing US income tax returns. Also, I have been collecting severance pay from my previous employer during the time out of the country. During that time maintained my US bank accounts (personal, business), credit card accounts (personal, business), car, car insurance, medical insurance, during one trips to USA extended driver's licence to keep it valid, have always maintained my cell phone account in USA while out of the country.

Thanks for feedback
 
azzuri said:
Hello,

Do you think I could have any issues at the interview?
Click to expand...

Since you have back to back trips and have spend the majority of your time outside the US during the naturalization process, you may be asked to provide proof of US residential ties.
 
I had a similar case, although I was studying abroad. Gone from Sept '10 and came back 3 times to file, FP and do the interview. I went with a file full of proof just in case I was asked for it, but the IO didn't say a word and didn't want to see a thing. It was a complete non-issue.

I don't think you should have any issues at all, I think the fact that your wife was here shows ample proof that you had no intentions of breaking ties with the US. But as suggested above, I'd take all the proof of ties along with you at the interview, just in case the IO wants to see more. There's no reason why an IO should give you a hard time but you don't want your case to be delayed if they do want you to send them additional proof. So just go prepared. It really depends on the person who is interviewing you and how nitpicky they want to be. But don't unnecessarily offer to show anything unless asked for by the officer. Sometimes too much information is not good either.
I'd just take a few things like: tax transcripts, car insurance, deed, mortgage payments etc.
 
Can you please share your interview experience? Especially if IO questioned you about your 7-month stay abroad.

Many thanks.
 
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