Assignment aboard (Canada)

[siri2001]

Here is my situation. I got my GC in Jan 2003 but was out of country for almost 2 years. I came back to US in April 2006 with a reentry permit and plan to stay until I am eligible to apply for US citizenship. My understanding is that if I stay and work in US, I will be eligible to apply for US citizenship in May 2010 per the “4 years and 1 day” rule. However, my current employer wants to send me to work in Canada for probably 2 years. The role requires me to temporarily relocate to Canada until the project is complete. I am hesitant to accept the role but with current economic situation I probably don’t have much choice. I'm also not sure how it will impact my eligibility.

1) How would it affect my eligibility to apply for US citizenship if I accepted the role? Note: I still will be working for the same employer.
2) Is there a way I can maintain my eligibility while working in Canada. I am thinking of asking my employer to allow me to fly back to US every 6 months and something in that nature. Any suggestions are welcome.


Thanks.

 

[Bobsmyth]

Here is my situation. I got my GC in Jan 2003 but was out of country for almost 2 years. I came back to US in April 2006 with a reentry permit and plan to stay until I am eligible to apply for US citizenship. My understanding is that if I stay and work in US, I will be eligible to apply for US citizenship in May 2010 per the “4 years and 1 day” rule. However, my current employer wants to send me to work in Canada for probably 2 years. The role requires me to temporarily relocate to Canada until the project is complete. I am hesitant to accept the role but with current economic situation I probably don’t have much choice. I'm also not sure how it will impact my eligibility.

1) How would it affect my eligibility to apply for US citizenship if I accepted the role? Note: I still will be working for the same employer.
2) Is there a way I can maintain my eligibility while working in Canada. I am thinking of asking my employer to allow me to fly back to US every 6 months and something in that nature. Any suggestions are welcome.


Thanks.

If your employer is asking you to relocate to Canada to work, ask them if they are willing to fill out N-470 for you so that you can retain your continuous residency requirement for naturalization.

 

[siri2001]

If your employer is asking you to relocate to Canada to work, ask them if they are willing to fill out N-470 for you so that you can retain your continuous residency requirement for naturalization.

Thanks, Bobsmyth for the info about the N-470. I researched and read other threads about it, there are also suggestions that one also needs to apply for reentry permit along with the application for N-470.

Is it true? If so, why an approved N-470 alone is not enough to show intention to maintain residency in US?

 

[Bobsmyth]

Thanks, Bobsmyth for the info about the N-470. I researched and read other threads about it, there are also suggestions that one also needs to apply for reentry permit along with the application for N-470.

Is it true? If so, why an approved N-470 alone is not enough to show intention to maintain residency in US?

The reentry permit is specifically to preserve LPR status whereas the N-470 is to preserve continuous residence for naturalization purposes.