Citizenship Eligibility

I was not paying rent to my brother. Want to write a sub-lease for my current stay so that it can be handy incase I have to make an India trip.

Also, planning to get an affidavit from my previous owner to cover the 10month trip during as I was renting part of the house. Will this help ?

Thx
 
skkgc said:
Also, planning to get an affidavit from my previous owner to cover the 10month trip during as I was renting part of the house. Will this help ?

Thx
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Affidavit stating what? That you were paying rent and utilities on US apartment while you were in India? If that's the case, then yes it can strengthen your case.
 
While the 6 month trip is an issue, your 11 month trip is the biggie. But look at the bright side. It ended in June 2008. If the IO denies continuous residence ... not my call ... you need to wait only till June 2012 to file again (4 years and 1 day after your return).

You can file and hope for the best that your cumulative presence is so overwhelming that the IO does not question the 11 month trip.
Or you get rejected and need to wait only 1 year more to re-file. Many people find out when it is too late ... you still have time to "better" your numbers.
 
-Why is the 5month trip an issue ?
- Also, I am planning to go on a small trip(2months) in April and apply for citizenship in Jun'11. Is that ok ?
 

@skkgc, whilst this is rookie opinion - I think your interests will be better served if you consider hiring a lawyer.

While there will be a cost aspect of hiring a lawyer, you will have better guidance on what documents to add with your application to help your case, as well as having the lawyer with you at the interview. (perhaps a lawyer who is local and a frequent visitor to your local DO)

If you have been following the board, sometimes volunteering too much information with the application can also hurt the application at the interview stage and can be self incriminating.

As you will be kind of arranging for the required documentation (after the fact), it will perhaps be prudent to get it right the first time.
 
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5 months trip is not an issue. However, your initial comment implied it to be a 6 month trip. Usually they will not bother you with a sub-6 month trip, but if they are seriously looking, they might ask you to explain. In those cases, a 5 month 25 days trip might be suspect although as per the manual it is exempt.

2 months trip before filing N400 is not an issue as long as you return to the same residence you currently live in. If moving to a new district, you need to wait 3 months before applying.
 
Thanks everybody for the answers.

Also, if IO rejects my app'n because of the 10month trip , what should my strategy be to become eligible for 4yrs+1 day rule, namely how should I space my oversees trips till Jun'2012. I need to visit my wife (FIL/MIL problems) as much as possible, so want to keep my oversees trips to max time possible.

TIA
 
skkgc said:
how should I space my oversees trips till Jun'2012.
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Keep the trips under 6 months and separated by at least 30 days.However, don't follow a traveling pattern of using the maximum limits. For example, don't travel 175 days, come back exactly 30 days, then travel again 175 days. Your continuous residency is more likely to be questioned if they see a travel pattern based on trying to circumvent the imposed limits.
 
2 Questions

- Can anybody can help me/point to document with regard to affidavit from the owner that I was paying rent & utilities during my trip outside India for 11months ?
- What should I answer about my 11month trip so that its convincing namely (a) Taking care of parents (b) Visiting Wife (c) Expanding biz overseas


TIA
 
skkgc said:
2 Questions

- Can anybody can help me/point to document with regard to affidavit from the owner that I was paying rent & utilities during my trip outside India for 11months ?
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Do you have any bank statements and rental agreement showing you made monthly payments to your landlord while you were out of the US?

skkgc said:
- What should I answer about my 11month trip so that its convincing namely (a) Taking care of parents (b) Visiting Wife (c) Expanding biz overseas


TIA
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You should answer honestly. It's not about making things look convincing in favor of you not breaking continuous residence but rather about disclosing the truth of your situation.
 
I don't have any bank statement as my landlord only accepts cash. He is an Indian guy renting his house to individuals. Luckily, I was able to track him down and he is willing to give an affidavit that I stayed there for 2yrs (2007-2009) and paid rent/utilities on time. This affidavit is after the fact only. So any idea what the format of the affidavit need to be like ? Plz advice.

Bobsmyth said:
Do you have any bank statements and rental agreement showing you made monthly payments to your landlord while you were out of the US?

You should answer honestly. It's not about making things look convincing in favor of you not breaking continuous residence but rather about disclosing the truth of your situation.
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I just wrote something up saying this was the case and we both signed it. It was accepted. You can have it notarised too. I didn't.
 
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