I was interviewed in early this month. If you stayed away from U.S. for more than 6 months and have an I131 Re-entry permit to stay abroad please take with you all the relevant documents pertaining to your stay abroad. Your travel tickets, any medical reason abroad, every document that spells the reason why you were abroad for more than 6 months. Do not try to CHEAT.
I was interviewed for more than 45 minutes and was asked to produce all the documents that related to the reason for being abroad. NEXT have all documents pertaining to your residency in the U.S. Your family's residence lease papers in the U.S while you were abroad, rent receipts (if your family was living in an apartment while you were abroad), tax papers for the past 5 years (get them from IRS) for no cost. Advocate your case with the relevant documents in hand. Don't beat about the bush. Despite having all the requisite papers it took me a long time to convince the IO about my more than 6 months stay abroad. Get copies of your credit cards statements which you had during the period you were abroad (call the banks for a free copy) and were paying. Loans (including student loans) you had and were paying back during your absence from the U.S. Take any and all documentation to substantiate your cause. I cleared the naturalization interview. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
I was interviewed for more than 45 minutes and was asked to produce all the documents that related to the reason for being abroad. NEXT have all documents pertaining to your residency in the U.S. Your family's residence lease papers in the U.S while you were abroad, rent receipts (if your family was living in an apartment while you were abroad), tax papers for the past 5 years (get them from IRS) for no cost. Advocate your case with the relevant documents in hand. Don't beat about the bush. Despite having all the requisite papers it took me a long time to convince the IO about my more than 6 months stay abroad. Get copies of your credit cards statements which you had during the period you were abroad (call the banks for a free copy) and were paying. Loans (including student loans) you had and were paying back during your absence from the U.S. Take any and all documentation to substantiate your cause. I cleared the naturalization interview. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.