santosh_30
Registered Users (C)
Hi All
Here is one mother of convoluted GC app involving study abroad. Only other person I think who can rival this would be the Cafeconleche application.
Received green card on 01/03/2007
Date left US Date returned US Days out of US Months out of US
03/07/2007 03/13/2007 7 0.25
12/28/2008 05/30/2009 153 5.1
06/04/2009 11/05/2009 154 5.1
11/15/2009 03/27/2010 132 4.4
04/07/2010 08/09/2010 124 4.1
12/29/2010 01/25/2011 27 0.9
02/01/2011 04/29/2011 87 2.9
Total days out=684
Total months out=22.8
5 years since green card will be on 01/03/2012
Summary:
Got my green card on 3rd Jan 2007. Since then I have never been out of the US for more than ~ 5 months so have not broken continuity of residence and my total time out of the US is around 23 months. So am well over the 30 month physical presence test.
Here are some more details
1) After getting the GC, except for a one week work trip to Japan, I was in the US (California) for almost 2 years.
2) Then I left for Europe to get a business degree which included a 5 month exchange in Asia. The program lasted about 20 months and I came back to the US every 4 or 5 months and stayed for anywhere from 5 days to 11 days.
3) After the degree, I spent about 4 months in US. Then went to India for one month, back to US for a week and then to South America for 3 months.
4) I came back in early May 2011 and have been in US since then.
5) My permanent address since I left for Europe in Dec 2008 was my brother’s house address in Maryland. This was also my address for banking, credit cards, etc.
6) I have commitments/ties in the US in the form of my immediate family (brother) who is now a permanent resident, my student loans, credit cards, etc.
7) I had a 24 month reentry permit (RP) which was valid throughout my study period
8) I paid Federal and Maryland state taxes when I was abroad.
9) I didn’t take any employment when abroad. Actually for almost a year that I was in school I was getting paid by my US ex-employer intermittently for consulting projects
10) Now I am in California to look for a job but my permanent address is still in Maryland.
As you can see, this is a convoluted situation and my head is spinning as I am filling the N400 form. I can't afford a lawyer right now. I would really appreciate it if you can answer some questions.
a) Part 6.A where they ask for residence. For the ~20 month period when I was studying in Europe and Asia, do I write my brother’s address in the US as my residence?
b) After I returned from studies, my mailing address for everything is my brother’s Maryland address though I spent some 6 months in California looking for jobs. So do I write my brother’s address here too?
c) Currently I am in California in a temporary rental. Should I write my brother’s Maryland address as my permanent address?
d) In part 7, they ask about time outside the US. I backpacked to many countries in East and West Europe during my stay in Europe. Do I mention all the countries?
I understand this is a lot of information to digest. But I wont be eligible to file until September. So please take your time and share any words of wisdom and experience you have.
Thanking all of you in anticipation.
Best
S
Here is one mother of convoluted GC app involving study abroad. Only other person I think who can rival this would be the Cafeconleche application.
Received green card on 01/03/2007
Date left US Date returned US Days out of US Months out of US
03/07/2007 03/13/2007 7 0.25
12/28/2008 05/30/2009 153 5.1
06/04/2009 11/05/2009 154 5.1
11/15/2009 03/27/2010 132 4.4
04/07/2010 08/09/2010 124 4.1
12/29/2010 01/25/2011 27 0.9
02/01/2011 04/29/2011 87 2.9
Total days out=684
Total months out=22.8
5 years since green card will be on 01/03/2012
Summary:
Got my green card on 3rd Jan 2007. Since then I have never been out of the US for more than ~ 5 months so have not broken continuity of residence and my total time out of the US is around 23 months. So am well over the 30 month physical presence test.
Here are some more details
1) After getting the GC, except for a one week work trip to Japan, I was in the US (California) for almost 2 years.
2) Then I left for Europe to get a business degree which included a 5 month exchange in Asia. The program lasted about 20 months and I came back to the US every 4 or 5 months and stayed for anywhere from 5 days to 11 days.
3) After the degree, I spent about 4 months in US. Then went to India for one month, back to US for a week and then to South America for 3 months.
4) I came back in early May 2011 and have been in US since then.
5) My permanent address since I left for Europe in Dec 2008 was my brother’s house address in Maryland. This was also my address for banking, credit cards, etc.
6) I have commitments/ties in the US in the form of my immediate family (brother) who is now a permanent resident, my student loans, credit cards, etc.
7) I had a 24 month reentry permit (RP) which was valid throughout my study period
8) I paid Federal and Maryland state taxes when I was abroad.
9) I didn’t take any employment when abroad. Actually for almost a year that I was in school I was getting paid by my US ex-employer intermittently for consulting projects
10) Now I am in California to look for a job but my permanent address is still in Maryland.
As you can see, this is a convoluted situation and my head is spinning as I am filling the N400 form. I can't afford a lawyer right now. I would really appreciate it if you can answer some questions.
a) Part 6.A where they ask for residence. For the ~20 month period when I was studying in Europe and Asia, do I write my brother’s address in the US as my residence?
b) After I returned from studies, my mailing address for everything is my brother’s Maryland address though I spent some 6 months in California looking for jobs. So do I write my brother’s address here too?
c) Currently I am in California in a temporary rental. Should I write my brother’s Maryland address as my permanent address?
d) In part 7, they ask about time outside the US. I backpacked to many countries in East and West Europe during my stay in Europe. Do I mention all the countries?
I understand this is a lot of information to digest. But I wont be eligible to file until September. So please take your time and share any words of wisdom and experience you have.
Thanking all of you in anticipation.
Best
S