GC holder returned to US on returning resident visa want to apply for Citizenship
I have been a permanent resident since 4/30/02 and have made several trips abroad (dates of travel for last 5 years listed below). I was also in India for about 2 years between 1/30/05 to 03/02/07 and returned to the US on a returning resident visa (SB-1 visa) after proving at a US consulate in India that I did not abandon my residence. They gave me an immigration packet that I handed in at the port of entry and I was allowed to enter the US. Although USCIS opened a case for this (which is pending), their welcome notice said the following:
"Note if you have submitted a SB1 visa, you will not receive a new I-551 card. Your previous A-number and the corresponding I-551 card are still valid unless the card has expired, been lost, stolen or the personal information has changed. If you are not in possession of your previously issued I-551 or changes are required you will need to file an I90 with the appropriate applicable fees in order to receive a replacement card".
However, after some time, they sent me a request for evidence (RFE) that stated the following:
"USCIS systems do not indicate you have returned your original I-551 card to the California Service Center. This office is unable to complete the adjudication of your new I-551 card until you complete the process".
So I returned the card back to them. After I did so, they sent my old green card back to me in a few days with a letter stating the following:
"Your original card is being mailed back to you after thorough review of your case. It was determined that the code in our systems was entered in error upon your last arrival but the code on the I-551 card itself was correct. Please use this card until it expires. If you remain in status and continue to qualify, you may apply for a new card upon its expiration".
Am I right in assuming that reapplying for a new green card through form I90 when the old one is about to expire (in 2012) shouldn't be a problem? Also note that I have been physically present in the US for about 27 months in the past 5 years. So I was wondering when would be a good time for me to apply for my citizenship.
Dates of travel:
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8/30/03 to 9/21/03
4/9/04 to 4/13/04
6/16/04 to 6/23/04
1/30/05 to 03/02/07
Please let me know when I can apply for citizenship. Also, are there any requirements like continuous employment, type of employment, minimum income, bank balance, income in tax returns, etc for the 5 year period when applying.