Continuous Residency Requirements before applying for Citizenship

[jtempindia]

My parents became permanent residents in Mar 2007 and have been residing in the US. Due to family relationships, they have since made 3 trips to India, all less than 6 months, in Sept 2007 (169 days), Mar 2009 (167 days) and Oct 2010 (167 days). The following is all the trips they took:

Sept 2007 to Mar 2008 - 169 days - India
Aug 2008 - 12 days - Canada
Dec 2008 - 9 days - Cruise
Mar 2009 to Aug 2009 - 167 days - India
April 2010 - 3 days - Canada
Oct 2010 to April 2011 - 167 days - India

They plan to apply for Citizenship about 90 days prior Mar 2012 (5 years stay). Would they have an problems with their application?

Thanks

 

[cafeconleche]

Since the long trips were taken with gaps in the US or trips to other countries, and it looks like they have enough physical presence, they should be good.

 

[baikal3]

My parents became permanent residents in Mar 2007 and have been residing in the US. Due to family relationships, they have since made 3 trips to India, all less than 6 months, in Sept 2007 (169 days), Mar 2009 (167 days) and Oct 2010 (167 days). The following is all the trips they took:

Sept 2007 to Mar 2008 - 169 days - India
Aug 2008 - 12 days - Canada
Dec 2008 - 9 days - Cruise
Mar 2009 to Aug 2009 - 167 days - India
April 2010 - 3 days - Canada
Oct 2010 to April 2011 - 167 days - India

They plan to apply for Citizenship about 90 days prior Mar 2012 (5 years stay). Would they have an problems with their application?

Thanks

Even a single trip below 180 days in duration may cause a problem with continuous residency requirement, depending on circumstances.
In the case of your parents, the three extended trips were quite close to 180 days in duration each, so they need to be prepared to be questioned closely about them.

What exactly will happen at the interviews (they will have separate interviews) will very much depend on their luck with the IOs conducting the interviews. They do need to be prepared to provide evidence of maintaining close ties to the U.S. during those trips, such as evidence of maintaining employment, mortgage/rent statements, transcripts of tax returns for the years in question etc.