Form N 14 questions after Citizenship Interview

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123helpmeplease

New Member
Hello. I have just completed my interview yesterday for my citizenship and I was able to pass the exam however the IO said that they couldn't make a decision yet on my case due to a 2-year gap I had in my records. I was out of the country from 2013-2015 to complete my studies abroad. I have provided a re-entry permit but the officer said that I will get a letter through the mail to request further documents before they can make a decision on my case. The IO also asked as to why I wasn't filing taxes for those years but I said it is because I was still a student abroad and wasn't working at that time. However, I did say that my mom was claiming me in her taxes for those years since I was still a student who was below 24 years of age.

Anybody had similar scenarios and can provide me with what to expect?
 
The re-entry permit protects your green card but it does not preserve continuous residence, which is a different issue that is needed for naturalization. Did you come back to the US at all during that period, and if so how long was any individual absence? How long after your return were you back for before filing for naturalization?
 
SusieQQQ said:
The re-entry permit protects your green card but it does not preserve continuous residence, which is a different issue that is needed for naturalization. Did you come back to the US at all during that period, and if so how long was any individual absence? How long after your return were you back for before filing for naturalization?
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I wasn’t able to come back to the us at all from may of 2013 until April of 2015 since I needed to complete my schooling. I was back on April of 2015 and haven’t left since. I applied for my naturalization on September 2019. I was advised by a lawyer that it should be fine since I have family living here which is my mom and that I didn’t have any jobs in the abroad as well but I’m not too sure anymore..
 
Here is my timeline to make it clear or if it’s any help:
2010-moved to US and GC holder
2010-2013- flew back and forth to the philippines to study. Staying in the US for about a month before I fly back to the Philippines. Making sure each time out of the US is no more than a year.
2013-2015 - got a reentry permit to stay for 2 years in the Philippines continuously so I can finish my degree
April 2015- flew back to US for good and have never left since
September 2019- applied for Citizenship
October 2019- biometrics
October 2020 - interview for citizenship and was told that I will receive a form n 14 in the mail to submit more documentation
 
123helpmeplease said:
I wasn’t able to come back to the us at all from may of 2013 until April of 2015 since I needed to complete my schooling. I was back on April of 2015 and haven’t left since. I applied for my naturalization on September 2019. I was advised by a lawyer that it should be fine since I have family living here which is my mom and that I didn’t have any jobs in the abroad as well but I’m not too sure anymore..
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Hmm. Did the lawyer advise you to apply in September specifically - I'm trying to figure out what the rationale for the timing of that is? The explanation for factors related to this is under the section “Absence of 1 Year or More” in the manual https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-3
The family/jobs thing is usually applicable to trying to rebut broken residence for more than 6 months but less than one year. I don’t know if the lawyer was angling after something like the first example in the section above, in not advising you to wait longer before you filed so that you would have a clear 5 years of continuous residence met. Perhaps you could ask him for clarification.
 
SusieQQQ said:
Hmm. Did the lawyer advise you to apply in September specifically - I'm trying to figure out what the rationale for the timing of that is? The explanation for factors related to this is under the section “Absence of 1 Year or More” in the manual
The family/jobs thing is usually applicable to trying to rebut broken residence for more than 6 months but less than one year. I don’t know if the lawyer was angling after something like the first example in the section above, in not advising you to wait longer before you filed so that you would have a clear 5 years of continuous residence met. Perhaps you could ask him for clarification.
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I went back to the conversation and emails my lawyer sent me and he actually advised I apply in the first quarter of 2019. I did September because that was the time I was able to actually complete the form and had time to do so. I tried reaching out to him again and am still waiting for his response.. thank you so much for replying to my questions! I will bring up the absence of 1 year or more to him!
 
123helpmeplease said:
I went back to the conversation and emails my lawyer sent me and he actually advised I apply in the first quarter of 2019. I did September because that was the time I was able to actually complete the form and had time to do so. I tried reaching out to him again and am still waiting for his response.. thank you so much for replying to my questions! I will bring up the absence of 1 year or more to him!
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The lawyer dropped the ball big time . This is a clear example of . Not because you can cook that makes you a Chef! Anyways ...he should've advised you to wait out the 5 year time frame so you actually meet the residency requirements. Based on your post , you did not meet said requirements. Good news is you Definitely meet those requirements now !! GL
 
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