HELP: Jobs Outside US while a PR

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lrabbani

New Member
Hi there, I obtained my PR in May 2004 (obtained through my job) and in last 3 years had to travel almost every month to Canada for job related activities for short trips (2-3 days at a time) for my US employer but have been based in US (along with my wife and children) and don't think that is an issue for the continuous stay requirement. Now I am getting lay'd off and considering an opportunity to do some independent consulting in Europe and the company that I will work with will sponsor me for work visa there. My 5 year time frame is in May of 2009 and understand that I can apply in Feb 2009 for Citizenship. I plan to start this new job in Europe in November/December and will travel back to US every Month to visit my wife and children as they will not move with me there.

Question, is this something that will create a problem for me to get citizenship here? How long does it take to get the US passport once I apply in Feb 2009? I live in Connecticut. Your opinion/advise will be much appreciated.
 
If the company is US based you may want to look into applying for N-470 to preserve your continual residence requirement.
Also, is the position temporary? If so, can you get that in writing from the company? The fact that your family will remain in US combined with a proof of temporary contract can go along way to preserve your continual residency.
 
lrabbani said:
Hi there, I obtained my PR in May 2004 (obtained through my job) and in last 3 years had to travel almost every month to Canada for job related activities for short trips (2-3 days at a time) for my US employer but have been based in US (along with my wife and children) and don't think that is an issue for the continuous stay requirement. Now I am getting lay'd off and considering an opportunity to do some independent consulting in Europe and the company that I will work with will sponsor me for work visa there. My 5 year time frame is in May of 2009 and understand that I can apply in Feb 2009 for Citizenship. I plan to start this new job in Europe in November/December and will travel back to US every Month to visit my wife and children as they will not move with me there.

Question, is this something that will create a problem for me to get citizenship here? How long does it take to get the US passport once I apply in Feb 2009? I live in Connecticut. Your opinion/advise will be much appreciated.
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Is your company a US company? If not, it would be too risky because if you would be traveling to Europe every month and your oath ceremony (final stage) theoretically will take place in September 2009 to Feb 2010 (if namecheck is completed), the total months of traveling would be greater than 6 months. That would be no good, I am not saying that it would be denied, but IO would surely bring up questions about your travel and tax. Try to get a US job to avoid tensions and worrisome. I am curious.. why did you choose to work outside usa (i.e canada and then europe) instead of usa when you are a US permanent resident? After becoming a US citizen, you can work outside as long as you want.

Are Your wife and your children US citizens even though I understand they will stay in US and will not move to europe/canada with you? If not, they will have no problems to become US citizens.
 
lrabbani said:
Thanks for the reply Bob. The company is not based in US and it's not structured as temporary contract either!
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A non-temporary employment contract outside the US with a non US company combined with a pattern of back and forth travel to US every month is a path that leads to break in US residential ties.
On the other hand, the fact your family will remain in US and (I assume) you will continue to pay rent/mortgage in US, are evidence of US residential ties.
In the end, it will be up to the IO at interview to determine if you have meet the requirements of continual residence with the evidence presented.
 
Thanks USGC485. I have worked for a US conglomerate company and given the nature of my job, it required fro me to travel to Canada. It has become an increasingly global economy and the type of work that I do takes me to outside of US. My Wife and children will remain here. I guess I need to think some more before I take on this.
 
If you are still on that overseas job when your interview happens, you will almost surely be denied. To have a good chance of convincing them otherwise, you should be in the US for at least 6-12 straight months (except for very tiny vacations like 1 week here and there) after your long series of overseas trips before applying. Of course, anything can happen based on the discretion of the IO and none of us can say what the IO will actually decide; we're just mentioning what can make your chances better or worse.
 
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Thanks for the comment. So, essentially you are saying to not file for citizenship until after I am re-settled back in a US based job.
 
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