How long should I stay to apply for citizenship

I

immissues

Registered Users (C)
I got my GC 18 months back. My parents are india who are physically sick. So they want me to stay with them in india. But I dont want to loose my GC, and I would like to apply for citizenship.
My Questions are:

1. How long once I should visit America to maintain my GC?

2. When I visit USA how long I should stay before going to india?

3. One of my friend said that I should stay atlease 30months in America in 5 years before applying the citizenship.
Is 30 months stay is continuous in 5 years or altogether I should stay 30 months in America before applying for Citizenship.
 
1. With a reentry permit -> 2 years from the time of issue.
Without a reentry -> 365 days from time of departure

2. No fixed time. You can get a stamp on your passport and leave immediately. However if you do this more than once , the INS may argue that you abandoned your US residence.

3. 30 months = Total presence in the last 5 years prior to applying. Not continious.

My advice:
Apply for a reentry permit(I-131) immediately. Takes bout a year to get one anyways.
Spend time with your parents for a year or two at the most. Come back and apply for citizenship 4 years + 1 day from the time of your return.

Maintain ties with the US in your time away to prove you did not abandon your residence
 
I cant understand your 1st answer. When I am leaving the country you are meaning to say that they will stamp in my passport? Please explain.

Thanks for your response.
 
Do I have to have apartment, bank account, job and pay taxes every year when I am not in this country for 180 days?
 
Can I file US taxes even if I am in india? I am planning not to work when I am in india? So I believe I will not have any income when I visit. Is that is OK. I can maintain bank account and file taxes. But I cant maintain the apartment. Is that is OK when I am applying for Citizenship.
 
Be careful, immigration officers have used excessive stays abroad, even with re-entry permit, to judge that a person has abandoned his/her PR status.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top