IS reentry permit required ? Does it have any effect on Naturalization process?

[GC2002_MD]

Hi,
My wife is a green card holder . She is planning to visit India for 8 months. 1. Does she require Reentry permit?.
2. Will Staying outside the country for more than 180 days has any effect on the naturalization process in future ?.
3. Will filing REP have any effect on the naturalization process?.

Thanks in advance for the feedback / advise.

 

[arcdocs]

A re-entry permit is required if the person has stayed abroad for more than 12 months. Your wife should be fine if she returns back in 8 months. As far as affecting her citizenship application is concerned, I think the requirement is that she be a resident of the US for 5 years continuously after GC approval. Whether or not an 8 month absence would be considered an interruption of that requirement I don't know. Consult with an immigration attorney to make sure.

 

[pralay]

2. Will Staying outside the country for more than 180 days has any effect on the naturalization process in future ?.

Yes, it will break her continuous residency. In special cases and in a very few circumstances staying more than 180 days does not break continuous residency. It's unlikely your wife will fall into that category.

 

[grunggy]

From Murthy.com
May 16,2005

Chat User : Can I go back to my country right after my I-485 stamping and stay there for a year?

Attorney Murthy : A permanent resident who does not reside or work in the U.S. could be deemed to have abandoned his/her permanent residency status by failing to live here permanently. An absence of more than 180 days in one stretch would lead to a presumption of the break of continuity for residency purposes when filing for citizenship and could also result in the GC being confiscated at the border by the POE inspector. One must consider taking a Reentry Permit or filing other documents to evidence strong ties to the U.S.