Long absences from country

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gurram1941

Registered Users (C)
I got my green card in Jan 2002. From that time until Sept 2005 I stayed in US, except for a few trips not lasting more than 30 days at a time. In Sept 2005 I moved to another country to explore some business options. During this time I came to US after 178 days and after 179 days. In the that time I used my friends place as residence. Renewed my drivers licenseand paid a traffic ticket. I kept my bank accounts and 401k. I pay utility and telephone bill. I will get a 1099 issued this year for some business I generated and I will pay taxes on that as well.

Any thoughts on how my interview will be?
Just scared..
During this time my husband was also travelling.
 
I don't think you should worry much. To be on the safe side you should keep your airline itinery (or tickets) to show your exact arrival and departure dates just in case you need to prove that you did not stay 180 days out of the country.
 
Thanks for the reply. I have exact dates on the passport stamped. Hope that will suffice.
It is stressful for us not knowing what will happen in the interview.
 
Interviews do seem to depend on a bit of luck - particularly whether you get an understanding IO or not.

Probably the big question is are you continuing to live outside the US now, or was your overseas business concluded and you moved back home? If the former, I predict you'll have interview problems trying to explain 2, 3, 4... short duration stays in the US every 178 days. If your interview were tomorrow, you might get away with it.
 
And, you'll need to emphasize (truthfully) that your intent was to remain a US resident - that you did not consider abandoning your residence. That you were only investigating business opportunities.

That's why paying taxes, keeping driving licenses, addresses, etc is so important. It goes to show your intent.
 
I am working as a contractor for a small company based in US. As part of that job, I am based in another country to generate some business.
In order to be on the safe side, I might quit and stay at US until I resolve citizenship issue.

Thanks
 
Would staying the in US now continously after fingerprinting will help my case that I am intending to stay to US permanently? I might not have a job though.
Also will have I have take a separate apartment in my name? In that case. my address will be different than that in N400 forms.

Any advice??


Thanks
Gurram
 
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