I would like all the friends involved in explaining satisfactorily the family ties with US at the interviews to share their personal experiences to overcome this technical question.
During the last five years, I had two long absences of more than six months (in 2006 for 250 days and in 2007 for 262 days). I and my wife have been living in US and living with our son in NY as his dependents where we have an exclusive one bed room with attached bath exclusively at our disposal. Both of our sons are US citizens and settled in US. One daughter is married and well settled in India. Except her we have no immediate family member in India - except of course all other relatives are in India.
We got the GC in Nov 2003 and after three months in USA, we went back to India in Jan 2004 and returned back only in Nov 2004. At that stage we obtained re-entry permit to return within two years but we returned early. I was under the impression that absence of more than one year causes a break which was written on the Immigration Certificate also and no where I found or understood that absence of more than six months will cause such a problem. Many friends from India who had taken green card were visiting US after spending 11 months in India to keep GC intact. I never realized that more than six months will come in the way.
I have ignored the first absence of 10 months in 2004 and started counting five year cycle from Nov 2004 which I completed in Nov 2009. I completed the 30-months physical presence requirement in April 2009.
I had small time employments with my son's company in NY but with broken periods - employment strictly on actual time spent and working basis. In 2007I had no employment the whole year although I filed 2007 Tax Return with just one month's small salary of December 2006 paid in January 2007. Tax Returns filed for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
I have a letter (which I sent with my N 400 application) from my son certifying that we have been living with him in his house where we have an exclusive one bed room with attach bath for our exclusive use. I don't whether that will satisfactorily explain maintaining family ties with US. We also have a Bank account since January 2005 in NY apart from Driver Licence of NY since Nov 2004.
Can anybody in similarly placed situations help me with his/her/their personal experiences at the interview and how to make perfect documentation in advance.
I have filed my N 400 on November 30 with PD of 3rd December.
11/30/2009 - Sent N 400 to Lewisville, TX
12/03/2009 - Delivered to Dallas, TX
12/07/2009 - NOA mailed (with PD of 12/03/2009)
12/15/2009 - FP Letter Mailed
12/24/2009 - FP Done (Walk-in) - FP Date 01/05/2010 at Hicksville, NY ASC
Based on the information available at this discussion forum, I am expecting the Interview Letter soon for NY DO - hoping for the Interview in the later half of February or early March 2010.
Thanks for your help and guidance
NRI 107
During the last five years, I had two long absences of more than six months (in 2006 for 250 days and in 2007 for 262 days). I and my wife have been living in US and living with our son in NY as his dependents where we have an exclusive one bed room with attached bath exclusively at our disposal. Both of our sons are US citizens and settled in US. One daughter is married and well settled in India. Except her we have no immediate family member in India - except of course all other relatives are in India.
We got the GC in Nov 2003 and after three months in USA, we went back to India in Jan 2004 and returned back only in Nov 2004. At that stage we obtained re-entry permit to return within two years but we returned early. I was under the impression that absence of more than one year causes a break which was written on the Immigration Certificate also and no where I found or understood that absence of more than six months will cause such a problem. Many friends from India who had taken green card were visiting US after spending 11 months in India to keep GC intact. I never realized that more than six months will come in the way.
I have ignored the first absence of 10 months in 2004 and started counting five year cycle from Nov 2004 which I completed in Nov 2009. I completed the 30-months physical presence requirement in April 2009.
I had small time employments with my son's company in NY but with broken periods - employment strictly on actual time spent and working basis. In 2007I had no employment the whole year although I filed 2007 Tax Return with just one month's small salary of December 2006 paid in January 2007. Tax Returns filed for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
I have a letter (which I sent with my N 400 application) from my son certifying that we have been living with him in his house where we have an exclusive one bed room with attach bath for our exclusive use. I don't whether that will satisfactorily explain maintaining family ties with US. We also have a Bank account since January 2005 in NY apart from Driver Licence of NY since Nov 2004.
Can anybody in similarly placed situations help me with his/her/their personal experiences at the interview and how to make perfect documentation in advance.
I have filed my N 400 on November 30 with PD of 3rd December.
11/30/2009 - Sent N 400 to Lewisville, TX
12/03/2009 - Delivered to Dallas, TX
12/07/2009 - NOA mailed (with PD of 12/03/2009)
12/15/2009 - FP Letter Mailed
12/24/2009 - FP Done (Walk-in) - FP Date 01/05/2010 at Hicksville, NY ASC
Based on the information available at this discussion forum, I am expecting the Interview Letter soon for NY DO - hoping for the Interview in the later half of February or early March 2010.
Thanks for your help and guidance
NRI 107