A lot of information gets posted and sometimes it’s easy to find, sometimes not. I wish there was a sticky that clarified information once and for all. Here are my specific comments/questions.
1. While I know that you can stay out of the country for less than six months and upto one year without a re-entry permit, you may be required to answer some questions upon return and the officer needs to be satisfied that you have not abandoned residence.
2. So, when does the clock start ticking after the Green Card and six month stipulation? For eg. I get my GC approved in July of 2008 and I don’t travel overseas until 1st October of 2008. So, in the calendar year 2008, I have only traveled 3 months and been out of the country. Then in calendar year 2009, I return the last day of March. Is that again calendar year 2009 that I’ve been gone for 3 months, or it doesn’t matter and I’ll be considered gone a total of six months (from maintaining eligibility for citizenship?). Is everything calculated from the time you got your GC, or is it based on calendar year?
3. Which brings me to the second question. Is there a real and clear requirement that of the six months that one must stay in the US (or 180 days) to not only maintain GC, but be eligible for citizenship when the time comes, that you cannot even make a single overseas trip even for a few days? So, let’s say I decide to stay in the US from Jan 1st to June 30th. The rest of the year I do plan to travel overseas for a couple of months. Is it true then that if I had to make an emergency trip overseas between Jan and June, even for a few days, I have reset my clock for US citizenship eligibility?
4. If that’s indeed true to the last point, then I may never be eligible for citizenship anytime soon. Especially if my job is such that it requires me to travel overseas every few months.
5. Lastly, is it a pattern of travel and duration of stay overseas that is a bigger factor than anything else when it comes to citizenship? If I have been gone every few months for a week or two, it’s still ok, than to be gone for more than six months each year?
Thank you for your thoughtful responses!
1. While I know that you can stay out of the country for less than six months and upto one year without a re-entry permit, you may be required to answer some questions upon return and the officer needs to be satisfied that you have not abandoned residence.
2. So, when does the clock start ticking after the Green Card and six month stipulation? For eg. I get my GC approved in July of 2008 and I don’t travel overseas until 1st October of 2008. So, in the calendar year 2008, I have only traveled 3 months and been out of the country. Then in calendar year 2009, I return the last day of March. Is that again calendar year 2009 that I’ve been gone for 3 months, or it doesn’t matter and I’ll be considered gone a total of six months (from maintaining eligibility for citizenship?). Is everything calculated from the time you got your GC, or is it based on calendar year?
3. Which brings me to the second question. Is there a real and clear requirement that of the six months that one must stay in the US (or 180 days) to not only maintain GC, but be eligible for citizenship when the time comes, that you cannot even make a single overseas trip even for a few days? So, let’s say I decide to stay in the US from Jan 1st to June 30th. The rest of the year I do plan to travel overseas for a couple of months. Is it true then that if I had to make an emergency trip overseas between Jan and June, even for a few days, I have reset my clock for US citizenship eligibility?
4. If that’s indeed true to the last point, then I may never be eligible for citizenship anytime soon. Especially if my job is such that it requires me to travel overseas every few months.
5. Lastly, is it a pattern of travel and duration of stay overseas that is a bigger factor than anything else when it comes to citizenship? If I have been gone every few months for a week or two, it’s still ok, than to be gone for more than six months each year?
Thank you for your thoughtful responses!
