Greetings!
I'm hoping to gather some educated opinions and facts about the aforementioned part of the N-400 form.
I'll try to keep this short but to be as detailed as possible.
I came to the US in 2007 as a K-1 and got my green card in early 2008. Between June 2009 and June 2010, I spent more time outside of the US than inside. I had a job abroad but maintained my residence and mailing address in the US throughout that time.
Since June 2010, I've been in the US continuously.
Had I not been out of the country between 2009 and 2010, I would have applied for citizenship in 2011. I chose not to. Now that I've been in the US continuously for 3+ years, I am getting ready to apply on the basis of marriage.
So my question is about listing my addresses for the past 5 years. I purposely didn't file an AR-11 in June 2009 to notify USCIS that I was going to reside abroad, not to conceal that fact but simply because my US address remained valid and never changed since I first came to the US. The way I see it, I resided in the US but was staying abroad for a limited time. I was actually staying at my dad's during that time. He had had a stroke while visiting me during the 2008 holiday season so I'd made the decision to go "home" for a time and be with him.
Like I said, I maintained a residence and mailing address in the US -- I actually applied for I-751 (removal of conditions) during that time, I got their biometrics appointment notice and all correspondence related to the I-751 (including an RFE) during that time, then I got the 10-year green card, no issues. I'm saying all that to emphasize the fact that my US mailing address was valid and actively in use even though I was physically abroad.
The next section is about listing my employers for the past 5 years. I will list my employer abroad, no question about that.
With respect to all of the above, I am trying to be logical in the information I disclose.
No doubt when they see my employers for the past 5 years, they will question where I lived while I worked abroad.
Will they hold it against me if I list my address abroad although I didn't file an AR-11 for that time, or will they hold it against me not to mention my address abroad?
Keep in mind: I am not trying to conceal anything or lie about anything. I'm trying to be logical/do the right thing. I've read here and there that USCIS is not interested in any address I may have had abroad, only addresses in the US, but I don't know if it relates only to the AR-11 filing requirements, or if that also applies to that part of form N-400.
I've often read not to try and overinterpret USCIS instructions -- if they're asking for my addresses for the past 5 years, that's what I should list and not ask any questions, but I just don't want to get in trouble or whatever because I didn't file an AR-11 for that when I didn't think I ought to have
Finally I should point out that I actually spoke to an immigration attorney about all this two years ago and he said to go ahead and apply right away, but I didn't, and between then and now, the N-400 form underwent a big change, including part 6
-- this wouldn't be an issue if I'd applied when he said to!
Thanks for reading everything, I appreciate the time you took, even if you don't respond, but I would love to hear from anyone if you have thoughts on the matter. Let me know if you have any questions!
P.S. Isn't it annoying that I'm applying on the basis of marriage and I meet all the requirements over the past 3 years, but they want my 5-year history anyway? What a drag, I tell ya
I'm hoping to gather some educated opinions and facts about the aforementioned part of the N-400 form.
I'll try to keep this short but to be as detailed as possible.
I came to the US in 2007 as a K-1 and got my green card in early 2008. Between June 2009 and June 2010, I spent more time outside of the US than inside. I had a job abroad but maintained my residence and mailing address in the US throughout that time.
Since June 2010, I've been in the US continuously.
Had I not been out of the country between 2009 and 2010, I would have applied for citizenship in 2011. I chose not to. Now that I've been in the US continuously for 3+ years, I am getting ready to apply on the basis of marriage.
So my question is about listing my addresses for the past 5 years. I purposely didn't file an AR-11 in June 2009 to notify USCIS that I was going to reside abroad, not to conceal that fact but simply because my US address remained valid and never changed since I first came to the US. The way I see it, I resided in the US but was staying abroad for a limited time. I was actually staying at my dad's during that time. He had had a stroke while visiting me during the 2008 holiday season so I'd made the decision to go "home" for a time and be with him.
Like I said, I maintained a residence and mailing address in the US -- I actually applied for I-751 (removal of conditions) during that time, I got their biometrics appointment notice and all correspondence related to the I-751 (including an RFE) during that time, then I got the 10-year green card, no issues. I'm saying all that to emphasize the fact that my US mailing address was valid and actively in use even though I was physically abroad.
The next section is about listing my employers for the past 5 years. I will list my employer abroad, no question about that.
With respect to all of the above, I am trying to be logical in the information I disclose.
No doubt when they see my employers for the past 5 years, they will question where I lived while I worked abroad.
Will they hold it against me if I list my address abroad although I didn't file an AR-11 for that time, or will they hold it against me not to mention my address abroad?
Keep in mind: I am not trying to conceal anything or lie about anything. I'm trying to be logical/do the right thing. I've read here and there that USCIS is not interested in any address I may have had abroad, only addresses in the US, but I don't know if it relates only to the AR-11 filing requirements, or if that also applies to that part of form N-400.
I've often read not to try and overinterpret USCIS instructions -- if they're asking for my addresses for the past 5 years, that's what I should list and not ask any questions, but I just don't want to get in trouble or whatever because I didn't file an AR-11 for that when I didn't think I ought to have
Finally I should point out that I actually spoke to an immigration attorney about all this two years ago and he said to go ahead and apply right away, but I didn't, and between then and now, the N-400 form underwent a big change, including part 6
-- this wouldn't be an issue if I'd applied when he said to!Thanks for reading everything, I appreciate the time you took, even if you don't respond, but I would love to hear from anyone if you have thoughts on the matter. Let me know if you have any questions!
P.S. Isn't it annoying that I'm applying on the basis of marriage and I meet all the requirements over the past 3 years, but they want my 5-year history anyway? What a drag, I tell ya
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