Sm1smom
Super Moderator
My GC was issued in 2008 while I was still in college (I won it in DV lottery).
While finishing college my dates in US were:
2008 June-Sept (seasonal job)
2009 June-August (seasonal job)
2010 January-March (didn't work)
2011 Feb-March (didn't work)
2012 Feb-April (seasonal work).
So the last long trip I too was April 2012 - Jan 2013.
As of Jan 2013 the trips I took were for 4-6 weeks per year (visiting my parents).
I filed taxes for the years I had income in US.
Even though mandatory job placement did not leave me much choice, but to fulfill the contract, I was technically employed, and that is not good, and I don't think USCIS would consider this to be exceptional circumstances.
From 2008 when you got your GC to 2013, you were basically visiting the US for two/three months every year to “maintain” your GC. Your reasons for being away for so long without actually establishing permanent residency during those periods, without a re-entry permit, or an approved N-470 may sound reasonable to you, but clearly they’re not legitimate as far as USCIS is concerned.
I am gobsmacked you tried to pull a fast one attempting a 4 yr + 1 day filing with such a questionable residency background as against waiting a couple extra months before filing. No wonder you’re reluctant to respond to the RFE you received and are trying so hard to convince us and them, they shouldn’t be requesting information for dates you consider out of the statutory requirements for your naturalization petition!
By the way, did you even declare the income you earned back in your home country on your US tax filings?