Out of the country for 11 months and 4 days

[Chris213]

Hello guys I've been a GC holder since July 2007..

last November 27,2010.. I needed to go to philippines cause of my grandmother (70yrs old) being very sick..

and Around April 2011 I was about to go back to United States but she accidentally fell on the stairs and broke her hips and neck.. she can't move and needed surgery..


So i need to take care of her from April 2011 - November 2, 2011 ... and because of this my stay outside of United states is a total of 11 months and 4 days..


Now I'm applying for my citizenship. what do i need to show them in order for me to prove that i didn't ignored my resident here??

I live with my parents and doesn't have a job from 2010-2012 cause i was home studying. No tax return from 2010-2012 either.

The only thing I have is the letter from the doctor in the philippines, A letter from my mom saying that I took care of my Grandmother from Nov 2010-2011 that I showed to Immigration Officer when I got back here in United States..

A tax return from 2008 and 2009 and 4 credit cards that I'm paying every month since i left the United States...

Is this enough prove that I didn't ignored my resident here??

can you guys help me please??

 

[cafeconleche]

Well, that is proof that you had to stay out of the US for so long, but it's no guarantee they won't say you broke your continuous residence. Why don't you wait 4 years + 1 day after you returned in November 2011 and apply in November 2015? Do you urgently need citizenship? If you do, then go ahead and apply now and hope they accept your explanation.

 

[Chris213]

Thanks for the reply sir.. So it's 50/50 for me to get approve or reject??

a lot of people saying don't bother applying since i broke the the 6 months rule..

but i kept on reading here that there is way to prove that you didn't break it..

like having Apartment,Bills, Credit Card payments ETC...

I really need to be US Citizen so i can petition my fiance in italy..

is there anyone else can help me here??

Well, that is proof that you had to stay out of the US for so long, but it's no guarantee they won't say you broke your continuous residence. Why don't you wait 4 years + 1 day after you returned in November 2011 and apply in November 2015? Do you urgently need citizenship? If you do, then go ahead and apply now and hope they accept your explanation.

 

[New400]

I am in the same situation with my aunt who left with the 10 yr permanent residency card to take care of her brother and been outside the country for over 3 yrs now, where do I start to try to get her back into the country ?

 

[Chris213]

She's out for over 3 years now?? Is that continuously?

i think she will lose her green card..

I am in the same situation with my aunt who left with the 10 yr permanent residency card to take care of her brother and been outside the country for over 3 yrs now, where do I start to try to get her back into the country ?

 

[TheRealCanadian]

Thanks for the reply sir.. So it's 50/50 for me to get approve or reject??

I'd say your odds of rejection are higher than 50%, but it is possible to overcome the presumption that you broke continuous residence. It's probably worth a try.

I am in the same situation with my aunt who left with the 10 yr permanent residency card to take care of her brother and been outside the country for over 3 yrs now, where do I start to try to get her back into the country ?

Three years? That GC is abandoned. She'll need to be petitioned again.

 

[Chris213]

is having drivers license, bank accounts, credit card statements, paying rent to my parents... can help at all?

and if my mother is a US Citizen does that gonna help to show that I have a strong family bond residing in united states? Thank you!

Edit: also just found out that my brother who claim me as a dependent through 2010-2012 in his taxes.. is this would increase my chances?

I'd say your odds of rejection are higher than 50%, but it is possible to overcome the presumption that you broke continuous residence. It's probably worth a try.

 

[cafeconleche]

Yes, that does increase your chances, but again, it's no guarantee. That's what we're saying. Go ahead and apply, and take your documentation with you. Write a letter to explain the circumstances, too.

As for your brother claiming you: why didn't your parents claim you?

 

[Chris213]

Hey thanks for the reply.. Cause my mother is a housewife she doesn't work and my real dad is not here in US..

my brother work since he got here in 2007..

Yes, that does increase your chances, but again, it's no guarantee. That's what we're saying. Go ahead and apply, and take your documentation with you. Write a letter to explain the circumstances, too.

As for your brother claiming you: why didn't your parents claim you?

 

[cafeconleche]

Ah, ok. Well if you all live in the same house, that would be good. Have him write a letter explaining this, too. Again, I'm suggesting you take as many documetns as possible, but in the end, you might not be asked for all of them. I'd say, the most important would be the medical documents from the Philippines, and your basic ties to the US.