I am a green card holder of 4+ years and I intend to apply for citizenship towards the end of this year.
About a year ago I relocated to another state for my husband's employment and since then, have been unemployed by choice (I have a small child). Last year I traveled out of the country with my child on a trip that lasted 2 months + 1 week. 2 weeks after returning to the US, I commenced on another trip to a different country which will last 13 weeks.
My reason for the back-to-back trips was so my child could spend time with both sets of grandparents while I was still unemployed and could take longer trips, after which I intend to start working on getting back into the job market. At the time of scheduling these trips I was unaware of this continuous residence rule, but since then have been made aware of it, and its subjectivity.
I am an avid traveler and have traveled to different countries on vacation within (and prior to) the last 4 years. However with the exception of these last 2 trips, they have never exceeded 3 weeks at a time due to my always being employed each of those times, and they were also never back to back. I also meet the 30-month physical presence test.
My husband has been employed and living in the US during my recent 2 trips abroad. He is also a green card holder. My child was born in the US.
My concerns are:
(1) Will my recent 2+ month and 3+ month trips be seen as a disruption of continuous residence? (the total number of days outside the US between the departure date of the 2+ month trip and the return date of the 3+ month trip, inclusive of the 2 weeks spent within the US will be 5months and 3 weeks)
(2) If my application is denied due to this continuous residency rule:
(a) will the clock be reset, and would I have to wait another 5 years to reapply?
(b) will I have to give up my green card?
(3) does being unemployed (for a year as of now, but fully intend to go back on the job market as soon as I get back to the US) have any bearing on my application?
About a year ago I relocated to another state for my husband's employment and since then, have been unemployed by choice (I have a small child). Last year I traveled out of the country with my child on a trip that lasted 2 months + 1 week. 2 weeks after returning to the US, I commenced on another trip to a different country which will last 13 weeks.
My reason for the back-to-back trips was so my child could spend time with both sets of grandparents while I was still unemployed and could take longer trips, after which I intend to start working on getting back into the job market. At the time of scheduling these trips I was unaware of this continuous residence rule, but since then have been made aware of it, and its subjectivity.
I am an avid traveler and have traveled to different countries on vacation within (and prior to) the last 4 years. However with the exception of these last 2 trips, they have never exceeded 3 weeks at a time due to my always being employed each of those times, and they were also never back to back. I also meet the 30-month physical presence test.
My husband has been employed and living in the US during my recent 2 trips abroad. He is also a green card holder. My child was born in the US.
My concerns are:
(1) Will my recent 2+ month and 3+ month trips be seen as a disruption of continuous residence? (the total number of days outside the US between the departure date of the 2+ month trip and the return date of the 3+ month trip, inclusive of the 2 weeks spent within the US will be 5months and 3 weeks)
(2) If my application is denied due to this continuous residency rule:
(a) will the clock be reset, and would I have to wait another 5 years to reapply?
(b) will I have to give up my green card?
(3) does being unemployed (for a year as of now, but fully intend to go back on the job market as soon as I get back to the US) have any bearing on my application?