traveling in the US counts for US citizenship

T

Travel

New Member
Hello,

I am a green card holder about to apply for US citizenship. In the past I took a 7 month road trip around the US and stayed in different places from hotels to B&Bs and for some time when I was hiking in the mountains just in a tent.

So I did live in the US for those 7 months but I was traveling around and generally lived in hotels for a couple of days at a time.

Does that count as physical presence in the US for N-400 application?

Thanks!
 
Travel said:
Hello,

I am a green card holder about to apply for US citizenship. In the past I took a 7 month road trip around the US and stayed in different places from hotels to B&Bs and for some time when I was hiking in the mountains just in a tent.

So I did live in the US for those 7 months but I was traveling around and generally lived in hotels for a couple of days at a time.

Does that count as physical presence in the US for N-400 application?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I assume yes (unless it is illegal for a PR to be a hobo)
 
Travel said:
Hello,

I am a green card holder about to apply for US citizenship. In the past I took a 7 month road trip around the US and stayed in different places from hotels to B&Bs and for some time when I was hiking in the mountains just in a tent.

So I did live in the US for those 7 months but I was traveling around and generally lived in hotels for a couple of days at a time.

Does that count as physical presence in the US for N-400 application?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Are you serious?
You were physically present in the United States for the 7 months you were enjoying your extended vacation. Why in the world would you ask if it counts as a presence in the US if you never left the country?
 
The reason why I would ask here is that as a green card holder you have to live & work in the US.

Traveling in the US for 7 months could mean that you are not living in the US but just being a tourist. However after I was done with 7 months I started a company so I started actually making money. When I file the application for citizenship I will accummulate 3 years / 5 years worth of physical presence. However if I subtract the 7 months - then I would not make the 30 months cut.

Also on the N-400 application they ask you what your address was for the past 5 years. Do you just put undefined? I still have all the bills from hotels or credit card statements showing I was buying groceries for example. When I was away for the 7 months I did not have a residence which I was maintaining. At that time I did not even file AR-11 because I would have to file it every 7-10 days. And I do not know what address I would put on an AR-11 when I went hiking and slept in a tent for 7 days......

So you think that everything is okay?
 
Travel said:
The reason why I would ask here is that as a green card holder you have to live & work in the US.
Click to expand...

No. You have to reside in the US. There is no obligation to work.

Traveling in the US for 7 months could mean that you are not living in the US but just being a tourist.
Click to expand...

You are residing in the US, just not in a set location.

However after I was done with 7 months I started a company so I started actually making money.
Click to expand...

That's nice, but irrelevant for naturalization purposes.

When I file the application for citizenship I will accummulate 3 years / 5 years worth of physical presence. However if I subtract the 7 months - then I would not make the 30 months cut.
Click to expand...

Physical presence is just that, being physically in the US. What you are doing or not doing is not relevant to the discussion.
 
Travel said:
Also on the N-400 application they ask you what your address was for the past 5 years.
Click to expand...

I think "Travel"'s above q/s is still unanswered... I don't know the answer but curious to know.
 
AmericanWannabe said:
It does not matter. No one says we can not be homeless "awaarraa"
here.
Click to expand...

Thats OK. But whats the answer of traveler's q/s?? Which address should he put on N400 application?? Can he say "homeless" in address on N400??
 
Travel said:
The reason why I would ask here is that as a green card holder you have to live & work in the US.

Traveling in the US for 7 months could mean that you are not living in the US but just being a tourist.
So you think that everything is okay?
Click to expand...
Well, if your permanent residency is employment-based and you did not work for the sponsoring employer, there is a chance that you will be questioned, otherwise you can do whatever the heck you want to do with your life.

I still can not understand what you mean by saying that you were not living in the US but being a tourist. I know an older retired couple who every year travel routinely around the country for a month or two, visiting friends, family or just different places in the country. They were born in the US and never left the contiguous 48 states. I told them yesterday that, accoring to your opinion, the were not really living in the US when they were on the road.
They had a really good laugh.

BTW, did you maintain a mailing address while you were travelling?
 
qwertyisback said:
Thats OK. But whats the answer of traveler's q/s?? Which address should he put on N400 application?? Can he say "homeless" in address on N400??
Click to expand...


Homeless run the risk of public charge test. But for continual
presence test, I don't see any problem. In his case,
he had money so public charge is not issue
 
Ar-11

Well if you travel around the country after moving out of your "home" what about informing DHS about your "current" address?
 
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