cgiz
First and foremost, having a job is not a requirement to be naturalized. Further, the immigration laws pertaining to Naturalization are not the same as the laws pertaining to obtaining a US Permanent Residency wherein you are required to submit ‘Affidavit of Support’ form (I-864) from a sponsor to prove that you won’t be a financial burden to US govt. That being said-you could still be naturalized even if you don’t work or make a very little income. However, if a person doesn’t have a visible means of income then USCIS automatically presume that such person is either working off the book (under the table) or s/he might have been involved in illegal activities like illegal gambling or drug dealing or prostitution either as a prostitute or a pimp, etc…And all these are a sign of bad character and an involvement in illegal activities. And having a good character is very important to be naturalized. Thereby, under these circumstances given the benefit of their doubts, USCIS most probably would deny N-400 for lack of moral character if a person won’t come up with a reasonable reasoning for how s/he has been supporting himself/herself in the absence of visible means of income. The burden to prove otherwise to their presumption is always carried on the shoulder of applicant.
In this scenario, applicant can present an ‘Affidavit’ from someone who can say that s/he has been supporting the applicant. This Affidavit is not called-‘Affidavit of Support’ as you above say it. Actually this is just a normal affidavit being on a simple piece of paper than of being some kind of prescribed form like I-864. Besides, there is no sponsoring party for applicant at the time of naturalization. At the time of naturalization, applicant stands by himself/herself on all grounds than having sponsors to back him/her up. You can also show the bank statements if you were having enough money there to support yourself. And you can surely submit the receipts of all the money transfers that your dad made when he sent money to you. The bottom line is you need to come up with some documentary evidences than your own empty words. Hence, you having said that you are supporting yourself thru personal savings and family financial help means nothing to USCIS until you submit/show them documentary evidences to prove your position on it, otherwise you should not wonder if they would presume otherwise about you and would deny your N-400. And, you would also need to make sure that you have been receiving enough money from your dad or were having enough money in your bank during the time when you did not work to prove that such money was enough to maintain an average lifestyle in the US. Suppose, your dad has been sending you $500 a month, it might not be enough for Adjudication officer to get convinced that you are living on this money alone. Thereby, officer might think otherwise and would deny your N-400. Don’t try to give a run-around to me on it. You would really need to come up with a reasonable figure and a reasonable answer on it. Pay attention here-“reasonable”.
Unless you will be interviewed by a very good and kind officer or a very stupid one, you would surely run the risk of being asked all kind of questions during your N-400 interview about why you are not working for that long. And it might also be possible that you might run the risk of loosing your Permanent Residency. Because, anyone including adjudication officer would wonder why you are here if you are not working for the last 5 yrs especially when the only reason for you to have given the opportunity to stay here is just because of employment purpose. It is not like you were given the opportunity to stay here because of family or something else, wherein you can say that you have other reason to stay here. Were you given the privilege to stay in US just to live here without working? You know that you are actually allowed to stay here just because of your job, which you are not doing for the last 5 yrs. If your unemployment situation would have been only temporary then I could understand it, but being unemployed for 5 yrs is beyond anyone’s imagination.
And, no matter how many explanations you would give here on this forum for you not having worked for 5 yrs, nothing would justify. No fools here. Just remember that. I could understand if you were not able to get the job in your line/field for that long, but I can never understand why you were not able to get the work in other fields even if it would have been for time being only. Tell me why USCIS should not revoke your Permanent Residency when you are not working for that long particularly when you were granted the Residency at first place because of your service in your work? If I were to be an adjudication officer, I would revoke your green card within a second and would place you on deportation. Millions of skilled and hard working people are waiting to migrate here from across the world. You might be thinking something else to come up with, and I also know that I might sound very harsh on it, but if you see a big picture of your situation then you would realize that I am right about your situation.
Your situation would anyway most definitely raise the eyebrow of USCIS when they would see that you were laid off SUDDENLY after two months later of obtaining your green card. In case if you don’t know, it is the job of USCIS to try to detect immigration fraud during Naturalization process. And they pay very close attention during naturalization if an alien who obtained LPR based upon employment basis but left/laid off from his/her job so shortly after obtaining LPR, or if an alien obtains LPR based upon marrying to a US citizen, but got divorced shortly after obtaining LPR. You can give all the explanations here on this, but it won’t help. Instead, you would need to prepare yourself to convince USCIS otherwise. Because they will surely question your eligibility/motive in obtaining LPR, I can bet on it.
Though it is not my business why you are not working for that long, but based upon my experience, I have kinda hunch on it. Either you are working under the table to avoid taxes, or you are involved in gambling since a lot of people are doing it to make easy and fast money especially no taxes are paid on it if you win on table games since no track of earning on table games, or you are being supported by your girlfriend since many men are being fully supported by their girlfriend. No need to explain anything especially when I gave only my hunch on it than telling a sure thing.
Good Luck.
