US Citizenship Eligibility question

[sshah1001]

Hi all,

Myself and my wife got GC in 2004. Then, in 2005, we went to India and stayed for about 10 months. We had to go as my mother was not well. During this time, I did not have any house or apartment on rent and also I had left the job here so no paystubs as well. We had re-entry permit with us.

We came back to US in june 2006. So, now it has completed 5 years since we came back and after we came back, we have not made any visits outside US for more than 5 weeks.

Now, I am thinking to apply for US citizenship but in the checklist document, I see following clause.

*****************************************
If you have taken any trip outside the United States that lasted six months or more since becoming a Permanent Resident, send
evidence that you (and your family) continued to live, work and/or keep ties to the United States, such as:

1) An IRS tax return "transcript" or an IRS-certified tax return listing tax information for the last five years (or for the last three years if you are applying on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen).

2) Rent or mortgage payments and pay stubs.
***********************************************

I do not have any rent/mortgage payments or paystubs for those 10 months. But, I did file US tax return for that year.

Q.1: Will this cause any problem in filing for US citizenship?

Q.2: Also, how do I get An IRS tax return "transcript" or an IRS-certified tax return listing tax information for the last five years?

Please help...

Thanks,

Sam

 

[sanjoseaug20]

Do not worry, it has been so long that it does not matter.
When they are asking for IRS return, they are saying 5 years ... and that's already complete, right?
You can contact IRS (toll free number) to get transcripts. It is a routine business for them to supply these.

 

[Jackolantern]

*****************************************
If you have taken any trip outside the United States that lasted six months or more since becoming a Permanent Resident, send
evidence that you (and your family) continued to live, work and/or keep ties to the United States, such as:

1) An IRS tax return "transcript" or an IRS-certified tax return listing tax information for the last five years (or for the last three years if you are applying on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen).

2) Rent or mortgage payments and pay stubs.
***********************************************

You don't need that stuff for trips more than 5 years ago.

 

[sshah1001]

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, it will complete 5 years in July since we came back from India in June 2006.

Their wordings are misleading. It does not say if the trip taken outside in last 5 years that lasted for more then 6 months. But it says since getting green card. So, I am confused.

So, is it ok if I just send Tax return transcripts for last 5 years with my application and not mention anything about rent/mortgage payments or paystub while I was in India for the period I was in India which lasted for more than 6 months?

Do you suggest any other supporting documents to send?

Thanks again!

 

[Jackolantern]

Their wordings are misleading. It does not say if the trip taken outside in last 5 years that lasted for more then 6 months. But it says since getting green card. So, I am confused.

Indeed the wording is misleading. But under the law, the trips from more than 5 years before you file the N-400 are not used for evaluating the continuous residence requirement for naturalization, so you don't need any proof of mortgage/lease or other residential ties during that time, although you're still supposed to list those old trips.

So, is it ok if I just send Tax return transcripts for last 5 years with my application and not mention anything about rent/mortgage payments or paystub while I was in India for the period I was in India which lasted for more than 6 months?

Don't send them with the application. They normally don't ask for them when you apply with the 5 year rule, and if you send them, they'll become part of your permanent immigration file. But you can bring them to the interview for the 5% chance that the interviewer requests them. If they ask for them, it would be because they wonder if you've paid your taxes; it wouldn't be because of those trips you took more than 5 years ago.