Yes another question about continuous residency (please help)

L

lionking123

New Member
Hi guys,

I'm eligible to apply for naturalization next year and I had a question about continuous residency.

I received my green card in 5.3.2006.

I studied abroad in Japan on a 1 year study abroad program through my university. Specifically, I left for Japan on Aug. 31 and arrived back in the states on July 1, 2008. (a period of around 10 months).

I did not file the N-470 nor did I come back into the states.

Should I still apply for citizenship? How do I prove that my "intent" was temporary? My visa from the Japanese embassy clearly states that I was entering Japan as a "college student" and my passport has those dates. I also had a permanent US address throughout that period.

Would I provide this evidence along with my application or do I wait until prompted by the immigration office?

Thank you in advance.
 
Thanks for your guys' quick replies. Just had some follow up questions.

So at what point do they make the decision that it was continuous or not? After the application? When do I have the opportunity to make the case that my intentions to leave the country was "temporary"?
 
At the interview you will get the opportunity to rebut the presumption of breaking residence.

Bring papers from the university showing the length of the study program, and documents to show that you maintained ties to the US while you were away (your car, bank accounts, lease, IRS tax transcript for 2007, other bills). A university transcript would also be helpful, if you received credit at your US university for the studies in Japan, and/or you returned to continue studying at the same university after returning from Japan.
 
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