Yes, I know I broke the continuous residency, but it is what it is...

G

GC_TRAP

Registered Users (C)
...Frankly, I was really not aware of the 6 month criteria, somehow I was led to believe that I could be out of the country for upto 1 year and be okay.

Regardless, I was overseas for 11 months (I had originally only planned a 6 month trip) but some health conditions made me stay longer and seek treatment from a medical doctor there.

So, come March 2012 (when I normally would have been eligible) as opposed to mid of 2014 (because of the 11 month trip) I will give it a shot. I do have lease agreement papers with the landlord in the US that I had a lease for 12 months, a copy of the return air ticket within six months, a doctor's letter stating that I was under his care and not fit to travel to the US, bank statements, credit card statements to my US address.

I think some of you would say I'm wasting my $700 odd dollars but I think I'll take the gamble. Will keep my fingers crossed, say a little prayer and go for it.

I think there have to be others in similar situations, I wonder what their experiences have been, and why more people do not post them, negative or positive?
 
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...Frankly, I was really not aware of the 6 month criteria, somehow I was led to believe that I could be out of the country for upto 1 year and be okay.
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That is mostly correct for maintaining your green card. Generally, an isolated trip of less than a year will not result in losing your green card. But for citizenship eligibility they are more strict, with a 6 month threshold.

Did you renew the lease after the end of that long trip? If you only have the lease you signed before you went away, they could think that you left the US and broke the lease. Having both the lease you signed before the trip and a lease that was renewed after the trip, would show that you most likely maintained the lease throughout.
 
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GC_TRAP said:
...Frankly, I was really not aware of the 6 month criteria, somehow I was led to believe that I could be out of the country for upto 1 year and be okay.

Regardless, I was overseas for 11 months (I had originally only planned a 6 month trip) but some health conditions made me stay longer and seek treatment from a medical doctor there.

So, come March 2012 (when I normally would have been eligible) as opposed to mid of 2014 (because of the 11 month trip) I will give it a shot. I do have lease agreement papers with the landlord in the US that I had a lease for 12 months, a copy of the return air ticket within six months, a doctor's letter stating that I was under his care and not fit to travel to the US, bank statements, credit card statements to my US address.

I think some of you would say I'm wasting my $700 odd dollars but I think I'll take the gamble. Will keep my fingers crossed, say a little prayer and go for it.

I think there have to be others in similar situations, I wonder what their experiences have been, and why more people do not post them, negative or positive?
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I think you have good understanding of you situation. If I were you I would have gone for it. And I think the result will depend on the officer who will handle your case. In any case, I think you have a good chance of approval....
 
Yes me too, I think you shouldn't have any problems....unless you have some other major cases. I am in similar situation, 11 months as well, I mailed paperwork this week.
 
If you can explain your 11 month trip (and if you don't have other issues, like other long trips) and show strong ties to the country, you have a fair chance of being approved the first time around, so don't be too bummed out.
 
Thank you all for your replies.

Jackolantern, My whole lease was for one year, signed in Oct 09 2010 before I left until Sept 30, 2010. I returned the first day of September 2010. So, yes, the lease covered the whole period I was gone. And my rent was not too much as I was renting a basement during this time.

Goro, I would be very interested in hearing the outcome of your case, is it okay if I send you a pvt. message on this issue?

Cafe, the most solid reason I have is a medical one and I have the doctor's note from India stating that I was under his care and not fit to travel for six months. , And I do have a copy of the return ticket within the first six months which I had intended to do until I had to get medical care...hopefully this will suffice, if not, then I would have lost $700 bucks and would have to wait until mid 2014 or something like that...thanks for the encouragement.
 
GC_TRAP said:
Thank you all for your replies.

Jackolantern, My whole lease was for one year, signed in Oct 09 2010 before I left until Sept 30, 2010. I returned the first day of September 2010. So, yes, the lease covered the whole period I was gone. And my rent was not too much as I was renting a basement during this time.

Goro, I would be very interested in hearing the outcome of your case, is it okay if I send you a pvt. message on this issue?

Cafe, the most solid reason I have is a medical one and I have the doctor's note from India stating that I was under his care and not fit to travel for six months. , And I do have a copy of the return ticket within the first six months which I had intended to do until I had to get medical care...hopefully this will suffice, if not, then I would have lost $700 bucks and would have to wait until mid 2014 or something like that...thanks for the encouragement.
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Yes, sure, you can send pm
 
GC_TRAP said:
I think there have to be others in similar situations, I wonder what their experiences have been, and why more people do not post them, negative or positive?
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Did you work while outside the US? Did your spouse and/or immediate family accompany you?
 
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