Timing Question

[golferadam 0]

We are preparing to file N-400 for my wife (GC holder through marriage). She received her GC on June 6, 2006. We are confused about the continuous residence rules. She took a trip outside the US for 3 months this past summer. Otherwise she has lived in US continuously from time she received GC until now. Also, we have been living in the same state for the past 2 years. Can we apply now? Thanks.

[Lansbury 19]

Providing you have been married for 3 years yes. The 3 months outside the US will not count against the continuous residence. You could have in fact applied some months ago if you have met the required time for being married.

[golferadam 0]

Providing you have been married for 3 years yes. The 3 months outside the US will not count against the continuous residence. You could have in fact applied some months ago if you have met the required time for being married.

Thanks Lansbury.

[wannabe_texan 0]

Hi GolferAdam - I remember you from the I-751 VSC list Do go ahead and apply for naturalization asap, its processing quite fast these days in Houston. Best wishes and good luck

Edited to add: the 3 months out of country does not break continuous residence.

Edited October 26, 2009 by wannabe_texan

[wannabe_texan 0]

Also wanted to add: In the application package, I included HUD statement from purchase of house together, one recent joint bank statement, copy of both our drivers licenses with same address, copy of joint auto insurance, last 3 years of tax transcripts along with all the form required docs (marriage cert, copy of hubby's passport etc, my birth cert).

IO didn't want to see anything extra at interview and complimented me on having everything he needed already in the package, even though I came armed with huge folders of every utility, bank statement, insurance etc etc the works for the last 3 years.

Good luck again

[golferadam 0]

Also wanted to add: In the application package, I included HUD statement from purchase of house together, one recent joint bank statement, copy of both our drivers licenses with same address, copy of joint auto insurance, last 3 years of tax transcripts along with all the form required docs (marriage cert, copy of hubby's passport etc, my birth cert).

IO didn't want to see anything extra at interview and complimented me on having everything he needed already in the package, even though I came armed with huge folders of every utility, bank statement, insurance etc etc the works for the last 3 years.

Good luck again

Thanks Tex, and congrats! That is a good list of supporting evidence. I will probably use same things.

I have a followup question so I'll ask it here rather than start new thread. I am confused on some of the dates. Several places on the N-400 it says list history for "past 5 years". I did a search and found this thread which basically says to "replace the 5 years with 3 years" for people applying based on marriage to USC:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...time+outside+us

I am curious, should I apply that same rule to Part 6 as well? that will reduce the number of residences and workplaces considerably. but i don't want to get messed up by not having enough history. it would be nice if I could find something on USCIS that verifies I should use 3 years instead of 5 years for our case.

thanks again.

[wannabe_texan 0]

FWIW, I just crossed out the 5 years on the travel question and wrote 3, and for work/addresses I put all 5 years (since they already had all that stuff from AOS, and I wasn't sure if they would need to compare), but I have to believe that the questions are directed to since you became a PR (which is last 3 years in our case) that there wouldn't be a problem in just doing same on those questions.