requirement for a permanent resident applying for naturalization

[rowell 0]

Hi I am an immigrant in California and have been a permanent resident for 17 years. I have been in and out of the country for quiet some time. I've been going and coming back from the Philippines while I was attending school from the year 2004-2009. Since August 2009 I have been living in California for 1 yr without trips or vacation to other countries. I am wondering when I would be eligible to apply for naturalization..and actually become a citizen. I'm not exactly sure about the requirements needed for getting approve of it since I the years that I stayed in the Philippines if added up all together from the last five years is really long. I hope someone could give me some information for my case..thanks so much I appreciate it.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

You either need 3 or 5 years of residing here. If you have been out for more that a year in a single time then the clock restarts when you returned. If you have been out more then 6 months then those months are subtracted but the clock doesn't reset. Do you have the required time living in the US ?