Filing N-400, please help.

[redsoxangel 0]

Dear All,

I was wondering if anyone could help me with my situation. I have tried to search for the same issue online with no luck.

I am a Permanent Resident who is currently living abroad. I am married to a US citizen who is working abroad, but his job isn't eligible for exceptions to the continuous residence requirement. Anyway, I got my green card in mid 2005 so I was able to apply for citizenship in mid 2008, which I did not do. In these 3 years, I stayed in the US al all times, I probably took 2 small trips for a total of 2 weeks.

I didnt know that my husband would take a job overseas and now I really want to be a US citizen. I have been away from the US for 7 months since 2009, went back to the US for 2 months, then left again for 8 months. So these trips are all AFTER I completed my continuous residence requirement.

I plan to go back to the US soon, file for citizenship and live there until I get a decision from the USCIS. I still own a property in the US, have been paying US taxes, and have US bank accounts.

Am I still eligible for naturalization?

Tiara

Thank you SO much in advance for your help. Much appreciated.

[CVB 18]

Dear All,

I was wondering if anyone could help me with my situation. I have tried to search for the same issue online with no luck.

I am a Permanent Resident who is currently living abroad. I am married to a US citizen who is working abroad, but his job isn't eligible for exceptions to the continuous residence requirement. Anyway, I got my green card in mid 2005 so I was able to apply for citizenship in mid 2008, which I did not do. In these 3 years, I stayed in the US al all times, I probably took 2 small trips for a total of 2 weeks.

I didnt know that my husband would take a job overseas and now I really want to be a US citizen. I have been away from the US for 7 months since 2009, went back to the US for 2 months, then left again for 8 months. So these trips are all AFTER I completed my continuous residence requirement.

I plan to go back to the US soon, file for citizenship and live there until I get a decision from the USCIS. I still own a property in the US, have been paying US taxes, and have US bank accounts.

Am I still eligible for naturalization?

Tiara

Thank you SO much in advance for your help. Much appreciated.

You are not allowed to leave the US for more than a year, which you didn't but you are going to have to explain why you left more than 6 months. Since you still have a property and paid taxes (which shows good moral character) I don't expect too much problems with this. Before you can file though, you have to be physically present in your state, for at least 3 months!

You can read more abut this here.

Edited November 21, 2010 by CVB

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I didnt know that my husband would take a job overseas and now I really want to be a US citizen. I have been away from the US for 7 months since 2009, went back to the US for 2 months, then left again for 8 months. So these trips are all AFTER I completed my continuous residence requirement.

Your continuous residence requirements are ongoing as long as you are a resident.

But, yes, you are eligible, hopefully under the 5-year rule. Return to the US, wait 3 months, then file and hope that you are done with everything in 4 to 5 months later for a total of 7 to 8 months. Thereafter get your US passport and you can leave the US again. (In the past, there was a requirement that a newly naturalized USC had to promise that she intends to live at least the following 2 years in the US, but that's no more.)