Counting the number of days spent abroad

[fragola86 1]

Hello,

I received my green card in July 2007 through marriage to a US citizen. In 2007 I spent 1 1/2 month abroad, in 2008 3 months, in 2009 1 month, in 2010 1 month, and in 2011 2 months. Can I apply for citizenship? I am a little confused about this part.

Thanks

[fragola86 1]

Hello,

I received my green card in July 2007 through marriage to a US citizen. In 2007 I spent 1 1/2 month abroad, in 2008 3 months, in 2009 1 month, in 2010 1 month, and in 2011 2 months. Can I apply for citizenship? I am a little confused about this part.

Thanks

and my permanent resident card was received in august 2009

[Udella&Wiz 325]

and my permanent resident card was received in august 2009

You can apply 90 days prior to the 3rd anniversary of the your Permanent resident date (August 2009) - you also need to have been married 3 yrs...for many of us this is around the same date.

For you it appears that it took a while to get your GC? Or is Aug 2009 when you got your 10 yr card and you already had a 2 yr one?

Please clarify...maybe I read your post wrong

Edited May 3, 2011 by Udella&Wiz

[fragola86 1]

You can apply 90 days prior to the 3rd anniversary of the your Permanent resident date (August 2009) - you also need to have been married 3 yrs...for many of us this is around the same date.

For you it appears that it took a while to get your GC? Or is Aug 2009 when you got your 10 yr card and you already had a 2 yr one?

Please clarify...maybe I read your post wrong

Sorry, my post was confusing. I became a resident in July 07 ( that's when I got my 2 year GC). I got my 10 year GC in August 09. What about the days I spent outside the US? Would that be a problem for applying?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

You are eligible to apply today. You could be a US citizen already. Your short absences did not interrupt your continuing residency.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Agreed

[Mama mia 9]

If you are still married to the USC who petitioned your greencard, then you were eligible to file since April 2010.

[fragola86 1]

Thank you all!

[SerenityNOW 11]

Wait... I thought we had to count the number of days out of the country and add that to the 3-years period to figure out when we could apply, minus 90 days? Did I completely misunderstand that? (hopefully)

If we don't have to subtract the ~160 days he has been out of the country in the last 3 years - 3 absences of similar time scale as the OP - then we can apply in July. That would be great if that is the case.

I'm so glad I saw this question... I didn't think to ask it as I was sure we had to wait.

Thanks in advance to all of you who know more about this topic than I do (which isn't saying much since I am just learning about this, but thanks all the same for being a terrific resource!! I recommend VJ all the time)