N-400 question about time abroad

[Barciur 1]

Hello

I have been a permanent resident since 2006 and I am planning to apply for citizenship. I have been going back to my home country every year in the past 3 years for 2-3 months at a time. I am going again this summer for 2 months and I am planning on applying after I return in August.

Here's my question. In 2013, I was out for 3 months. The CBP officer asked how long etc. and wrote something down in my passport and I later looked at it, it turns out he wrote this:

So clearly, for some reason, despite me saying "3 months" he wrote 5 months down. When I put this information down on my N-400 could there be issues at the interview? Should I be prepared and bring my itienary from 2013 to prove that it was 3 and not 5 and will this be enough? Or could this result in some bigger issues?

Edited April 4, 2015 by Barciur

[JimmyHou 611]

Hello

I have been a permanent resident since 2006 and I am planning to apply for citizenship. I have been going back to my home country every year in the past 3 years for 2-3 months at a time. I am going again this summer for 2 months and I am planning on applying after I return in August.

Here's my question. In 2013, I was out for 3 months. The CBP officer asked how long etc. and wrote something down in my passport and I later looked at it, it turns out he wrote this:

So clearly, for some reason, despite me saying "3 months" he wrote 5 months down. When I put this information down on my N-400 could there be issues at the interview? Should I be prepared and bring my itienary from 2013 to prove that it was 3 and not 5 and will this be enough? Or could this result in some bigger issues?

Three months or five months will make any difference unless you're close to failing the physical presence requirement, in which case you should definitely take all your itineraries with you It sounds like you spent a lot of time out of the US and so this might come up at your interview.

You say that you spent 2 to 3 months abroad at the time, but it's not clear if that's 2 or 3 months a year or if you spend 2 to 3 months abroad and then returned for a couple of weeks and then spent 2 to 3 months abroad again. If the former, then you shouldn't have any problems but if it's the latter, then you might have a hard time at the interview.

Note that your interviewer is going to have access to all your travel dates anyway.

Edited April 4, 2015 by JimmyHou

[Barciur 1]

Note that your interviewer is going to have access to all your travel dates anyway.

Good to know, I wasn't aware of that. I thought this isn't closely registered - I didn't ever see border agents scan or put anything in the computer on the departure of the US, so I didn't think exits were registered.

I live in the US, I've only been spending 2-3 months out during the summer, I clearly have residence and regular presence, just that my vacations are extended, but otherwise I don't think I'll have any problems proving my continuous residence - only worried about the inconsistency factor. But sounds good.

[JimmyHou 611]

Good to know, I wasn't aware of that. I thought this isn't closely registered - I didn't ever see border agents scan or put anything in the computer on the departure of the US, so I didn't think exits were registered.

I live in the US, I've only been spending 2-3 months out during the summer, I clearly have residence and regular presence, just that my vacations are extended, but otherwise I don't think I'll have any problems proving my continuous residence - only worried about the inconsistency factor. But sounds good.

It doesn't sound like you'll have any trouble.

Airlines have to pass on travelers' departure information to CBP. The airlines verify your passport info at check in so they know who you are and when you left.