N-400 Marriage based

[CheeseMonstah 87]

Hi all,

 

I'm filling out the N-400 as my window is coming up. I'm eligible due to marriage, and have been a green card holder for (almost) 3 years now. 

 

Now, 4 years ago, I was living out of the country (work), though still engaged with my current wife.

 

My question to you guys is: in section 5, it asks for your residence in the last 5 years, and in section 9 it asks for time outside of the USA in the last 5 years. Obviously, if I include the data going back 5 years, it'll show a lot of time outside the US, as well as residence outside of the US. 

 

Since my eligibility is due to marriage, should I still include information from 5 years back, or should it only include information from 3 years back, matching the period I was married/GC holder? Or does it not matter if I include 5 years back?

 

My main worry is that adding up all the days I've been outside the US in the last 5 years, it amounts to 330 days, though most of that is from my time living abroad (4--5 years ago).

 

Thanks a lot guys, you're a great source of information.

[Fortuna7 8]

Quote

i all,

 

I'm filling out the N-400 as my window is coming up. I'm eligible due to marriage, and have been a green card holder for (almost) 3 years now. 

 

Now, 4 years ago, I was living out of the country (work), though still engaged with my current wife.

 

My question to you guys is: in section 5, it asks for your residence in the last 5 years, and in section 9 it asks for time outside of the USA in the last 5 years. Obviously, if I include the data going back 5 years, it'll show a lot of time outside the US, as well as residence outside of the US. 

 

Since my eligibility is due to marriage, should I still include information from 5 years back, or should it only include information from 3 years back, matching the period I was married/GC holder? Or does it not matter if I include 5 years back?

 

My main worry is that adding up all the days I've been outside the US in the last 5 years, it amounts to 330 days, though most of that is from my time living abroad (4--5 years ago).

 

Thanks a lot guys, you're a great source of information.

https://citizenpath.com/travel-abroad-affects-citizenship-eligibility/

[CheeseMonstah 87]

1 minute ago, Fortuna7 said:

https://citizenpath.com/travel-abroad-affects-citizenship-eligibility/

This link doesn't really answer my question. I'm well aware of the residency requirements (5 years, or 3 if marriage based). My question is, if I'm applying based on the 3 year rule, should I still include information up to 5 years back.

[Fortuna7 8]

When was the last day of your trip and how long ?

[Fortuna7 8]

https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-naturalization/continuous-residence-and-physical-presence-requirements-naturalization

[CheeseMonstah 87]

3 minutes ago, Fortuna7 said:

When was the last day of your trip and how long ?

I travel often for work, so my section 9 has 26 entries. Most trips are 4 days or less. 

 

However, if you look at 2012-2013, I lived abroad, so my "trips outside the US" were quite long, as I was just coming to the US to visit family and friends and going back. So some of those trips are 2-4 months long. Total time spent outside the US is 330 days in the last 5 years, but the last 3 years was only about 90 days or so.

[Fortuna7 8]

If you haven't filed N-400 yet if I was you would try to set an appointment with nearest USCIS as you've been traveling a lot for some long periods. You don't want to apply before you do the research as you might get denied plus pay the fee again.

[GoBig 25]

you are filing through 3-year rule.

 

if your continious residency meets the eligibility (3 year rule), you are safe enough to submit your application.  no matter how many oversea trip you had since your first day of being permanent resident. the officers are trained to do good job at counting your days residenting in the u.s.  nobody cares your history before your permanent residency.

 

the N400 form does ask you every residency in the last years, but your residency before you greencard issued will not affect your eligibility. you willnot be declined because of that.

[CheeseMonstah 87]

22 hours ago, GoBig said:

you are filing through 3-year rule.

 

if your continious residency meets the eligibility (3 year rule), you are safe enough to submit your application.  no matter how many oversea trip you had since your first day of being permanent resident. the officers are trained to do good job at counting your days residenting in the u.s.  nobody cares your history before your permanent residency.

 

the N400 form does ask you every residency in the last years, but your residency before you greencard issued will not affect your eligibility. you willnot be declined because of that.

Thanks, exactly the information I was looking for!

[Calikitkat 16]

On 11/27/2017 at 4:06 AM, CheeseMonstah said:

Thanks, exactly the information I was looking for!

For the trips, I have only included the trips outside the country since I have been permanent resident. As 2012 to August 2014 I have lived outside of the US completely. Those were not trips. So I have not included those. And I have listed under my addresses for those times, addresses abroad. I think it should be fine.