Time spent out of country

[nonameexist 0]

My husband and I are planning on moving to the UK next spring but would still like to apply for his US citizenship in November 2008. Since the eligibility requirements only require that you are not outside the US for 6 months or longer, would it be possible to just make a return visit every fifth month till he has been approved, or will that raise too many eyebrows?

He will have been on US soil a total of 30 months as a permanent resident when we plan to move.

We just hate to throw away the months of paperwork and money spent to get this far, as well as having to start all over if and when we decide to move back. However, he has been offered a teaching position in the UK that he would be silly to pass up on.

Edited May 25, 2007 by kaleyko

[Anyuta 0]

It all depends on the circumstances surrounding your leaving the US. However, I have heard of people who were refused US citizenship because they spent too much time out of the country. You might want to discuss this with an immigration attorney.

[Yodrak 7]

kaleyko,

I have a friend whose wife was in a situation similar to your husband's. They lived in the US for about 2 years after she became an LPR and then decided to move to her country. Before she hit the 6-months away point she came back to the USA, applied for citizenship, and recently obtained it. He's been staying in her country while she's been here completing her citizenship requirements, about 8 months I think it's been.

She'll be going back as soon as the swearing in ceremony takes place.

Yodrak

My husband and I are planning on moving to the UK next spring but would still like to apply for his US citizenship in November 2008. Since the eligibility requirements only require that you are not outside the US for 6 months or longer, would it be possible to just make a return visit every fifth month till he has been approved, or will that raise too many eyebrows?

He will have been on US soil a total of 30 months as a permanent resident when we plan to move.

We just hate to throw away the months of paperwork and money spent to get this far, as well as having to start all over if and when we decide to move back. However, he has been offered a teaching position in the UK that he would be silly to pass up on.

[nonameexist 0]

Thanks for the advice. It's probably a case by case situation. We would probably go back to the UK after submitting the application as well, which would add to the total amount of time off US soil.

Since we are moving regardless of if he would be able to get his citizenship, I suppose it wouldn't hurt just to go ahead and try it out. I don't think we would lose anything more than the money.

As far as the circumstances, he will probably start a graduate degree while over there as well. I'm not sure if this would help in regards to the "circumstances surrounding our leaving the US".

[warlord 73]

If you can convince that you are residing in the US and prove to him you're not just "comming back for a visit" then you might be ok. Many people are failing to do this and are then in danger of loosing their green card status as it isn't meeting the requirments.

If you really want to be a citizen, I would suggest you live in the US for the 5 years or so and then apply with only taking brief "visits" OUT of the country, not into the US. You will be asked to show all passport/travel documentation during the interview as well as all details showing you reside and live in the US as well.

You might want to hold off on applying for your US citizenship until you get back from your Extended European trip to avoid possible 'requirements' on your green card and avoid being caught and loosing that status as well.

So hold off on moving anywhere until you get your USC done and completed or wait till you reside back and start your continual residence from the start again...

Edited May 29, 2007 by warlord