N400 / Registered at foreign university while US resident

[jamesuk113 5]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm preparing my N400 under the 3-year rule but I'm really struggling to find an answer for my unusual circumstances.

 

I started a PhD in the UK before moving to the US, I got a fair chunk of it done there, but after moving I switched to part-time / writing up (for which you don't need to be in attendance).

 

Technically I have been registered at this University for most the three years of my US permanent residency. I've done the vast majority of the work in the US (luckily it's all research and programming), but occasionally I've made trips back to the UK to meet with supervisors and carry out assessments and experiments.

 

In total I have spent 10 months of the last three years in the UK, with no trip lasting longer than 6 months.

 

On the form this looks terrible, since the field entry makes it look like I've been enrolled full time in a foreign institution.

 

Obviously I will get questions about this at interview, but is this issue surmountable? Entry and exit records will prove I have been resident stateside for the majority of this period, but am I likely to be denied under some kind of foreign ties thing? 

[Going through 5,671]

1 hour ago, jamesuk113 said:

Entry and exit records will prove I have been resident stateside for the majority of this period,

That's what I was going to say....your physical and continuous presence requirements are not affected by your enrollment...you weren't actually THERE for the majority of the past 3 years.  You went on short trips to finish out your schooling obligations...I don't see it being an issue for the N400, unless you actually took steps to set up residency abroad.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, jamesuk113 said:

On the form this looks terrible, since the field entry makes it look like I've been enrolled full time in a foreign institution.

Are you talking about Part 8 of the application? Use the "Your occupation" box to write something appropriate like--

PhD student researching remotely from US

 

If you are going to do 5 years, then break up the dates of Uni...one has dates before moving here, the other has dates after US entry with that remote notation. Same school twice but two sets of dates and descriptions. That might make you feel more comfortable.

 

i actually didn't include any dates prior to my 3 years as a greencard holder, meaning no UK jobs or addresses listed. I don't know what the current consensus is on 3/5 years nowadays. The the current version of the form does have allowances for foreign addresses. I defer to those who have kept up on that matter.

 

Edited April 22, 2019 by Wuozopo

[jamesuk113 5]

@Going through, thank you for the encouragement and advice. I haven't seen my concern (ties outside the US) codified anywhere, and was hoping / working on assumptions similar to your reply - that the physical presence test is the primary factor.

 

24 minutes ago, Going through said:

I don't see it being an issue for the N400, unless you actually took steps to set up residency abroad.

There is no danger of that, I do not / have not owned property / vehicles, had jobs etc outside of the US throughout the 3 years. Ties to the U.S. are strong.

 

@Wuozopo, I am going through the online process, "About You > School and employment" which deals with the same questions on Part 8 of the paper version of the N400. Unfortunately there is no option to annotate the description, the 'Occupation' field is fixed as 'Student'. I will prepare an information sheet for the interview that lists the dates and descriptions of phases. Since I can't change the description, I think it appears more accurate to list the programme in one part, rather than two.

 

It's interesting you mention the 3/5 year thing, as when it asks about trips abroad, it asks for the last five years even though I am applying under the three year rule. I assume it just wants trips outside as a US Permanent Resident (but I really hate making assumptions on these forms).

 

Thank you both for your time and quick replies!

[Going through 5,671]

With time outside the US, they are interested only in the time spent abroad after becoming a LPR.

 

The schooling thing can be explained at the interview, should it be brought into question.