6 months stay inside US EVERY YEAR

[K B. 0]

As I know, I need to be physically in US for at least 2.5 years to be qualified for naturalization ( citizenship ) after 5 years of activating LPR and became GC holder..

My question is, do I have to be physically inside USA for at least 6 months EVERY YEAR to be qualified for the naturalization after 5 years? If yes, is the year calculated between January 1st to December 31st OR between the date of first entry to the next year ahead?

[George99 12]

10 minutes ago, K B. said:

As I know, I need to be physically in US for at least 2.5 years to be qualified for naturalization ( citizenship ) after 5 years of activating LPR and became GC holder..

My question is, do I have to be physically inside USA for at least 6 months EVERY YEAR to be qualified for the naturalization after 5 years? If yes, is the year calculated between January 1st to December 31st OR between the date of first entry to the next year ahead?

Yes, it's simply math. You have to be in-country 6+ months each year, and you can start your count from the date of first entry on GC. However, there are a lot of potential pitfalls if you are gone for long periods even short of 6 months, so you have to keep an address, home, etc., during your time away.

[K B. 0]

8 hours ago, George99 said:

Yes, it's simply math. You have to be in-country 6+ months each year, and you can start your count from the date of first entry on GC. However, there are a lot of potential pitfalls if you are gone for long periods even short of 6 months, so you have to keep an address, home, etc., during your time away.

Thank you. Where can i find this information officially in Immigration gov website?

[Scandi 4,166]

There is no rule about staying inside the US for 6 months each year. There are however two important things to keep track of, something called "physical presence" and "continuous residency". 

 

"Physical presence" is exactly what you're talking about - spending at least HALF of the 3 or 5 years as an LPR inside the US.

 

"Continous residency" means that you don't stay outside the US for a certain amount of time In A ROW. Ie make sure you don't break your continous residency. This rule is generally "no longer than 6 months in a row", doesn't matter if these 6 months are within the same calender year or not. 6 months in a row is 6 months in a row, no matter if you leave the US in October or January. 

 

They CAN also claim that you have broken your continously recidensy even if you haven't been outside the US longer than 6 months in a row, but have been outside the US many times for several months (like several 4-6 month trips). A greencard is to live in the US, not to visit.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-3

 

 

Edited February 13, 2022 by Scandi