N-400 Confusion Regarding Time Spent Outside the US

[Trent & Alexa 19]

I recently filed my N-400 (marriage based, I've been a lawful permanent resident for the last 3 years, my I-751 still processing) and I'm having second guesses about the "Time Outside the US" section. In this section, they ask for how many trips and total days did you spend outside the United States during the last 5 years. (I know the other way to get citizenship is to be a lawful permanent resident for 5 years but in my case it's 3.)

 

I have only filled in the trips that I took since moving to the US which was 4 years ago. Thing is, 5 years ago I was living outside the US (for obvious reasons as I was waiting for my K-1 Visa to get approved). I was not a US resident back then. Did that count as time spent outside the US? Or am I freaking out for no reason?

 

While filing I was pretty sure that even though they ask for the last 5 years, the year where I was living abroad waiting for my K-1 Visa to get approved doesn't count as time spent outside the US because I hadn't moved to the US yet. But now I'm driving myself crazy wondering if I messed this up.

[STO Overland 137]

You are fine. If your spouse is a U.S. citizen, you only need three years of continuous residence while married to him/her.

[doggieandsam 765]

No need to stress about this. You only really need 3 years worth of continuous residency as a spouse of a US citizen. But I get it, the instructions are confusing. I had exactly the same questions you have when I did my N-400. What I did was I submitted 5 years of travel history anyway (yes, even for those years I was not yet a US resident). Then I submitted an accompanying letter stating why I submitted 5 years (because the instructions said so lol) and that 2ish of those years I was not yet a US resident. The officer at the interview re-confirmed my travel dates but other than that, no other issues encountered. You will be fine.

Edited June 20, 2022 by doggieandsam

[Trent & Alexa 19]

Thank you! I just realized anyways that before looking at my travel history they will be looking at my 5 years residency history, and will see that I wasn’t living in the US 5 years ago  So I think I’ll be fine! But yes, they could really be a little more clear in the instructions!