Have I lost my chance to naturalize?

[claudia91 1]

I have been a Green Card holder for almost 7 years, but the problem is that during the first 3 years of Green Card ( 2017-2020 ), I spent 90% of my time outside of the U.S. finishing my degree in my home country. I would generally return every 11 months, and it went on like that for 3 years

I never stayed outside the U.S. for more than one year, but I would usually come back every 10 or 11 months.

 

Four years ago ( 2000 ), I returned to the U.S. for good, and I was thinking of applying for citizenship next year (following the 5-year rule). However, I have a friend who is a paralegal, and he told me that my citizenship will likely be denied because of my absences during the first few years( 2017-2020 )

 

What do you guys think? Have I lost my chance to naturalize? And if I can’t naturalize next year, what do you suggest I do - to naturalize in the future, or thats never going to happen?

 

Thank you 

 

[Boiler 45,519]

Paralegal in what?

[claudia91 1]

7 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Paralegal in what?

Immigration. He works with immigration lawyers

Edited October 19 by claudia91
Error

[Family 3,988]

The look back is 5 years, so apply after your “permanent “ return date in 2025. There is a typo in what I assume is a 2020 date you finished studies and stopped long absences from US

 

Did you get LPR though marriage or other means?

[Boiler 45,519]

Top of Page 6

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/n-400.pdf

[claudia91 1]

9 minutes ago, Family said:

The look back is 5 years, so apply after your “permanent “ return date in 2025. There is a typo in what I assume is a 2020 date you finished studies and stopped long absences from US

 

Did you get LPR though marriage or other means?

Oh yes thank you! That was 2020!!!

yes, marriage ( US citizen ) but we are no longer together

[claudia91 1]

9 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Top of Page 6

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/n-400.pdf

Thank you

i read all that pdf, but my friend told me they still would track previous trips ( the ones from 2017-2020 ) Thats why im asking here to see if anyone know if that is really true

[Boiler 45,519]

More likely to want to discuss what happened to your marriage.

 

I am not sure why they is, but yes there would be a record of your entries and exits, sometimes  not complete if the USCIS Officer wanted to try and find it. Not sure why they would want to.

[Family 3,988]

9 minutes ago, claudia91 said:

Oh yes thank you! That was 2020!!!

yes, marriage ( US citizen ) but we are no longer together

So you get LPR and spend 90% of subsequent 3 years away from the US…granted education is a legitimate reason. Was your USC spouse living with you abroad? If so no problem, if no….NO GO.

 

The 5 year only applies to GMC and meeting physical presence/residency requirements. There is NO time limit to look at marriage.

[Family 3,988]

9 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Not sure why they would want to.

Because many applicants practiced the What They Don’t Know…Won’t Hurt Me 😂

[claudia91 1]

2 minutes ago, Family said:

So you get LPR and spend 90% of subsequent 3 years away from the US…granted education is a legitimate reason. Was your USC spouse living with you abroad? If so no problem, if no….NO GO.

 

The 5 year only applies to GMC and meeting physical presence/residency requirements. There is NO time limit to look at marriage.

Im a little bit confused now

[claudia91 1]

9 minutes ago, Family said:

So you get LPR and spend 90% of subsequent 3 years away from the US…granted education is a legitimate reason. Was your USC spouse living with you abroad? If so no problem, if no….NO GO.

 

The 5 year only applies to GMC and meeting physical presence/residency requirements. There is NO time limit to look at marriage.

Ah, are you saying that they gonna check again if my marriage was real, and stuff like that? I dont think that would be a problem coz they approved my ROC with all the millions of evidence I sent

 

Edited October 19 by claudia91
More

[Boiler 45,519]

Just now, claudia91 said:

Ah, are you saying that they gonna check again if my marriage was real, and stuff like that? 

 

From why you have said this seems the biggie.

[Family 3,988]

1 minute ago, claudia91 said:

Ah, are you saying that they gonna check again if my marriage was real, and stuff like that? 

 

So where was your spouse during the 3 years out?

[Family 3,988]

55 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Paralegal in what?

This paralegal quotes wrong reasons/law, but has good instincts.😂