Travel Question

[Xena 0]

We are in the process of removing conditions. My husband is the USC and we have a property in England which we are renovating so that we can rent it out to tenants. We can't rent the property until it has been completely renovated and estimate that this will take about 18 to 24 months to complete.

We decided the best way forward (and most cost effective) was for me to stay in England and do most of the work (excluding electrics and plumbing, for which we will be hiring qualified contractors). I am currently in England and the renovation process has started. However, we are concerned about abandonment of status.

I am living at the property while the work is carried out; however, I still consider my actual home to be with my husband in the US - in other words this is a temporary arrangement. My husband will be travelling here about three times during the first year and staying for about 3 weeks on each visit. I plan to return to the US for a week or two every four to six months. Obviously, we can't afford to travel back and forth every month due to the cost.

We have a joint bank account and credit cards in the US, and I have free access to these accounts to make withdrawals to pay bills, expenses, etc. Our phone records also show that we are in contact on a daily basis, so I do not think it would be feasible to suggest that we are not a married couple. We also file our taxes jointly - although, I have no actual income to speak of at the moment, as my work here is unpaid.

Does anyone know if this is an acceptable reason for my absence from the US or will the officer at the POE be able to say that I have abandoned status?