live outside usa more than 6 months?

[joe62]

Hello all,

my freind and his wife are permanent resident for more than 2 years now, they got another job in another country, an opportunity they can not refused, they have usa citizen children, they have a house in usa and still pay mortgage and taxes, sometimes they enter the usa less than 6 months sometimes more than that, it depends on their business work schedules.
my questions are:

the fact that they still pay taxes and mortgage till now can prevent them to loose their presidency(GC)?

can they apply for their citizenship after 5 y rules with no problem?

if you have answers please clarify as much as you can.

Thank you very much.

joe.

[PraetorianXI]

paying US taxes, debts, keeping residency and property in the USA is important to maintain the resident status.

But, any absence of more than 6 months, very likely will break the CONTINUOUS RESIDENCY requirement. Which resets the counter to apply for citizenship. They have to start all over again. Counting from the last date when they enter the USA to stay here permanently.

[joe62]

Thanks a lot for your prompt answer, but still need to understand how do you count 6 months, is it the total of all days during the last five years. or it has to be 6 months sucessives?
is there any fear to loose the residency also? and what can they do now to keep their right to apply for citizenship?

Thanks again

Joe

[PraetorianXI]

Have them read http://www.immihelp.com/greencard/retain-greencard.html

I am talking about 6 months straight.

If I am a permanent resident and I leave on a trip from January to July, I very likely broke my continuous residency for natz purposes.