Staying Outside U.S. for more than 6 Months - N400 Application

[alex_fox]

Dear friends,

I filed my N-400 on May 25th 2016 and application was received at USCIS on June 2nd 2016. I have an interview scheduled for March 14 2017.

I entered U.S. for the first time at August 20th. 2010.

Among my trips, I have one from 3/24/2012 to 10/20/2012 which is more than 6 months (6 months and 20 days).

My questions is will this trip cause me a problem during the interview?

The point is, at the time I filed my n400 application (May 2016) this trip was within the 5-year windows at which you should not have a trip more than 6 months outside U.S., but at the time of the interview (March 2017), this trip is earlier than 5 years ago.

Do you think the officer would scrutinize this? Would he consider this trip outside or inside the 5-year window at which you should be in the U.S.?

Thanks in advance for your response!

[simo652]

Hello,
Unfortunately your +6 months trip may cause a decline of your application, because you broke your continuous residence.
I really hope I am mistaken. Good luck

[suziq38]

Yes, the officer may scrutinize this.

Are you married to a U.S. citizen? If you are, the time frame is only 3 years, and this trip in question may be out of the time frame.

Also, can you prove that you were still living in the U.S. the entire time you were done?
If you can't, this is considered "abandoning your home in the U.S."
Hopefully, you will have mortgage statements, rental receipts, utility bills, etc.
They may ask you if you are married and/or if your children (if any) stayed home with your husband and family.
Good Luck!