Physical presence / Naturalization

[Sidi]

Hello all,




I am about to apply for citizenship in January 2020, my concern is that during the last five years I have cumulated only 1.5 year of physical presence within the states. The requirements is 2.5 years, so I have to wait another year to reach 2.5 years than apply. If I do so and apply I will gain on year but I will lose one year because it will be out of the last five years.




please advise on this !




Thank you all

[N400questions]

If you are rejected due to a lack of physical presence then you will lose the application fee and need to try again later so make sure you get it right before wasting the application fee.

If waiting a year still does not allow you to qualify because you will "gain a year but lose a year" then you will have to wait even longer.
There's no "credit" given for time spent in the US prior to the 5 year qualifying period. Every time you go overseas for a prolonged period you risk losing the time you have accumulated.

Not what you wanted to hear.. but the rules are the rules.

[Sidi]

Thank you so much for your response.

[N400questions]

By the way.... You need to make sure you satisfy BOTH requirements
1) Continuous residence
2) Physical presence

It's no good to just satisfy one but not the other.

The rules are explained here.

https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-naturalization/continuous-residence-and-physical-presence-requirements-naturalization

[Mike E]

It’s pretty simple you need 30 months of physical presence in the previous 5 years at the time you apply, the time you interview, and the time you take oath.

You have just 18 months. Maybe staying with n the USA for the next 12 months will work. I cannot know without knowing your travel record. Staying the USA for the next 30 months will work.

Somewhere between 12 and 30 months is your m@gic number.

[Sidi]

Hi Mike, thanks for your reply. Lets presume this :
November 2014 received my green card.
November 2019 going to apply for naturalization.
physical presence: lived in the US from November 2014 till Mars 2016. ( 17 months) than lived out the us without breaking continues residency.

Need your help here : if I apply they will reject because it is only 17 months of physical presence.
if I wait one year and apply the year spent in the us in 2014 will be out of the 5 years so it will not be counted as physical presence.

it quit complicated and really confused.

your help is greatly appreciated.