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How Much Time Can One Spend Outside of the Country to Still Be Eligible to Apply for U.S. Naturalization / Citizenship?

February 13th, 2024

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    Most permanent residents in the United States still have many strong ties and families back in their country of origin. However, spending too much time outside the U.S. can negatively impact a person’s ability to maintain their Legal Permanent Resident status, as well as their eligibility to apply for naturalization / Citizenship.

    A skilled immigration lawyer can explain the complex immigration laws governing how long a person can spend outside of the United States and still maintain their permanent residency. There are strict rules, which dictate how long a person must physically present in the U.S. to maintain their Legal Permanent Resident status. Those rules include a requirement that residents must not merely be physically present in the country and possess a domicile, but they must permanently reside in the United States. While traveling for short periods will likely not have an impact on a resident’s lawful status, longer periods can be construed as an abandonment of their status as a Legal Permanent Resident.

    The number of days that a Legal Permanent Resident is outside the U.S. will also directly affect their eligibility to apply for naturalization as a United States Citizen. So if you want to know how much time you can spend outside of the U.S. and still be eligible for citizenship, our immigration and Citizenship lawyers can help you understand your rights as well as your obligations. Call FitzGerald Law Company today at (617) 303-2600 for a case consultation.

    How Long Can I Be Outside of the Country and Still Be Eligible to Apply for Naturalization?

    When applying for U.S. Citizenship through the naturalization process with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Legal Permanent Residents should know how traveling outside the country can affect their eligibility for naturalization. A permanent resident must satisfy two separate but closely related requirements relative to their time spent outside the U.S. to be eligible for naturalization, continuous residence, and physical presence. While travel to foreign countries is permitted, excessive travel can negatively affect an application for naturalization.

    Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S. must “permanently reside” in the U.S.  If a person spends a significant amount of time outside of the U.S. then the government may suspect that they no longer reside here.  A person’s place of “residence” is commonly the place where they have their home, job, school, family, driver’s license, health insurance, doctors, bank account, finances, and t is also generally the place that they spend most of their time.  It is a requirement for all Legal Permanent Residents to reside in the U.S. and they are generally not permitted to “reside” outside of the U.S. unless a special exemption applies (i.e. serving in the U.S. military, …)

    The Continuous Residence Requirement

    Legal Permanent Residents will usually have to meet a “continuous residence” requirement in order to be eligible to apply for naturalization. The most common “continuous residence” period is 5 years and it applies to all applicant who do not qualify for an exemption. To achieve continuous residence in the United States, an applicant must continuously reside in the U.S. for a minimum of 57 months before filing their N-400, Application for Naturalization / Citizenship.

    Some Legal Permanent Residents do not have to wait for 5 years to become a naturalized citizen. They are allowed to file an N-400 after only 33 months of continuous residence in the United States. If a Legal Permanent Resident is married to a U.S. Citizen and living with them for 33 months, then they will be eligible to submit an N-400 and become a naturalized citizen after only 3 years.  This 3-year standard is also used for some individuals who received their residency through VAWA or had their I-751 approved as a victim of domestic violence.

    For a small number of Legal Permanent Residents there is no waiting period, like for certain military personnel or for some minor children residing with a biological or adopted parent who is a U.S. Citizen.

    The Physical Presence Requirement

    Physical presence is a closely related requirement to the continuous residence rule, but is a different standard that must also be met. In the instance that a continuous residence requirement applies, the person will generally have be physically present in the U.S. for more than half of the required period.  Physical presence is calculated by each day or portion of a day that a person in physically in the U.S.

    Physical presence, unlike continuous residence, is a cumulative requirement. This means that each day the person was in the United States over the residency period will be calculated to determine physical presence. If USCIS determines that a permanent resident spent more time outside the United States, it could prevent them from being eligible to file for naturalization.

    Disrupting the Continuous Residence Requirement

    While permanent residents are permitted to travel abroad freely, extensive travel can disrupt their continuous residency, preventing them from applying for naturalization. The immigration law states that if a Legal Permanent Resident is outside of the U.S. for 180 days in a row (but less than 1 year), without permission from the U.S. government, then it will be presumed that the person has lost or abandoned their residency, and therefore can no longer apply for U.S. Citizenship / Naturalization.  This presumption can be overcome, and the person may be able to keep their resident status, but only with evidence that they had intended to remain a lawful permanent resident in the U.S.  This evidence can include U.S. tax filings, records related to a home in the U.S. and a valid reason for the lengthy time abroad. If the permanent resident was outside the U.S. for more than a year then generally the loss of residency cannot be overcome.

    Residency can also be disrupted by “residing” outside the U.S., irrespective of the time. “Residing” generally refers to the place where a person works, studies, has a house or apartment, has a driver’s license, has their health insurance, or engages in other activities that tie them to that community in a substantial and non-temporary way.

    Am I Still Eligible to Apply for U.S. Citizenship / Naturalization If I Have Been Outside the Country for More than Six Months but Less than One Year?

    You can still be eligible to apply for naturalization if you were absent from the United States for 180 continuous days (approximately 6 months) but less than a year. However, you must overcome the presumption that you disrupted your residency.   In general, a Legal Permanent Resident may not spend 180 days in a row outside the U.S.  There are a few exceptions, including if you are working for the U.S. government in a foreign country, if you are serving in the U.S. military, or if you have been granted a special re-entry permit by filing a Form I-131 Application with USCIS.

    If there is no exception that would allow you to be outside the U.S. for this period (180 days to 1 year) then you will need to provide evidence that you still maintained United States residency while abroad and that you did not abandon it. Some evidence that can demonstrate this includes evidence you did not terminate your United States employment, evidence that you did not obtain employment while abroad, and evidence that you properly filed your U.S. tax returns with all required declarations of foreign income. Residency may also be proven if your immediate family remained in the U.S., your family kept their jobs or continued to study in the U.S. and you kept full access to your U.S. home.   There are many ways to prove that you have not abandoned your Legal Permanent Resident status by being outside the U.S. continuously for 180 days or more, and our immigration attorneys can help you fight the presumption that your residency was abandoned if you were outside the U.S. this long.

    Can I Still Apply for Naturalization If I Have Been Absent from the Country for One Year or More?

    If a Legal Permanent Resident is outside the country for continuously for one year or more, it will automatically terminate their residency status, greatly hindering their eligibility for naturalization, unless they received permission, a re-entry permit, from USCIS or the US Consulate, or if a special exception applies.

    Similar to Legal Permanent Residents who been outside for 180 consecutive days, there are a few exceptions that allow a resident to be outside the U.S. for extended periods, including working for the U.S. government in a foreign country, serving in the U.S. military, or receiving a special re-entry permit by filing a Form I-131 Application with USCIS.

    If you are a Legal Permanent Resident that has been outside the U.S. continuously for 1 year or more than it will be difficult for you to prove that you are still have valid resident status, and it may take many years for you to be eligible for naturalization. Before applying for U.S. Citizenship it is important to make sure that your Legal Permanent Resident status is valid and that you are not at risk of losing your status due to your extended period of time outside the U.S. Our immigration attorneys can help you determine the best options moving forward if you are returning to the U.S. after a year or more.

    Location of the USCIS Office with jurisdiction over Your N-400

    In general, USCIS requires that a person be “residing” in a jurisdiction, such as a state, territory or federal district, for 90 days before filing their N-400.  USCIS will consider the place where a person is primarily living as their residence for this jurisdictional purpose.

    Our Immigration Lawyers Can Help

    If you have spent time outside of the U.S. and want to know how it affects your eligibility for U.S. Citizenship, our immigration and Citizenship lawyers at FitzGerald Law Company can provide you with a case assessment today. Contact us at (617) 303-2600.

    Client Reviews and Testimonials

    See all reviews or organize them by website!

    Will be recommending FLC to our friends!

    We had a great experience with FitzGerald Law Company while applying for a permanent resident card. Attorney Desmond was knowledgeable and helpful throughout the confusing immigration process! Our legal assistant, Angie, was wonderful - very friendly, great communication and efficient. Will be recommending FLC to our friends!

    Jayne Procopio

    I will recommend them to my friends and family

    Excellent lawyers they do a great job i will recommend them to my friends and family they are very helpful they are always there to answer all your questions and concerns.

    Gerson Lemus

    They were attentive and helpful

    Zrinka and the team were fantastic, thoroughly the whole of the (very long) process they were attentive and helpful, and made the whole thing as smooth and painless as possible.

    Laurence Wilson

    I will forever be grateful for your service

    I used Fitzgerald Law Company for my complicated case . I personally worked with Attorney Desmond and Mrs. Zrinka. I must say that Desmond is very professional and caring. He knows the system and pays attention to all the details. The entire team is very knowledgeable, respectful and reliable. Thank you Desmond and Mrs. Zrinka for tirelessly working with me to the end. Through your support and dedication, I was granted the privilege of a green card. I will forever be grateful for your service and I pray that the Almighty God will meet you at your point of need. I would highly recommend this firm to anybody that needs Immigration Services.

    Margaret Muguku

    Desmond and his staff and absolutely fantastic and easy to work with.

    I would highly recommend Fitzgerald law company for all immigration needs. Desmond and his staff and absolutely fantastic and easy to work with.

    Joe Ryan

    I wouldn't hesitate to hire them if I needed to.

    My husband and I are going through the US immigration process through consular processing in Canada. We hit an unexpected hitch in our process, and we were panicked and seeking out attorneys who could advise us what was happening with my husband's case. This firm took my emotional call and talked me through where we were in our process, what the likely outcome and timeline was based on their past cases supported, etc. and talked through all the details of our case. We talked for a good 15-20 minutes and they didn't charge me a dime. I felt so re-assured by the end of the conversation that our case will resolve soon. We haven't gotten the visa issued just yet, but we're remaining hopeful and will be contacting this company again as soon as anything goes astray. I really appreciated their care for a potential client, considering how emotional and scary the process can be. I wouldn't hesitate to hire them if I needed to. Thank you again for taking my call, and explaining so much of the process to us. It's clear you take care of your clients, and this review felt like the least I could do as a thank you. We'll be in touch if we end up needing your services!

    Allison

    They are excellent.

    Serious, dedicated work and provide all necessary explanations to the customer, they are excellent.

    Livia Liberato

    Amazing people, excellent service. Extremely professional.

    Amazing people, excellent service. Extremely professional. They helped me a lot and I will refer anyone who needs legal help to this law office!

    Ray T.

    I highly recommend this law firm

    My entire family and I have been working with FitzGerald Law Company for many years. Desmond and his team have never given up on us! I got my green card in 2018 and my parents got theirs this year! We are so happy :) we are just waiting on my sister now, but we know she is in great hands! Thank you so much! You have changed our lives for the better <3. I highly recommend this law firm if you are having any immigration problems. My parents Etleva and Kastriot send their deepest gratitude!

    Evjo Gjura

    This is the best immigration law office in Great Boston area.

    From experience, this is the best immigration law office in Great Boston area. Very satisfied with their work. No matter how difficult your case might be, if the team accepts working with you, you are in very good hands.

    Gleni Kajdo

    I really like that they speak so many languages and can help anyone!

    FitzGerald Law Company recently handled my immigration case for me and everything turned out great! The staff is excellent all the way from the secretary and assistant all the way up to the attorney. My attorney was Desmond Fitzgerald himself and he was excellent.

    Swarsatie R.

    They have been very supportive and professional

    My family and I have had an excellent experience with Desmond and his team at FitzGerald Law Company. They have been very supportive and professional, addressing our every concern. I feel fortunate to have found them and worked with them on my son's immigration case.

    Yoseph A.

    Highly recommend their services

    My husband and I reached out to FitzGerald Law Company, and we can only speak very highly of them. Very professional & reliable. I want to say big thanks to Desmond and Zrinka, who helped us throughout my immigration process. Highly recommend their services!

    Natasha A.

    They are on top of everything

    The Fitzgerald team is great and ready to help. They provide accurate information and never give a false picture of one’s situation. They are on top of everything and work with you. The team are very thorough at what they do. I would highly recommend their legal services.

    Patricia M.

    A very well organized firm, experienced and professional.

    My experience was exceptionally great. A very well organized firm, experienced and professional. Customer service was excellent and the lawyer that handled my case, Desmond Fitzgerald was the best. He was very thorough and very experienced. He knows what he's talking about. All in all, I had a positive experience and I highly recommend this company, especially Desmond Fitzgerald, he's awesome.

    Mike A.

    They helped me with a personal injury case

    Highly recommend Mr Desmond Fitzgerald and his team. They helped me with a personal injury case. He was realistic about outcomes and professional and came through for me.

    Garo M.

    Experienced, professional, and caring

    It was a great pleasure to have Mr. FitzGerald as my attorney. He was always there when I needed him. He is experienced, professional, and caring. I would recommend his services to anyone. I greatly appreciate what he did for me and would like to take the chance to express my gratitude to his hard work. Thank you very much Mr. FitzGerald. You'r the best...

    Ahmed B.

    Very professional and dedicated a lot of time to my case

    Very professional and dedicated a lot of time to my case...kept me in the know throughout the whole process. I definitely recommend FitzGerald Law Company to anyone looking for representation in a court case. Thank you Desmond and the entire team.

    James K.

    He explained things in a way that was easily understandable and things went smoothly

    Mr Desmond and his team did a remarkable job in immigration for my family and I. He explained things in a way that was easily understandable and things went smoothly. Highly recommended

    Gassim F.

    They made the process very smooth and pleasant

    Desmond and his team did a great job during my husband’s green card application. Very diligent, reliable and knowledgeable. They made the process very smooth and pleasant. Highly recommended!

    Karol S.

    The team is wonderful, efficient and very helpful/ professional

    The best lawfirm in Massachusetts. The team is wonderful, efficient and very helpful/ professional.

    Zulia O.

    They make the process as simple as possible

    Our experience with the FitzGerald Law Company is beyond positive. They make the process as simple as possible and are there to help and support the entire time. Everyone we've been in touch from their office was nice and helpful. We won the case and we would definitely use their services again. Thank you Juan & the team!

    Anonymous for Firm

    They put in a lot of time into my case all the while keeping me informed of any and all developments

    A very professional and committed team...They put in a lot of time into my case all the while keeping me informed of any and all developments. I definitely recommend FitzGerald Law Company to anyone seeking legal representation. Thank you Desmond and the entire team.

    Anonymous for Firm

    Highly recommend their services

    My husband and I reached out to FitzGerald Law Company, and we can only speak very highly of them. Very professional & reliable. I want to say big thanks to Desmond and Zrinka, who helped us throughout my immigration process. Highly recommend their services!

    Anonymous for Firm

    They are on top of everything

    The Fitzgerald team is great and ready to help. They provide accurate information and never give a false picture of one's situation. They are on top of everything and work with you. The team are very thorough at what they do. I would highly recommend their legal services.

    Anonymous for Firm

    I was very happy working with them and will be happy to work with them again

    The lawyer did an excellent job, it was really wonderful and inspiring to have him as a lawyer, he truly handled my case and everything went as expected. They always call or sent me an email to inform me the progress of my case, I am always feel welcomed when I meet with them. I was very happy working with them and will be happy to work with them again in the future.

    Anonymous for Firm

    I would definitely recommend Desmond and FitzGerald & Company to anyone looking for a professional, trustful immigration lawyer

    Desmond FitzGerald and his staff handles the daunting immigration legal paperwork with the utmost professionalism but always keeping the experience personal and realistic. I always felt that that I mattered. FitzGerald & Company has many payment options and they work with you to set up a payment plan which is affordable. {para}I would definitely recommend Desmond and FitzGerald & Company to anyone looking for a professional, trustful immigration lawyer.

    Anonymous for Firm

    Will be recommending FLC to our friends!

    We had a great experience with FitzGerald Law Company while applying for a permanent resident card. Attorney Desmond was knowledgeable and helpful throughout the confusing immigration process! Our legal assistant, Angie, was wonderful - very friendly, great communication and efficient. Will be recommending FLC to our friends!

    Jayne Procopio

    I will recommend them to my friends and family

    Excellent lawyers they do a great job i will recommend them to my friends and family they are very helpful they are always there to answer all your questions and concerns.

    Gerson Lemus

    They were attentive and helpful

    Zrinka and the team were fantastic, thoroughly the whole of the (very long) process they were attentive and helpful, and made the whole thing as smooth and painless as possible.

    Laurence Wilson

    I will forever be grateful for your service

    I used Fitzgerald Law Company for my complicated case . I personally worked with Attorney Desmond and Mrs. Zrinka. I must say that Desmond is very professional and caring. He knows the system and pays attention to all the details. The entire team is very knowledgeable, respectful and reliable. Thank you Desmond and Mrs. Zrinka for tirelessly working with me to the end. Through your support and dedication, I was granted the privilege of a green card. I will forever be grateful for your service and I pray that the Almighty God will meet you at your point of need. I would highly recommend this firm to anybody that needs Immigration Services.

    Margaret Muguku

    Desmond and his staff and absolutely fantastic and easy to work with.

    I would highly recommend Fitzgerald law company for all immigration needs. Desmond and his staff and absolutely fantastic and easy to work with.

    Joe Ryan

    I wouldn't hesitate to hire them if I needed to.

    My husband and I are going through the US immigration process through consular processing in Canada. We hit an unexpected hitch in our process, and we were panicked and seeking out attorneys who could advise us what was happening with my husband's case. This firm took my emotional call and talked me through where we were in our process, what the likely outcome and timeline was based on their past cases supported, etc. and talked through all the details of our case. We talked for a good 15-20 minutes and they didn't charge me a dime. I felt so re-assured by the end of the conversation that our case will resolve soon. We haven't gotten the visa issued just yet, but we're remaining hopeful and will be contacting this company again as soon as anything goes astray. I really appreciated their care for a potential client, considering how emotional and scary the process can be. I wouldn't hesitate to hire them if I needed to. Thank you again for taking my call, and explaining so much of the process to us. It's clear you take care of your clients, and this review felt like the least I could do as a thank you. We'll be in touch if we end up needing your services!

    Allison

    They are excellent.

    Serious, dedicated work and provide all necessary explanations to the customer, they are excellent.

    Livia Liberato

    Amazing people, excellent service. Extremely professional.

    Amazing people, excellent service. Extremely professional. They helped me a lot and I will refer anyone who needs legal help to this law office!

    Ray T.

    I highly recommend this law firm

    My entire family and I have been working with FitzGerald Law Company for many years. Desmond and his team have never given up on us! I got my green card in 2018 and my parents got theirs this year! We are so happy :) we are just waiting on my sister now, but we know she is in great hands! Thank you so much! You have changed our lives for the better <3. I highly recommend this law firm if you are having any immigration problems. My parents Etleva and Kastriot send their deepest gratitude!

    Evjo Gjura

    This is the best immigration law office in Great Boston area.

    From experience, this is the best immigration law office in Great Boston area. Very satisfied with their work. No matter how difficult your case might be, if the team accepts working with you, you are in very good hands.

    Gleni Kajdo

    I really like that they speak so many languages and can help anyone!

    FitzGerald Law Company recently handled my immigration case for me and everything turned out great! The staff is excellent all the way from the secretary and assistant all the way up to the attorney. My attorney was Desmond Fitzgerald himself and he was excellent.

    Swarsatie R.

    They have been very supportive and professional

    My family and I have had an excellent experience with Desmond and his team at FitzGerald Law Company. They have been very supportive and professional, addressing our every concern. I feel fortunate to have found them and worked with them on my son's immigration case.

    Yoseph A.

    Highly recommend their services

    My husband and I reached out to FitzGerald Law Company, and we can only speak very highly of them. Very professional & reliable. I want to say big thanks to Desmond and Zrinka, who helped us throughout my immigration process. Highly recommend their services!

    Natasha A.

    They are on top of everything

    The Fitzgerald team is great and ready to help. They provide accurate information and never give a false picture of one’s situation. They are on top of everything and work with you. The team are very thorough at what they do. I would highly recommend their legal services.

    Patricia M.

    A very well organized firm, experienced and professional.

    My experience was exceptionally great. A very well organized firm, experienced and professional. Customer service was excellent and the lawyer that handled my case, Desmond Fitzgerald was the best. He was very thorough and very experienced. He knows what he's talking about. All in all, I had a positive experience and I highly recommend this company, especially Desmond Fitzgerald, he's awesome.

    Mike A.

    They helped me with a personal injury case

    Highly recommend Mr Desmond Fitzgerald and his team. They helped me with a personal injury case. He was realistic about outcomes and professional and came through for me.

    Garo M.

    Experienced, professional, and caring

    It was a great pleasure to have Mr. FitzGerald as my attorney. He was always there when I needed him. He is experienced, professional, and caring. I would recommend his services to anyone. I greatly appreciate what he did for me and would like to take the chance to express my gratitude to his hard work. Thank you very much Mr. FitzGerald. You'r the best...

    Ahmed B.

    Very professional and dedicated a lot of time to my case

    Very professional and dedicated a lot of time to my case...kept me in the know throughout the whole process. I definitely recommend FitzGerald Law Company to anyone looking for representation in a court case. Thank you Desmond and the entire team.

    James K.

    He explained things in a way that was easily understandable and things went smoothly

    Mr Desmond and his team did a remarkable job in immigration for my family and I. He explained things in a way that was easily understandable and things went smoothly. Highly recommended

    Gassim F.

    They made the process very smooth and pleasant

    Desmond and his team did a great job during my husband’s green card application. Very diligent, reliable and knowledgeable. They made the process very smooth and pleasant. Highly recommended!

    Karol S.

    The team is wonderful, efficient and very helpful/ professional

    The best lawfirm in Massachusetts. The team is wonderful, efficient and very helpful/ professional.

    Zulia O.

    They make the process as simple as possible

    Our experience with the FitzGerald Law Company is beyond positive. They make the process as simple as possible and are there to help and support the entire time. Everyone we've been in touch from their office was nice and helpful. We won the case and we would definitely use their services again. Thank you Juan & the team!

    Anonymous for Firm

    They put in a lot of time into my case all the while keeping me informed of any and all developments

    A very professional and committed team...They put in a lot of time into my case all the while keeping me informed of any and all developments. I definitely recommend FitzGerald Law Company to anyone seeking legal representation. Thank you Desmond and the entire team.

    Anonymous for Firm

    Highly recommend their services

    My husband and I reached out to FitzGerald Law Company, and we can only speak very highly of them. Very professional & reliable. I want to say big thanks to Desmond and Zrinka, who helped us throughout my immigration process. Highly recommend their services!

    Anonymous for Firm

    They are on top of everything

    The Fitzgerald team is great and ready to help. They provide accurate information and never give a false picture of one's situation. They are on top of everything and work with you. The team are very thorough at what they do. I would highly recommend their legal services.

    Anonymous for Firm

    I was very happy working with them and will be happy to work with them again

    The lawyer did an excellent job, it was really wonderful and inspiring to have him as a lawyer, he truly handled my case and everything went as expected. They always call or sent me an email to inform me the progress of my case, I am always feel welcomed when I meet with them. I was very happy working with them and will be happy to work with them again in the future.

    Anonymous for Firm

    I would definitely recommend Desmond and FitzGerald & Company to anyone looking for a professional, trustful immigration lawyer

    Desmond FitzGerald and his staff handles the daunting immigration legal paperwork with the utmost professionalism but always keeping the experience personal and realistic. I always felt that that I mattered. FitzGerald & Company has many payment options and they work with you to set up a payment plan which is affordable. {para}I would definitely recommend Desmond and FitzGerald & Company to anyone looking for a professional, trustful immigration lawyer.

    Anonymous for Firm