More details to this question:
I've lived in the USA in Indiana from middle school to graduate school since 2002 and I became a permanent resident 2006. I've traveled outside the US about 5 times and 4 out of the 5 times were less than 6 months doing internships; However, last year after earning my masters I traveled to Liberia (home country) to volunteer in the Ebola response and I stayed up to 14 months. I have returned to the US and I am now in New Jersey with my family but I've only been here for two weeks. My question is can I apply for my citizenship now that I'm back in the US without having issues in my residency? Another question is can I use my new jersey address now that I'm here?
1 ANSWER
Immigration and Nationality Law Attorney serving New York, NY
Partner at
Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Attorneys at Law
3 Awards
Unfortunately the law provides that your period of residence for naturalization purposes ended once you stayed outside the US for one year or more. The fact that you were volunteering for the Ebola response is not considered an exception to U.S.C.I.S. even though your action was highly commendable. The law only allows exceptions where you could not come back. For example, if you were under some form of quarantine, that would probably be such a circumstance. (Even if you had a reentry permit, such would not preserve your residence for applying for citizenship). Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.
Answered on Oct 19th, 2015 at 11:18 AM