Continuous Residence and eligibility for citizenship

[pranaysai]

I got my Green Card on Oct 17 2011.

I have been out of country on India trip from April 26 2012 to July 14 2012.(80 days)
I want to do some software courses in India and also stay with my parents for 171 days.
My question to the senior members on this forum are following:
1. When am I eligible to apply for citizenship?
2. Will this 171 days stay out of country effect my continuous residency required to apply for US citizenship?( I read on USCIS website that one should not be out of country for more than 6 Months. But I got this doubt because 171 Days is very likely closer to 6 months right?)
If not , Will I be questioned strictly for when I apply for citizenship?Are there any Chances of rejection because of this?
Anyone please advice its very urgent for me.

[rayb]

My advice would be to apply for Naturalization after July 18, 2016. Your single lengthy absence just shy of 6 months can be justified in such a way as to probably prevent a denial based on that single trip.

-Ray B

I got my Green Card on Oct 17 2011.

I have been out of country on India trip from April 26 2012 to July 14 2012.(80 days)
I want to do some software courses in India and also stay with my parents for 171 days.
My question to the senior members on this forum are following:
1. When am I eligible to apply for citizenship?
2. Will this 171 days stay out of country effect my continuous residency required to apply for US citizenship?( I read on USCIS website that one should not be out of country for more than 6 Months. But I got this doubt because 171 Days is very likely closer to 6 months right?)
If not , Will I be questioned strictly for when I apply for citizenship?Are there any Chances of rejection because of this?
Anyone please advice its very urgent for me.

[pranaysai]

My advice would be to apply for Naturalization after July 18, 2016. Your single lengthy absence just shy of 6 months can be justified in such a way as to probably prevent a denial based on that single trip.

-Ray B

Hello Ray,
Thank you very much for reply.
I did not understand your reply. So ,do you suggest going out of country for 171 days? Will it have any effect(chance of rejection) when I apply for citizenship ? If so how many days long absence can I take ? Will it be preferable to take 166 days instead of 171days?Or do you think that 171 days does not make a difference when compared to 166 days?

My spouse got his green card in august 18 2011. can both of us apply separately? I read in previous threads that you do undertake naturalization processes,where are you located?
Please reply to my doubts sir.

[rayb]

Perhaps we misunderstood each other. I thought you had already been out of the country for 171 days, my mistake. A trip outside the U.S. for that length of time is close to the 6-month limit which could affect your Naturalization eligibility, but probably won't.

Your spouse can apply for Naturalization after May 18, 2016.

--Ray B

Hello Ray,
Thank you very much for reply.
I did not understand your reply. So ,do you suggest going out of country for 171 days? Will it have any effect(chance of rejection) when I apply for citizenship ? If so how many days long absence can I take ? Will it be preferable to take 166 days instead of 171days?Or do you think that 171 days does not make a difference when compared to 166 days?

My spouse got his green card in august 18 2011. can both of us apply separately? I read in previous threads that you do undertake naturalization processes,where are you located?
Please reply to my doubts sir.

[pranaysai]

Perhaps we misunderstood each other. I thought you had already been out of the country for 171 days, my mistake. A trip outside the U.S. for that length of time is close to the 6-month limit which could affect your Naturalization eligibility, but probably won't.

Your spouse can apply for Naturalization after May 18, 2016.

--Ray B

Hello Sir,
Thanks for your reply.
Are the chances that my continuous residence will be effected are more if I stay for 166 days?How many days long absence can I take without effecting my continuous Residence?
As I mentioned in my first post that I am planning to do some software courses in India.The sooner I can come back to USA is 150 days or else I have to drop the idea of doing courses over there.Do you think that 150 days absence will be good without any risk to continuous residence?
Please answer.

[rayb]

Pranahsai,

The general rule is that aggregate time out of the country for 30 months or more in a 5-year period will disqualify you from meeting the "continuous residency" requirement. In addition, any absences of 6 months or more will be reviewed closely to determine if you have not maintained a continuous residency in the U.S.

Based on what you have posted thus far, you don't seem to be in the danger zone or will be affected by a later absence of 170 days or so.

--Ray B

Hello Sir,
Thanks for your reply.
Are the chances that my continuous residence will be effected are more if I stay for 166 days?How many days long absence can I take without effecting my continuous Residence?
As I mentioned in my first post that I am planning to do some software courses in India.The sooner I can come back to USA is 150 days or else I have to drop the idea of doing courses over there.Do you think that 150 days absence will be good without any risk to continuous residence?
Please answer.

[arezo]

when can I apply for citizenship?

Hello friends,
I have a question about applying for citizenship and I will be grateful if you guide me .
I am a green card holder from April 20 ,2012 , I got reentry permission to complete my studies in my country , I tried to return US before 6 months even few days to keep my continuous present but for my last trip it took for about 8 months to return US again and from that time (Dec 5 ,2013) I live US , for my 8 months absence I have my tax return papers and also a bank account, Now I do not know when can I apply for citizenship? according to my reentry( that is 4 years after I entered US) or 5 years after I got my green card ? and if my case reject because of apply sooner ,does it cause any problem for me and I have to wait for 5 years more again ?
Thank you in advance,
Sara

[anil24]

Should one assume that one can apply 3 months before the 5 year mark? My parents will hit their 5 year mark in Oct and they meet all the requirements. Can I do an early filing for them (90 days prior to hitting the 5 year mark) or is that only for spouse of US citizen?