For residency, how is 6 months defined?

[zeemoo]

Hi,

I have a question regarding the 6 months residency requirement. Here is my situation:

My wife and I applied for citizenship in March, 2007.
My wife got her interview in August and become an U.S.
citizen in Septemper, 2007. So far I have not heard
anything from the USCIS yet.
Due to my personal reasons, I have to go abroad frequently in the next couple of years. My question is: how long shall I stay in U.S. each year (calender
year or any consecutive 365 days, I don't know which apply) in order to maintain my continuity of residency?
I checked on the USCIS website, and I find that they
mentioned that each single trip shall not last more
that 6 months. But they did not specify whether I
should stay in U.S. at least 6 months each year. Since
I have already stayed outside U.S. for the past 3 month
I need to figure out whether I should come back in June the
latest in order to avoid any potential legal issues.

My ultimate question is: how was this 6 months defined? Is it a single trip more than 6 months, or is it 6 months accumulated per calender year, or is it 6 months total after I send my application?

Please advise.

[ASM]

Hi,

I have a question regarding the 6 months residency requirement. Here is my situation:

My wife and I applied for citizenship in March, 2007.
My wife got her interview in August and become an U.S.
citizen in Septemper, 2007. So far I have not heard
anything from the USCIS yet.
Due to my personal reasons, I have to go abroad frequently in the next couple of years. My question is: how long shall I stay in U.S. each year (calender
year or any consecutive 365 days, I don't know which apply) in order to maintain my continuity of residency?
I checked on the USCIS website, and I find that they
mentioned that each single trip shall not last more
that 6 months. But they did not specify whether I
should stay in U.S. at least 6 months each year. Since
I have already stayed outside U.S. for the past 3 month
I need to figure out whether I should come back in June the
latest in order to avoid any potential legal issues.

My ultimate question is: how was this 6 months defined? Is it a single trip more than 6 months, or is it 6 months accumulated per calender year, or is it 6 months total after I send my application?

Please advise.

You just answered your own question. So where's the confusion? Read your posted message again and you'll find your answer.

[zeemoo]

Thank you but....

OK. The reason I am asking is that different lawyers gave me different answers. Some suggest I should spend at least 6 month in U.S. each year. Some suggest I should flay back to U.S. every 3 months. I know the information I dig out from USCIS website says each single trip should not last for more than 6 months. But I want to take precautions since I heard so many different stories.

For example, if for this year I have to spend two weeks in U.S. every 3 months , then at the end of the year, I have totally spend 11 months oversea, yet each single trip last less than 3 months. Will USCIS consider that I have fulfilled the continuity of residency or will they consider that I have abandon the residency? I know if I interpret the word on USCIS website specifically then I should be OK. But so many people have different opinions make me want to double check. I don't want to face the situation that USCIS might deny me based on the fact that I spend most of the year oversea. And in fact that my intention is reside in U.S. in the long term, it just so happened that I have to spend sometime outside U.S. for family issues this year. And if they process my case timely, I should have already got my citizenship six months ago!

BTW, I heard that when they interview you, they pull out all your record on when you leave and re-enter U.S., so I don't know how they actually use those information.

Please be patient with me if you know a clear answer to my question. I just need clarification from knowledged people here.

[soumya19]

Hello Gurus,
even i am also looking for the same answer....i will be ready to apply for the CTZship next year April...mean time i want to go to india for about 4-5 months not more than 6 months though....so i am wondering as i already been to india in the past years for about 5 months in total (from the time i got my GC),if i go now would my travel be Okay? please advise me....

thanks
soumya