N-400 Application

[makossa]

Hi. I am a greencard holder since 2014 and I want to apply for US citizenship this year, but I am confused about something. I didn't stay in the US the whole time and lived abroad for quite some time. So the rule is you are supposed to stay 30 monthes here, but the form is only going back to last 5 years. I did live here more than 30 monthes in total but not in last 5 years, in last 7 years, will it be rejected automatically?

[flyingron]

There are two requirements for naturalization. The first is that in the past FIVE years you have maintained continuous residence here. This means you've not had any absences greater than six months, love the five years leading up to the application, then you're good. If you have longer absences, your continuous residence may be disrupted and you need to start the time from when it started up again.

The second requirement (which is what you're grabbing at) is that you have to have been physically present for thirty months in the five years leading up to the application. If you don't have that time. You are not ELIGIBLE now. You'll have to wait until you get 30 months accumulated in the five years before application. Your application will be rejected.

It sounds like you are not eligible to apply and you'd better watch that your frequent absences from the US isn't jeopardizing your residency requirement.