Naturalization - worked outside for 2 years and wondering what are the chances now?

[Test110]

Hi guys,
A pretty common case here, it seems - multiple absences over the last few years (moved within the same company to Singapore office two years ago).

I have been visiting US every ~5-5.5 months for a few days, and kept US postal address/bank account/tax residency status. I'm choosing if I should return to US in December - that will put me to 923 days out of required 913 at my 5 years mark (aka qualifying in the letter of law, less so in spirit).

Q: how would you estimate my naturalization likelihood here? Browsing through the forum, looks like this situation would raise some flags in process - so I wonder if the chance is high enough to request a work transfer back to US / look for another job here.

Thanks in advance!

[okccanary]

From the sounds of it I'm pretty sure your clock has been reset and would start from the beginning again when you return full time to the US. If i'm reading this right even though you come back every 5 months or so you are spending only a few days. So in a calendar year you are outside for a 11+ months which to me would break the continuous requirement rules. You might be able to overcome it with evidence but I honestly have no idea how easy that would be and what your chances are in succeeding. Especially as it seems your life was very much in Singapore for the last two years and i'm guessing you do not have any immediate family (wife/kids) or property over here to show your intention of always coming back?

I know there are some exceptions to this if you worked abroad for the governments, military or educational institutions but i'm not an expert on which ones qualify.

Just want to say I am not an expert so definitely get other peoples advise but if your intent was to come back and apply straight away I don't think your chances are very high. If your intent was to come back and apply again once you met the requirements again and to be safe that would be 4years and the 6 months then you would be fine.

[Test110]

Fair points, thank you - and spot-on on the situation as well.
Yes, effectively last two years I was residing in Singapore full-time for work (non government/military related) - not sure if that being an internal transfer at company's request makes any difference here.

Now, based on I've read on the forum, my evidences of intention of coming back would be having a reentry permit, paying taxes as a resident, keeping phone plan and postal address (with bank account/drivers license having this address, having Informed delivery for letters on etc.).
Q: do you think hiring an immigration assistant would make a sizeable difference here, or the case success chance will stay in the 5-15% territory regardless? Guess what I'm curious about is how immigration officers in general treat such cases.

[okccanary]

Yeah I don't think it would make a difference. You got a Green card from the company when they needed you in the US and no doubt they got the visas you needed when they needed you in Singapore. For the Officers they would see it as if you wanted your life in the US and be a citizen then you would have refused to move to Singapore, you don't get Citizenship just for working for a US company, its just a perk that might happen if you worked in the US for the required time.

Don't get me wrong I totally get why you want the Citizenship and the options that it can give you and I would have done the same if I knew I would get it.

Honestly I have no idea how likely or successful you would be.

If you have the spare cash and want to give it ago then definitely see an attorney, it definitely seems like you have some good evidence. More out of interest is the address you have a PO box or residential and if residential do you have the monthly payments for mtg/renting or is it a friends place that you are using as an address? If its one where you are still paying towards it then that definitely seems to be strengthening your case.

The only other question I will ask you is if you didn't get it straight away would you be happy to come back for another 4+ years and being tied here before having a chance to truly be successful in your application or is it only tempting if you get it within a year of coming back and then moving somewhere abroad. aka you only want it as a option where you can return to the US whenever you want without hassle if you ever decide to want to come back? If you don't want to commit to that 4-5+ years in the States and are super happy in Singapore then maybe don't apply as if your company ever sent you back to the US in the future then they would do all the Visa paperwork like they did before and how they have done so for Singapore!

All the best in whatever you decide!