GC since 2002 question. Pls help!

[syjenn01]

I received my GC 12/19/2002 but during those years I'm in/out of US for my studies (finishing college) on APril 1, 2004 I was given a travel document (green) . I just go to US during summer vacation.

I finally reside in the US last June 26, 2008 up to this time. I also went back to visit family for a month (outside US). So I'm kinda confused if I'm already eligible for the naturalization. My GC will expire in 2 yrs time, if I can already apply for Naturalization I will rather than renewing my GC.

Please help me anyone


- another question:
If I went to Canada by plane and went back to US by land like cross boarder will this be an issue?
or its computerized already that I came back to US?

[kevinkallis]

In almost all cases, if you leave the US for 1 year or more, you have disrupted your continuous residence. This is true even if you have a Re-entry Permit. If you leave the country for 1 year or longer, you may be eligible to re-enter as a Permanent Resident if you have a Re-entry Permit. But none of the time you were in the United States before you left the country counts toward your time in continuous residence.

If you return within 2 years, some of your time out of the country does count. In fact, the last 364 days of your time out of the country (1 year minus 1 day) counts toward meeting your continuous residence requirement.

You have to prove that you were physically present in the US for thirty months within the five year period before filing the citizenship form. If you are applying based on marriage to a US citizen, the the requirement is eighteen months within the three year period.