A Guide to Naturalization by U.S. Department of Homeland Security - HTML preview

or

this time out of the country does not break your continuous

If you:

residence. It is treated just like time spent in the United States.

Served on a vessel registered in the United States and owned

by U.S. citizens or a U.S. corporation.

If you are at least 18 years old and:

5 years

5 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the United

States for trips of 6 months or longer.

Are an employee or an individual under contract to the U.S.

NOTE: An absence from the United States for 1 year or more will

Government.

break your continuous residence. You may keep your continuous

residence if you have had at least 1 year of unbroken continuous

residence since becoming a Permanent Resident and you get an

approved Form N-470 before you have been out of the United

States for 1 year.

If you are at least 18 years old and:

5 years

5 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the United

States for trips of 6 months or longer.

Are a person who performs ministerial or priestly functions

for a religious denomination or an interdenominational

NOTE: An absence from the United States for 1 year or more

organization with a valid presence in the United States.

will break your continuous residence. You may keep your

continuous residence if you have had at least 1 year of unbroken

continuous residence since becoming a Permanent Resident and

you get an approved Form N-470 at any time before applying

for naturalization.

If you are at least 18 years old and:

5 years

5 years as a Permanent Resident without leaving the United

Are employed by one of the following:

States for trips of 6 months or longer.

• An American institution of research recognized by the

NOTE: An absence from the United States for 1 year or more will

Attorney General;

break your continuous residence. You may keep your continuous

• An American-owned firm or corporation engaged in the

residence if you have had at least 1 year of unbroken continuous

development of foreign trade and commerce for the United

residence since becoming a Permanent Resident and you get an

States; or

approved Form N-470 before you have been out of the United

OF APPLICANT • A public international organization of which the United

States for 1 year.

States is a member by law or treaty (if the employment

began after you became a Permanent Resident).

If you are at least 18 years old and:

5 years

Not Required

Have been employed for 5 years or more by a U.S. nonprofit

organization that principally promotes the interests of the

TYPE United States abroad through the communications media.

If you are at least 18 years old and:

You must be

Not Required

Are the spouse of a U.S. citizen who is one of the following:

a Permanent

• A member of the U.S. Armed Forces;

Resident at

• An employee or an individual under contract to the U.S.

the time of

Government;

your USCIS

• An employee of an American institution of research

interview.

recognized by the Attorney General;

• An employee of an American-owned firm or corporation

engaged in the development of foreign trade and commerce

for the United States;

• An employee of a public international organization of which

the United States is a member by law or treaty; or

• A person who performs ministerial or priestly functions for a

religious denomination or an interdenominational

organization with a valid presence in the United States

and You will be proceeding to join your spouse whose work

abroad under orders of the qualifying employer will

continue for at least 1 year after the date you will be

naturalized. Form N-400 should be filed prior to departing.

Where to go for more information.

Page 22

Pages 22-23

20

Attachment

Time in USCIS