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