applicants, such as members of the U.S.
“Physical presence” means that you
Armed Forces serving during designated have actually been in the United
periods of conflict.
States. Most applicants must be
physically present in the United
Other provisions allow a few other types States for a certain number of months to of applicants to remain abroad more
be eligible for naturalization.
than 1 year without disrupting their
continuous residence status. To maintain What is the difference between
their continuous residence while out of
“physical presence” and “continuous
the country, these people must file an
residence”? Physical presence concerns
“Application to Preserve Residence for
the total number of days you were in the
Naturalization Purposes” (Form N-470).
United States during the period required
See the table at the beginning of this
for your naturalization. Continuous
section for more information on who can residence concerns the time you resided use Form N-470 and when it must be
lawfully in the United States without
filed.
any single absence long enough to
“break” that continuity for naturalization
purposes.
“Continuous Residence” Example
• An applicant became a Permanent Resident on January 1, 1994.
• She lived in the United States for 3 years, then returned to her native country for 1 year and 3
months.
• She got a Re-entry Permit before leaving the United States so that she could keep her Permanent Resident status.
• The applicant re-entered the United States with Permanent Resident status on April 1, 1998.
Question: When is the applicant eligible for naturalization?
Answer: On April 2, 2002, 4 years and 1 day after she returned to the United States. The last 364
days the applicant was out of the United States count toward her time as a Permanent Resident in “continuous residence,” but the 3 years in the United States before leaving do not.
A Guide to Naturalization
23
When counting the total number of
days you have been out of the country,