Days spent outside of USA

[amitmaha]

Helo Sirs,

We are trying to understand this situation once again.

My wife completes 5 years on GC in September 2018.

There is a question in N-400 form "How many days did you spent outside USA during the last 5 years?"

She has taken 3 trips to India
Trip 3-  2/20/2015 - 8/12/2015   172 days
Trip 2-  3/26/2014 - 4/14/2014    18 days
Trip 1-  4/19/2013 - 10/29/2013   191 days

However please note this record starts from April 2013 (5 and 1/2 years).  Unfortunately September 2013 (when she received GC) falls in the middle of the Trip 1, so Trip 1 has to be shown as a record in the 5 years mark.

Instead,
if we applied citizenship in November 2018, the answer to "How many days did you spent outside US during the last 5 years?" will be slightly different since Trip1 goes beyond the "mark of 5 years".  The answer will be
Trip B- 2/20/2015 - 8/12/2015   172 days
Trip A- 3/26/2014 - 4/14/2014    18 days

That adds to only 190 days, compared to previous 381 days, plus there would be additional documents needed in Case 1 since Trip 1 goes beyond 6 months.

The question is, would it better to wait till November for filing citizenship to lead less complication?

Expecting reply.   Thanks!

 

 

[amitmaha]

Any updates, Gurus ?  Thanks!

 

[shandan]

My personal opinion, its better to wait till Nov to apply so that the whole scenario of having to explain over 180 days of absence from Trip 1 is avoided.

[amitmaha]

Answer was given after 2 months.

Submitted already.

 

Thanks!