Would like to apply for American citizenship. Am I eligible?

Question

I have been a permanent resident for 4 years. However, I left the country recently for 8 months, and have now returned to live here. The 8 months was always intended to be temporary.

Answer 1

Did you maintain a residence in the US in the 8 months you were gone? Unfortunately, anything greater then 6 months disrupts your physical presence requirement unless you still had a residence here..

You have to have 30 months of physical presence. So, if you didn't maintain your residence while you were gone, physical presence restarts from when you returned and you have to wait 30 months. You would have to wait until you've been a permanent resident for 5 years before you could apply anyways, but, now it'll be another year and a half..

Here's the link to that..

http://www.uscis.gov/propub/ProPubVAP.js...

"b) “   Physical Presence” as a Requirement for Naturalization  . Associated with the basic eligibility requirement of at least 5 years of continuous residence within the United States is the condition that “IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF FILING  [the] application for naturalization” the applicant also must have “been physically present therein for periods totaling at least half of that time”. (See         section 316(a)        of the Act). The resulting aggregate of 30 months is the minimum physical presence requirement for the great majority of applicants for naturalization."