Am I eligible for citizenship
I got my Green Card in January 20th 2022. Based on the normal timeline, I was expecting to become eligible for U.S. citizenship in about 8 months. However, I spent a considerable amount of time outside the U.S., so I’m unsure how this affects my eligibility.
My stay history after getting the Green Card is roughly:
2022: Stayed in the U.S. for about 7 months
2023: Stayed in the U.S. for about 7 months
2024: Came to the U.S. only for about two weeks because I was outside the U.S. for more than a year, although I had a re-entry permit
Since September 2025: Continuously staying in the U.S. and planning to remain here permanently
My question is:
Because of the long absence, would I still be able to count the residency/physical presence accumulated during 2022 and 2023 toward citizenship eligibility, or would my continuous residence requirement likely restart?
I understand this is not official legal advice, and I do plan to consult an immigration lawyer. I’m posting here first to get input from people who may have gone through similar situations or have experience with this process.