Q: My greencard issue date was January 2019 but I didnt get my plane ticket and move to the USA until September 2019.
Does this count for the "more than 6 months spent travelling outside of the country" rule? Does this affect the date I can apply for citizenship?
A: For purposes of naturalization you would only be able to start counting your physical presence in the United States as of the date you actually entered the United States in September 2019, not the date the green card was issued in January 2019.
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A:
The date you became a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) for naturalization is the date that appears on your green card. This is typically the date that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves your application for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident.
Regarding the "more than six months spent traveling outside of the country" rule, there is a residency requirement for naturalization. One of the requirements is that you have been physically present in the United States for at least thirty months within the five-year period before applying. In addition, you must show you have resided in your state of filing for at least three months immediately preceding the filing of Form N-400.
So, the rule does not take into account the time it took for you to travel to the United States after the date of issuance of your green card.
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