Why Do Some People Have to Wait Four Years and a Day to Naturalize

One of the requirements to naturalize is maintaining continuous residence.
CR involves keeping a permanent dwelling in the U.S. over a minimum period of time required by statute.
- It’s the same legal concept as “domicile”
- Intent to stay in U.S. doesn’t matter
- Actual physical location of green card holder and tie and connections to the US is what matters.
How is Continuous Residence Broken?
- Claim non-resident alien status on tax return or fail to file a federal or state tax return because views self as not a resident of the U.S.
  - Can’t have it both ways! (Can’t keep LPR status and avoid paying taxes as a resident).
- Absent from U.S. more than 6 months but less than a year
  - Overcome presumption with evidence of ties and connections
  - If you can’t overcome the presumption, then the statutory period re-starts, based upon your last entry to the U.S.
  - Earliest can apply is at least 6 months from the 5 year anniversary of the new statutory period.
- Absent from the U.S. one year or more.
  - Automatically breaks continuous residence
  - Reentry permits don’t help with CR
  - Need to bring absence during statutory period under 1 year. So if you have a 5 year statutory period of CR to natz, then you need to wait 4 years and a day from your long absence from the U.S.
  - But to avoid having to overcome the presumption of a break in residence, it’s best to wait for 4 years and 6 months to file (so then there’s no presumption of break in CR since outside U.S. less than 6 months during statutory period).

"Erick and team at Passage Law epitomize everything an immigration firm should be when it comes to professionalism, knowledge and responsiveness. Erick alongside Alison managed our case with what can only be described as a…

Nathan C.

"I found my experience with them to be truly helpful and amazing.They were professional and knowledgeable. Integrity, responsability, hard work, efficacy, dedicated effort and supportive fellowship towards the people they work for and serve is…

Sheyda S.

Adjustment of Status I am from the UK and married my American wife earlier this year. Erick from Widman Immigration Law Group handled our case for a change of visa status. He was extremely professional…

Ben C.

"Achieved victory smoothly before anticipated timeline with solid backing of Attorney Erick and law team! Felt super safe and informed all throughout the naturalization process. Paperwork was perfect, done with utmost finesse, diligence and professionalism.…

Sdhaka R.

Permanent Residence Marriage I have multiple friends who are continuing to work their way through the labyrinth of the immigration process. One has been successful but it took nearly $90000 and 14 years. Another is…

Hatikvah W.

"We tried the green card process ourselves and failed miserably. I wish I would have hired Passage Immigration initially. They took care of everything, the process was so simple. If not for the pandemic, I…

Asya M.

Permanent Residence Marriage Erick was so helpful! I am so glad that I worked with Widman Immigration Law Group LLC. I wasn't sure if I needed help with applying for a K-1 visa, but I…

Whitney P.

"Passage Immigration Law is a business that is driven by kind, empathic and forward thinking leadership. Both Erick Widman and Erin Wasley have been exceptional with how they handled my I-751 application, even at times…

Judy S.

Permanent Residence Marriage 100% Recommended Erick Widman has been a blessing to my wife and I. He truly walks with you through the process, professional and attentive. I'm thankful for the work Erick has done…

Joe W.

"There is a reason why Passage Immigration Law is the best immigration law firm in Portland. For every question they had an answer.For every problem they had a solution. The end result was our green…

Ratko P.

Permanent Residence Marriage Erick helped my wife obtain her green card recently. Throughout the entire process Erick was professional, knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend his services to anyone.

Nathaniel F.

"My husband and I hired Passage Law to help us complete his Adjustment of Status and we are so glad we did! They handled all the paperwork for us and were always there to answer…

Samantha M.

"My husband and I hired Passage Law to help us complete his Adjustment of Status and we are so glad we did! They handled all the paperwork for us and were always there to answer…

Kaleigh H.

"Nothing but wonderful things to say while working with this immigration law firm. They made my family's immigration process a painless ordeal. We cannot thank them enough for their services and their extremely professional and…

Dan L.

"I can’t possibly overstate how valuable and instrumental the Passage Law team have been in navigating the daunting immigration process. Their fees were better than reasonable, we were never charged for any extra necessary consultation,…

Grey A.

Permanent Residence Marriage Over the last 2 years Erick has been a huge help to me, a great wealth of knowledge that has answered ever single question (and trust me there has been many) in…

Scott D.

"Passage Immigration Law helped me make what seemed impossible possible. They are all hard-working, friendly, reachable and professional. My case was successful and took approximately 3-years from beginning to end. Everyone's case is different and…

Erika C.

"Erick and his assistant are knowledgeable, professional. For example, on the topic of cultural differences Erick was so cultural diversified that he was able to place himself between my culture and the general culture in…

Dara S.

Permanent Residence I am so happy I hired Erick to help me with my case regarding my green card. I just received my 10 year green card in the mail and without Erick it would…

Silvia N.

Permanent Residence Marriage Thanks to Erick Widman, my wife and I are finally happy together living in the Unites States. His patience and expertise in immigration law has helped us with the process of obtaining…

Brad E.

"I came to the US for doctorate school originally on a student visa. When I got married and decided to stay in the States following school, I attempted to research what I would need to…

Chad D.

"Five stars is not enough for the services they providing. The most professionals-knowledgeable and caring office I have ever work with. Eric was great and always there for us. Alison always was an email away…

Vasileios P.

"I recently completed my Naturalization process with the help of Passage Immigration Law. The entire team were great to work with. They were very knowledgable with all aspects of my green card visa application and…

Lee C.

I-130 Nothing but good things to say about Pass Immigration. They helped with my husbands green card while we were in Thailand. Even with a couple of different attorneys handling our case Passage was always…

Maddie N.

"Passenge Immigration Law is the best in Portland I will give them five star. They are number one in Portland Oregon if you want to file your paperwork for immigration, for your citizenship choose passenger…

Kenndy Y.

"I reached out to Passage immigration for assistance with my my case based on their reviews online and I'm extremely glad I did. The entire team went above and beyond and exceeded my expectations. Erick…

Sercan E.

"Highly recommend. You won't find a better immigration law firm so don't even waste your time looking. They are the best.”

Gosia D.

"This is my second review.....and what a wonderful journey..... We have started with them when we need to file for my wife in the United States. Erick and his team done a great job and…

KZ Z.

"I am so extremely joyful from the service I got from Passage Immigration Law Office. Erick, Alison and the whole team has been very professional and respectful of our case (CR 1 Visa). I am…

Ba M.

"Eric and team from Passage Immigration Law did a fantastic job handling my immigration case. Thanks again for the great help, support and caring. They are the expert in handling complicated immigration cases, and I…

Shadi H.

"Eric Widman and his assistant Garmai were honest, reliable and effective in my case. He’s a great guy and you can count on him to get your case through. Applying for a green card for…

Matt B.

"All I can say is if it weren’t for Erick my daughter would not be a US Citizen today.”

Ronald M.

"Erick and Garmai are a very professional team. Both my Wife and I thought the communication and knowledge was unequalled, along with a warm personality which made our successful application pain free! Thanks guys.”

Matt J.

"I am only 21, applying for my green card was very scary. Me and my husband couldn’t afford to hire a lawyer. But josh found him online and saw the consultation was only 200$. When…

Corinna E.

"We were in a situation where an Immigration Lawyer was required. We consulted with 2 different Immigration lawyer firms locally, which would NOT accept our case. We were then referred to Widman Immigration Law Firm…

Lu-Ann B.

"When I met Erick I felt very comfortable to communicate with him. He’s a very simple living and high thinking personality and highly professional at what he does. His staff Garmai also a very helpful…

Jangbu S.

"Erick came highly recommended by a friend who had a successful outcome on his immigration needs. He came across genuine and knowledgeable upon the first consultation. It was clear that he was experienced and kept…

Zeem P.

"Erick Widman is an amazing attorney. He is honest, straight forward and has a wealth of knowledge and experience with immigration. He helped me with my fiancée visa and after I got married, he helped…

Elisa María García G.

"Eric handled our case from beginning to end in a highly professional, approachable and efficient way. He was always available to answer our questions and put us at ease as we went through the green…

Liv A.

"We got in touch with Erick in early February, when we needed help applying for my husband’s change of visa status. After reading google reviews of several law offices in Portland, we scheduled an initial…

Tolly D.

"Erick and his team are possibly one of the best professional services I’ve ever engaged with. I used Erick’s group to sponsor my parents for permanent residence. Here are the things I really appreciate about…

Ahsan A.

"Erick is passionate about helping people. I highly recommend him, as he’s an immigration expert, has high integrity, and puts his clients first.”

Wayland W.

"Best Immigration attorney. Erick is very professional and very tech savvy person. Before starting my ‘Adjustment of Status’ process, I consulted so many immigration attorneys, but I decided to go with Erick for my ‘Green…

Deval S.

"If you are looking for an immigration lawyer, look no further. Erick is professional and yet down to earth and easy to talk to. I went to a few different lawyers for consultations, Erick was…

Shaminy S.

"The most efficient, friendly, caring and pleasingly different law firm. Erick and his team took our case from an online request to actualization in record time. The experience, professionalism, and results were beyond exceptional .…

Nourhan B.

"Erick and his team provided first class service for my wife and I though the whole spouse visa process. They consistently responded quickly to any inquires that we had. With the points of entry kit…

Justin C.

"Erick was approachable, professional, and smart. He answered all my questions and his rates were reasonable. His smart use of technology made the entire process efficient and easy. After consulting and working with multiple immigration…

Michael H.

"Eric assisted my Japanese wife and I in successfully applying for an Adjustment of Status from a F1 student to a permanent resident (Green Card). Eric and his assistant Garmai are exceptional. I can point…

Tim K.

"Erick Widman and his team at Passage Law we’re extremely helpful with my husband successfully achieving his naturalization. From the the first day, Erick was so friendly and caring, he guided us thru every step.…

DJ R.

"I was living in Argentina and needed to get my wife a Green Card. I started the process myself, and sent everything to USCIS. We got a notice when the packet was received. Six months…

S F.

"I had a immigration case made complicated by a lengthy absence from the U.S. and turned to Erin at Passage Law for some help. She made the process painless and easy, took care of all…

Neill P.

“I’m so glad I found Passage Law, they all have been amazing at helping me from the start to finish. Again thank you for the above and beyond service you provided! Everyone at Passage Law…

Inday R.

“I’m so grateful to have Erin Wasley and Ahmed Mouse to help us with my immigration application. Erin is such a patient, responsible and knowledgeable lawyer. She answered all our concerns and questions, which makes…

C Q.

“I couldn’t be happier, I just received my permanent Green Card yesterday, after Erick and his amazing staff helped me removed the conditions of it, with no need of an interview 🙂 I would hire…

Daniel B.

"I requested a consultation to discuss my husband’s pending N-400 application and anxiety we were having about wait times, travel, legal status, etc. I received a message from Ahmed the next morning (put in my…

Kristen J.

“Erick and his team are just wonderful. They made the process of apllying to the green card so easy and it ran very smoothly. Erick’s really invested in his clients and that was reflected in…

Fatima S.

“Erick & Erin and the team are the real deal. Exceptional value & representation. Respect for their clients is amazing, they don’t grandstand! Value, respect & results. Please do yourself a favor, if you need…

Michael S.

“Erin Wasley helped me resolve my problem in a quick, professional, efficient manner. She also responded to my emails fast. She charged a reasonable amount and refunded me money from the retainer. She is very…

Manish T.

“I had a wonderful experience dealing with Eric Widman. Immigration law can be complex and confusing. Mr. Widman is experienced, knowledgeable and most importantly, up to date with the lastest laws and regulations. Before locating…

Marcus D.

“Erin is AWESOME! My Wife met with Erin to review our Adjustment of Status and Employment Authorization documentation. She was incredibly helpful in verifying our documents, simplifying the process and was very quick to respond…

Derek S.

“When my wife and I decided to get married, I knew that the immigration process was going to be complicated and time consuming. I had read stories about it taking years for couples to receive…

Jace T.

“I reached out to Passage Immigration for assistance with my naturalization application. Mr. Widman and his team were terrific throughout the entire process. They answered all my questions and the process they have in place…

Pierre M.

“Erick, Garmai and the staff at Passage Law made things very comfortable, easy to understand and accomplish. We are very pleased with the promptness, thorough understanding of the process, attention to details and availability of…

Kumar C.

“My wife and I were fortunate to have taken assistance from Passage Immigration Law with regards to my US Green Card application. We have made in-site visits, have had scheduled appointments over Skype, and discussions…

Navin S.

“So helpful and friendly. The Immigration process is so stressful and I am so happy to find kind people to help make it smoother.”

Jolli B.

“I highly recommend Passage Immigration Law. The whole team was great to work with. Erick brings years of experience and knows his ways around the immigration system.”

Enrique O.

“Erick and his support staff cleared the way for my wife and I to be successful. He leveled our anxiety by reassuring us that we where in good hands. Prior when thinking of “Lawyers” my…

Mark I.

“Erin was a great lawyer! Everyone was so nice and helpful. Everything was simple, easy, and faster than we thought. Great pricing as well! Answered all of our questions in a timely manner, and Erin…

Karina B.

“I highly recommend Passage Immigration Law! I had a pleasure to work with Erin, Alison and Ahmed. Erin and the entire Team is very helpful, knowledgeable, compassionate and very easy to work with. They made…

Anita P.

“Highly professional and experienced team. They make everything easy to handle and guide you throughout the process from the beginning till the very end. It was a pleasure to work with Erick as my attorney.…

Aga P.

O-1 Extraordinary Ability Thank you Passage Immigration for all your hard work, time and effort. From start to finish you was always there to answer any questions or concerns I might have. A huge thanks…

Carly C.

“The best immigration firm in Oregon, if you want to bring your loved ones to the US smoothly and with no-delays then i suggest you get in touch with Erick, he has a highly professional…

Abdullah M.

“We highly recommend Passage Law as a sound immigration company. We particularly enjoyed working alongside Erick who guided us through our K1 and Green Card process. The firm were professional, courteous and a pleasure to…

Thomas J.

“Thank you Erin, Ahmed, and Alison! Thanks for making our experience comfortable all the way through. My wife and I came to you guys all anxious and not knowing what to expect. We are so…

Why Do Some People Have to Wait Four Years and a Day to Naturalize?

Services

Testimonials