Immigration question

[Wayne]

Does anybody know how much time in the first two years before my wife gets her conditional status taken off of her green card that she has to be physically in the United States.  We might move down to Costa rica, and she will have been in the US only about a year.

Thank you,
Wayne

[Pete E]

... in response to Immigration question, posted by Wayne on Apr 9, 2002

Wayne,
Go to www.ins.usdoj.gov  Its the web site for immigration.
The form you file 90 days prior to 2 years since she got her green card is the I-751.We filed this in December 2001.We got a temporary extension of my wifes green card for a year while they consider the application.They said it could take up to 330 days to get an answer.The only place on the form that would bring this issue up is place of residence.I guess if you kept an official residence in the US and absences were considered travel you would be OK??
I notice in the time limits for naturalization that any absence of over 6 months breaks the string of residency time.You also have to get 2 people to swear they have known you as husband and wife for the 2 years.These people have to give contact imformation and could be asked questions.
If you can't find a direct answer on the web site you may want to contact them.Maybe you don't have to be living in the US??You wouldn't want to screw this up.

Pete