CDC

USA Citizenship FAQ

What is the difference between physical presence and continuous residence?

Physical presence is the total days you were physically inside the US (need 913 for 5y route). Continuous residence is uninterrupted residence — broken by trips of 181+ days (rebuttable) or 365+ days (automatic).

What happens if I had a trip of 181-364 days?

There's a rebuttable presumption that you broke continuous residence. You can try to rebut by showing you kept ties to the US. Consult an attorney.

What happens if I had a trip of 365+ days?

You broke continuous residence automatically. You must re-establish residence: wait at least 4 years and 1 day (or 2 years 1 day for spouse route) after returning before filing again.

Are the departure and return days counted as physical presence?

Yes — per USCIS, any day that you are present in the US for any portion is counted as a full day of physical presence.

What if I'm short on physical presence?

You need to wait until you accumulate enough. No discretion is available for shortage.

USA Citizenship FAQ · Citizenship Day Calculator