SoCal Immigration Services | Immigration Document Preparation in Southern California

Quick Answer

For green card holders in Thousand Oaks and Ventura County who must travel abroad for extended periods but want to become citizens, Form N-470 can preserve your continuous residence for naturalization. SoCal Immigration Services provides Arabic-speaking guidance.

Reviewed for accuracy by

Maria Santos

DOJ Accredited Representative • 15+ years experience

What is Form N-470?

Form N-470, Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes, allows certain green card holders to maintain continuous residence for naturalization even while living abroad for more than one year.

Normally, if you leave the US for more than 1 year, you break your continuous residence and must restart the clock for citizenship. N-470 prevents this break for qualifying individuals.

The Continuous Residence Requirement

To naturalize, you generally need:

Category	Continuous Residence	Physical Presence
General (5 years)	5 years unbroken	30 months in US
Married to USC (3 years)	3 years unbroken	18 months in US
Military	Special rules apply	Varies

Who Qualifies for N-470?

N-470 is only available if your absence is for one of these qualifying purposes:

•Employment by U.S. government
•Employment by recognized U.S. research institution
•Employment by U.S. company in foreign trade/commerce
•Employment by certain international organizations (UN, NATO, etc.)
•Employment by religious organization with U.S. headquarters
•Employed abroad as clergy or missionary
•Performing religious functions abroad

N-470 Requirements

To successfully apply for N-470 from Thousand Oaks, you must:

•Be a lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
•Have been physically present in the US for at least 1 year since becoming LPR
•Have been physically present in the US for at least 1 year BEFORE filing N-470
•Be employed by or under contract with a qualifying employer
•File BEFORE leaving for the extended absence
•Continue to have intention to return and reside in US

The 1-Year Requirement

Critical timing: You must have been physically present and residing in the US for at least 1 continuous year after becoming a green card holder BEFORE you can file N-470.

• This 1 year cannot include significant absences
• You should file N-470 before departing for your long-term assignment
• Filing after you've already broken continuous residence won't help

Plan ahead - don't accept a long-term overseas assignment without considering N-470 timing.

N-470 Application Process

Steps to file N-470 from Thousand Oaks:

•Step 1: Confirm your employer/purpose qualifies
•Step 2: Verify you've been in US for 1+ years before filing
•Step 3: Complete Form N-470
•Step 4: Gather supporting documents (employment letter, green card copy, etc.)
•Step 5: File with USCIS before departure
•Step 6: Pay filing fee ($380)
•Step 7: Receive approval and depart for assignment
•Step 8: Upon return, apply for naturalization

Supporting Documents

Include these documents with your N-470 application:

•Copy of green card (front and back)
•Letter from employer confirming qualifying employment
•Evidence showing employer qualifies (US company, government, etc.)
•Employment contract showing foreign assignment
•Evidence of 1 year physical presence before filing (tax returns, lease, etc.)
•Any prior N-470 approvals if applicable

What N-470 Does NOT Do

N-470 has limitations - it only preserves residence, not physical presence:

• Does NOT waive physical presence requirement
• Does NOT preserve residence for purposes other than naturalization
• Does NOT protect your green card from abandonment
• Does NOT apply to absences before N-470 approval

You still need a Reentry Permit (I-131) to protect your green card status during absences over 1 year.

N-470 vs. Re-Entry Permit

These serve different purposes and you may need both:

Form	Purpose	When Needed
N-470	Preserve continuous residence for citizenship	Planning citizenship, abroad 1+ year
I-131 (Re-entry Permit)	Preserve green card status	Any absence over 1 year
Both together	Full protection	Long-term work abroad, want citizenship

After You Return

When you return from your overseas assignment:

• Resume living in the US to establish domicile
• Your prior N-470 approval preserves continuous residence
• You must still meet physical presence requirements
• Time spent abroad may extend how long before you can apply
• Calculate your eligibility carefully before filing N-400

Thousand Oaks N-470 Services

SoCal Immigration Services helps Thousand Oaks residents with:

•Determining if your employer/purpose qualifies
•Calculating timing for 1-year presence requirement
•Preparing N-470 application
•Gathering employer documentation
•Coordinating N-470 with I-131 re-entry permit
•Arabic to English translation
•Future naturalization application planning
•Physical presence calculations

FAQFrequently Asked Questions

Q:Can I file N-470 after I've already been abroad?

A: No. N-470 must be filed before you depart for the extended absence. If you've already broken continuous residence, N-470 cannot retroactively fix it.

Q:Does N-470 protect my green card?

A: No. N-470 only preserves continuous residence for naturalization purposes. You should also apply for a Re-entry Permit (I-131) to protect your green card status.

Q:My spouse works for a qualifying employer. Can I use N-470?

A: Yes! Spouses and children of qualifying employees can also file N-470 to preserve their continuous residence while accompanying the primary employee abroad.

Q:How long is N-470 approval valid?

A: N-470 approval covers the specific employment/assignment. If you change jobs or assignments, you may need to file a new N-470 or return to the US.

Q:Can I apply for citizenship while abroad with N-470?

A: You can file N-400 while abroad in some cases, but generally you should return to the US to complete the naturalization process including interview and oath ceremony.

Q:What if my company is foreign but does business with US companies?

A: The employer itself must be a U.S. company engaged in foreign trade, not a foreign company. If you work for a foreign company, N-470 likely doesn't apply.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about immigration services in Thousand Oaks and does not constitute legal advice. SoCal Immigration Services is a document preparation company, not a law firm. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed immigration attorney.

Published: January 12, 2026Last Updated: January 12, 2026

Planning Long-Term Travel from Thousand Oaks?

If your job requires extended time abroad but you want to become a U.S. citizen, N-470 may protect your path to naturalization. Plan ahead with our Arabic-speaking team.

Serving Thousand Oaks and all of Southern California

Schedule Free Consultation (714) 421-8872

citizenship•Long Beach

N-470 Travel for Naturalization in Thousand Oaks: Preserve Residence During Absences