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USCIS, Aug. 28, 2019
SUBJECT: Defining “Residence” in Statutory Provisions Related to Citizenship
Purpose
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCISPolicy Manual to address requirements for “residence” in statutory provisions related tocitizenship, and to rescind previous guidance regarding children of U.S. government employeesand members of the U.S. armed forces employed or stationed outside the United States.
Background
Numerous statutory provisions related to citizenship require applicants or their U.S. citizenparents to “reside” or to have had a “residence” in a particular location. USCIS is updating thePolicy Manual to better define residence and clarify the distinction between U.S. residence andphysical presence. In addition, USCIS is updating its policy regarding children of U.S. governmentemployees and U.S. armed forces members employed or stationed outside the United States toexplain that they are not considered to be “residing in the United States” for purposes of acquiringcitizenship under INA 320.
This guidance, contained in Volume 12 of the Policy Manual, is effective as of October 29, 2019(see attached) and applies prospectively to applications filed on or after that date.
Policy Highlights
• Clarifies that temporary visits to the United States do not establish U.S. residence andexplains the distinction between residence and physical presence in the United States.• Explains that USCIS no longer considers children of U.S. government employees and U.S.armed forces members residing outside the United States as “residing in the United States”for purposes of acquiring citizenship under INA 320."