Early filing window

You can file up to 90 days before your 5-year anniversary as a permanent resident, or your 3-year anniversary if you're married to and living with a U.S. citizen. It's exactly 90 days, not 3 months, and an application filed even a day early can be rejected.

Physical presence

You need 913 days in the U.S. in the 5 years before you file (548 days in 3 years on the marriage path). Early filing doesn't waive this. The days you leave and return count as days in the U.S. Days before your green card date aren't counted here, which keeps the estimate conservative.

Days out on the trip log

The trip log counts both the day you leave and the day you return, which is how the total days for each trip are usually reported on the N-400. The physical presence count treats those two days as days in the U.S., so the two numbers differ by 2 per trip.

Trips of 6 months or more

USCIS presumes continuous residence was broken. You can rebut that with evidence you kept your U.S. life going, such as your job, home, and tax filings.

Trips of a year or more

These break continuous residence. This page estimates your new start as 4 years and a day after you return (2 years and a day on the 3-year path). Check this with an attorney.

State residence

You must live in your state or USCIS district for 3 months before filing. If you add a move date, the countdown waits 90 days after it.

Not covered

Good moral character, the English and civics tests, taxes, and anything else beyond date math.

Not legal advice. This is an unofficial tool and is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency. The rules above come from the USCIS Policy Manual.