6-week rule: How long is too long? Worried...

[BuffonPost]

Hello all,

I am a EU citizen going for the 5 year naturalization process. While I think my application is strong on other accounts, one thing that has been confusing me a lot is the "explain over 6 week absence" question. While for the last 4 years that is no problem as I have continuously been living and working in Ireland, after I started my 1st year here admittedly I had to go back to Canada, where I previously lived, for 5 months in order to clear up a number of things with employer, residency etc, that was necessary.

Form 8 just pretty much says "explain your absence" but doesn't give hints as to what excuse is strong enough or how long is too long. I had a conversation with someone in law who told me it shouldn't be a problem - but now I am reading more and more that people are being rejected left and right over this, and for periods shorter than my absence. So I am very confused about what to write, about whether I need a proper lawyer to help me write the letter, or if my absence was so long that not even a lawyer can help me...

Any thoughts/advice will be very appreciated.

[Mal111]

wait another five months and then apply
also in the form tick the absence part and write all the matters u had to deal with and demonstrate how necessary they were.
and then clearly state that you have deducted those days from your period of residence that your claiming toward the 5 years just to be on the safe side

also before sending the application write an email to citizenship office and ask them if you can deduct 5 months from your residence calculation will you be eligible to apply if they said yes print that email out and send with your application

[BuffonPost]

But this is another question - isn't the residency calculator only for non-EU? When you go outline, it specifically says that EU citizens are not supposed to take it.

The whole idea is that I don't have to wait another 5 months though, so that would defeat the purpose if I did that.

[TMM1305]

When I applied, I had been out of the country more than 6 weeks during the previous year. I explained it was due to my father having a heart attack and they accepted it. I was only gone an additional week. However, I have heard of them denying more so recently for being out longer, so I would explain your situation fully. Or as others have said, wait a few more months.