The main benefit of expeditious naturalization is that the applicant is exempt from the normal naturalization requirements that he or she (a) continuously reside in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) for 3 or 5 years immediately prior to filing the naturalization application; and (b) be physically present in the U.S. for one half of that time. An application for expeditious naturalization can be filed either before or after the U.S. citizen’s overseas employment begins. So for couples living abroad, it is possible to apply for LPR status and then expeditious naturalization all without living in the United States. Another benefit of expeditious naturalization is that once an LPR is naturalized there is no longer a risk that LPR status will be considered abandoned due to living abroad on a non-temporary basis.