Immigration 101 for Dummies

[Kimble]

As an 1881...

What's an 1881, and how can I become one? :p

[Joeyd6]

What's an 1881, and how can I become one? :p

Fat fingers and a crackberry are bad things! It is an 1811 who was former NYPD. You get 70 extra points for being NYPD. Didn't anyone tell you folks over there?

And BIG, the Border Patrol huh? It makes sense now. One of my coworkers is green blooded and based upon my classmates from CITP who are with ICE, you were looking like the ICESAT class star with that knowledge in such a fine package! great post!

[highwayman]

Come here through embassy or consulate and go through the motions and get citizenship.

No one obtains their citizenship through a U.S. Consulate or Embassy. Either a foreign born USC, think of military kids born outside the U.S., registers at the Consulate/Embassy or a foreign national applies for an immigrant or non-immigrant visa via the Consulate/Embassy.

I have a cousin who works in the Greek consulate here in Los Angeles and from what she told me the Consulate or Embassy cannot get you legalized status but they can make things a lot easier and expedite the process of Immigration proceedings depending who you know and how well.

In some cases I heard relatives and friends of the Consulate who wanted to become legal residents got their SS# and temporary green cards on the spot without even having complete paperwork with just faxed copies of their birth certificates.

[sparty]

You dont have to tell me twice about the married to a US citizen thing..I just paid $675.00 bucks to send off my wife's paperwork for US citizenship. Maybe i'm doing something wrong or didnt do my research but doesnt being the daughter of American citizens, (alas my wife was born in Mexico) the wife of an American citizen and serving honorably in the US Army at least give us a damn discount?????

If she's the daughter of American citizens, even if she's born in Mexico, she should be a USC, according to "jus sanginues..." Right?

I mean, isn't that basically the exact example Big gave? :confused:

That's correct. If the wife's parents are United States citizens then it dosen't matter where she was born, she drives US citizenship from her parents.

Actually it all depends. For instance were mom and dad citizens when the baby was born? If not, how old was the child when mom and dad became citizens? When was the child born? Depending on when the child was born did mom and/or dad have enough actual physical presence in the United States after age 14 or 18 (depending on when the child was born) for the child to derive citizenship?

I've got a case now that I waiting for documents that I'm going to have to review to see if he has a claim to citizenship. Mom was born in the United States but moved overseas at age 7. Dad never lived in United States or had US citizenship. He has five brothers and sisters. Two are US citizens and he and the others appear not to be. He has a criminal record that will get him deported and barred from ever coming back to the United States if he's not a citizen. (Clear as mud yet?) I don't think he's a citizen but I need to make sure all my ducks are in order before I take him before an immigration judge.

One thing I've learned about immigration law is that for every hard and fast rule there is an exception (thank you, Congress). I've also learned that it's not necessarily knowing the answer but knowing who to ask or where to look for the answer.

[MDEMT280]

Clear as mud. :eek:

Thank God for ICE. Some days, I can't spell my own name right, let alone understand some of this stuff.

[Big Sexy]

Thank God for ICE.

Actually, it should be, thank GOD for ICE, CBP, USBP and to an extent CIS. All have a hand in immigration law, but only ICE, CBP and USBP actually enforce the law, where as CIS are the facilitators by which one would gain his/her status as a resident or USC.

[BP348]

One thing I've learned about immigration law is that for every hard and fast rule there is an exception (thank you, Congress). I've also learned that it's not necessarily knowing the answer but knowing who to ask or where to look for the answer.

Aint that the truth ;)

[Sierra]

I've got a case now that I waiting for documents that I'm going to have to review to see if he has a claim to citizenship. Mom was born in the United States but moved overseas at age 7. Dad never lived in United States or had US citizenship. He has five brothers and sisters. Two are US citizens and he and the others appear not to be. He has a criminal record that will get him deported and barred from ever coming back to the United States if he's not a citizen. (Clear as mud yet?) I don't think he's a citizen but I need to make sure all my ducks are in order before I take him before an immigration judge.

Nationality Charts Number 1
If mom remained overseas after age 7, the child does not derive citizenship from her. Mom needed to have returned for at least 5 years after age 14 if kid born before 1986 or 2 years after 14 if kid born after 11/14/1986.

You're welcome. ;)

[BP348]

Nationality Charts Number 1
If mom remained overseas after age 7, the child does not derive citizenship from her. Mom needed to have returned for at least 5 years after age 14 if kid born before 1986 or 2 years after 14 if kid born after 11/14/1986.

You're welcome. ;)

I knew someone had to have a copy of the Natz law charts.

[sparty]

Nationality Charts Number 1
If mom remained overseas after age 7, the child does not derive citizenship from her. Mom needed to have returned for at least 5 years after age 14 if kid born before 1986 or 2 years after 14 if kid born after 11/14/1986.

You're welcome. ;)

Thanks - I've already looked at the natz charts which is why I don't think he qualifies but he said something during his sworn statement which made me want to review his file. I don't even have the court records yet (they're so old I may not be able to get them) so I've got a little time before I serve the NTA (Notice To Appear - it's the administrative charging document we serve on aliens to appear before an immigration judge for the non-immigration types out there). Hopefully there's some old certified court records in his file.

[charlydevo]

You would all be well-advised to disregard your recent lesson in immigration law. Within a year of President Obama's ascension, we will have a whole new Immigration and Nationality Act to learn. Somehow, I think that it will be much simpler, i.e. "Come to the U.S. and get a green card".

[sparty]

You would all be well-advised to disregard your recent lesson in immigration law. Within a year of President Obama's ascension, we will have a whole new Immigration and Nationality Act to learn. Somehow, I think that it will be much simpler, i.e. "Come to the U.S. and get a green card".

Forget the green card, we'll just admit them "B-2 for duration of status" on primary with employment authorized. (For those non-immigration types out there, B-2 is the classification given to visitors for pleasure.) Heck we just added seven countries to the visa waiver program, why not just add the rest of the world?