I moved to the U.S. from Switzerland when I turned 21 (1988), didn't leave since 1991, had a B-1 visa extended 'til mid 93 and then slacked with the paperwork as my mom lost my extention papers. She's had a green card since 1980 and is now a U.S. citizen. But as far as I'm concerned, I'm not sure where I stand and I'm afraid of administrative procedures. I was married to an American woman for five years but didn't apply for a green card because I didn't want her to think I married her for the papers nor wanted to deal with it. But now, so many years have gone by, and I came to realize that I belong here more than anywhere else, having become as American and depended on, in my town and community as one could ever be.
Consequently I believe it's time for me to overcome my fears and do what it takes to become a citizen. However, now I'm afraid I might have messed up any potential eligibility for citizenship, because I allowed time to sleep by instead of taking care of my paperwork.

What do you think? Did I compromised my future here, or is there a way to sort this out?

Dear xanxan:

This answer is based on the assumption that you are now divorced. Your US citizen mother should immediately file an I-130 petition for you. As long as the petition is filed on or before 4/30/01, you will be grandfathered under the new law.

Then, when your date is reached on the waiting list, which should be in 2-3 years, you can file an application for adjustment of status in the US and your case will be solved. But don't wait--get going! Good luck.

Thank you for your prompt answer, and yes, I am divorced.
As advised, I'm not waiting anymore. I spend several hours on the INS web site following links related to form I-130, trying to understand the procedure and also downloaded the PDF files. Then I talked to my mom as she has to file the form I think, and it turns out that she never took care of her citizenship :(
She is merely a legal resident with a green card. Anyway, that same form seems to apply to both children of citizens and legal immigrants, and she offered to become naturalized if it can help me.
Now my questions are:
Can I file the petition anyway?
Does it make any difference if she becomes a citizen? (I assume it would take longer than 4/30)
Should I put aside $1000 for the fine mentionned on I-485a?
Is there a way for me to apply for citizenship directly or do I have to wait with a green card first?

Thank you for your valuable advices.
Alex.

Dear Alex:

Yes, your mother can file for you while she is only a permanent resident, if you are unmarried. She must file the petition on or before 4/30/01, even if she is not yet a citizen.

She should also apply for citizenship right away since that is good for her, and will be good for you.

You cannot directly apply for US citizenship. And, yes, start saving your $1000 as you will need it, but not for about another 5-7 years. Good luck.

I AM LOOKING FOR A HELP FROM YOU LONG TIME AGO PLEASE IF YOU CAN THEN DO .
I AM DUAL CITIZEN SAUDI & AMERICAN AND I WANT TO GO TO USA FOR EVER I CAN NOT FIND A JOB IN SAUDI ARABIA MOREOVER I HAVE HARD TIME WITH LIFE .
WHAT I AM ASKING IS TO FIND A WAY TO GET MONY FROME USA GOVERNMENT AND WHEN I STAY IN USA I WIIL RETURN IT BACK WHEN I WORK & STADY .
IF YOU CAN FIND A WAY BY LOW THEN DO IT PLEASE
I DO NOT WANT SAUDI ARABIA CITIZEN NO MORE AND I WANT TO WORK IN USA ARMY IF I CAN .
THANK YOU .

Hello:
Thank you for taking the time out to read this. I have two issues:
1. - My boyfriend's father came here on a tourist visa and was unable to leave to his native country within the alotted time due to money loss in an assault. This occurred abouth 14 years ago and started working as a janitor. He then brought his wife, my boyfriend and his brothers under the same circumstances. They have been to several lawyers and noone will take the case. At this point my boyfriend and I want to know what can be done, he is a student going for an engineering degree and I am a student going for a business degree. What are my options for him to acquire a GC and then citizenship? If I was to marry him, would he get in trouble for being here so long illegally? I am naive about all this but after 9/11 things are getting really shady to the point that he might not be able to get his Driver's License renewwed. Please help.
2.) I am a citizen here in the US, I was born in Miami to Colombian parents here in the US on a e2 visa (investors) and ever since then we have lived here and my parents have to go every so years t renew. I will be 21 years old in April and need to start the process on asking for my parents citizenship. how do I do this? And if I was to be able to ask for my parents and help my boyfriend at the same time is this ok? Thank you for your assistance.

Dear Anonymous:

As soon as you turn 21 you can petition for your parents. The process should not be too difficult.

Also, if you marry your boyfriend, you can petition for him. Likewise, that should be fairly straightforward.

You can do both processes at the same time. The only difficulty we see is with your affidavit of support. If you do not earn sufficient income, you will need someone to co-sponsor your parents and your husband.

You or your parents may wish to consult with an immigration law attorney to get more complete details. Good luck.

Thank you very much for your response. Where do I go to petition for my parents if I live about two hours north of Miami? Do I have to get a lawyer if I petition for them? My dad bought a house and put it in my name, and I make approximately $23000 a year and am a fulltime university student, how does this look to you? I mean as far as the support issue.

In the case with my boyfriend, is marriage the only way out for him? He has been illegally here for about 12 uears now and I heard amnesty was over April of last year. Is there another option? Things are getting gray since he may not even be able to get his license renewed. And if I do marry him, does he stand a chance of getting in trouble regardless since he has been here illegally prior to our marriage?

Thanks again.

Dear Anonymous:

You can download the forms from the Internet, or you can go to the INS office in West Palm Beach or Miami.

We do not see any problem with the support issue.

As far as your boyfriend is concerned, if he entered the country illegally, then he will not be able to adjust status in the US unless section 245(i) of the Immigration Act is extended.

While we do not see any need to hire an immigration attorney in your parents' cases, it would probably be a good idea to schedule a consultation to discuss your boyfriend's situation in greater detail. Good luck.

I apply for naturalization on April 2001 and I go over all processing till I appear to final interview on end of November 2001 the officer ask me to give him proof of residence in the state because I represent to the officer by mistake old lease agreement in NY where I was reside before I came to CT and that lease is expired in 2002 she ask me to give proof of residence in CT I give her my driving license and all the mail which I received it in my CT address then she test me in civic and English test and I pass the test and she give me paper shown that I pass the test and she give me other letter shown that I have to submit more document proof that I am reside in same state , I send on first week of December 2001 all the required document which I have ,such as bank statement and the letter which I received from INS regarding my application and two credits card letter and cancellation of lease agreement in NY , till today I am not received any notice from INS regarding my application and I really don’t know what to do I try to call INS office in Hartford but they ask me not to call them again and they will send for me letter about the status of my application but now almost three months passed and I am not received any note .I went to consult lawyer and he told me all this happened because of my last name especially after 11 of September . Now I got letter from INS state that the denial my application and the wrote the reason because I am not provide for them evidence that I reside in CT for 3 month before I apply and my last retuned tax in my pervious address and ect so is there is nay chance for me to appeal as they mentioned within 30 days and they approve my application again and what is the procedure in this case .
Thanks
Ibrahim

I have applied for naturalization on April 2001, and I have gone over all processing procedures till I appeared to final interview on November 2001.

During this interview, the officer asked me to give her the proof of residence in the CT in West Haven. I gave her the address, my driving license and all the mail which I received in my address. Then she asked me from which date did I stay in the same address. By mistake and because I was not in my state of mind in the interview so I replied that I stayed in CT from September 2000, but I realized that and I correct it to the officer in same time and the correct answer which I already mentioned in my application is from December 2000. I also presented to the officer by mistake an old lease agreement in NY where I was residing before I came to CT, and this lease is expired in 2002, instead of the revised agreement with the expiry date in 2000(which is given to her immediately).

After that, she tested me in civic and English topics, and I passed the test. She gave me a letter showing that I passed the test. Then she gave me another letter shows that I have to submit more document proof that I am residing in the same state. I sent on first week of December 2001 all the required document which I have, such as bank statement and the letter which I received from INS regarding my application and two credits card letters and cancellation of lease agreement in NY.

Now in the end of February, I got a reply from INS stating that they denied my application because in the interview I mentioned that I moved to CT in September, and I submitted the lease agreement of NY address and my tax return form of 2001 showing old address in NY. And I have to apply again or I may appeal the decision.

So I would like to know if there is any chance that if I file Appeal to review INS decision, and to get approval for my case or is it better to reapply again and go through all the processing procedures from the beginning

Dear Ibrahim:

We feel that INS was in error in denying your application as you presented sufficient proof to establish your domicile in Connecticut.

As to whether you should appeal or file a new application, that depends on the processing times in Connecticut. If an appeal will take longer than a new application, then we would file the new application. While you will pay a little more in filing fees, you will not have to worry about establishing domicile in CT since you now have plenty of evidence to prove your case.

However, if the processing time for an appeal is much faster than a new application, we would say to file the appeal.

We would suggest that you speak with your attorney who is more familiar with the processing times in CT and who also has had the opportunity to view your documentation in greater detail. He or she will be better able to tell you which course to follow. Good luck.

I have an interview (for naturalization) scheduled for June 4th. However, I have accepted a job abroad (england where my wife resides)which will start on May 6th for on a one year contract.I will be returning to the US for the interview. I returned to the US a year ago after 720 day absence, one stay lasted over the 6 month period but did not surpase a year. What evidence do I need to have prior to the interview to show I did not abandon my residence, How will taking this job affect my chances.....hmmm any and all advice would be welcomed. What can expect to be asked in my interview in this regard?

P.S. not that it matter but I have resided in the US for over 24 years prior to this

Dear Anonymous:

You may have a problem establishing your continuous residence in the US. We would suggest that you review sections 316 and 319 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to see if you meet any of the exceptions.

You can view the above sections of law by going to our Immigration Research page and clicking on Immigration and Naturalization Service Web Sites. Then scroll down to Immigration and Nationality Act and look for the above two sections of law. Good luck.

Hello,
My situation is very difficult, but this board shows me some hope
1) I am 21... I was born in colombia, but moved to the US at age 4 going to 5. ('85).
2) We obtained SS cards from the actual SS that same year we came to the US. My mom after 15 years double checked and they are still valid and original numbers belonging to us.
3) Approx. in '88 we tried to file for asylum, but "lack of help" from colombia never allowed us to submit proper papers.
4) My parents divorced in the early 90's (we have not spoken to my father in over 5 years). No resolution on either side for them to get their paper work straight, leaving my 18 year old sister (which just got married last month to get papers from a friend to resolve) and me, 21 without much hope. I was able to attend university, because we knew someone in addmissions, but I had to pay international fees. After a while, we no longer could afford this, thus, I stopped attending. I was no longer admitted to go to school unless I filled out a reapplication. Filling this form out would not let me in, because the new addmissions dept would see I didnt have a form of status here, other than a driver license (which expires next year) and my SSN.
5) I have been successful in working. Earning in my first full year of work 23,000. and a possible 27k this year (so I know I make a decent amount to make it). I do not want to tell my employers my situation, just because my income is what us 3 depend on...and I most likely will be fired for this.
6) We all file for taxes, my mom ownes an apt. we all have SSN, that are valid.
7) We did come legal to the US, my mom knows the date of dept, airlines , the works practically, but after all this time, the airlines no longer has the records, "so they told her".
8)Last month, we were informed by my sisters lawyer, that our petition for us to get our i-94# was denied due to "not enough information", because we do not appear on INS systems ). They don't exist... this due to the fact, my mom says, that my father had them erased from the systems, by paying people in INS.

now i really don't know what to do! I want to finish school!!! I don't want to know that I will be kicked out of the US. And my boyfriend of 5 years is a British citizen, so that doesn't help! And its pointless to keep asking him to get a dual citizen, because he has been saying no to that for 3 years now. Please help me.!!!

My husband is USC and I just got my greencard. I want to apply for my Indian parents. I want to know can I apply for them now or after citizenship. If so what forms do i need to fill?

Dear Anonymous:

Unless you have a parent, spouse, or child who is a US citizen, you are not eligible for cancellation of removal even though you have resided in the US for approximately 17 years.

There are several bills in Congress, if passed, that might be able to assist persons such as you who entered the US when they were young children, and have been here for many years. However, at this point in time there is no indication as to whether, or when, one of these bills might pass.

Possibly a business could file for labor certification on your behalf in some type of job where you have experience or education. You may wish to consult personally with an immigration law attorney if you know of such a company that might be willing to help. Good luck.

Dear Anonymous:

In order to file immigrant visa petitions for your parents, you must be a US citizen. Since you are married to a US citizen, you will be eligible to file for your citizenship in 3 years. Good luck.

Hi, i've read through this forum and i really do hope that u might be able to give me some advice on my problem. It is quite complicated. This concerns the whole process that when my grandfather entered the us....he filed for my grandmother...and then she filed for her kids(as long as they're not married) but my parents were married at that time and already had me. So they decided to say that my dad was single, so he came....then he filed for my mom saying that they had recently met and she came....now the problem is here......when they applied for me...i was already about 7, but they could not say that b/c they had already filed that they met on a later time than my time of birth so they couldn't necessary have a 7 year old kid right. So they decided to push my age down by 4 years. And i came here. I have basically grew up here for 12 years and i am currently really 20, but all my documents say 16...so i'm having great trouble finding work and the such b/c they all require 18+ and documents to show. Please help me if u can. Can i get that age changed back to my real age legally? if i can, how? Please help!

desparately searching

Hello Mr. Desparately!

If you are going to fix this mess, this will land you and your family back to orignal country and I don't think you want this. Because at the very first time this all started with false satatment (fraud). Now Its up to you if you want you family to be got troubled go ahead with your plans. Otherwise just wait few more years B4 you can work.

I was smuggled here 5yrs ago,although not legal to be here,I tried to play by the rules.I work under the table[working illegally],but I'm tired of being label illegal,I want to pay taxes,own a home,go to school etc... How can I gain legal status? I'm also on file from 1997 for immigrant visa and being here,will being here illegal affect my chance of getting my legal status? Last but not lease,if I'm chosen for legal status can I apply for it up here? Thanks for your respond.

My boyfriend had been in the US since 1977. He came here ilegally, later acquired TPS. Than he lost his TPS because he went back to his native contury. So he re-enter the US ilegally again. His mom is an US citizen. We have an US citizen son together, and I am an US citizen. Is there any way his mom or I can do to get him a legal satus?

I am from Romania, but right now I am in Canada visiting my brother. I just found out that I received an envelope from Kentucky Center. The postman didn't find me home, and returned the envelope. What should I do now to get my envelope back?

Thanks.

Hi, I am sorry you might not help me,but I'll try it. I totally ••••••• up everything about INS. I came here legally as a au pair - J1 visa, than I decided to stay here. Of course legally but I wasn't succsesfull with INS, I tryed to extended my visa than I filled up all the papers and they sent me them back, with answer. I have to sent all my papers to my agency which was totally impossible becouse they cann't extended my visa. Than I stayed here. I feel so bad and I am trying to figoure out how to be legal here. Is there any possibility??? I am part time student and I am working as a nanny. Thank you very much for any help.

I can't seem to find my certification of naturalization paper. What are the procedures on how to obtain new once.

Thanks!

I CAME IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1980 I LOST MY PAPER AND CANNOT FIND THEM I ALSO KNOW MY INS NO. AND MY SOCIAL SECURITY CAN YOU HELP ME GET IT BACK

Dear Immigration Officer.
I got into the US with a K1 Visa and i stayed in the US since April 2002 till June 2004.I have done my fingerpriting and all the needed paperwork for my adjustment of status,i was married to an americain citizen and since i got in the US as a fiance i didnt get my green card as son as i entered the US.But i kept on going to the INS offices and aquiring about my status,and i always get "WE have you on file it takes time" as an answer. June 2004 the day which i came to Lebanon to visit my family, i have been informed that i got a letter at my place in the US from Immigration telling me that my case for adjusment of status has been denied and that any advanced parole issued on my behalf are terminated. Now my prob is that i have my Advanced Parole authorised and i left US with the belief that the advanced parole should be my VISA back to the US.now based on the facts that i got that letter from immigration. Am i still safe to go back or am i gona be rejected by the Imm. officers at the airport? i should be back to Cali. on Sept 1st.
I would really appreciate your help.
Thank you in advance.
Yours truely
Joe