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Am I a U.S. Citizen?

Am I a U.S. Citizen?

Question: I thought it would be easy, but I am simply not sure if I am a U.S. Citizen or not. Can you let me know?

Answer: First is the principal of what is known as Jus Solis. This means that if you are born in the U.S., that you are a U.S. Citizen. Thus, if your mother comes to the United States for 5 minutes and gives birth to you and then leaves the United States and takes you with her, that you are a United States Citizen. It does not matter if you live in another country for the next 50 years. You can return at any time to the United States as a U.S. Citizen. There are no time limitations or requirements that you enter the United States periodically.

Question: How about if I was born outside the United States? Is there a way that I might still be considered to be a U.S. Citizen?

Answer: The answer is yes. However, it depends on certain factors. For example, you first have to look and see where your mother and/or father were born. If either your mother or father were born in the United States, then you would have the possibility that they could transmit U.S. Citizenship to you.

Question: Is this the same as Naturalization?

Answer: No. Naturalization is when you are a lawful permanent resident for a certain period of time and then meet the necessary requirements to apply to become a U.S. Citizen through naturalization. However, if you qualify to have citizenship transmitted through your mother or father, then you are considered a U.S. Citizen the moment you were born and it cannot be taken away from you.

Question: So how do I know if I am a U.S. Citizen if I was born outside the United States and my mother or father was born in the U.S.?

Answer: First, this is known as acquisition of citizenship. If it works, then your mother or father or both will ‘transmit’ citizenship to you. First, you have to be aware that the law that is applied to you for the transmission of citizenship will depend upon when you were born. It is not the law of today. Essentially, there are several changes to the law as time has passed, but only the law in effect when you were born is relevant here.

First, you would determine if you were born out of wedlock. If so, different laws will apply. Next, you will determine if it was your mother or father who was the U.S. Citizen. If it was the mother, you will have a much easier time of having your citizenship transmitted. She only would have needed to be in the United States for one year before your birth. However, if it was the father who was born in the U.S. He would have had to legitimate you prior to your 18th birthday. If he did not legitimate you, then you cannot have citizenship transmitted. Legitimation is a subject all of its own. Basically, however, he would have had to put in writing that you are his child and that he sent you support as you were growing up.

Question: What is the law today.

Answer: We have what is known as the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 or the CCA. If either the mother or father is a U.S. Citizen (born here or by Naturalization) and the child enters the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident and enters the United States before he or she is 18 years old, then that child is automatically a United States Citizen. Thus, that child would be a resident for the plane ride to the United States and then become a United States Citizen when that child touches United States soil.

Thus, if your mother or father is a U.S. Citizen, make sure to seek help to determine if you can have citizenship transmitted to you through acquisition of citizenship.

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I’ve been deported. Now What?

I’ve been deported. Now What?

Question: I was recently deported back to the Philippines. Now what do I do?
Answer: First, you can apply for what is known and the Permission to Reenter or the Permission to Reapply for Admission to the U.S. This is not the total solution, but it is a very important part to being able to come back to the U.S.The petition must be prepared correctly and must have a lot of supporting documents and evidence to receive a favorable review.
Question: So what should I include in the Permission to Reapply?
Answer: There are several items that you should include by way of evidence, declarations, affidavits and other supporting materials. They are family ties within the United States; residence of long duration in the United States, particularly when starting at a young age; hardship that would result if permanent residence is denied; service in the U.S. armed forces; employment history; property or business ties; value and service to the community; genuine rehabilitation; payment of taxes; and any other evidence of good character.
Question: What should I submit with the Permission to Reapply to give me a better chance of success?
Answer: The I-212 Permission to Reapply must have lots of supporting evidence. Otherwise, it will certainly be denied. The applicant must normally submit the following: The applicant’s moral character; the need for the applicant’s services in the United States; whether the applicant was ignorant of the fact that he or she was deported; the length of time the applicant had been in the United States; the reason the applicant was originally deported; hardships resulting from the deportation; recency of the deportation or removal order; evidence of reformation and rehabilitation; the applicant’s family responsibilities and ties in the United States; and the existence of an approved immigrant visa petition for the applicant.
Question: What if a friend of mine has reentered illegally after a deportation order? Can he apply in the U.S.?
Answer: It will depend upon what jurisdiction he is in, but should if 10 years have passed and ICE has not yet instituted reinstatement proceedings. If ICE declines to reinstate the order, USCIS then can adjudicate the waiver.

Question: What is the procedure I must follow in order to get the Permission to Reapply filed?
Answer: The application for consent to reapply is made on Form I-212 (Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission Into the United States After Deportation or Removal). A person seeking permanent residence through adjustment of status must file the application with the USCIS office having jurisdiction over the place where the applicant resides. If the person is applying for adjustment before the IJ, the I-212 must be referred to the IJ. A person applying for permanent residence at a U.S. consulate must file the application with the USCIS office having jurisdiction over the place where the deporta­tion or removal proceedings were held.
An exception to this requirement of filing with USCIS occurs where the applicant must file both an I-212 request for permission to reapply and an I-601 application for an INA §212(g), (h), or (i) waiver. In that case, the I-212 must be filed at the U.S. consulate having jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence. Persons who will apply for permanent residence through a consulate may file Form I-212 with the USCIS regional service center prior to leaving for the visa appointment.

The applicant should attach the filing fee (current fee for filing the I-212 is $545) and the following supporting documents to Form I-212: Immigrant visa approval notice; proof of USC or LPR family members in the United States; a copy of the final deportation or removal order; proof of current and prior employment; proof of filing federal and state taxes; medical records or doctor’s statement indicating health-related problems; and results of FBI fingerprint check indicating criminal record; and any other evidence as listed above.
Make sure it is done professionally so that you have a higher chance of success.

DOS January 2011 Guidance for L visa Adjudications

DOS January 2011 guidance for L visa adjudications, particularly in regard to evaluating claims of “specialized knowledge.”

L visa

DOS January 2011 guidance for L visa adjudications, particularly in regard to evaluating claims of “specialized knowledge.”

Validity dates for L visa

H and L visa process

Guidance for L visa

Visas

 

DHS interim rule on professional conduct for practitioners

The CIS Ombudsman Quarterly Update for January 2011 includes a highlight of current areas of focus, including concerns with the DHS interim rule on professional conduct for practitioners and G-28 requirements, and more.

G-28 requirements

The CIS Ombudsman Quarterly Update for January 2011 includes a highlight of current areas of focus, including concerns with the DHS interim rule on professional conduct for practitioners and G-28 requirements, and more.

DHS appeal

Form G-28

G-28 attorney

Law Offices of Brian D. Lerner

January 2011 Migration Policy Institute report

A January 2011 Migration Policy Institute report that assesses the implementation, outcomes, costs, and community impacts of the 287(g) program, which enables state and local officers to directly enforce federal immigration law and is now operating in 72 jurisdictions.

Migration Policy Institute report

A January 2011 Migration Policy Institute report that assesses the implementation, outcomes, costs, and community impacts of the 287(g) program, which enables state and local officers to directly enforce federal immigration law and is now operating in 72 jurisdictions.

Immigration lawyer

Get the best Immigration lawyer to help you

An immigration attorney

Law Offices of Brian D. Lerner

Secretary Napolitano’s speech highlighted efforts to secure the Southwest border

DHS press release on Secretary Napolitano’s speech at the University of Texas at El Paso, in which she highlighted efforts to secure the Southwest border, and also noted efforts to enforce current immigration laws, and step up labor enforcement.

DHS

DHS press release on Secretary Napolitano’s speech at the University of Texas at El Paso, in which she highlighted efforts to secure the Southwest border, and also noted efforts to enforce current immigration laws, and step up labor enforcement.

DHS designature

Department of homeland security

DHS appeal

DHS and state dept. reopen Central American Minors Program