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If you have a green card, do not vote in a U.S. election
With the 2020 election less than a year away, it is impossible not to see political news and advertisements. As such, there is a good chance that you may develop meaningful thoughts about current events, candidates and ballot measures. If you are not a U.S. citizen, though, voting in any election may be disastrous.
As a legal permanent resident, you havecertain rights and responsibilities. For example, you can live and work in the United States without worrying about obtaining special permission. You cannot vote, however. On the contrary, voting is a privilege that only U.S. citizens may enjoy.
False claim of U.S. citizenship
Eligibility requirements for obtaining a fiancé visa
As a U.S. citizen who wishes to bring your foreign-born fiancé to the United States for the two of you to marry, you are going to need to take certain steps before moving forward. Typically, the first step you need to take is to attempt to secure a fiancé via, which is also known as a K-1 nonimmigrant visa.
Before you obtain a fiancé visa, you need to demonstrate that you are actually eligible for one, and this involves meeting certain stricteligibility requirements.
Assessing eligibility
How do you know if you are eligibletobring your fiancé into the United Stateson a fiancé visa? To meet eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S. citizen, and you must intend to marry your fiancé within 90 days of the date that he or she arrives in the United States.
What happens after you get a fiancé visa?
It is impossible to tell your heart what it wants. If you fell in love with someone who happens to not be a U.S. citizen, then the chances are good that you will one day want him or her to come to Texas so that you can marry. The easiest way to bring your partner into the country is with a fiancé visa or a K-1 visa.
The point of this visa, according to the U.S. Department of State, is to allow your partner toenter the country for the main purpose of marrying you. Once immigration authorities approve your fiancé’svisa, heor she will get a packet of sealed documents along with the visa and his or her passport. The sealed packet contains the documents he or she turned in during the visa application process and some additional documents from the U.S. Embassy.
Filing immigration paperwork for the sibling of an adopted child
There are several reasons families choose to adopt from overseas. Families may want a child of a certain age and may struggle to find children in these age groups within their area. Some immigrants may wish to provide a home to someone from their country of birth. American-born citizens may want to provide a better standard of living to someone from a poorer country.
Whatever the reason, the International Adoption Simplification Act of 2010 is one law these families should become familiar with. Here is some of the basic information provided by USCIS.
Adopting a birth sibling between the ages of 16 and 18
The 2010 amendment allows birth siblings of an already-adopted child to qualify as a Hague Convention adoptee. This becomes possible after the child who is not yet adopted turns 16 but before their 18th birthday. There are several restrictions to keep in mind and a lot of paperwork to file, but the option is available.
Holding a green card comes with rights and responsibilities
When immigrants apply for a green card in Texas, their focus is almost entirely on becoming legal. Not having to look over their backs or worry about routine traffic stops makes so many people breathe more easily.
Beyond this, many may not consider the additional rights they now gain as a resident. They may also not become aware of the responsibilities that come with the card. Officers often impart this information at the end of the residency interview, but it is important to have this information beforehand.
The Process
According to the LA Times, immigrants abroad must apply through their U.S. consulate overseas. An initial petition begins the process and then there is a waiting period with steps to follow in between. Immigrants who are already in America petition to change their visa status to permanent residency. Immigrants who are relatives of U.S. citizens may find this process easier than others. The process usually takes six months or more.
How can you help your child adjust to the US?
Every year, thousands of people travel to the United States to become citizens, many of which reside in Texas. If you choose to immigrate with your family, it can be an exciting new journey. Unfortunately, there are adjustments that you also have to make. For children especially, it may be difficult to acclimate to a new home, culture and language. Culture shock is a real thing and kids do not always know how to deal with it.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry explains that children can feel a number of negative emotions after a move. This does not mean that you made a poor decision in moving, it simply means that you need to pay extra attention to that child’s needs. Children may feel angry or anxious and instead of being able to talk about it, they may get into trouble or react negatively at school.
Becoming a U.S. citizen through naturalization
As someone who is interested in becoming a U.S. citizen so you can live in Texas or another part of the nation, you may be able to do so through a process known as naturalization. At the Law Office of Jae Lee, I am well-versed in the process involved in becoming a citizen through naturalization, and I have helped many clients navigate this and a range of other immigration-related issues.
According to USA.gov, there are a number of importanteligibility requirementsyou must meet before you are able to move forward with your efforts to become a U.S. citizen. For starters, you must be at least 18 at the time of your filing, and you must also have the ability to read, write and communicate using the English language. Additionally, you also have to be an individual of strong moral character in order to undergo consideration for citizenship.
Can I get a waiver for the immunization requirement?
In the interest of public health, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requires a medical exam before you can enter this country. This helps to prevent you from bringing in diseases or illnesses that you may pass on to others and that could result in an epidemic or another widespread health issue. It is possible for the USCIS to deny your application on health-related grounds. One of those grounds is that you do not have the required vaccinations.
The USCIS explains there is a waiver available for the vaccination requirement. You must provide documentation that you have the required immunizations, or you may submit documentation providing an allowance for you not to have the immunizations.
A waiver may be available if you have an objection on moral or religious grounds. You also can provide proof that you have received the vaccinations, which qualifies you for the waiver. If you cannot do that, you can provide documentation from a medical professional stating that it is against medical opinion or otherwise medically impossible that you receive the vaccine.
Changes in non-citizen military naturalization
Texas troops living overseas already have a difficult time. They put their lives in harm’s way while dealing with the loneliness that distance brings.
For troops who have found a family outside of the United States and those already vying for citizenship, changes in the naturalization process may make things even harder going forward.
Closing the doors
In September 2019, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that they would be closing 19 of their 23 naturalization offices across the globe. This change limits the places military personnel and their families can go for citizenship to four locations in just as many countries. The USCIS states it is a move in line with new policies regarding their worldwide presence, but it is a policy that could make it much more difficult for non-citizens to become naturalized.
Qualifying for an I-601 waiver
Legal immigration is currently one of the most stressful obstacles that migrants tackle in Texas. Worrying about a family member’s immigration status may cause even legal residents and U.S. citizens a lot of stress and sleepless nights. One way migrants may seek to adjust their immigration status is to file an I-601 form. This may provide a waiver against the grounds of inadmissibility.
However, not everyone is eligible to use this. Here are some of the criteria for eligible applicants, according to USCIS:
- Be in the process of securing lawful presence in the U.S. via a pending case with the Department of State or by pursuing an immigrant visa
- Ability to show how the refusal of admission may cause hardship to a spouse or parent who is a U.S. citizen
- Acknowledge a period of unlawful presence that may make it difficult for the person to return to the U.S.
From our offices in Dallas and Plano, Texas, we serve clients throughout the surrounding areas including Fort Worth, Irving, Arlington, Farmers Branch, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Addison, Richardson, Allen, Murphy, Wylie, McKinney, Dallas County, Collin County, Denton County, and all of Northeastern Texas.
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