I've read the requirements that you need to be able to apply for US citizenship... but i have a record.. and im wondering if the requirements are actually etched into stone or do immigration officials sometimes give you a break depending on your situation when you go in for the interview. according to the requirements... i do not have "good moral character"  Can anyone help?
199172
There are many factors involved in the interview process and you have not given me enough information to gauge your particular situation but the factors include country of origin, economic factors, relations in the States, will you have a financial source to support yourself, are you English-speaking (they will not admit it but it is a factor), your educational background, technical skills, moral and criminal background, immunity issues and character references.  Depending upon your criminal background you may be denied citizenship.  It will be heavily dependent also on your country of origin, and all of the other factors I have described.  But when you say  you "do not have good moral character" that pretty much precludes your getting citizenship.  I would rephrase that, get a good immigration attorney and apply from a non-controversial state for citizenship if you can reposition yourself.  Also, I would try to get letters of reference, even personal ones, from Americans and local religious leaders, even twelve-step program proctors to show you have tried to better yourself.  No nation wants a liability so you need to market yourself better and show some portfolio of good references for the consular officials who will be upbraided should you cause problems stateside.  They do get in trouble when they OK someone they shouldn't or someone who causes crimes in the US so you need to make the decision for them to gamble on you.  You should also get local police records if you haven't already as they will need them.  If you can get a letter from your equivalent of our probation system that you have behaved, that would be good to.  Be prepared to have to provide documentation for everything and for a very lengthy interview process.
324060
I'm not sure what you're actually asking, because it doesn't make sense.  Check with a website on citizenship.
14186
Immigration does not care if you are ex-military for citizenship. Did you take the Citizenship Test yet? You are almost last on the priority list as you are already here in the states, not good news if you have a fiancee in a foreign country you want to Petition for Immigration. (Hint: Fiancee' much faster to get Visa than a Spouse, so get engaged only!) Los Angeles is the busiest Immigration Office (Laguna Niguel) in the states, so long wait. Los Angeles saves up Applications until they get a thousand or so, so they can swear you all in at the same time, so once your Application is signed off everything happens faster. Maybe 2 year wait?
342019
It states that; You may send photocopies of requested documents unless the INS specifically asks for an original. In the event that an original document is sent when it is not required it will be kept in the records of the INS. That means if you send an original technically they won't throw it away, but you'll never see it again so definately don't send things like your ID or passport of course. I personnally sent my original birth certificate since I can easily get another, but really that wasn't even necessary. Basically just send copies of everything unless you see it stated somewhere that they require the original. Pictures, the petition itself, and anything that has to be notarized or stamped by an official should be the original. And a strong word of advice from personal experience: make sure you send EVERYTHING they need the 1st time, if even 1 detail is missing they won't hesitate to delay things for many months, like they did with me, 3 times! My supposed 6-12 month process has been going on for more than 2 years. Good luck to you!!
548370
It's a little more complicated than that.  Your parents may qualify for us citizenship through the blood of your grandparents.  however, you may not if your parents never lived in the u.s. prior to your birth.  When you say your grandparents are you referring to both your maternal and paternal grandparents?  It's a complicated issue.  A lot of questions need to be answered first. best thing to do is have your parents apply for the u.s. citizenship.  See if they can apply for you to derive citizenship for you.  If they cannot they should be able to immigrate you to the u.s. as a lawful permanent resident.  after that you may qualify on your own merits after 5 years.  you should speak to the u.s. consulate citizenship services division.  they will have the answers that you need.  you may or may not be.  there just isn't enough information provided by you to decide.
645507
There are no such requirements for immigration to the US.  If you're talking about not being able to qualify for a /us tourist visa, then just getting a job or buying a house in your own country won't work either.  The interviewing officer needs to be convinced that you intend to visit the US for a short time and then return home.  If you can't convince him or her of that, the law says your application must be refused.
390982
Go to http://www.nriol.com/immigration/usa-citizenship-questions.asp and study these questions. Don't memorize them. Understand them.
292084
I am the child of an immigrant.  My Mother, who is from Asia, met my Father when she was in the US on a student visa.  They decided to get married and Mom began the process of becoming a legal resident and ultimately a citizen.\n\nIn my life, I have dated an illegal alien.  Had she been the person I wanted to marry, we would have gotten married and found a way to apply for her citizenship.  As someone who is a legal resident of the United States, I would not want to know that my wife was subject to deportation at any time.  What I would not do is carry around a sign in the street saying she has the 'right' to be illegal.\n\nImmigrants have always been a part of this country, and always will be.  But unchecked illegal immigration brings down the standard of living for people in the US.
642142
Getting a passport into this country is hard and becoming a US citizen is even harder. Because I'm not an illegal imigrant, I'm just saying what I've read and what I understand. They do it because the cost of getting a passport is too much for them to afford. Most of them need a good jop and they need money for their families. It isn't hard to understand
446523
Actually I feel pretty darn good.....\n\nNow I suggest you hurry down to the Democratic Party's headquarters, because you WANT to get your name and address on the list....the Illegal Immigrant List....\n\nThat list is so you can be considered for citizenship. If you wait too long, it will take 7-10 years to get your citizenship....Do it now, it may only take 18 months, maybe 2 years......The Democrats will help you find the List, they have a lot of friends in the Police and Courts....\n\nThat's the NICE THING ABOUT DEMOCRATS.....
647864
Under current US law, there is no strict limitation on your English skills.I know many US citizen who barely mutter a few words in English.\nIn my country, you go thru a hard fluency exam and you must have lived there for at least 3 years. They don't just hand out citizenship to anyone, but I come from Europe and we do have an identity to keep and be proud of. We are NOT a rootless immigrant society like US...They have nothing to lose by letting foreigners in. We do.
573219
There is no easy way to become a U S citizen. If you have a skill which is in high demand in the United States and are NOT in the U S illegally, you can apply for a Visa as a skilled worker. Then you can work hard and hope you will eventually be granted citizenship. Alternatively, you can try to get an emigration visa from your home country, but the quotas set by the United States are usually very small, and the number  of applicants very large. \nThe old loophole of marrying a U S citizen has largely been closed.
64376
Naturalization is basically the only option you have to legitimately become a US citizen if neither of your parents had US citizenship. After approximately 5 years of living in the United States you can begin the naturalization process, which involves passing a test on history and government and literally writing one simple sentence in English.\n\nI suggest you read more on this at both Wikipedia and USCIS. (links below)\n\nGood luck!
520186
I hope it would be placed somewhere on your record, for reference.. so when applied to enter this country legally, there would be a note that you have come here illegally already. \nOur government needs to spend more time checking into everyones background - those that apply to come here legally - just as other countries check our applications to enter their country.
598673
You can apply for US citizenship 90 days before the 5 year anniversary date of the day you obtained your LPR ("Lawful Permanent Resident" status.)\n\nThe form to file is the N-400,  please click on the link below which will take you to the CIS (formerly INS) site.  There are special clauses to get US citizenship more speedily than the 5 years, but involve either military service,  working overseas for US companies, having obtained your LPR status through marriage to US citizen -- and all these conditions may very well NOT apply to you.   \n\nNOTE:  Be very careful about applying before the 90 day period, because if the CIS office receives your application on the 91st day before your 5 year LPR anniversary, they will take the fee, schedule the interview, you will wait ALL that time and then just deny you because you filed too soon.  Good luck!
225706
I agree 100%. However, citizenship cannot be awarded to those who have entered illegally. That is the problem. My grandparents came in through ports of entry in Baltimore and Boston. They were able to obtain citizenship because they came into this country in the correct manner. Those coming in underground, etc. cannot be given citizenship. In fact, they should legally be deported back to their own country.
240689
No if you go to England you won't get anything. England does what the US should do. When you get a new job the employer has to check to see if you are legal. Benefits for non-citizens? No way! I went to visit family in England and thought I might stay and work. Before I found out that I qualified for English citizenship through my mother there was no way to become a resident as an american. America is the only country in the world that puts up with this illegal nonsense. And to all the people who think they should stay.... you can argue all you want but illegal is illegal.