jury duty problem?

Question

My friend who entered the U.S legally 7 yrs ago has let her visa expired just recently got married with U.S citizen and still in process of filing for permanent resident card. However, she just got jury duty paper from the court. She replied them that she's not U.S citizen but they want some type of papers to show her legal status in U.S.A. She's talked to the immigration lawyer because she's afraid to get in trouble with the court(she has 1 U.S born child and now pregnant with another child). The lawyer told her that it won't be any problems because she's not U.S citizen. Please suggest what she should do.

Answer 1

In my experience, the courts operate under the theory that they don't work for INS. They just want to know she is telling the truth and not just trying to get out of jury duty.

Answer 2

If she is married to a U.S. citizen, she should not be afraid and she should take all the proper steps to legalize her status. As far as jury duty, some jurisdictions take skipping jury duty very seriously, and we all know that illegal aliens are being taken very seriously now as well. Her best option is to tell the court the truth about her status, and if she is in the process of becoming legalized, she can provide that paperwork. All that being said, she is an adult, and she will have take her lumps like anyone else who makes a mistake.

Answer 3

If her application is being processed, she needs only to bring whatever copies of the she used to apply for resident status.

Answer 4

All she has to do is take a copy of her expired visa & a copy of her marriage license. She should also take her case file #, from immigration, to the meeting.

Answer 5

Just report to jury duty .. if they ask for proof of citizenship then just tell them you don't have it...they will dismiss you and you are done..