She keeps insisting that "having papers" means to become a naturalized U.S. citizen and I keep telling her no it means having a temporary work I.D, work visa or green card. I know this because I'm a permanent legal resident, but she keeps insisting that she's right!!!...She also claims that when an illegal immigrant marries a U.S. citizen they get automatic citizenship but I know for a fact that they only get legal resident status and that they can apply for citizenship after 3 years of having their green card. Can someone answer this so I can prove to her I'm right! Thanks.. LOL
2007-09-15 09:56:26 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Soyto - Inhabitants of the Americas are Americans...Please don't get me started!
2007-09-15 12:18:06 · update #1
Well, Alex, even though you're mostly right, do you really think being right will help you with your girl friend? Sometimes, discression is indeed the better part of valor, especially when it comes to women. But, live and learn my friend.
You didn't actually hit it out of the ball park today, though. A standing triple maybe. Having papers could mean any number of things, which would include your and your girl friend's answers. Mostly it means being legal. But green cards and naturalization certificates are both paper. So, better take a draw on this one. No one becomes a citizen automatically for marrying an American citizen, not someone legal already, or someone illegal. It takes three years of residency after the marriage to apply to take the test and qualify.
If you like, you can look this up on uscis.gov, print it off and show it to your girl friend. However, my advice is to know that you are right in most respects and say "yes, darling, you are right, as always." I think things will work out much better for you, if you do.
2007-09-15 13:14:43 · answer #1 · answered by George L 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am also a legal resident alien and have to agree with you.I have been married to my husband who is an American citizen for 25 Years now and guess what i am not US Citizen.
By law i still have to apply for US Citizenship.Here is a message to your girlfriend.Girl "There is no such thing as automatic citizenship in the US."Unless you are born in this country you will only be able to become a citizen if you apply for it with the USCIS.You are still illegal even if you marry an American Citizen unless you get your Legal resident "Alien" card.I should know i have lived in this country for about 20 years now.I want to become a citizen,but at this moment i can`t afford $1000.00 .I have worked and payed taxes all these years also.That still does not make me an American citizen.I also gave birth to 2 beautifull kid`s and geuss what that did not make me a US citizen either.Dude i hope that i could help. I have a question for her "What papers?"My purse got stolen a couple of years ago and it had my resident alien card in it.When i called th INS office to see if there was any kind of back-up-paperwork i could use to show that i was legal resident alien.I found out that there is no such thing!
2007-09-23 08:38:08 · answer #2 · answered by Heike P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On a work visa for example, you have a stack of papers, a paper to show you can work; a paper to show you can have a SSN; a paper to show you can travel outside the US. When you are a legal immigrant you collect alot of papers, as you already know! So you are right, the girlfriend is wrong!
For an illegal to get married to a US citizen, it does not give that person automatic right to a green card and US citizenship. Anyone can be turned down for a green card, especially someone who is illegal, even if they do get married it is NOT a guarantee. And yes on this one you are right, and your girl friend is incorrect.
2007-09-16 15:30:33 · answer #3 · answered by Mama~peapod 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I married an American whilst here on a work visa. I was allowed to jump through the usual hoops to become a permanent resident. I am still not a citizen after 20 years. I'll get around to it soon (LOL). I just hate all the bureaucracy.
2007-09-22 18:10:42 · answer #4 · answered by ellengerman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's wrong. You're right about everything except the legal resident status for marriage to a citizen. Marriage to a citizen or green card holder gives a streamlined process to a green card, but doesn't guarantee that it will be approved.
2007-09-15 17:09:31 · answer #5 · answered by Thomas M 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's to bad, but what you are writing about takes place everyday, the trouble is that it takes place in the offices that should be correcting these type of problems. Why does it take place- there are the same people from these countries working in the office in order to be able to get these people to understand in their language, and the message is still not understood. Take a sentence from any language, then translate it to English to give the right answer, not easy for some to understand. Read one of the answers being given as far as being married a number of years and still not a citizen, it's nice the old man wants to take care of her, but if he doesn't leave her what will be needed to live on, she will be another one you'll be taking care of America. Last statement- Why is it that a large per cent of people coming to this country find ways to take care of themselves, yet others find ways to get all their support from the people of the US?
2007-09-22 22:44:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why would she question her man who's gone through the process and know's alot about it? Sounds kinda hard headed and somewhat of a beating. Yes sweetheart, your man is right. It's a long process with different steps. Having your "papers" or marrying a citizen does not make you an automatic citizen.
2007-09-15 17:04:32 · answer #7 · answered by troybuddy 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
She is completely wrong, and you are mostly right. Marrying a citizen does not guarantee legal resident status.
2007-09-15 17:03:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
You need to ditch the girlfriend if you both have such a great need to be right. Nothing you can do will ever convince her. Why would you set yourself up for a lifetime of this kind of misery?
2007-09-15 17:05:12 · answer #9 · answered by bob h 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you marry a US citizen you will get citizenship. Having papers means both, you can just have papers to work, or to be a student, or to be here permanently. There are different kinds of papers.
2007-09-15 17:20:33 · answer #10 · answered by midnitrondavu 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋