this may be a stupid question but if your an illegal immigrant here in the u.s. is it hard to become a u.s. citizen, i mean to be here legally?
2007-11-27 10:34:29 · 8 answers · asked by jpballer35 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
It is pretty much impossible UNLESS you leave and then apply.
So, for example, let's say you came here on a visitor visa, but now it's expired and you're still here. Technically, you're an illegal. But then you leave and apply for a student visa. Depending on how long you stayed (and whether or not the gov knows you were ever here, which doesn't apply in this case but often could), you still have a shot.
To get legal, you have to leave and apply for some sort of visa, be it student or work or family, and take it from there. Reintegrate into the system.
2007-11-28 06:38:34 · answer #1 · answered by Walter W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My wife and daughter are legal immigrants. It took three years, six interviews, medical tests, a 2 inch high stack of documents, a DNA test, and a whole lot more for them to get legal visas. All standard stuff. Now they are applying to be citizens. To be a citizen, they have to have a visa. No visa, no citizen. If they had come here illegally, they could never have gotten the visa. The Immigration service will not issue a visa to someone who has entered the U.S. illegally unless there are extraordinary circumstances - very extraordinary circumstances - like being an extraterrestrial. Illegal means criminal and criminals cannot get visas.
2007-11-27 19:01:11 · answer #2 · answered by californiainfidel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is very hard to even get a resident card, much less become a citizen. The beaurocratic red tape is what makes people come here illegally. You can be here for 20 years and not be able to get a resident card.
2007-11-27 18:59:20 · answer #3 · answered by Ana C 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes. It's not easy. We have 12 to 20 million illegal aliens in the U.S. There is very little relief available to most of them.
2007-11-27 18:38:40 · answer #4 · answered by Fred S 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
well a illegal person shouldn't be here and they are breaking the law so yeah it would be hard if they get caught they can get deported and they need to file for papers while they are at home... so go home do it right and you don't have a thing to worry about!
2007-11-27 18:38:06 · answer #5 · answered by Lynnie F 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is impossible while living here illegally. I doubt most want to become citizens. They just want our money
2007-11-27 19:14:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Its harder than it used to be but it can happen. Before you become a citizen, you have to be a lawful permanent resident.
2007-11-27 19:22:28 · answer #7 · answered by ed 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not exactly sure what the procedure is, but I don't think it's that difficult. It might be a little time-consuming, But isn't it worth it to be legal?
2007-11-27 19:21:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋