Posts Tagged green card
Marrying an American Citizen During Your Visit United States
Posted by Josun in Marrying American citizen on June 25, 2010
What happens if you find an American soul mate?
It is happening all the time. A man or woman comes to the United States for touristic purposes and falls in love with an American citizen. What is also happening is a man or woman decides to marry and comes to the U.S. with a tourist visa. Big difference!
It is illegal to come to the United States with tourist visa to get married
Here’s what happened: Gloria, a young attractive girl from Venezuela starts chatting with Paul, an intelligent new graduate American working for a Fortune 500 company in Chicago. Paul flies to Brazil for business and takes a few days of his annual leave to go to Venezuela to meet Gloria for the first time.
Paul proposes to Gloria on his last day in Venezuela. They decide to get married in July, two months later. Considering that getting a tourist visa would be easier and simpler, Gloria applies for a tourist visa from the consular section of the Embassy of the United States in Caracas.
Responding to custom officer’s question for her stay in the United States, Gloria tells that she will stay at Paul’s home and get married in few weeks. That’s the end of Gloria’s story! The U.S. Customs Officer asks her to go back to her country with the first flight. That was a nightmare for Gloria. What she didn’t know was the fact that one cannot use tourist visa for any other purpose, including for getting married in the United States. What a costly mistake!
Christina gets married an American citizen while on a tour to Las Vegas
In contrast to what happened to Gloria, Christina successfully gets married in Las Vegas without knowing anything about immigration laws. After getting back to Las Vegas from Grand Canyon trip, Christina meets David who was sitting next to her at Cirque du Soleil show. Accepting David’s offer to have dinner, they fall in love to each other. Two days later, Christina and David get married in Las Vegas.
Legitimate use of tourist visa
Christina stayed in the United States with no problem as she didn’t know that her touristic visit would result in a marriage. So, she did not face any legal problem. David requested certified translation of Christina’s birth certificate in order to apply for Green Card for her. Christina received her labor certification in 35 days, allowing her to legally work in the United States. Christina was invited to have her photograph and fingerprints taken at local immigration office. Now, they are waiting for an interview at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Marriage Certificate Translation for U.S. Immigration
Posted by Josun in Certified translation of your documents on May 24, 2010
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Requirements for Married Couples
You must have a marriage certificate or marriage license if you are married. If you re-married, then you need to present one of the following documents:
- Divorce decree. Make sure that you have the finalized copy after right to appeal was exercised or waived.
- Death certificate if previous spouse died.
- Annulment certificate.
What happens if you are married but don’t have marriage certificate?
If are married but lost your marriage certificate, then you need to obtain a document from the official agency stating the case with official seal/stamp and signature. You may also get an affidavit from relatives or friends who have witnessed your marriage and this affidavit must be executed before an official agency.
Some countries, such as India, issue non-availability of marriage certificate (as well as birth certificate) in cases where marriage has not been officially recorded.
Who issues divorce decrees?
In many countries, including China, Russia, and in most Christian counties, courts handle divorces cases and issue divorce decrees for dissolution of marriage union. Some courts require passage of certain period of time before deciding on divorce or separation of marriage.
In most Muslim countries, Religious or Sharia Courts issue divorce decrees.
Marrying American citizen to get your Green Card faster
Many citizens of other countries get their permanent resident visa by marrying a U.S. citizen. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service – INS) scrutinizes such marriages carefully non-immigrants who have to leave the United States get married fast, or marriage creates some doubts if married persons are not living together.
If you are married an American citizen, it will help if you arrange a wedding attended by the relatives, especially the relatives of the U.S. citizen, joint tax returns that you filed, receipts and utility bills, and bank accounts carrying both of your names. Having a joint child also helps in getting your Green Card.
You need to get certified translation of your marriage certificate into English
If your original marriage certificate is not in English language, then you need to submit “certified” translation of your marriage certificate into English language to submit to the USCIS.
Non availability of birth certificate when applying for Green Card
Posted by Josun in Green Card application on April 19, 2010
What happens when you have no birth certificate?
Many immigrants face a problem of not having a birth certificate when applying to U.S. Immigration for their Green Card. People especially from several regions of India have never got birth certificate. We translated and certified non-availability of birth certificates from Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, and many other languages. Certificates issued by local governments for food supply contain information about the individuals and are used to prove the place and date of birth of the individual.
Many refugees do not have birth certificates
Modern-day tragedy still continues. Many people are being forced to leave their home country due to civil wars, riots, and political regime changes. These people leave their hometowns by leaving their belongings, including their valuable papers.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) accepts alternative documents for Green Card applications
In cases where our clients have no birth certificate, they try to find any official document that shows their place and date of birth, names of their father and mother, and any other relevant document. In many countries, civil registration offices, and in others, churches issue certificates containing birth certificate information. Certificates of baptism are common in many European countries.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security accepts certificates or some other official documents (driver’s license, passport, etc.) under different titles if the application does not have a birth certificate.
Embassy of your country can help you in getting your documents for immigration
If you lost your birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decree, or any other document, then you can contact the consular section of the embassy of your country. All embassies are located in Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital. Some embassies have consulate offices in major cities such as New York, Miami, Boston, Los Angeles, Houston, and other cities and they ask you to contact the nearest consular office for your application. Many embassies have online system connected to their headquarters in native counties to facilitate issuance of birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other documents in a short period of time.
How can you get certified translation of your new certificate?
Any document that is not in English must be translated and certified for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service – INS). Certified translation is on professional translation agency’s corporate letterhead with authorized signature, raised/embossed corporate seal with a statement as required by the USCIS. This “Certification by Translator” document certifies that (a) the translation is accurate and true, and (b) the translator is competent in translating such document.
Certified translation of your documents must be submitted to the USCIS in hard copy as copies (electronic or photocopied) are not acceptable.
Immigration from India: Birth certificate problems
Posted by Josun in Country-specific immigration information on September 16, 2009
Pramod was born in 1967 in India. His parents did not report his birth. Reporting birth before 1970 was not obligatory in India. Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriage Act of 1969 made such reporting a legal obligation.
He obtained a document from the local government agency stating that his birth certificate was not available. This situation did not create any problem for Pramod until he applied for Green Card in February 2009 after getting married a girl he met at India booth at the Ethnic festival in Virginia. Since his wife became a U.S. citizen about a year ago, they filed Petition for Alien Relative (I-130).
He found out from his attorney that ration card along with his government-supplied non-availability of birth certificate document could also be used for his permanent visa application. The other option was to get a sworn affidavit executed by either the parents, if living, or other close relatives older than the applicant. As his father and mother passed away five and two years ago and getting such affidavit from his relatives in India seemed to be quite difficult, upon his attorney’s advice, he asked us to provide certified translation for immigration of his two documents in Marathi language.
Last month, he received a letter from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for fingerprinting. It seems that things are going well for him.
Getting Your Green Card
You may apply for Green Card under the following categories: (a) marrying an American citizen; (b) engaging to marry your U.S. citizen fiancé; (c) asking your family relatives (your father, mother, husband, wife, brother, sister, children over 21) who are “citizens” of United States; (d) asking your close family members (your father, mother, husband, wife) of Albanian origin, who have Green Card; (e) receiving employment offer from an American employer; (f) winning Diversity Visa Lottery in your native country; (g) investing your money in United States; (h) qualifying as special immigrant (recognized religious workers, foreign medical graduates, etc.); (i) requesting humanitarian protection (asylum, refugee) from persecution or fearing based on your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group in your native country.
ACR Language Translation Services, subsidiary of ACR Systems Inc., founded in 1982, provides certified translation for Green Card when you apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service – INS) for its clients applying for Green Card (permanent resident visa) and U.S. citizenship.
Are you eligible for Green Card Lottery?
Posted by Josun in Green Card Lottery option on September 8, 2009
Eligibility for Green Card Lottery program: Are you eligible?
Citizens from many countries are eligible to participate in Green Card Lottery (Diversity Visa) program. However, following countries are not included in the list: Brazil, Canada, China (mainland), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, The Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom (excluding Northern Island), and Vietnam. So, you are not eligible if you are a citizen of one of these countries. You need to check the listing of these countries in each year’s Diversity Visa program (stated as DV-2009 or DV-2010, etc.)
What happens if your native country’s name is on the list?
Well. That’s not the end of the world! You have all other options to get your Green Card.
Other options to get your Green Card
Green Card lottery program is not the only option that you have to get a Green Card. Your other options are: marrying American citizen (after getting fiancé visa), investing in the United States, getting a job offer from a U.S. employer, asking your American relative to apply for you, applying as a special immigrant, and requesting humanitarian protection (asylum and refugee status) if you meet the conditions of being one.
Please remember that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service – INS) certification requirements of your documents for all Green Card applications.
Getting Your Green Card
You may apply for Green Card under the following categories: (a) marrying an American citizen; (b) engaging to marry your U.S. citizen fiancé; (c) asking your family relatives (your father, mother, husband, wife, brother, sister, children over 21) who are “citizens” of United States; (d) asking your close family members (your father, mother, husband, wife) of Albanian origin, who have Green Card; (e) receiving employment offer from an American employer; (f) winning Diversity Visa Lottery in your native country; (g) investing your money in United States; (h) qualifying as special immigrant (recognized religious workers, foreign medical graduates, etc.); (i) requesting humanitarian protection (asylum, refugee) from persecution or fearing based on your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group in your native country.
ACR Language Translation Services, subsidiary of ACR Systems Inc., founded in 1982, provides certified translation for Green Card when you apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service – INS) for its clients applying for Green Card (permanent resident visa) and U.S. citizenship.
Do you have to become U.S. citizen?
Posted by Trans in U.S. citizenship application on September 5, 2009
I have a Green Card. Do I have to become an American citizen?
No, you don’t have to. Green Card allows you to stay and work in the U.S. forever. However, getting American citizenship gives you the following privileges: to vote during general and local elections, work at public office (federal, state, and municipal), stay in your or any foreign country as long as you wish, and get U.S. passport to visit many countries without visa.
Requirements for citizenship: You become eligible to be an American citizen after being permanent resident (Green Card holder) for five years. You need to stay in the United States more than six months a year with certain exceptions, have good moral character, and pass citizenship test of U.S. history and government. Make sure that you have the most recent book or test material as changes were made in 2008.
Are you eligible to be dual citizen? Before becoming an American citizen check if you lose citizenship of your country of origin. Many countries allow their citizens to have dual citizenship. In some other countries (Belgium, Bolivia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Venezuela, among others), you have to relinquish citizenship of your native country to become U.S. citizen.
Immigration help for Amharic-speaking immigrants
Posted by Josun in Country-specific immigration information on September 5, 2009
Is there any source that provides immigration-related issues for Amharic-speaking people in the U.S.?
Yes, there are several: Immigrant Info has information on immigration, education, social activities, and employment for Amharic speakers.
African Immigrant and Refugee Resource Center (AIRRC) provides immigration assistance, career counseling, job search/placement, prejob guidance, computer training and referrals for other services including legal and health services. Also offers volunteer opportunities. Volunteers assist in writing grants, researching funding sources, and acquiring necessary donations. You can call: 415-433-7300; 415-433-7301; 415-433-7372 or send email message info@airrc.org to get “free” help and speak in Amharic language.
Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association
552 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 209, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139. Telephone: 617- 492-4232.
New website Chora (Ethiopian Center for Educational Information) will soon cover immigration, visas, Green Card, work permit, and similar issues soon.
Getting Your Green Card
You may apply for Green Card under the following categories: (a) marrying an American citizen; (b) engaging to marry your U.S. citizen fiancé; (c) asking your family relatives (your father, mother, husband, wife, brother, sister, children over 21) who are “citizens” of United States; (d) asking your close family members (your father, mother, husband, wife) of Albanian origin, who have Green Card; (e) receiving employment offer from an American employer; (f) winning Diversity Visa Lottery in your native country; (g) investing your money in United States; (h) qualifying as special immigrant (recognized religious workers, foreign medical graduates, etc.); (i) requesting humanitarian protection (asylum, refugee) from persecution or fearing based on your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group in your native country.
ACR Language Translation Services, subsidiary of ACR Systems Inc., founded in 1982, provides certified translation for Green Card when you apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service – INS) for its clients applying for Green Card (permanent resident visa) and U.S. citizenship.