helping missionaries help special people
Tips To Follow While Waiting To Become A Naturalized Citizen
Suzanne Hamilton
Waiting for your immigration case to be heard by the courts is always a frustrating time. There are so many new rules and regulations that you need to get used to here in the United States. And the last thing you want to do is sacrifice your chances of becoming a naturalized citizen by doing something you didn't realize would be a problem.
To this end, here are some tips to follow:
Tip: File Taxes on Any Income Earned in the US
If you work in the United States and earn income, you must file income tax forms with the IRS. Tax forms must be filed each April, and you must be honest when filling them out.
Filing taxes is necessary because your immigration attorney may ask for copies of them to show immigration officers or judges you have been complying with US tax laws while living in the US.
Tip: Keep a Record of Your Location History
During your immigration case, you may be asked to produce records showing when you have and have not been in the United States. So that you can provide accurate information, you should keep a written record of each time you enter or leave the country.
In addition, it is a fantastic idea to save mail or letters sent to you that contains your name, current address, and date on them. These documents can prove to the immigration court that you lived at a particular address during a specific period.
Rather than having to go back and reconstruct your life over the past few years, it will be much easier if you keep these records together as time passes. Keep everything together in one folder or envelope in an area where you can easily access it when your immigration attorney needs the information.
Tip: Never Claim US Citizenship or Vote Before Naturalization
Finally, it is essential that you never claim to be a United States citizen or register to vote before you have become a naturalized citizen.
Simply claiming to be a citizen to a police officer or other government officials can be grounds for deportation. Once departed, you could be denied entry back into the United States for life.
It is illegal to vote in the United States election if you are not a United States citizen. Suppose you obtain a driver's license or other documentation, and you're automatically registered to vote despite not being a naturalized citizen yet. In that case, it is vital that you immediately contact your local elections office and remove yourself from the voting rolls.
For more information, contact a local immigration attorney.
Share
One of the greatest things about being a member of my church is getting to meet people from all over the world. We bring missionaries in to speak for special events, and some of them bring guests from other countries with them. Last year, one man brought a woman and her child with him to an event, and they were the nicest people I have ever met. She told of her struggles at home and how she faced such extreme situations each day. Our church was able to help her get an immigration attorney and helped her stay in the country.