The Importance of Keeping Your Nose Clean as a Permanent Resident Alien

[belle_marmotte]

Ran into this article today on the UK Guardian site www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/27/barack-obama-clemency-briton-deported-us

Comments

[nineveh_uk]

My impression is that Hartley-Wall doesn't want his family to be in the UK - he wants to be with them in the US, which is understandable given that that's where his business is, where his family and social contacts are, and where his wife and child are used to (his daughter's learning difficulties may be an issue here, if she has suitable schooling already in the US).

In retrospect, his crucial mistake was perhaps not to seek citizenship as soon as he was 18, probably because he didn't understand the importance - something that isn't unique to him, but something that happens to people who move to lots of countries as children with their parents, and don't realise that they may not have a continuing right to live there.

[belle_marmotte]

You raise an interesting point that reminded me of another case of a child who had emigrated into the US with her parents and grandparents. Her parents owned and ran a Roadhouse in MO so their residency was based on their business, the grandparents had citizenship and had started the application to sponsor the grand daughter's citizenship but with the wait times being so long she turned 18 before the application could be processed. She was forced to return to the UK to apply from there despite not living there since she was tiny. Fortunately there was an aunt still in the UK who took her in.
What struck me about the whole thing was the complete disinterest of any politicians to intervene, despite all the support from their local community.

[catyak]

I can understand his problem, suddenly being removed from everything he knew without much warning. As someone who's just started life in the US, it is my intention to acquire citizenship as soon as possible because it makes things that little bit more stable.

Messing with immigration is extremely ill-advised, he's probably barred from the US for several years just for that offence, regardless of anything else outstanding.

I assume that unless he gets high-level intervention, he'll need to apply for a new green card and go through all the financial stuff, I don't know whether his prior contributions to the US system count for anything, although they should.

[belle_marmotte]

But I'm wondering if the Federal offense actually precludes him from re-entry anyway?
I was neither here or there about acquiring citizenship, but it does seem that you have more protection if you do. I just got my conditions removed for my permanent residency, so I've a ways to go yet before I can apply (I believe it's after 5 years, I've only been here 2 and a bit).

[belle_marmotte]

Oh I had no idea about it only being 3 years for the spousal route, which is the route I came through. Thanks for the information!

[goose_entity]

The only reason it took me a couple of years to apply for US Citizenship was that I kept postponing it for silly reasons. I finally bit the bullet, applied, studied, and blew through the exam without any problem.

[fussycat]

What about the cost of it? I can apply for the citizenship in 2 months but it may take me years to save up the required $680... is it $680? How do people finance it? Is there some trick to reducing the fees?

[goose_entity]

the fees are set by federal regulations. I saved up for the fees, then saved for the additional costs - hotel accommodation, food and beverages.

... OK, quite a few beverages of the adult nature, but that's another story ;)

[janewilliams20]

It does strike me that intelligence, common sense and basic education aren't his strong points, but that's no reason to punish him and his family. Ethically, that is. Sadly, the law and ethics seem to have very little to do with each other.