Father U.S. Citizen, daughter 29 Dominican Republic Citizen

[Keith & Xiang 0]

I'm trying to help a friend that wants to come to the United States. Her father is a U.S. citizen, she's a citizen of the Dominican Republic and is 29 years of age. Her sister from what I believe has dual citizenship. What procedures are there if any for her to either visit the United States or for her to gain her citizenship to the United States? She's currently attending college in the Dominican Republic I believe working on either her bachelors or her masters, not sure of her major.

Thanks...

[payxibka 10,047]

to visit = tourist visa

citizenship - simply not enough information. Most likely father needs to petition for the daughter to come as as an immigrant and then applies for citizenship 5 years later...

[Keith & Xiang 0]

to visit = tourist visa

citizenship - simply not enough information. Most likely father needs to petition for the daughter to come as as an immigrant and then applies for citizenship 5 years later...

The daughter is over the age of 21, is this still possible?

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

To visit, she needs to apply for a tourist visa by herself (ie sister and dad can't help, though in some cases a letter of invitation may be a good idea); she will need to show significant ties to her home country, such as a owned home, job to go back to, children left behind etc.

To get a green card (leading later to US citizenship), either her sister or dad can petition, but it will take several years for a visa to become available as only a certain number of visas are available in each category. Is the lady married or single? It'll make a difference as to how long it will take to get a visa.

[Cuchita 1]

The fastest wat for her to come to live and obtain a US residence (then after 5 years she applies for citizenship) is that her US citizen father files a petition on her behalf, that will take about 2 years or so. In the mean time she can apply for tourist visa and she has to show records that she is attending university and she has to say her father is here in USA and will petition for her later but first she wants to finish college.

Good luck!

[trailmix 77]

I'm trying to help a friend that wants to come to the United States. Her father is a U.S. citizen, she's a citizen of the Dominican Republic and is 29 years of age. Her sister from what I believe has dual citizenship. What procedures are there if any for her to either visit the United States or for her to gain her citizenship to the United States? She's currently attending college in the Dominican Republic I believe working on either her bachelors or her masters, not sure of her major.

Thanks...

She may already be a U.S. citizen and it is worth her researching this to see if she can just document her U.S. citizenship.

She was born around 1980, so the following law is in place for that time period - for 1 US Citizen parent and 1 Alien parent:

Born On/after 12/24/52 and prior to 11/14/86 link

Parents - One USC and one alien

In order for the child to be a U.S. citizen:

USC parent must have been physically present in U.S. or OLP 10 years, at least 5 after age 14. Includes periods spent abroad while employed by the U.S. government or an international organization OR as the dependent unmarried son or daughter member of the household of such employee

If your friend's Father grew up in the U.S. it is likely he might meet the residency requirements and she may have a claim to derivative citizenship.

Edited May 7, 2009 by trailmix

[payxibka 10,047]

to visit = tourist visa

citizenship - simply not enough information. Most likely father needs to petition for the daughter to come as as an immigrant and then applies for citizenship 5 years later...

The daughter is over the age of 21, is this still possible?

Sure, an unmarried son or daughter of a USC would be classified as Family 2B preference... currently however it is about a 9 year wait for a visa.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin...letin_4454.html

Edited May 7, 2009 by payxibka

[YuAndDan 153]

to visit = tourist visa

citizenship - simply not enough information. Most likely father needs to petition for the daughter to come as as an immigrant and then applies for citizenship 5 years later...

The daughter is over the age of 21, is this still possible?

YES, the priority is Family First, if child is NOT married.

FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES

First: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin...letin_4454.html (About a 7 year wait for this class).

As for the citizenship question:

This depends on when parent acquired citizenship, and/or how long the parent lived in the USA as a US Citizen before child's birth.

MORE: http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/A4eng.pdf

DUPLICATE POST: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=195744&hl=

Edited May 7, 2009 by YuAndDan