My best friend is an illegal alien.

[D & M 0]

not charged. What kind of options could this guy have? Is there ANY way he could become legal here? I heard about a visa waiver program with Spain and Germany? Could he get citizenship there and then use the visa waiver program to stay in the US for 90 days at a time? I realize this question is a bit involved but I'm hoping someone out there can answer it.

[payxibka 10,047]

not charged. What kind of options could this guy have? Is there ANY way he could become legal here? I heard about a visa waiver program with Spain and Germany? Could he get citizenship there and then use the visa waiver program to stay in the US for 90 days at a time? I realize this question is a bit involved but I'm hoping someone out there can answer it.

Do you know how long it takes to get citizenship from another country? You cannot just go there and they give it to you.... For example, in the USA lacking a claim via parentage, you must be a LEGAL resident for a minimum of five years before you can even apply....

Edited October 22, 2009 by payxibka

[D & M 0]

That's exactly what I was thinking.

[D & M 0]

So, uh.....anyone else know of anything that this guy could do? What options might he have? I doubt he would be able to leave and then get a visa to come back legally, since he'd been arrested.

If he married his us citizen girlfriend, what chances might he have? Realistically?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

So your friend is currently outside the USA, right?

Well, purely theoretically, he could become a citizen of Spain, which has the advantage that they speak the same language, or England, but that would require him to become a legal resident of the Spanish Empire or Her Majesty's Kingdom first, live there for years, before he could even apply on becoming a citizen, and so on. A very long journey, indeed, aside from the fact that even as a participant of the VWP he won't be able to immigrate to the US. He can visit for up to 90 days, but then what? Overstay and live illegally in the US? Is that really a desirable option for anybody who's not really, really hungry or afraid to get assassinated in his home country?

Other than that, he would have to be eligible for an immigrant visa to enter the US of A. Do some research about the different immigrant and non-immigrant options and requirements. It won't be easy, and it sure will take a lot of time and dedication.

[payxibka 10,047]

So, uh.....anyone else know of anything that this guy could do? What options might he have? I doubt he would be able to leave and then get a visa to come back legally, since he'd been arrested.

If he married his us citizen girlfriend, what chances might he have? Realistically?

Nil, particularly since he appears to have entered without inspection... because of that, he cannot adjust his status from inside the USA...

[D & M 0]

So your friend is currently outside the USA, right?

Well, purely theoretically, he could become a citizen of Spain, which has the advantage that they speak the same language, or England, but that would require him to become a legal resident of the Spanish Empire or Her Majesty's Kingdom first, live there for years, before he could even apply on becoming a citizen, and so on. A very long journey, indeed, aside from the fact that even as a participant of the VWP he won't be able to immigrate to the US. He can visit for up to 90 days, but then what? Overstay and live illegally in the US? Is that really a desirable option for anybody who's not really, really hungry or afraid to get assassinated in his home country?

Other than that, he would have to be eligible for an immigrant visa to enter the US of A. Do some research about the different immigrant and non-immigrant options and requirements. It won't be easy, and it sure will take a lot of time and dedication.

No, he's inside the US. I'm just trying to figure what his best option would be. And if there is ANY way for him to become legal here.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

There is currently no way for him to become legal while in the US under current legislation. US law does not allow illegal immigrants - those who entered without inspection at the border crossing - to adjust status to a legal resident. Even if he marries a US citizen he is still not allowed to adjust his status from illegal to legal while inside the US. His 'best' option would still require him to leave the country, wait out any type of ban, find some means of sponsorship to return to the US (employer, spouse, etc.) who applies for a waiver, pays the necessary fees, etc . . . even his 'best' chance would take time and hard work from outside of the country. From inside of the country it is nil.

Edited October 22, 2009 by Kathryn41

[Chica Yeyé 41]

not charged. What kind of options could this guy have? Is there ANY way he could become legal here? I heard about a visa waiver program with Spain and Germany? Could he get citizenship there and then use the visa waiver program to stay in the US for 90 days at a time? I realize this question is a bit involved but I'm hoping someone out there can answer it.

Your friend should go home. If he was already arrested for it, I can't possibly understand what he thinks will happen. Like Kathryn said, his chances of adjusting status are nil. And any visa application will have to wait for a ban to pass by.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

not charged. What kind of options could this guy have? Is there ANY way he could become legal here? I heard about a visa waiver program with Spain and Germany? Could he get citizenship there and then use the visa waiver program to stay in the US for 90 days at a time? I realize this question is a bit involved but I'm hoping someone out there can answer it.

Some folks from south of the border have obtained Canadien citizenship before coming to the US legally. I don't know if that route is still as viable as it was a couple of decades ago.

[canadian_wife 1,829]

Regardless if your friend obtains another citizenship, that does not erase the illegal entry and illegal presence in the US. That will still have to be dealt with. You're friend's best bet is to leave and serve out his ban. If he marries his current girlfriend, she can petition for him and file the I-601 to overcome the ban

Good luck.

[trailmix 77]

not charged. What kind of options could this guy have? Is there ANY way he could become legal here? I heard about a visa waiver program with Spain and Germany? Could he get citizenship there and then use the visa waiver program to stay in the US for 90 days at a time? I realize this question is a bit involved but I'm hoping someone out there can answer it.

Some folks from south of the border have obtained Canadien citizenship before coming to the US legally. I don't know if that route is still as viable as it was a couple of decades ago.

"Canadian" has no 'e' in it - eh

I'm not sure what this viable route was decades ago, but I doubt this person would have any more luck getting Canadian citizenship unless he is qualified in some particular in demand field - which is entirely possible and worth looking in to if that is the case.

[htslogistics-john 1]

did he enter without inspection? was he detained?

[Shad and Dani 3]

Illegal aliens are just that...ILLEGAL! They are breaking the law and should return to their home country.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Illegal aliens are just that...ILLEGAL! They are breaking the law and should return to their home country.

It's easy to lash out to "illegal immigrants" and I myself, having been out of status for many years, am guilty of that sometimes. But keep in mind this is not a black and white world. First of all, we are a country of immigrants; everybody here is from somewhere, including the "native Americans." Even Christopher Columbus was an Italian immigrant to Spain, when he came to the US and slaughtered hundreds, if not thousands, of people. Let's celebrate Columbus Day while we protest the presence of undocumented immigrants?

Secondly, some people simply were so desperate, so hungry in their home country, tried for years to get any kind of job to provide for their family, attempting to get some food on the table, until they finally had no other choice but to cross the border somewhere in order to survive.

Others have been brought to this country by their parents as children, had no choice in all of this, grew up in the US, the only country they really know. They went to school here, their friends are here, and so on. Are you really going to kick them in the ####### and have them deported to a country they don't know?

I'm all for securing the borders and slow illegal immigration down as much as possible, but we have to find a way to take care of those who live here for decades, work hard, pay taxes, and try to be upright residents of their communities.

If you ever drove over the speed limit, you are guilty of breaking the law as you put it so eloquently. Ready to go back to your home country?