URGENT please help, JURY DUTY while staying overseas for 6 months

[mitra 0]

Hi guys,

I haven’t changed my address to my new foreign address (AR-11) after becoming a U.S. citizen 45 days ago. I’m gonna stay abroad for 6 months and then I’ll return to the U.S. with my foreign husband who just got his visa in hand for immigration.

The reason that I was reluctant to change my address is, I have an immigration pending case (I-130 for my Mother) with USCIS, so I’m afraid that changing my address to a foreign address on USCIS website (through AR-11) makes me into trouble when I fill out I-864, (affidavit of support ) for my mother in the coming 4 months.

But on the other hand I just got a Jury duty letter for January 2012 and I’m completely confused what to do.

So here are my questions I’ll appreciate your opinions:

1-If I call the court clerk, how can I convince him that I’m abroad? Should I email them my on-year visa for the foreign country? What else can I show?

2- Assuming my foreign 1-year visa is sufficient for the court clerk, would they change my address automatically in USCIS database which can have negative effects on my mother’s pending case? As well as my husband status (as I mentioned he has his immigration visa in hand, but not entered U.S. soil yet to get his greencard)

3-As a U.S. citizen living abroad temporarily (between 6 to 12 months) am I obliged (responsibility) to show up for jury duty ( pay tickets,….)?

4-As a U.S. citizen I’m not required to submit AR-11 (change of address). Will you suggest me to fill it out with my foreign address in order to avoid jury duties during my 6-month stay abroad, and then change it to my permanent U.S. domicile address?

Thanks for your insights

Mitra

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Something must be wrong with your head, and I am saying this as respectful as I can.

AR-11?

You are a U.S. citizen, aren't you?

If so, you can live where you want, when you want, for as long as you want.

If you are not in the U.S., you can't serve as a juror. There's also no need to inform anybody when you move, to where you move, when you are coming back, and what ever you can think of. You are not there, you are not going. You can't read mail, and you don't have to.

What else do you need to know?

[mitra 0]

Something must be wrong with your head, and I am saying this as respectful as I can.

AR-11?

You are a U.S. citizen, aren't you?

If so, you can live where you want, when you want, for as long as you want.

If you are not in the U.S., you can't serve as a juror. There's also no need to inform anybody when you move, to where you move, when you are coming back, and what ever you can think of. You are not there, you are not going. You can't read mail, and you don't have to.

What else do you need to know?

If you have any insights about my questions Brother Hesekiel. yes I'm a U.S. citizen. thanks

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

There's also no need to inform anybody when you move, to where you move, when you are coming back, and what ever you can think of.

That will change when he signs the I-864 for his mother. After that he'll once again be required to keep USCIS notified of his current address.

Mitra, you aren't required to return to the US to serve on a jury if you're abroad. How you notify the court of this, or if you're even required to notify them, will depend on the court. There should be instructions on the jury summons. On most jury summons I've gotten you have to fill out a section on the back and mail it to the court. The courts here don't give you the option of getting out of jury duty by calling the court clerk.

[mitra 0]

That will change when he signs the I-864 for his mother. After that he'll once again be required to keep USCIS notified of his current address.

Mitra, you aren't required to return to the US to serve on a jury if you're abroad. How you notify the court of this, or if you're even required to notify them, will depend on the court. There should be instructions on the jury summons. On most jury summons I've gotten you have to fill out a section on the back and mail it to the court. The courts here don't give you the option of getting out of jury duty by calling the court clerk.

Thanks Jim,

I haven't seen the letter so i don't know if there is a court clerk number on it or not (my domicile is CA as well).

BTW, i believe that I'm not required to fill out AR-11 even after filling out I-864 form. I'm required to declare my address when the prospective immigrant enters the soil of the U.S.

[Adriene H 89]

Thanks Jim,

I haven't seen the letter so i don't know if there is a court clerk number on it or not (my domicile is CA as well).

BTW, i believe that I'm not required to fill out AR-11 even after filling out I-864 form. I'm required to declare my address when the prospective immigrant enters the soil of the U.S.

At least find out what county in California sent you the jury summons.

If you don't respond in some way, they'll issue a warrant for your arrest and/or fine you

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I have received about 16 to 18 jury summons in close to 20 years and have thrown them all into the trash without notifying anybody. Sure, I wasn't even allowed to serve but they didn't know that.

I'm sure not a single warrant for my arrest has been issued in those 20 years. I'm sure because of FBI and federal and state database checks that all came back clean. It is my opinion that mostly people who have nothing better to do go and serve.

My wife, now 49 years of age, went to serve as a juror for the first time past Thursday. She was sitting in a waiting room from 7:45 'til 4:50 (when she was dismissed) for no reason but to do her civic duty. I told her upfront, don't go, it's bullsh*t. Well, she went anyway, but she won't go again. From now on the summons go into the trash, just like mine. I have no intention to serve on a jury in this lifetime. My time is too valuable for this.

In plain English, if you don't want to serve, nobody will make you. Back to the O.P.'s "problem" . . . even under very unfavorable circumstances would you be able to ignore a number of summons before anybody would give a rodent's behind.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I have received about 16 to 18 jury summons in close to 20 years and have thrown them all into the trash without notifying anybody. Sure, I wasn't even allowed to serve but they didn't know that.

I'm sure not a single warrant for my arrest has been issued in those 20 years. I'm sure because of FBI and federal and state database checks that all came back clean. It is my opinion that mostly people who have nothing better to do go and serve.

My wife, now 49 years of age, went to serve as a juror for the first time past Thursday. She was sitting in a waiting room from 7:45 'til 4:50 (when she was dismissed) for no reason but to do her civic duty. I told her upfront, don't go, it's bullsh*t. Well, she went anyway, but she won't go again. From now on the summons go into the trash, just like mine. I have no intention to serve on a jury in this lifetime. My time is too valuable for this.

In plain English, if you don't want to serve, nobody will make you. Back to the O.P.'s "problem" . . . even under very unfavorable circumstances would you be able to ignore a number of summons before anybody would give a rodent's behind.

California Code of Civil Procedure, section 209:

209. (a) Any prospective trial juror who has been summoned for service, and who fails to attend as directed or to respond to the court or jury commissioner and to be excused from attendance, may be attached and compelled to attend. Following an order to show cause hearing, the court may find the prospective juror in contempt of court, punishable by fine, incarceration, or both, as otherwise provided by law.

The problem with prosecuting this law is that a jury summons is rarely delivered by a process server, so they can't prove you ever received the summons. However, if you re-register a vehicle or renew your drivers license at the same address they've been sending your jury summons then they might decide to deliver your next summons using a process server, and you'll be up a creek if you don't show up.

Thanks Jim,

I haven't seen the letter so i don't know if there is a court clerk number on it or not (my domicile is CA as well).

BTW, i believe that I'm not required to fill out AR-11 even after filling out I-864 form. I'm required to declare my address when the prospective immigrant enters the soil of the U.S.

Anyone who signs an I-864 is required to notify USCIS if their address changes for as long as the I-864 is enforceable. Sponsors use form I-865 to report a change of address. There's no fee for filing an I-865.

[Alfred_O 0]

You can contact the court to let them know you are not available. Every state is different, but some states let you postpone. No harm in contacting the court. But do it immediately.

[mitra 0]

thanks everyone for your contributions. I called them & they told me to choose NON RESIDENT of that COUNTY in the form send for jury duty & send them a copy of my temporary foreign visa.

So here again it comes the same questions in my mind that

-If I declare in that form that i'm not a resident of that COUNTY (ex. Orange County) at this time will it empede me from filling out I-864 form for my Mother (i'm USC, & I-130 has sent for my mom)?

in I-864,in Country of domicile section, there is an option of "living abroad temporarily" which states that if i can show ties to the states(tax, bank accounts,...), i can fill out I-864 eventhough i'm living outside of the states.

thanks,

Mitra