I don't know where to start..... (Citizenship/Green Card)

[ppaattyv 0]

I'm 18 years old and I'd like to get a green card to study in the states. My father was born to a US citizen parent. He has a "report of birth abroad of a citizen of the USA" and a "certificate of birth" from the foreign service of the USA.

My questions are:

1) Is it possible for my father to get US citizenship and what's going to be his first step? (I'm pretty sure he's eligible because his brother applied and got it it years. However, my one concern is that my grandfather passed away last year so would It be more difficult for him to apply?)

2) If my father become a US citizen, can he sponsor me for a family-based green card? Which kind do I need?

I'm EXTREMELY confused by various types of visa. So, any help/advice would be highly appreciated. Thank you! <3

[aleful 1,905]

hi

He is already a USC. His father applied for the CRBA, he should have entered the US with a US passport since he is a US citizen born abroad to a USC

you should find out if you are a USC, when did he get his CRBA, when he was born or when. why didn't he file for you when you were born? please explain your situation

[ppaattyv 0]

hi

He is already a USC. His father applied for the CRBA, he should have entered the US with a US passport since he is a US citizen born abroad to a USC

you should find out if you are a USC, when did he get his CRBA, when he was born or when. why didn't he file for you when you were born? please explain your situation

He didn't acquire for a US passport and I honestly don't know why. I didn't even know my grandfather was American until several years ago (I guess it's kind of a family feud or something). So, can he just go to the embassy and fill the forms and get one?

[NikLR 13,231]

There are certain regulations about whether or not your father can pass on his citizenship to you. But he is a USC because of the CRBA.

http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-parents

But if your father does not pass his citizenship through to you, he could sponsor you. But unless he lives in the USA, it would be hard for him to sponsor you to move to the USA.

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-family/green-card-immediate-relative-us-citizen

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-family/green-card-family-member-us-citizen

The USCIS is not the only US governing body in this situation however. The National Visa Center is also part of this process. http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1310.html should be a good place for you to start looking up the visa requirements AFTER the petition approval. (it's a essentially 3 stage process to the visa... USCIS petition, NVC visa and document intake, Consulate/Embassy interview and decision.)

Edited January 5, 2014 by NLR

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

It seems like your father doesn't live in the US and unless he wants to move he isn't going to be able to help you. If you want to study in the US you should look into student visas. They are for coming to the US to study and then return, but they can help you make connections to pursue other visas afterwards.

[ppaattyv 0]

There are certain regulations about whether or not your father can pass on his citizenship to you. But he is a USC because of the CRBA.

http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-parents

But if your father does not pass his citizenship through to you, he could sponsor you. But unless he lives in the USA, it would be hard for him to sponsor you to move to the USA.

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-family/green-card-immediate-relative-us-citizen

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-family/green-card-family-member-us-citizen

The USCIS is not the only US governing body in this situation however. The National Visa Center is also part of this process. http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1310.html should be a good place for you to start looking up the visa requirements AFTER the petition approval. (it's a essentially 3 stage process to the visa... USCIS petition, NVC visa and document intake, Consulate/Embassy interview and decision.)

Very imformative! Thank you so much!

[jan22 3,056]

There are certain regulations about whether or not your father can pass on his citizenship to you. But he is a USC because of the CRBA.

http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-parents

But if your father does not pass his citizenship through to you, he could sponsor you. But unless he lives in the USA, it would be hard for him to sponsor you to move to the USA.

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-family/green-card-immediate-relative-us-citizen

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-family/green-card-family-member-us-citizen

The USCIS is not the only US governing body in this situation however. The National Visa Center is also part of this process. http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1310.html should be a good place for you to start looking up the visa requirements AFTER the petition approval. (it's a essentially 3 stage process to the visa... USCIS petition, NVC visa and document intake, Consulate/Embassy interview and decision.)

I'm not sure, but I think the people who responded to this question misunderstood the original post -- or maybe I did! The problem is with the pronoun --"He" got a CRBA and a passport -- the responses are based on it being the father of the poster who got the CRBA. I think he meant to say that is was his grandfather who had the CRBA and passport. IF I am right, the first step would be to determine that the poster's father was a US citizen and then whether he was able to transmit that citizenship to the poster. All of this will be much more difficult since the father has passed away.

[NikLR 13,231]

Jan22 I think you're right, but wither way my links will help deteemine if the father can get citizenship.