Visa through US citizen father

[bondi 0]

Hello! I am in need of a little advice...

I am 30 years old and thinking of moving to the US to work. My father is a US citizen but has been living in the UK for the past 30 years or so and my mother is a British citizen.

Is it possible for me to apply for citizenship or should I try my luck with the family based green card?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[aleful 1,905]

hi

will he be moving to the US? he has to move back to the US at some point because the whole point of petitioning for you is family reunification

if he files for you and you are unmarried, the wait is over 7 years

is he a USC by birth, how long did he live in the US?

[Ryan E 10]

There are two possibilities:

1. He can petition for you. He would need to be domiciled in the US and it would take a LONG time.

2. If he was a US citizen when you were born, then there is a possibility that you are already a citizen and just need to document it.

When did he become a citizen in relationship to your birth?

[Ryan E 10]

Here is a LONG thread with information about documenting citizenship if it was acquired at birth because one parent was a USC and met the residency requirements. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/483874-deported-for-an-agravated-felony-but-we-think-he-is-a-us-citizen-what-to-do-next/

[bondi 0]

Thanks for the replies!

He was born in the UK but was taken the US by my grandparents when he was very young.

I believe that my dad lived in the US for about 12 years and his citizenship certificate is dated 1974 (ten years before I was born).

[Ryan E 10]

I can't dig into the details at the moment, but take a look at the instructions for the n600. There is a chance you are already a citizen.

http://www.uscis.gov/n-600

[Zedayn 485]

Thanks for the replies!

He was born in the UK but was taken the US by my grandparents when he was very young.

I believe that my dad lived in the US for about 12 years and his citizenship certificate is dated 1974 (ten years before I was born).

If your father was present in the US for at least 5 years after becoming a US citizen, 2 of which were after his 14th birthday, prior to your birth...you more than likely have a claim to US citizenship.

Go here to find out more about how to claim your US citizenship: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/acs/passports/citizenship_claim.html

[jan22 3,056]

If your father was present in the US for at least 5 years after becoming a US citizen, 2 of which were after his 14th birthday, prior to your birth...you more than likely have a claim to US citizenship.

Go here to find out more about how to claim your US citizenship: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/acs/passports/citizenship_claim.html

Not accurate -- if the OP was born around 1984 (he says his father's certificate from 1974 was about 10 years before his birth), the father would have to have 10 years of physical presence, five of which were after the age of 14 (assuming he was born in wedlock -- out of wedlock has some additional requirements, but the physical presence requirement is the same). The law changed in November of 1986, which is when it became five years.

Edited March 19, 2014 by jan22

[Ryan E 10]

There is a great table on the London site that shows all the variations: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-acs/transmission_tables.pdf

Edited March 19, 2014 by Ryan E

[Zedayn 485]

Not accurate -- if the OP was born around 1984 (he says his father's certificate from 1974 was about 10 years before his birth), the father would have to have 10 years of physical presence, five of which were after the age of 14 (assuming he was born in wedlock -- out of wedlock has some additional requirements, but the physical presence requirement is the same). The law changed in November of 1986, which is when it became five years.

Ah yes you are right. Thank you for the clarification.

[lostandthenfound 4]

Do you have a criminal history in the UK?