Time for a attorney?

[Terapin 10]

This is my coworkers dilemma.

Born in Japan in the 70s.

Mom is Japanese, Dad is American.

Dad was stationed in Japan. But Coworker was born in a local hospital, not a army base.

Mom Dad and Co came to America when she was 2yrs old.(so around 1972)

Dad died around 1980. Mom died 1989. So Coworker was around 16yrs old.

Somewhere between then and now. Co lost her birth certificate and translated copy. For 4yrs she tried everything, Army, schools, the town she was born in. One dead end after another. She finally gave up and made a appointent with uscis/dhs. They in turn requested her files and told her to come back.

Two weeks later she go's back. They have her original birth certificate. No translated copy. Her dad is not listed as the father. It's blank.

Also it turns out she was denied citizenship in 1987. (I dont know why) And her mother started re-applying for it in 1988, but since she died the case was closed. Oh the cherry on the sundae, the translated copy of her birth certificate never existed. Dad made it one day at work. (According to her uncle)

She has a social security card, married with kids. Has worked for 20yrs and now this. She feels like the rug has been pulled out from under her.

So... time for a attorney? Or can she do this herself online?

[Boiler 45,761]

a US Citizen is required to enter the US with a US passport, how did she enter?

[Rc123rc 528]

I think Japan family records (Koseki) do not list a foreign father, only the mother and the child. So, no surprise there. The elementary school might have something but I wouldn't have much hope. Last resort is a DNA match between her and her past away father. There's got to be something she's missing. The citizenship denial may simply be the problem she is experiencing now. No records to back anything up. I'd consult a good immigration lawyer just to see if there is a chance.

[Terapin 10]

Boiler,

She remembers seeing her mother's (japanese) passport. As far as she can remember she never had one. And as I said previously she is not a citizen. You have to remember she was 16 and a orphan so lots of paperwork was lost.

Rcripps,

Ahhhh I bet she didn't know that about the koseki. It's also been bothering her that her dad didn't "claim" her. She is going to have a DNA test done with her dad's other child from a previous marriage. Thanks for the info re: koseki

Edited August 10, 2016 by Terapin

[Penguin_ie 5,995]

Does she know why she was denied the US citizenship before? If she is a current greencard holder, she could just re-apply for US citizenship and unless she spent a lot o time abroad recently, or has criminal convictions, she should get it no problem.

Alternatively, if she is not a greencardholder/ that is in doubt, she may need to go back to the beginning and apply for Adjustment of Status through the US citizen husband.