Magyar News, 1994. szeptember-1995. augusztus (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1995-01-01 / 5. szám
fireballs, and 4 bazooka bubble gum. Perhaps I will share some of these with my older sister. Upon my return to my aunt’s house I’d find the lively conversation had never stopped between my mom and her sister. Only now some of the English was intermingled with a little Hungarian as I walked through the door. That only meant one of two things: either I did something wrong since last they conversed or grandma wasn ’ t behaving. Nonetheless, content with my treasured purchases, I’d help myself to a buttered roll and a jelly donut. The candy would surely be devoured by nightfall. All these memories, though they seem like yesterday, have unjustly distanced into many, many years so quickly. Now I no longer walk those streets, I drive them. I still attend the same church, only now its outer walls are defaced with graffiti and its roof a fortress with coiled wire. Its full name has also been modified to delete the word Hungarian. The other small church down the street, with its little stone walls that I would balance upon, has been tom down. A condominium has been rooted firmly there. The grocery store still exists, only now the food sold is Spanish. The variety store now sells beer. My grandmother, my aunt and the storeowners are unfortunately long since gone. The most peculiar thing now is that on Sundays now I am the one opening the window shades on oversleeping children, hurrying them along while their daddy tries to catch up on much needed blissful slumber. In the car to church their curious minds interrogate me—“why doesn’t daddy ever go to church?” To say I wouldn’t want to go back to those special days would be a lie. To experience once again a good experience, one would want to relive it; however, the experience is never the same once you leave it. The people who now live in my aunt’s neighborhood, as well as my own children, are not looking to change things to the way I knew them. They are creating their own life experiences just as we all are each and every day. What was there before doesn’t mattcranymorc—only in the minds of those who choose to relive it. The First United Church of Christ recently celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the church. Among the speakers at the banquet was Margie C. Mingrone. I found it very interesting, so I asked her to round it out with some more information, especially about her Hungarian side. We were very pleased that she did, and we hope that our readers will also enjoy reading this article. In our next issue we will have a report on the celebration and be able to show some pictures, too. NOTICE U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service On October 1, 1994, a new law took effect allowing certain individuals to obtain permanent residency in the United States. Basically, the law states that if a visa is immediately available to an individual, thát person can become a permanent resident of the United States without traveling outside the country to an American Consulate. Before October 1, unless you were the immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, you had to be in legal immigration status in the United States in order to become a permanent resident without leaving the country. Now if a visa is available, people who entered the United States without inspection, as transits without visa, as crewmen, or who violated the visa by remaining longer than permitted or by working illegally may become a permanent resident without leaving the United States. In order to apply, a person must pay the regular $130 fee plus an additional amount equal to five (5) times the fee. The total amount is therefore $780. A person who is unmarried and under 17 years of age is not required to pay the additional amount. An applicant, who is legally in the United States is not required to file the additional amount. Under certain circumstances, the spouses and unmarried children (under 21 years old) of a legalized alien are not required to pay the additional amount if they properly filed Form 1-827 “Application for Voluntary Departure Under the Family Unity Program.” These are the general requirements for filing an application under the new law. A special supplemental form is required for filing. The same requirements for filing are necessary including Form 1-485, G-325a, I- 134, medical examination, photos and fingerprints. The only change, at this time, is the amount of the fee and the supplemental form. Remember, you still must have a petition for alien relative filed by your spouse of 1-140 petition filed by an employer and approved by the immigration service. A separate fee of $80 is still required. If you believe you qualify to file under this law, you may mail or take your application to the immigration office, 450 Main $treet, Hartford, Room 410. Information on this law may also be obtained at the immigration and naturalization service office during regular hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Wednesday 8 a.m. - 12 noon. One further note, the law has another part to it which states that if an individual is in the United States illegally he or she must wait outside the United States for 90 days before re-entry into the United States as a permanent resident. Please keep this in mind if you are traveling outside the United States to obtain an immigrant visa. EXAMPLES (Q) I am married to a U.S. citizen but I entered the U.S. without inspection. Do I qualify? (A) Yes. You must file the supplemental form and the additional fee amount. (Q) I am married to a U.S. citizen but my tourist visa has expired, can I file for permanent residence? (A) Yes. You would have qualified even without the new law. Only the regular fee of $130 is required. (Q) I am married to a permanent resident alien and my visa number is available. My tourist visa expired over a year ago. Do I qualify? (A) Yes. You must file the supplemental form and the additional fee amount. (Q) I am married to a permanent resident alien and my visa number is available. My tourist visa has not expired; however, I have been working illegally. Do I qualify? (A) Y es, but you must file the supplemental form and the additional fee. (Q) I am married to a permanent resident alien and I just received the approval notice for my petition (1-130). I am in legal immigration status, but my visa number is not available. Do I qualify. (A) No. You must have a visa number available to you in order to apply for permanent residence. 5
