Fraternity-Testvériség, 1960 (38. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1960-11-01 / 11. szám
FRATERNITY 7 IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION Question: I have read in the paper that under the immigration law which was passed in September, 1957, it is possible to bring a child to the United States from abroad, for adoption. My wife and I are American citizens and would like to adopt such a child. How does one go about it? Answer: First, you must find an orphan abroad under the age of 14 who is available for adoption and whom you woul dlike to adopt. You then should obtain from the Immigration Service a form (1-600) “for approval of assurances for eligible orphan to be adopted”. A local agency will have to establish that you meet the pre-adoption requirements of the state where you intend to adopt the child and that you are able to care for the child. If you wish, you may obtain information or assistance from: American Branch of International Social Service, Inc., 345 East 46th Street, New York 17, N. Y.; Catholic Committee for Refugees, National Catholic Welfare Conference, 265 West 14th Street, New York 11, N. Y.; Church World Service, Inc., 215 Fourth Avenue, New York 3, N. Y.; United HIAS Service, Inc., 425 Lafayette Street, New York 3, N. Y. Question: I was born of an American citizen father and an alien mother. I am now 18 years old and have come to the United States because under the law I have to reside in the United States at least five years to preserve my citizenship. My parents are still abroad, and I would like to visit them, but have been told that I must be continuously physically present in the United States for the 5-year period. Will that make it impossible for me to visit my parents? Answer: The law of September 11, 1957, contains a provision that absence from the United States for a total of less than 12 months during the five-year period you mention will not break the continuity of the required physical presence in the United States. You can, therefore, visit your parents, but must be careful that the total time you spend on your visits does not run above twelve months during the five years. Question: My cousin entered the United States as a permanent immigrant some time ago, and some time afterward applied for an exemption from military training on the basis of a treaty between the United States and the country of his nationality. Recently, as a result of a change in government regulations he was drafted. He is now told that he cannot be naturalized because of his earlier application for exemption. Answer: It is correct that the Immigration and Nationality Act bars from naturalization aliens who have applied for and have received exemption from military service in the United States on the ground that they were aliens. The courts have held that subsequent service in the army does not remove such ineligibility for naturalization. Persons barred from citizenship, incidentally, should avoid leaving the United States because, although they are not deportable, they would not as persons ineligible for citizenship be readmitted once they have left.
