Fraternity-Testvériség, 1963 (40. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1963-03-01 / 3. szám
16 FRATERNITY is somewhat complicated. In the case of your friend, his sponsor has to file a petition for him with the Immigration Service. He has to prove not only that he urgently needs the services of a tailor such as your friend, but also that your friend has special skills and extensive experience in the work for which he is needed. While generally speaking there are no age limits for first preference immigrants, an informal ruling held that sufficient experience for first preference tailors could only be acquired by applicants over 26 years of age. CAN I CORRECT A WRONG STATEMENT MADE AS AN IMMIGRANT? Question: When I applied for my immigration visa to the United States, I gave my age as ten years younger than my correct age. Now I want to apply for United States citizenship and would like to know if I can give my correct age or will I have trouble if I do? Answer: If a visa is issued as a result of a material fraud or misrepresentation, the visa is not valid and the holder is subject to deportation. However, if the misrepresentation was not material, that is, if it did not help the applicant obtain his visa, then it may be corrected when an application for naturalization is made and the applicant will not be subjected to deportation. In your case the misrepresentation of your age does not appear to have been material. However, anyone who has made a misrepresentation in his visa application would be wise to consult a lawyer or social agency experienced in immigration and naturalization before making application for citizenship, in order to be sure of avoiding difficulty. WILL MY WIFE AND SON AUTOMATICALLY BECOME CITIZENS WHEN I DO? Question: Five years ago I arrived in the United States as an immigrant together with my wife and son, and now would like to apply for naturalization. I would like to know whether my wife and son will become citizens automatically when I become a citizen. Answer: Your becoming a citizen will have no effect whatsoever on the citizenship status of your wife. She will have to apply for naturalization on her own. Even your son’s citizenship status will not be affected unless both you and your wife are naturalized. In that case, he will derive American citizenship, provided he entered the United States before he was 16 years old and that both you and your wife have been naturalized prior to his 16th birthday. If he is older than 16 but under 18 years old, you may apply for naturalization on his behalf. If he is older than 18, he will have to file his own application.
