Hello everybody,
First of all I like to thank everybody in advance for any answers.
I am a German who has the US-Green Card since 1996, thus, for five and a half years. Theoretically, I am eligible to apply for the US Citizenship, now.
However, soon after I got my Green Card, I went back to Germany because of my studies, which I started there. In December 2001, I came back to the US in order to work here for a while. I was lucky that at the US border I wasn\'t questioned, because I entered the US from Canada.
Now I again have to go back to Germany for at least 3 years. Unfortunately, since September 11, US officers at the US-border have become extremely strict. That means, if I leave the US for 3 years, I might be caught and as a consequence I might loose my Green Card, which would be disasterous, because I want to spend the rest of my life here in the US. On the other hand, I also love my home country (Germany) and I like to live there from time to time.
The best solution would be to get the US citizenship.
Here are the questions:
1.)
I can prove that I have lived here in the US in 2000 and 2001. If I apply for the US citizenship, do I also have to prove what I have done between 1996 and 2000? Or can I just write something, like for example that I have lived at my friend\'s house and enjoyed life without working or doing anything else?
2.)
Here in this immigrationportal-board, I have just read that US-residents who got the Green Card have to tell the INS within 10 days when they have changed their address, like for example when they have moved from NY to FL. I have never informed the INS about my address changes, because I didn\'t know about this. But I have changed my address within the US a few times. If I apply for the US citizenship, then the INS might notice this. Does it mean that because of this I shouldn\'t apply for the US citizenship, in order not to get trouble with the INS? Which penalty charges can I get, if the INS notice that?
3.)
If I apply for the Re-entry Visa, does the INS make a background check and does it ask me what I have done since 1996? Or is it easy to get the Re-Entry Visa without too many questions?
4.)
How can I still go to Germany? If I go to Germany and come back after the end of the 4th month, do I still get problems at the US border? I have read that it is allowed to stay outside the US for 5 months. But when I return to the US, I would have to go back to Germany after staying in the US for a couple of days. So can I come and go every 4 months, or do I have to stay and work in the US for a while before I am allowed to leave the country for another 4 months?
5.)
If I apply for the US citizenship, do I have to give up my German citizenship? I got my Green Card by family, but nobody from my family has the American citizenship and I was not born in the US. Does the US policy allow dual citizenship? I know that Germany does not allow that. So if I get the US citizenship, do US authorities inform German authorities about my US citizenship? Or is it up to me to inform German authorities about my US citizenship?
Sorry for these uncomfortable questions, but I am really in a bad situation. But I had to go to Germany in order to finish my studies.
Thank you all for your help!!!
Dieter
First of all I like to thank everybody in advance for any answers.
I am a German who has the US-Green Card since 1996, thus, for five and a half years. Theoretically, I am eligible to apply for the US Citizenship, now.
However, soon after I got my Green Card, I went back to Germany because of my studies, which I started there. In December 2001, I came back to the US in order to work here for a while. I was lucky that at the US border I wasn\'t questioned, because I entered the US from Canada.
Now I again have to go back to Germany for at least 3 years. Unfortunately, since September 11, US officers at the US-border have become extremely strict. That means, if I leave the US for 3 years, I might be caught and as a consequence I might loose my Green Card, which would be disasterous, because I want to spend the rest of my life here in the US. On the other hand, I also love my home country (Germany) and I like to live there from time to time.
The best solution would be to get the US citizenship.
Here are the questions:
1.)
I can prove that I have lived here in the US in 2000 and 2001. If I apply for the US citizenship, do I also have to prove what I have done between 1996 and 2000? Or can I just write something, like for example that I have lived at my friend\'s house and enjoyed life without working or doing anything else?
2.)
Here in this immigrationportal-board, I have just read that US-residents who got the Green Card have to tell the INS within 10 days when they have changed their address, like for example when they have moved from NY to FL. I have never informed the INS about my address changes, because I didn\'t know about this. But I have changed my address within the US a few times. If I apply for the US citizenship, then the INS might notice this. Does it mean that because of this I shouldn\'t apply for the US citizenship, in order not to get trouble with the INS? Which penalty charges can I get, if the INS notice that?
3.)
If I apply for the Re-entry Visa, does the INS make a background check and does it ask me what I have done since 1996? Or is it easy to get the Re-Entry Visa without too many questions?
4.)
How can I still go to Germany? If I go to Germany and come back after the end of the 4th month, do I still get problems at the US border? I have read that it is allowed to stay outside the US for 5 months. But when I return to the US, I would have to go back to Germany after staying in the US for a couple of days. So can I come and go every 4 months, or do I have to stay and work in the US for a while before I am allowed to leave the country for another 4 months?
5.)
If I apply for the US citizenship, do I have to give up my German citizenship? I got my Green Card by family, but nobody from my family has the American citizenship and I was not born in the US. Does the US policy allow dual citizenship? I know that Germany does not allow that. So if I get the US citizenship, do US authorities inform German authorities about my US citizenship? Or is it up to me to inform German authorities about my US citizenship?
Sorry for these uncomfortable questions, but I am really in a bad situation. But I had to go to Germany in order to finish my studies.
Thank you all for your help!!!
Dieter