<p>I have no problem with an American draft. If I get drafted, I know it’ll probably be for a meaningful cause.</p>
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Well I’d like to be able to participate in funded research opportunities or apply to study abroad (fully funded).</p>
<p>Yes I have some savings in the bank but the debt accrued by family over the years is not trivial.</p>
<p>Once you have a job that you applied for and got by using a bicycle to commute, you can a) rent a car for trips if that’s required, b) apply for a car loan, or c) expect your employer to pay for the car if it’s required as part of the job.</p>
<p>I’m seeing a lot of excuses and not a lot of doing.</p>
<p>There were some estimates that the real cost of processing a citizenship application is close to $3000. You are still getting a bargain for $600.</p>
<p>I see nothing wrong with emigrating to dodge a draft in a country ruled by a dictator or even in a non-democratic one. If more people dodged the draft in North Korea, there would be one fewer hedache for the civilized world to deal with.</p>
<p>I only inquired as a friend of my son’s was recently refused a renewal of his student visa due to his military obligations in his home country. The citizenship process may be different, I freely admit I don’t know. There was no judgment there, a simple question.</p>
<p>A young woman in our area was recently granted a reprieve from deportation. A complicated story, but evidently she was smuggled here by her parents, green card holders. She had tried to obtain citizenship on her own, which I believe is what the OP is proposing (his references to the fees). She’s now cobbling together funds for legal support. I would hope the OP seeks legal assistance during the application process to avoid any snafus down the road. There are legal assistance clinics available in his area that can help him with this process and I hope he seeks them out.</p>
<p>My non-custodial parent is a US citizen. I haven’t seem him in years and I actually hate him (and he’s not contributing anything and I had so many financial aid headaches over his non-contribution), but I know his social security number and other personal info, etc.</p>
<p>Could I apply to be a US citizen under his paradigm (am I too old now? or is the limit 21?), even though he’s an NCP and he’s not even part of my life?</p>
<p>I think you need to study this:</p>
<p>[USCIS</a> - Child Citizenship Act Program Update](<a href=“http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1fb596981298d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=32dffe9dd4aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD]USCIS”>http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1fb596981298d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=32dffe9dd4aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD)</p>
<p>If one of your parents is a US citizen, and you were under 18 on February 27, 2001, you may already be a US citizen through the CCA if you meet the rest of the criteria.</p>
<p>It might be the best five hundred and eightly dollars you ever spent. </p>
<p>If you become a citizen, would you be willing to serve on a jury?</p>
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<p>Does it work even if the parent has an estranged relationship with the child?</p>
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<p>Well it depends on my schedule.</p>
<p>It would be kind of sucky to be called out to jury duty during finals week, you know?</p>
<p>It appears not to matter whether or not you get along with your father. Since no one on this board is a citizenship lawyer, it appears you need to contact the USCIS: [USCIS</a> - Biological or Adopted Children Residing Outside the United States](<a href=“http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=8554a3ac86aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=8554a3ac86aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD]USCIS”>http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=8554a3ac86aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=8554a3ac86aa3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD)</p>
<p>Yes, but my father doesn’t have legal custody of me.</p>
<p>WuTang: everytime anyone suggests anything, you raise an objection. Stop making excuses, raising objections, telling us why things won’t work. Just pick up the phone and make the phone call to the USCIS and explain to THEM what your situation is. They’re the only ones who can tell you if you’re already a citizen and what you need to do if you’re not. If you’re worried about it being tracked back to you, spend $25 on one of those disposable cell phones and call yourself a different name. BUT WE CAN’T SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS FOR YOU.</p>
<p>Actually I’m very interested in the solution, I would be overjoyed if it worked.</p>
<p>But apparently, my father needs to file the paperwork (uhhhh) and he needs to have legal custody of me. (And am I too old now?) </p>
<p>Best to go the 580 route?</p>
<p>I dread calling government phone lines… for some reason I think I’ll be on hold for half an hour.</p>
<p>Think of that half an hour as potentially paying you $580. That should make it more bearable. AND STOP MAKING EXCUSES WHY YOU CAN’T DO THINGS.</p>
<p>I dread calling government phone lines… for some reason I think I’ll be on hold for half an hour.</p>
<p>Oh noes!
You sure you want to become an American citizen?
Sounds like you can come up with more reasons why it is too much trouble.</p>
<p>WuTangForeva -</p>
<p>If your father is a citizen, and you can derive citizenship through him, it doesn’t matter one bit if he has legal custody or not. You just have to go through the paperwork that show’s he’s your parent. Heck, it probably doesn’t even matter that he’s alive!</p>
<p>If you are scared of talking with government offices, pick up the phone and call the nearest immigration lawyer.</p>
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<p>Jury? Fine. Get my ass shot off? Never.</p>
<p>WuTang, I suggest you get a lawyer. If your father is a US citizen, you might be one too and not even know it.</p>
<p>When I called the State Department for Passport information, it did not take long to get a real live person on the phone.</p>
<p>Let us know how it turns out, then we can have an on-line swearing-in party for you.</p>
<p>OP, I don’t know how not to be critical, but having everything given to you with little effort is not the norm for most of us. Reorient your mindset to think “what are the five different ways I can work at to get to my goal” rather than “what are all the excuses I can come up with to avoid something that I don’t fancy doing”.</p>
<p>does anyone remember how long it took them to send you an appointment for the interview?</p>