U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Your Complete Guide
~ Updates and Errata ~
March 1998
Refugees: Rule Change on Following-to-join Family Members
A new final rule allows a refugee to bring to the United States his or her spouse and children as of the time the refugee first enters the United States in refugee status. The old rule allowed relatives to follow-to-join only if the relationship existed at the time the refugee was granted refugee status. This means that people who are approved as refugees who marry, or who have children between the time they get refugee papers and the time of entry into the United States, can bring their new spouse and children with them to the United States, or can send for them once they arrive in the United States in refugee status.
To bring a spouse or child to the United States, the refugee must file USCIS Form I-730, Refugee Asylee Relative Petition.
New Law for the Children of U.S. citizen mothers of children born
before
May 24, 1934
The USCIS has issued final regulations implementing a 1994 law which added a new provision to the Immigration and Nationality Act. The new law states that the children of U.S. mothers born abroad will be granted automatic and retroactive citizenship is the mother resided in the Untied States before the birt of the child. Previously, under the laws in effect frore May 24, 1934, only children born to U.S. citizen fathers born got automatic citizenship when born abroad.
This law amends the rules in Chapter 10 of U.S. Immigration and Citizenship - Your Complete Guide. See the Guide for more information on how children of U.S. citizens born abroad get automatic citizenship.
New Manual Available on Affidavits of Support
The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. and the National Immigration Law Center have collaborated on a manual regarding the new affidavit of support rules. The price is $45, including taxes and shipping. For nonprofit agencies the price is $25. To order, send a check to: Catholic Immigration Network, Inc., 401 Michigan Ave., NE, Washington, D.C. 20017.
For information on other resources and an overview of
the new affidavit of support requirements see U.S. Immigration and
Citizenship - Your Complete Guide.