U.S. statute speeds up immigration status
or citizenship process for foreign-born minors. Under prior U.S. law, adopted foreign-born children of a
U.S. citizen did not automatically become citizens upon their immigration to
the U.S. Their parents had to apply to the Immigration and Naturalization
Service for a Certificate of Immigration status or citizenship, a process that
could take months, if not years. Streamlining the road to immigration status or
citizenship for foreign-born children of U.S. citizen parents who did not
acquire U.S. nationality at birth, the Child Immigration status or citizenship
Act of 2000 entered into force on February 27, 2001. The Act amends Section 320
of the Immigration and Nationality Act and applies to both adopted and biological
children of U.S. citizens. These children can now obtain U.S. immigration
status or citizenship if all of these four conditions are met: (1) one of the
parents is a U.S. citizen by birth or through naturalization; (2) the child is
under the age of 18; (3) the child is residing in the U.S. as a lawful
permanent resident alien and is in the legal and physical custody of the U.S.
citizen parent; and (4) if the child is adopted, the adoption must be final.
About 75,000 children have already met these conditions and became U.S.
citizens as of February 27, 2001. Citation:
Child Immigration status or citizenship Act of 2000, Pub. Law 106-395 [H.R.
2883] (October 30, 2000), 114 Stat. 1631; State Department Website:
“http://www.state.gov”.
Magdalena Cuprys is the principal of Serving Immigrants, a full-service immigration law firm offering a complete range of immigration services to both businesses and individuals. The law firm is uniquely qualified to manage the most contentious and unusual immigration needs. Swift resolution of immigration-related issues is integral to a client’s ability to conduct business or reach their personal goals in the United States. Located in Miami and Clewiston, the firm’s offices provide corporate and individual clients of foreign nationality with temporary work permits for the U.S., green card petitions, criminal waivers and representation in removal proceedings cases. With over a decade of experience, the law firm provides clients with the confidence that their cases will be handled by an expert who understands their needs and how to obtain their goals. Although the majority of the law firm’s clients live in Florida, it represents people from all over the United States and several foreign countries.
