Citizen/Perm Res?

Question

Trying to save space, I failed to explain fully what my question was before. Dad was born in Arizona, U.S. Mom & us 3 kids were born in Mexico. In the old days, if one of your parents was a citizen, the kids were also. This changed when people were marrying citizens to come here & become one themselves. This was the reason the guy took my green card; I protested but he assured me I had no use for it. One of the times I went to INS, downtown L.A., they told me my file had been "retired" to Arizona, they would send for it and they would contact me when they rec'd it. That was years ago. The next time I went, they still didn't have it and was told the same thing; that was yrs ago too. I have a great chance to go to Australia next yr and I Need a passport! Thanks for responding ma&mar and Mark K! If u can help pls email me...thanks.

Answer 1

If you were born in Mexico you are a Mexican citizen. You need a Mexican passport. Apply at the nearest Mexican consulate.

In the old days you were a Mexican. Under Mexican law now you can NOT have dual citizenship! You can have US citizenship and Mexican Nationality (not the same as citizenship). In the old days you could have one OR the other not both! If you had a "green card" you could not be a US citizen.

Answer 2

Your dad may have been born in USA, but if he did not live in USA for 5 years (3 of which HAVE to be after his 15th birthday) then he cannot pass his US citizenship onto you.

If he did spend 5 years in USA after his 15th birthday, then you need proof of that, so you can apply for a citizenship card and a passport.

Sorry but those are the rules.

otherwise you will have to use your mexico passport.

Answer 3

Just because Dad was born in AZ doesn't mean diddly.   Were your dad's parents from Mexico?  Did they take him back to Mexico before he turned 21? If so, he's not a US citizen -- he was a dual national and his parents chose to excercise his right to Mexican citizenship and the US citizenship claim is void.

You were born in Mexico to a Mexican citizen mother, and your father did not register your birth and claim US citizenship for you.  You're over 18 now?  Did dad live in Mexico -- for how long, from what age?  It appears that if he really was born in the US, he did not remain long enough to claim US citizenship.  And he never attempted to get it for you.  

You are likely beating a dead horse.  You are not a US citizen, have no claim to US citizenship, and if you want to go somewhere take your Mexican birth certificate to the Mexican passport issuing agency.