Is dual citizenship possible in my case? (green card, drug, marriage)

[Keturah74]

Hi all. I have recently fallen in love online with a man from Portugal. Unfortunately in my past is a drug conviction and I won't be off parole until 2012. Can anyone tell me if after that time I could be eligible for dual citizenship if we decided to get married?? And if not, what would he have to do to legally stay and work here for longer than 3 months in the meantime? Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,
Keturah

[STT Resident]

Forgive me, but falling in love online is in the realm of fantasy and better addressed in the "relationship" forum than this.

If you ever did actually get together and form a relationship offline, decided to be married and moved to Portugal then your future status would have to be determined by the authorities in that country. If you wanted to stay in this country with him (and I'm assuming you're a US citizen) then if you go to the "sticky" at the top of this page you'll find all the links to information you need to know where his potential status is concerned.

[T-310]

Originally Posted by Keturah74

Hi all. I have recently fallen in love online with a man from Portugal. Unfortunately in my past is a drug conviction and I won't be off parole until 2012. Can anyone tell me if after that time I could be eligible for dual citizenship if we decided to get married?? And if not, what would he have to do to legally stay and work here for longer than 3 months in the meantime? Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,
Keturah

The US doesn't recognize dual citizenship.

And your intended, if he is here on the visa waiver program should not be working. If he is, he is violating his status and is subject to deportation.

If he arrives for a visit on the visa waiver program, he cannot work, nor get an extension on his entry permit. If you marry him during that time, he still has to depart to Portugal at the expiration of his entry permit and you will have to file the appropriate paperwork to obtain a immigrant visa.

The best thing you can do, is have him come to the US using the visa waiver program, take copious pictures and file a I-129F or fiancee petition. He returns to Portugal and awaits the K-1 visa.

[sponger42]

Originally Posted by T-310

The best thing you can do, is have him come to the US using the visa waiver program, take copious pictures and file a I-129F or fiancee petition. He returns to Portugal and awaits the K-1 visa.

No need to return to Portugal, he can remain in the country while you file a petetion for permanent residency for him--after you are married.

If you are engaged, you can file a K-1 immediately and bring him over on that.

Google: A Couple's Guide to Fiance and Marriage Visas, it's a useful source of information that covers your case.

As for you immigrating to Portugal, that depends on Portugese--and maybe EU--immigration laws. You can probably renounce your US citizenship and become a Portugese citizen through your marriage. I don't know if you will be able to keep your US citizenship and also obtain a Portugese citizenship. More likely you will be able to get something like the Portugese equivilant of a Green Card, letting you stay permanently.

[T-310]

Originally Posted by sponger42

No need to return to Portugal, he can remain in the country while you file a petetion for permanent residency for him--after you are married.

If you are engaged, you can file a K-1 immediately and bring him over on that.

Google: A Couple's Guide to Fiance and Marriage Visas, it's a useful source of information that covers your case.

As for you immigrating to Portugal, that depends on Portugese--and maybe EU--immigration laws. You can probably renounce your US citizenship and become a Portugese citizen through your marriage. I don't know if you will be able to keep your US citizenship and also obtain a Portugese citizenship. More likely you will be able to get something like the Portugese equivilant of a Green Card, letting you stay permanently.

No he can't remain in the country. His I-94w expires, he goes, marriage license notwithstanding.

Besides, if he states he is just visiting yet has the intention of getting married, he has mistated his intent upon entry and makes him subject to deportation, especially if he is caught at the airport. He will be removed via Expedited Removal and will have a five year bar from reentering the US. After that bar is lifted, he can never use the visa waiver program anymore. He will have to file for a waiver and get a non-immigrant visa.

[bentlebee]

Does he even know about you being a felon? What does he think about that?...if he doesn't know, just be honest and tell him...no marriage will survive if it started with dishonesty. I know that many European countries don't allow dual citizenship, I'm not sure about Portugal but I guess it must be similar to the other countries...for some stupid reason Marocco does allow it...

[Randomstudent]

The US does allow dual citizenship in most cases due to the supreme court decision Afroyim v Rusk (1967) and I have met several dual citizens. I believe Portugal also allows dual citizenship, but I cannot say what requirements either country has.

[Ultrarunner]

I've met quite a few people in the Bay Area with two passports... one US and the other Ireland or Swiss being the most common...

I also met a retired Austrian Council that has US and Austrian Passports... I don't know the hows or whys... but I have seen the passport and traveled with the ones having Irish Passports and US Passports... in Europe, I had to wait and go through customs and they showed their Irish Passports and went throught the EU line... both brothers were born in CA

One later married a young girl on a Au Pair 1 year visa... she was able to stay in the country pending the resolution of her status... they now have 2 children and travel back and forth every year...

[effie g-tad]

Originally Posted by Keturah74

Hi all. I have recently fallen in love online with a man from Portugal. Unfortunately in my past is a drug conviction and I won't be off parole until 2012. Can anyone tell me if after that time I could be eligible for dual citizenship if we decided to get married?? And if not, what would he have to do to legally stay and work here for longer than 3 months in the meantime? Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,
Keturah

maybe you find better links to google.

Am I eligible to apply for Portugal citizenship? | Ask Metafilter

as to some information on other eu countries, you are automatically eligible for french citizenship when marrying a french national.

[bentlebee]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

I've met quite a few people in the Bay Area with two passports... one US and the other Ireland or Swiss being the most common...

I also met a retired Austrian Council that has US and Austrian Passports... I don't know the hows or whys... but I have seen the passport and traveled with the ones having Irish Passports and US Passports... in Europe, I had to wait and go through customs and they showed their Irish Passports and went throught the EU line... both brothers were born in CA

One later married a young girl on a Au Pair 1 year visa... she was able to stay in the country pending the resolution of her status... they now have 2 children and travel back and forth every year...

They must have been young...I think the age is either 18 or 21 and at that time they have to choose which passport they will keep. I guess one of their parents must have been from Ireland otherwise it wouldn't be possible.