Why don't undocumented immigrants just apply to be U.S. citizens? It's not that easy

Last year, about 750,000 people became naturalized citizens, millions of people became legal residents, and they are becoming Americans. So then why so many people are still illegal?

Thousands of people pursue American dreams each year through the air, the ocean, and hiking. But for many people, staying in this country is probably the biggest challenge.

Cleveland Immigration attorney David Leopoldo says:

David Leopold says that people often take two ways, sponsored by families and employers.

"To become a citizen, you must come here as a holder of a green card, which has been a legal permanent for at least five years," Leopold said.

"They want to know how you entered the country, they want to know the history of your visa, your immigration history," Leopold said.

Leopold, if there is infringement of status at any time, means to enter illegally or to obtain an expired visa, which may lead to the whole procedure going crazy.

"When someone comes to me without a document, in most cases, 99% of those need to return to their country of origin to acquire a green card, the problem is to be banned for ten years beyond the borders "The pod said

"Even if you get married to a US citizen, even if you acquire a green card, even if you have children from the US citizen," Leopold said. But when someone gets a green card, the process of citizenship is simply a process waiting.

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Therefore, for immigrants not listed in millions of documents qualified to acquire green cards through marriage, their only option leaves the United States and applies for an immigrant visa at their US consulate in their home country . But when they left the United States another part of the law began to forbid them to return for 10 years due to their previous illegal existence. If a US citizen's spouse can show that their absence presents great difficulties for their American citizen or legally resident husband or wife, they can abandon the 10-year ban I will.

In the United States workers not listed in the document or immigrants not listed in the document were born as foreigners, not permanent residents, not US citizens. "Undocumented immigrants" are people whose immigration status has not been resolved. Workers are not entitled to work in the US because their status has not been resolved yet. For the type of immigration status, please visit the website of US Citizenship Immigration Services. These two terms are sometimes used to mean the same meaning. Illegal immigrants / foreigners are individuals who may illegally enter the United States and be expelled from the country. It also refers to a person who has legally entered the United States but loses its legal status and may be forcibly repatriated. An undocumented immigrant / worker legally entered the United States, but it exceeded its original time limit. Presence in the U.S. becomes illegal due to expiration