Brooklyn, NY asked in Immigration Law for New York

Q: Hi. I've been a permanent resident of the U.S. since 1970. Sometime between 1983 and 85 I got married but then divorced.

I have nothing proving marriage or divorce. Will it be hard for me to become a U.S. Citizen? Please help. Thank you.

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4 Lawyer Answers
Leonard R. Boyer
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Answered
  • Immigration Law Lawyer
  • Clifton, NJ

A: You will need to obtain proof of both. Depending upon where you got married and then divorced, will determine how hard or easy it will be to get proof of each. Immigration is an extremely complex and technical area of law. This is not merely a matter of filling out forms. What you do not know can have grave consequences and even prevent you from obtaining immigration benefits. You need to retain an experienced immigration attorney for any immigration matter or you may throw away your future.

Do not let geographic restrictions get in the way of retaining the best attorney. Pick the best attorney you can find and remember one rule: a good attorney is generally never cheap, and a cheap attorney is generally never good so don't choose based on price.

Kevin L Dixler and Ms Grace I Gardiner agree with this answer

Ms Grace I Gardiner
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Answered
  • Immigration Law Lawyer
  • New York, NY

A: Go to the county where you think you got married and same for the divorce and request a copy of each and then hire an attorney to help you compile the rest of the documents needed in order to apply for your citizenship

Kevin L Dixler
Kevin L Dixler
Answered
  • Immigration Law Lawyer
  • Milwaukee, WI

A: The USCIS will require a certified copy of the divorce order or equivalent from the County where the divorce took place. You may have to visit the clerk of the court to determine the case number. You may also have to request that the clerk retrieve the court file from storage. In addition, there may be quite a few facts that you are unable to remember, but can determine with careful investigation and research by an attorney.

As a result, I encourage you to hire a competent and experienced immigration attorney, so that you understand the process, the grounds of disqualification, and other issues that that may complicate your life should you decide to refrain from filing or file for naturalization. Good luck.

The above is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney client relationship. Note that Immigration law is a Federal practice, which allows attorneys to represent clients, where they are licensed in any state within the United States of America.

Hector E. Quiroga
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Hector E. Quiroga
Answered
  • Immigration Law Lawyer
  • Las Vegas, NV

A: You will need to show your current marital status. You should be able to go to the clerk’s office of the county where your divorce took place to get a copy of the divorce decree.

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