Q: I am a minor currently living in Italy. My parents are out of the picture. What is the best course of action?
I want to migrate to the US. I know minors, even unaccompanied homeless immigrants with no legal status, have the right to enroll themselves in school, but what then? I have no relatives or friends in the US. How do I even get a job if I have no legal standing? My goal is to get emancipation, but how do I do that if I have no green card or visa? Does enrollment in school automatically give me a visa? How long would it take for me to find a sponsor if needed? Would I be in the hands of social services? If I claim asylum, would they give it to me? I have a feeling being homeless might be better than ending up as a case in the hands of people I don't know, but maybe it's necessary. Besides, since I'm already in the hands of social workers over here in Italy, how would things work with them if I just left? Would they be authorized to make me come back, even unwilling? I read that minors that have been abused by parents are eligible for SIJ, but is that still valid if I was in a group home?
A:
You are mistaken.
1. You will have hard time traveling to the United States by any commercial carrier absent of parental consent as no airline would board you.
2. Secondly, you may not simply board a plane and assume entitlement to work, school or social services in the United States.
3. You may present yourself at the U.S. border for a credible fear interview for your claimed asylum, yet in order to do so, you need to arrive to the boarder, which would not be possible based on par. 1.
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