To make a long story short...my brother was offered a great job in Wisconsin and recently moved there from Mississippi with his family. Once he got there he was told he had to supply proof of citizenship due to a government contract being involved. My brother was born in England 58 years ago, but moved here when he was 2. Both my parents got their U.S. citizenship at that time, but my brother wasn't added as a citizen. (Why our parents didn't do that we have no idea). He has worked and lived in the US his whole life. He has paid social security and taxes. He contacted the Immigration Department in New Orleans years ago and they were supposed to have taken care of this.
Due to this latest development of him needing proof of citizenship, he contacted the Immigration office in New Orleans,LA and was told they "Closed" his case because they sent him a letter and he never responded. HE NEVER GOT A LETTER FROM THEM!" Something like that he would not have forgotten...this was too important for him not to respond. They dropped the ball and now he has to suffer because of their mistakes. They told him that "Yes" he is an American Citizen...he asked if they could give him a letter stating that...they said no...we aren't allowed to do that. You have to pay $400 and get a green card...they said it will take 6 months if not longer. Keep in mind they already said HE IS A CITIZEN!
To put this in perspective...my brother moved across country for a job that now won't allow him to work because he doesn't have a US birth certificate. Did I mention he has a social security number though??? Jeeeeeeeeeeeeez.....
I am going to keep everyone up to date on how this goes...his attorney's advice etc...no one should have to go through all this.
Okay, more information. This is a letter we typed trying to get some assistance from the Governors and Congressman in the three states. Louisiana Immigration Office dropped the ball and no one is being held accountable.
ReplyDeleteDear Sir/s,
I'm writing as I have no other options available to me and am hoping for your assistance. I recently relocated my family from Mississippi to Wisconsin for a great job that I was offered. I am unable to prove my citizenship to this company, although; I am a United States citizen. I have lived in this country for 58 years, paid my taxes and social security. The Immigration Department has even told me I am a citizen, but will not provide me the proof needed for my employment. I have been trying to settle this for over 10 years and now I am unable to start my new job because of this predicament.
Please read the history regarding this below and assist me and my family. It would be greatly appreciated as we are at a loss at what to do. Please bear with me as this is lengthy; but you will see how this calamity was caused by unneeded bureaucracy and a failure of the system.
I arrived in the United States from Europe with my parents in late 1952 when I was 6 months of age. They eventually became citizens in 1967 and since I was under the age of 18, (14 at the time), I automatically became one too. I cannot prove I'm a citizen, although; I have been in this country for 58 years.
My occupation for the past 30 years is “Marine Systems Designer,” working for contract firms. My citizenship first became an issue in 1983 while I was working as a direct employee at Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. in San Pedro Calif. I was told I needed to prove my citizenship. This was the first time this had been requested and I wasn't able to provide any documentation. Keep in mind, I had served in the United States Coast Guard during the Vietnam war as a U.S. citizen and was never asked for proof of my citizenship. To be hired as a direct employee citizenship verification is required, but contracting firms usually only ask for a Social Security Card and drivers license; in addition I check the box labeled yes on the applications that ask if you're a U.S. citizen. I've been working like this for years now and until recently was never asked for a birth certificate by a contracted employer.
I recently accepted a job at Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin as a contractor. I only found out after we relocated from Mississippi to Wisconsin last week that the day I was to report to work, October 4, 2010, I needed to bring my birth certificate with me. The missus and I were aghast when we received the email with the request. I knew I didn’t have a birth certificate and honestly didn’t know citizenship documentation was going to be required. We would have never left Mississippi until this was all worked out. Marinette Marine is carefully checking all documentation regarding their new hires due to a pending contract (U.S. Navy LCS), which is fully understandable.
We have spent over $5,000 dollars to facilitate this move. We are now here after making two trips with cars and a moving van full of all our household goods. We have rented a house. Our home in Mississippi is up for sale and we have no form of income and no funds to make the trip back. Before this move, my wife worked for the Veterans Administration as LPN in Biloxi, Mississippi, and I was working at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. I will be 60 years of age in a year, so obviously this was a huge move for us. I think you can see the dire situation we're now in.
As of today my brother's attorney said it could take years to get this all straightened out. He is using the last money he has in savings to go back to Mississippi. They will have to go bankrupt as this has sent them way back financially. I don't understand why no one at the Immigration office could help. I think he would get more assistance if he was an illegal immigrant; he's obviously not getting any assistance being here legally.
ReplyDeleteThe questions sent to his lawyer with no response:
ReplyDeleteQuestion(s) to attorney: Why can't we sue INS for incompetency and distress on our part?
Why didn't they send the letter in 2007 certified or registered before denying my claim and closing the case?
Why do they continually ask for documentation that I've proven doesn't physically exist when they have those documents in their archives?
Why did they deny me over and over again letting me fill out an application?
Why did they force me to lie and go to the British consulate and have me pretend I'd just arrived here?
Why did they say they'd never received the application when I hold the signed receipt by them saying they received it?
Why did they send the entire application package back to me because the filing fee went up on a particular date, yet the date on the envelope was dated the day the fee had risen?
Why did they keep asking me for my Mother's passport when I'd sent it to them and they had it in their hands the whole time?
Why did I not hear from them again for 6 years since the initial application was sent to them: 2001 to 2007?
These are questions and there are more that have never been answered and have led to me still not having my Cert. Of Citizenship and is now costing me a position at a company and is forcing us to file bankruptcy and lose everything due to incompetency on their behalf. Shouldn't they be held accountable. I've done everything in my power to provide them with everything they've asked but they don't have to play likewise?
What a nightmare and what a mess!! There ought to be a law. It breaks my heart that this is happening.
ReplyDeleteYeh, it breaks my heart too. Now they're on their way back to Mississippi...this is a perfect example of how screwed up our government is!
ReplyDelete