Bartlesville's Family Attorney

Because every adoption case is different, the cost of any particular adoption may vary greatly. I, therefore, cannot quote any client any set price. For a more detailed explanation of why I cannot quote any specific price to a client, click on my blog post here. This post explains why costs vary in immigration cases, but the information there applies to adoption lawyers as well.

Adoption lawyers typically bill by the hour – meaning the more work that is required on your case, the more you have to pay your adoption attorney. Other costs of an adoption include court clerk filing fees, fees for a professional to perform a home study, and fees for the copies of medical and school records that need to be filed with the court.

In general, if an adoption is uncontested (that is, the natural parent does not challenge it), and there are no special complications, the total cost will likely be in the low four-figure range. If the case is contested, costs can be much higher.

An adoption decree may not be set aside more than three months after the judge signs it. The only exception to this rule is if a parent’s consent to adoption was obtained by fraud or duress. In this case, a court may set aside the decree within three months after the discovery of the fraud.

After an adoption, the adoptive parent becomes vested with all the legal rights of the parent. The only way these rights may be taken away, is if a court terminates the adoptive parents’ parental rights.

In Oklahoma, there are only two ways to terminate parental rights:

1. If the state files an action alleging that a child is deprived; or

2. If someone else adopts the child

An “open adoption” is an adoption where the court enters an order allowing the birth parent to have continued contact with the child after the adoption is finalized. Some states have laws allowing for open adoptions (for examples click here, here, and here). However, Oklahoma has no law allowing open adoptions. In an Oklahoma adoption, all of the birth parent’s rights are irrevocably terminated, and a court may not enter any order allowing a birth parent to have continued contact with a child after the adoption is final.

If a child has resided with a birth relative before being adopted, the court can order that the birth relative have visitation or contact with the child while the adoption is pending. A court can only enter such an order is the prospective adoptive parents and the birth relative agree to the order. A court may not order that any birth relative have continued contact with a child after the adoption is finalized.

After an adopted child turns 18, the child will be able to see his original birth certificate, with his birth parents’ names, by contacting the State Registrar of Vital Statistics. The only way a birth parent can prevent a child from seeing the birth parent’s name, is if the birth parent signs an affidavit of nondisclosure. An adopted child will not be able to see the name of a birth parent who has signed an affidavit of nondisclosure. If only one birth parent, but not the other birth parent, has signed an affidavit of nondisclosure, the Registrar may only allow the child to see the name of the parent who has not signed the affidavit.

You must have testamentary intent; that is, you must have the intent to execute a will.

You must be over the age of 18 and be of sound mind.

You must sign the will. You must sign at the end of the will. You must sign the will in the presence of two witnesses. You must declare to the two witnesses that you are signing the will. The two witnesses must be mentally capable of understanding what is going on. The witnesses must not be “interested witnesses”; that is, they may not be people who would receive any property under your will. Any gift to an interested witness is void.

The will does not need to be filed in any particular place, but it should be in a place where it can be found when you die.

It is not required that a lawyer assist you. However, it is recommended that you to seek the assistance of a lawyer. There are difficult legal technicalities involved in the preparation of a will, and without proper legal counsel, a gift could end up in the hands of the wrong person.

If you don’t have a will, you are said to have died intestate. Your property then would go to your next of kin. See the Oklahoma Intestate Succession Law to find out who your next of kin are.

For further information, read my blog post, "What Happens if You Die without a Will?"

A guardian will be appointed for your minor children. A guardian is a person appointed by the court to take care of the person or property of another. A guardianship can be granted over a child when the parent(s) are deceased or unfit. A guardianship can be granted over an adult when the adult is incapacitated. When a guardian is appointed for a child, the guardian functions much like the child’s parent; the guardian can enroll the child in school, take the child to the child to the doctor, etc. A guardianship over a child can terminate if the parent(s) are found to have regained their fitness. A guardian also has control over the ward’s property, whether the ward is a child or an adult.

One of your relatives can ask the court to be appointed guardian.

Here is where it can be a major advantage to have a will. If you nominate a guardian in your will, you can choose whom you want to be the guardian of your children after you die. If you do not have a will, your children could potentially be under the care of someone whom you do not desire to be the guardian of your children.

For further information, read my post, "What Happens If You Die without a will?"

If you leave a gift to a relative, and the relative dies before you do, then your relative’s descendants inherit the gift. If your deceased relative has no descendants, then your gift becomes part of the “residue” of your estate. If you leave a gift to a non-relative, and the non-relative dies before you do, then your gift becomes part of the “residue” of your estate. If a gift is part of the residue of your estate, then the gift then passes to whoever your will says should receive the “residue” of your estate.

If you leave the “residue” of your estate to a relative, and the relative dies before you do, and leaves no descendants, then the residue passes to your next-of-kin, under the Oklahoma Intestate Succession Law.

If you leave the residue of your estate to a non-relative, and the non-relative dies before you do, then the residue passes to your next-of-kin, under the Oklahoma Intestate Succession Law.

For the purposes of this law, your spouse is considered to be a non-relative.

You can create a trust. You can specify that one person (the “trustee”) has the power to manage property for the benefit of your child. Your child is then deemed the “beneficiary” of the trust. You can specify that the trust will terminate when the child reaches a certain age. You can create a trust in your will, and no extra work is required.

You can also nominate a guardian for a disabled adult child. For more information on guardianships, see my blog post "Caring for a disabled adult child."

An advance directive is a document that describe whether you want certain types of life-sustaining treatment, in the event that you become incapacitated and unable to make decisions for yourself. In an advance directive, you may also name another person (called a health care proxy) who may make medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated.

A living will is a document that tells whether or not you would like your life to be extended by life-sustaining treatment, including artificial nutrition and hydration. You may write a living will saying that you do wish to be given such treatment if you become incapacitated, or that you do not wish to be given such treatment if you become incapacitated.

A durable power of attorney for health care is a document, in which you state that, in the event you become incapacitated, you name another person who is empowered to make medical decisions for you. In a durable power of attorney, you may also state that this person has the power to make legal and financial transactions on your behalf. For more information on powers of attorney, read my blog post here.

There is no hard-and-fast definition, in Oklahoma law, as to what makes a parent “unfit.” Typically, in cases where a parent is found unfit, the unfit parent has been (or is living with someone who has been) convicted of domestic abuse or sex crimes. Alcohol and drug abuse are other reasons why courts often find that a parent is unfit. For a more detailed explanation of the law on “unfit” parents, click here.

In a custody case, the father has the same rights as the mother. There is no preference, in Oklahoma state law, for a parent of either gender. (Although, in some cases, a father may have to take a DNA test to prove he is the father.)

In a case between two parents (that is, a divorce or paternity case) courts determine custody by what is in the best interests of the child. In a case where a non-parent (such as a grandparent) seeks custody, a court can only deprive the parents of custody if the parents are unfit.

You may try to settle with the other parent outside of court. If you and the other parent reach an agreement, you may both sign an agreed order, then give the order to the judge and ask the judge to sign it. Once the judge signs an agreed order, the agreement becomes legally binding.

A common way to settle a case out of court, is mediation. In mediation, both parents meet before a mediator, who tries to guide the parents to a peaceful and satisfactory agreement. The mediator is not like a judge; he cannot order either parent to do anything. Many parents prefer mediation, because in mediation, neither party can walk away with anything they didn’t agree to. Mediation, thus, gives parents more control over the outcome, than a court decision. For more information on mediation, click here.

Oklahoma courts actively encourage parents to settle out of court. In other states where courts have encouraged settlement, the vast majority of cases have settled without going to court. Hopefully, yours will too.

When two parents are divorced or separated, the court must make a determination as to the custody of the children. Often, the court will make an award of sole custody or joint custody.

If you have sole custody of your child, this means (usually), that you, and you alone, have the right to make decisions regarding the child’s welfare, such as the child’s education, medical care, and religious upbringing.

If you have joint custody of your child, this means (usually) that both you, and the child’s other parent, both have a voice in long-range decisions regarding the child’s welfare, such as the child’s education, medical care, and religious upbringing. You and the other parent will have to cooperate in making these decisions. If you and the other parent disagree on the decisions, the court may appoint an arbitrator to resolve the dispute. If you do not consent to arbitration, the court may terminate the joint custody plan and award sole custody to the other parent.

Joint custody does not necessarily mean that you and the other parent will have equal time with the child. Joint custody only means that you and the other parent will share in the decision-making regarding the child.

For further information on sole custody and joint custody, see my blog post: "Sole Custody, Full Custody, and Joint Custody: Differences Explained."

Yes. Oklahoma law allows courts to conduct an “emergency custody” hearing, which the court must conduct within 72 hours after you file the petition. But, to get emergency custody you have to present an independent report from the police or the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, or a notarized affidavit from an individual with personal knowledge of the child’s situation. This independent report or notarized affidavit must show that the child is in surroundings which endanger the safety of the child and that if such conditions continue, the child would likely be subject to irreparable harm.

No! You are still legally married until the judge signs your final divorce decree. If you marry before then, you are guilty of bigamy. When the judge signs your decree, you marriage is dissolved immediately, but you still must wait six months before you may legally remarry in Oklahoma.

To be in a common-law marriage, you and your spouse must satisfy all of the following conditions:

• You and your spouse must mutually agree to be married

• You and your spouse must both be capable of marrying.

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  • You and your spouse must both be mentally competent.

  • Neither you nor your spouse may already be married to anyone else.

  • You and your spouse may not be related to each other.

  • Neither you nor your spouse may have been divorced for less than six months.

• You and your spouse must have a permanent relationship.

• You and your spouse must have an exclusive relationship.

• You and your spouse must live together. (NOTE: There is not fixed amount of time you need to have lived together. If you live together, this satisfies the grounds for a common-law marriage.)

• You and your spouse must openly hold out each other as husband and wife.

A guardian will be appointed for your minor children. See below question, "What is a guardianship?"

You may nominate a guardian in your will before you die. Click here to find out about wills.

A guardian is a person appointed by the court to take care of the person or property of another. A guardianship can be granted over a child when the parent(s) are deceased or unfit. A guardianship can be granted over an adult when the adult is incapacitated. When a guardian is appointed for a child, the guardian functions much like the child’s parent; the guardian can enroll the child in school, take the child to the child to the doctor, etc. A guardianship over a child can terminate if the parent(s) are found to have regained their fitness. A guardian also has control over the ward’s property, whether the ward is a child or an adult.

For more information about legal guardianships, click on my guardianship page.

You must convince a court that grandparental visitation is in the best interests of the child. You must also show that the child’s parent(s) are unfit. Grandparental visitation cannot be granted if the child is living in an “intact nuclear family.” You must show either that the child’s parents have been divorced, separated, or had their marriage annulled (or that proceedings for divorce, separation, or annulment are pending). You may also obtain grandparental visitation if you show that your child, who is the parent of the grandchild, is deceased, unless the mother died during the birth of the child. You may also obtain visitation if you show that the grandchild does not reside in its parent’s home, that one of the grandchild’s parents has a felony conviction and has been incarcerated, that you had custody of your grandchild, that the grandchild’s parent has deserted the other parent for more than one year, that the grandchild’s parents never married and are not residing together, or that one of the grandchild’s parent’s parental rights have been terminated. Also, to obtain grandparental visitation, you generally must show that there is a strong, continuous grandparental relationship between the grandparent and the grandchild.

This is a common problem in divorce cases, and Oklahoma law provides a solution: You may serve your spouse by publishing notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where you filed the divorce. To do this, you must first prove, to a judge, that you are unable to locate your ex-spouse. If a judge is satisfied with your proof and allows service by publication, you may then publish notice of the divorce, once a week for three consecutive weeks, in the local newspaper. If your spouse does not respond to your divorce within 41 days after the you publish the first notice, you may obtain a divorce by default. You still may face the following obstacles:

1. If the court awards you any of your spouse's money or property, you will have to locate the property in order to collect it.

2. Your spouse can ask the court to vacate the divorce judgment anytime within three years after the court granted the divorce, if your spouse can show that he/she had no actual knowledge of the divorce.

Mediation is a form of “alternative dispute resolution” – that is, dispute resolution by means other than going to trial. In mediation, you, and the other part(ies) to the case, meet with a neutral third party called a mediator. Although a mediator can’t order you, or anyone else, to do anything, the mediator can try to guide you to agree on certain issues. If mediation is able to resolve part or all of the issues in a case, the issues resolved at mediation do not need to be taken to trial.

Because a mediator can’t order any party to do anything, you won’t walk away from a mediation with any result to which you have not agreed. So, you have much more control over the outcome of a mediation, than you have over the outcome of a trial. Because of this, many clients are far more satisfied with the results of a mediation, than they are with the results of a trial. If you are in the midst of a difficult family law case, I would encourage you to try mediation. For more information on mediation, click

here

.

Los ciudadanos estadounidenses pueden votar y, si cumplen otros requisitos, pueden ocupar cargos públicos. También, pueden entrar y salir de Estados Unidos sin restricciones y no tienen que realizar trámites de inmigración ni dentro de Estados Unidos ni en la frontera. Además, los ciudadanos estadounidenses no pueden ser deportados de Estados Unidos.

Muchas personas son ciudadanas estadounidenses sin saberlo. Hay tres formas de ser ciudadano: por nacimiento, por derivación o por naturalización.

Hay tres formas de ser ciudadano: por nacimiento, por derivación o por naturalización.

Para entender mejor cada una de ellas, véanse las preguntas:

1. ¿Quién es ciudadano estadounidense por nacimiento?

2. ¿Cómo se obtiene la ciudadanía estadounidense por derivación?

3. ¿Cómo se obtiene la ciudadanía estadounidense por naturalización?

Conforme a las actuales leyes estadounidenses, usted es ciudadano por nacimiento si:

• Nació en Estados Unidos y estaba sujeto a la jurisdicción de dicho país en el momento de su nacimiento;

• Es hijo de indio americano, esquimal, aleutiano o miembro de otra tribu aborigen (nativa) y nació en Estados Unidos;

• Nació fuera de Estados Unidos, sus padres estaban casados entre sí en el momento de su nacimiento, ambos padres eran ciudadanos estadounidenses y uno de sus padres tenía una residencia en Estados Unidos antes de que usted naciera;

• Nació fuera de Estados Unidos, sus padres estaban casados entre sí en el momento de su nacimiento, uno de sus padres es ciudadano estadounidense y estuvo físicamente presente en Estados Unidos por un periodo continuo de un año antes de que usted naciera; y su otro progenitor era nacional pero no ciudadano estadounidense;

• Nació en Samoa Americana o en la Isla Swains, sus padres estaban casados entre sí en el momento de su nacimiento y uno de sus padres era ciudadano estadounidense y estuvo físicamente presente en Estados Unidos por un periodo continuo de un año antes de que usted naciera;

• La identidad de sus padres es desconocida y usted fue encontrado en Estados Unidos antes de cumplir 5 años. (Pero, si antes de cumplir 21 años se demuestra que no nació en Estados Unidos, no es ciudadano.)

• Nació fuera de Estados Unidos, sus padres estaban casados entre sí en el momento de su nacimiento, solo uno de sus padres era ciudadano estadounidense, el progenitor estadounidense estuvo físicamente presente en Estados Unidos por un total de cinco años y al menos dos de esos cinco años fueron cuando dicha persona tenía más de 14 años. Si este progenitor estadounidense estaba fuera de EE. UU. porque estaba prestando sus servicios en las fuerzas armadas estadounidenses, trabajaba como empleado del gobierno de Estados Unidos o como empleado de una organización internacional, o era el hijo dependiente de una persona que estaba prestando sus servicios en las fuerzas armadas estadounidenses, trabajaba como empleada del gobierno de Estados Unidos o como empleada de una organización internacional, entonces se considera que su progenitor estadounidense estaba físicamente presente en Estados Unidos durante ese periodo, o

• Nació fuera de Estados Unidos antes del mediodía, hora estándar del este, del 24 de mayo de 1934 y su madre era ciudadana estadounidense y había residido en EE. UU. antes de que usted naciera.

Si nació fuera de Estados Unidos y sus padres no estaban casados entre sí en el momento de su nacimiento, entonces es ciudadano estadounidense por nacimiento si:

• Nació después del 23 de diciembre de 1952, su madre era ciudadana estadounidense en el momento de su nacimiento y su madre había estado presente físicamente en Estados Unidos por un periodo continuo de un año antes de que usted naciera; o

• Nació entre el 23 de enero de 1941 y el 24 de diciembre de1952, solo uno de sus padres era ciudadano estadounidense, el progenitor estadounidense estuvo físicamente presente en Estados Unidos por un total de cinco años y al menos dos de esos años fueron cuando dicha persona tenía más de 14 años y la identidad de su padre fue legalmente establecida antes de que usted cumpliera 21 años. Si el progenitor estadounidense estaba fuera de EE. UU. porque estaba prestando sus servicios en las fuerzas armadas estadounidenses, trabajaba como empleado del gobierno de Estados Unidos o como empleado de una organización internacional, o era el hijo dependiente de una persona que estaba prestando sus servicios en las fuerzas armadas estadounidenses, trabajaba como empleada del gobierno de Estados Unidos o como empleada de una organización internacional, entonces se considera que su progenitor estadounidense estaba físicamente presente en Estados Unidos durante ese periodo; o

• Su padre era ciudadano estadounidense en el momento en que usted nació y la relación consanguínea entre usted y su padre se estableció por medio de pruebas claras y convincentes. Además, debe demostrar que su padre (a menos que haya fallecido) ha accedido por escrito a mantenerlo económicamente hasta que cumpla 18 años y que una de las siguientes situaciones es verdadera:

  • antes de que usted cumpliera los 18 años, la ley de su residencia declaró que su padre era su padre,

  • su padre afirmó por escrito y bajo juramento que él era su padre, o

  • antes de que usted cumpliera los 18 años, los tribunales declararon que su padre era de hecho su padre.

• Si nació fuera de Estados Unidos, sus padres no estaban casados entre sí y usted reclama la ciudadanía estadounidense a través de su padre de esta forma, debe poder demostrar que una de las siguientes circunstancias también es verdadera:

  • Nació fuera de Estados Unidos, ambos padres eran ciudadanos estadounidenses y su padre tenía una residencia en Estados Unidos antes de que usted naciera;

  • Nació fuera de Estados Unidos, su padre es ciudadano estadounidense y estuvo físicamente presente en Estados Unidos por un periodo continuo de un año antes de que usted naciera y su madre era nacional pero no ciudadana de Estados Unidos;

  • Nació en Samoa Americana o en la Isla Swains, su padre era ciudadano estadounidense y estuvo físicamente presente en Estados Unidos por un periodo continuo de un año antes de que usted naciera;

  • Nació fuera de Estados Unidos, solo su padre era ciudadano estadounidense, su padre estuvo físicamente presente en Estados Unidos por un total de cinco años y al menos dos de esos cinco años fueron cuando él tenía más de 14 años. Si su padre estaba fuera de EE. UU. porque estaba prestando sus servicios en las fuerzas armadas estadounidenses, trabajaba como empleado del gobierno de Estados Unidos o como empleado de una organización internacional, o era el hijo dependiente de una persona que estaba prestando sus servicios en las fuerzas armadas estadounidenses, trabajaba como empleada del gobierno de Estados Unidos o como empleada de una organización internacional, entonces se considera que su padre estaba físicamente presente en Estados Unidos durante ese periodo.

Haga clic aquí y aquí para ver la legislación que explica quién es ciudadano estadounidense por nacimiento.

NOTA: las leyes que explican quién es ciudadano estadounidense han cambiado a lo largo del tiempo. Varios tribunales han decretado que la ley que determina si una persona es ciudadana por nacimiento es la ley que estaba vigente en el momento del nacimiento. Las leyes mencionadas arriba han estado vigentes desde 1994. Si nació antes de 1994 y todavía no está seguro de si es ciudadano, consulte con un abogado.

Los menores obtienen automáticamente la ciudadanía por derivación si:

• No están casados

• Son menores de 18 años

• Al menos uno de los padres es ciudadano estadounidense

• Son residentes legales permanentes de Estados Unidos (véase abajo quién es un residente legal permanente)

• Viven en Estados Unidos y están bajo la custodia legal y física de un progenitor estadounidense.

Si no es estadounidense por nacimiento y no ha obtenido la ciudadanía por derivación, puede obtenerla por naturalización. Para obtener la ciudadanía por naturalización, tiene que:

• Ser un residente legal permanente;

• Tener por lo menos 18 años de edad;

• Haber residido en Estados Unidos, como residente legal permanente, por al menos cinco años seguidos (si lleva casado y viviendo con un ciudadano estadounidense por tres años y su cónyuge ha sido ciudadano estadounidense durante esos tres años, entonces solo tiene que demostrar tres años seguidos de residencia como residente legal permanente); Haga clic aquí para más información sobre el tiempo que se tarda en obtener la ciudadanía estadounidense.

• Haber estado físicamente presente en Estados Unidos por lo menos la mitad de los cinco años inmediatamente anteriores a la presentación de la solicitud de naturalización (o por lo menos la mitad de los tres años inmediatamente anteriores a la presentación de la solicitud si está casado con un ciudadano estadounidense como lo descrito en el párrafo anterior);

• Demostrar buen carácter moral;

• Pasar un examen que demuestre que puede entender inglés;

• Pasar un examen que demuestre su conocimiento de la historia y del Gobierno de Estados Unidos, y

• Prestar el juramento de lealtad. (Para ver una alentadora historia sobre el juramento de lealtad, haga clic aquí. En este artículo, el juez Denny Chin, nacido en Hong Kong y quien obtuvo la ciudadanía por derivación cuando tenía 11 años, escribe que una de las responsabilidades más agradables como juez es oficiar la ceremonia en la que los que solicitan la ciudadanía prestan el juramento de lealtad).

NOTA: existen varias excepciones que podrían permitirle a una persona adquirir la ciudadanía, incluso si no cumple con los requisitos de arriba. También hay ciertas barreras que podrían impedir que una persona obtuviera la ciudadanía, incluso si cumple con los requisitos de arriba. Para una explicación más detallada de los requisitos para la naturalización, consulte con un abogado.

A los residentes legales permanentes (LPR, por sus siglas en inglés) también se les conoce como «titulares de la tarjeta de residencia». Conforme a las leyes estadounidenses, los LPR tienen más derechos que el resto de las personas, a excepción de los ciudadanos estadounidenses. Los LPR tienen derecho a vivir permanentemente en Estados Unidos, aunque pueden ser deportados en ciertas circunstancias. Los LPR también pueden perder su estatus si viven fuera de Estados Unidos.

Los LPR pueden trabajar en EE. UU. A menudo, los LPR pueden entrar y salir de EE. UU. sin tener que obtener permiso por adelantado del Gobierno. Los LPR tampoco tienen que pasar por el escrutinio de inmigración al regresar a Estados Unidos. Además, pueden obtener la ciudadanía estadounidense (véanse los requisitos para la naturalización arriba).

Las principales formas de obtener la residencia legal permanente son:

• Por medio de un familiar;

• Por medio de una petición presentada por un empleador;

• Por medio del estatus de asilado o refugiado (véase más adelante una explicación de lo que es el estatus de asilado y refugiado);

• Por medio de un procedimiento disponible para las víctimas de delitos graves.

Para que se le permita vivir en Estados Unidos como asilado o refugiado debe probar:

• Que está fuera del país de su nacionalidad;

• O si no tiene ninguna nacionalidad, que está fuera del último país en el que residió, y

• No está dispuesto ni puede regresar a dicho país por ser objeto de persecución o por miedo fundado de persecución por motivos de su

• Raza

• Religión

• Nacionalidad

• Pertenencia a un grupo social en particular, u

• Opinión política

Para que se le otorgue el estatus de asilado o refugiado, debe enviar una solicitud al Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de Estados Unidos (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglés) y ser entrevistado por un funcionario de asilo. Después de la entrevista, el funcionario de asilo decidirá si otorgarle el asilo. Si el funcionario de asilo decide no otorgárselo, puede apelar dicha decisión.

Los no inmigrantes no tienen tantos derechos como los LPR. Algunas de las siguientes categorías permiten que las personas trabajen en Estados Unidos; otras no. Además, muchas de las siguientes categorías no permiten que las personas se queden permanentemente en Estados Unidos. Por último, las personas en la mayoría de estas categorías no tienen derecho a convertirse en LPR. Si un no inmigrante desea convertirse en LPR, debe cumplir los requisitos de alguna otra forma.

Las siguientes personas pueden solicitar una «visa de no inmigrante»:

• Atletas, aficionados o profesionales (solo si compiten por premios en dinero)

• Au pair (visitante de intercambio)

• Profesionales de Australia

• Tarjeta de Cruce de Frontera Mexicana

• Visitantes por motivos de negocio

• Trabajadores Transicionales No Inmigrantes - Solo CNMI

• Miembro de tripulación

• Diplomático o funcionario de un gobierno extranjero

• Trabajador doméstico o niñera (debe acompañar a un empleador extranjero)

• Empleado de una organización internacional designada u OTAN

• Visitante de intercambio

• Personal militar extranjero apostado en Estados Unidos

• Extranjero con habilidades extraordinarias en las ciencias, artes, educación, negocios o atletismo

• Profesionales del Tratado de Libre Comercio de Chile y Singapur

• Visitantes de intercambio cultural internacional

• Personas transferidas dentro de una misma empresa

• Visitantes para recibir tratamiento médico

• Medios de comunicación, periodistas

• Profesionales Temporales del Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte (NAFTA, por sus siglas en inglés) de México y Canadá

• Atletas, artistas o animadores reconocidos

• Médico

• Profesor, académico, maestro (visitante de intercambio)

• Trabajador religioso

• Ocupaciones especializadas en campos que requieran conocimientos altamente especializados

• Estudiante académico o vocacional

• Trabajador agrícola temporal

• Trabajador temporal que realiza otros servicios o actividad de naturaleza temporal o estacional

• Visitante de turismo, vacaciones o por placer

• Capacitación en un programa cuyo objetivo principal no es el empleo

• Comerciante de tratado/Inversionista de tratado

• De tránsito por Estados Unidos

• Víctima de actividad delictiva

• Víctima de la trata de personas

• Visa de No Inmigrante para el Cónyuge y los Hijos de un Residente Legal Permanente

Puede encontrar una lista de estas categorías de visa, junto con explicaciones más detalladas aquí.

En determinadas ocasiones, el Gobierno de Estados Unidos permite entrar o quedarse en Estados Unidos a ciertas categorías de personas que de otro modo no podrían hacerlo. Estas categorías cambian a menudo. Para ver si cumple los requisitos para una de esas categorías temporales por razones humanitarias, consulte con un abogado.

Los inmigrantes indocumentados (a menudo denominados «extranjeros en situación ilegal») son no ciudadanos que están en Estados Unidos sin el derecho legal para estar aquí. Hay dos formas por las que los inmigrantes pueden ser indocumentados:

• Pueden entrar ilegalmente en el país. Si se hace esto, son indocumentados desde el momento en que entran.

• Pueden entrar legalmente, pero quedarse más tiempo del que se les permite quedarse. Si se hace esto, son indocumentados desde el momento en que el periodo por el que están autorizados a permanecer aquí vence.

En ciertas circunstancias, se permite que los inmigrantes indocumentados cambien de estatus y se queden en el país legalmente. Si es inmigrante indocumentado y desea preguntar sobre las formas en las que podría conseguir un estatus migratorio legal, consulte con un abogado.

La constitución estadounidense dice que «El congreso tendrá el poder ... para establecer una regla uniforme para la naturalización». En Hines v. Davidowitz, el Tribunal Supremo de Estados Unidos concluyó que esta disposición daba al congreso la autoridad para hacer leyes de inmigración.

La mayoría de las leyes de inmigración aprobadas por el congreso se encuentran en la Ley de inmigración y nacionalidad.

También, ciertas agencias federales tienen el poder de hacer leyes de inmigración. La mayoría de las leyes de inmigración promulgadas por las agencias federales se encuentran en el Título 8 del Código de Reglamentos Federales.

También, los tribunales federales pueden hacer leyes de inmigración. Los tribunales federales están integrados por el Tribunal Supremo de Estados Unidos, trece tribunales de apelaciones y 94 tribunales de distrito. Muchos de estos tribunales toman decisiones judiciales sobre derecho migratorio y dichas decisiones son legalmente vinculantes.

Muchos de los mejores sitios web para encontrar casos de tribunales federales cobran por el acceso. Dos de los mejores sitios web gratuitos para buscar jurisprudencia federal son Justia and GoogleScholar. Estos sitios web proveen jurisprudencia federal sobre todos los temas, no solo sobre derecho migratorio. Las decisiones judiciales del tribunal federal sobre derecho migratorio no se encuentran en un único sitio.

También hay «tribunales administrativos». Las decisiones publicadas de estos tribunales administrativos son leyes federales vinculantes. Estos tribunales forman parte de las agencias administrativas federales. Sin embargo, no son verdaderos tribunales federales porque el Presidente no nombra a sus jueces, estos no tienen un empleo de por vida ni gozan de protección constitucional para que su sueldo no pueda ser reducido. Pero estos tribunales toman decisiones judiciales que son una parte importante del derecho migratorio de EE. UU. Muchas de las decisiones judiciales sobre derecho migratorio de los tribunales administrativos pueden encontrarse en «Decisiones sobre Inmigración y Nacionalidad» disponibles gratis aquí.

NOTA: esta página aborda muy por encima el tema del derecho migratorio de EE. UU. El derecho migratorio cambia con frecuencia, y, para obtener información actualizada sobre derecho migratorio, lo aconsejable sería consultar con un abogado.

No. If you are a “nonresident” of Oklahoma, and are over 16, and have a driver’s license in another state, you do not need an Oklahoma driver’s license.

To be a “resident” of a state, you must 1) have your true, fixed and permanent home and principal establishment in the state, and 2) intend to remain in the state for an indefinite period of time. So, if you are living in Oklahoma temporarily (for example, for college, military service, or a temporary work assignment) you are not a “resident” of Oklahoma, because you do not intend to remain in Oklahoma. Since you are not a resident of Oklahoma, you do not need an Oklahoma driver’s license.

For further information on this topic, click on my post, "Can a Non-Citizen Get a Driver's License in Oklahoma?"

Possibly. Even if an emergency vehicle has its lights on, the driver still has to have due regard for the safety of all persons. The Oklahoma Supreme Court has held that if the driver of an emergency vehicle drives with “reckless disregard for the safety of others,” the driver may be sued.

U.S. Citizens may vote, and if they meet other qualifications, may hold public office. A U.S. citizen may enter, and leave, the U.S. without immigration restrictions, and does not have to undergo immigration enforcement, either in the U.S., or at the border. A U.S. citizen may not be deported from the U.S.

Many people are U.S. citizens, even though they don’t know it. There are three ways to become a U.S. citizen: by birth, by derivation, or by naturalization.

There are three ways to become a U.S. citizen: by birth, by derivation, or by naturalization.

For a deeper understanding of each, see the questions:

1. Who is a U.S. citizen by birth?

2. How does a person become a U.S. citizen by derivation?

3. How does a person become a U.S. citizen by naturalization?

Under current U.S. law, you are a U.S. citizen by birth if:

• You were born in the U.S., and you were subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. at the time of your birth;

• You were born in the U.S., to a member of an Indian, Eskimo, Aleutian, or other aboriginal (native) tribe;

• You were born outside the U.S., your parents were married to each other at the time you were born, both of your parents were U.S. citizens, and one of your parents had a residence in the U.S. before you were born;

• You were born outside the U.S. Your parents were married to each other at the time you were born. One of your parents is a citizen of the U.S. and was physically present in the U.S. for a continuous period of one year before you were born. Your other parent was a national, but not a citizen, of the U.S.

• You were born in American Samoa or Swains Island, your parents were married to each other at the time you were born, and one of your parents was a citizen of the U.S., and was physically present in the U.S. for a continuous period of one year before you were born.

• The identity of your parents is unknown, and you were found in the U.S. before you were five years old. (But, if, before you turned 21, it can be shown that you were not born in the U.S., you are not a U.S. citizen.)

• You were born outside the U.S., and your parents were married to each other at the time you were born. One of your parents was a U.S. citizen, and your other parent was not a U.S. citizen. Your U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. for a total of five years, and at least two of those years were after your U.S. citizen parent turned 14 years old. If this U.S. citizen parent was outside of the U.S., and was serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or was employed by the U.S. government or an international organization, or was the dependent child who was living with a person who was serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or the U.S. government, or an international organization, then your U.S. citizen parent was considered to have been physically present in the U.S. during that time; or

• You were born outside the U.S., before noon, Eastern Standard Time, May 24, 1934, and your mother was a U.S. citizen, and had resided in the U.S. before you were born.

If you were born outside the U.S., and your parents were not married to each other at the time you were born, then you are a citizen by birth if:

• You were born after December 23, 1952, and your mother was a citizen of the U.S. at the time you were born, and your mother had been physically present in the U.S. for a continuous period of one year before you were born, or

• You were born between January 23, 1941, and December 24, 1952. One of your parents was a U.S. citizen, and your other parent was not a U.S. citizen. Your U.S. citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. for a total of five years, and at least two of those years were after your U.S. citizen parent turned 14 years old. The identity of your father was established, by law, before you turned 21. If your U.S. citizen parent was outside of the U.S., and was serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or was employed by the U.S. government or an international organization, or was the dependent child who was living with a person who was serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or the U.S. government, or an international organization, then your U.S. citizen parent was considered to have been physically present in the U.S. during that time, or

• Your father was a U.S. citizen at the time you were born, and a blood relationship between you and your father is established by clear and convincing evidence. Also, you must show that your father (unless deceased) has agreed in writing to support you financially until you turned 18, and that one of the following is true:

  • Before you turned 18, your father was declared to be your father by the law of your residence, or

  • Before you turned 18, your father says that he is your father, in writing, under oath, or

  • Before you turned 18, a court has declared that your father is, in fact, your father

• If you were born outside of the U.S., and your parents were not married to each other, and you claim U.S. citizenship through your father in this manner, you must also be able to show that one of the following is true:

  • You were born outside the U.S., both of your parents were U.S. citizens, and your father had a residence in the U.S. before you were born;

  • You were born outside the U.S. Your father is a citizen of the U.S. and was physically present in the U.S. for a continuous period of one year before you were born. Your mother was a national, but not a citizen, of the U.S.;

  • You were born in American Samoa or Swains Island, and your father was a citizen of the U.S., and was physically present in the U.S. for a continuous period of one year before you were born; or

  • You were born outside the U.S. Your father was a U.S. citizen, and your mother was not a U.S. citizen. Your father was physically present in the U.S. for a total of five years, and at least two of those years were after your father turned 14 years old. If your father was outside of the U.S., and was serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or was employed by the U.S. government or an international organization, or was the dependent child who was living with a person who was serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or the U.S. government, or an international organization, then your father was considered to have been physically present in the U.S. during that time.

Click here and here to see the law that tells who is a U.S. citizen at birth.

NOTE: The laws, that tell who is a citizen of the U.S. at birth, have changed over the years. Several courts have ruled that the law that tells whether you were a citizen at birth, is the law that was in effect at the time you were born. The laws, quoted above, have been in effect since 1994. If you were born before 1994, and are still unsure as to whether you are a citizen by birth, consult an attorney.

A child automatically becomes a citizen by derivation if:

• The child is not married

• The child is under the age of eighteen

• At least one parent of the child is a U.S. citizen

• The child is a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (see below about what a lawful permanent resident is)

• The child is living in the U.S., and is in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent.

If you were not born a U.S. citizen, and have not become a citizen by derivation, you may become a U.S. citizen by naturalization. To become a citizen by naturalization, you must:

• Be a lawful permanent resident;

• Be at least 18 years of age

• Have resided in the U.S., as a lawful permanent resident, continuously, for at least five years; (If you have been married to, and living with, a U.S. citizen for three years, and your spouse has been a U.S. citizen for all of those three years, then you only need to show three years of continuous residence as a lawful permanent resident.) For more information on the length of time it takes to become a U.S. citizen, click here.

• Have been physically present in the U.S., for at least half of the five years, immediately preceding the filing of the application for naturalization; (or for at least half of the three years, if you are married to a U.S. citizen as described above)

• Demonstrate good moral character;

• Pass a test showing that you can understand English

• Pass a test showing that knowledge of U.S. history and government; and

• Take an oath of allegiance. (To see a heartwarming story about the oath of allegiance, click here. In this article, Judge Denny Chin, who was born in Hong Kong and became a U.S. citizen by derivation at age eleven, writes that one of his most enjoyable duties as a judge was performing the ceremony where citizenship applicants take the oath of allegiance.)

NOTE: There are a number of exceptions, that could allow a person to become a citizen, even if he does not meet the above requirements. There are also certain barriers that could prevent a person from becoming a citizen, even if the meets the above requirements. For a more thorough explanation of the naturalization requirements, consult an attorney.

Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) are also known as “green card holders.” Under U.S. immigration law, an LPR has more rights than any other person except a U.S. citizen. An LPR has the right to live permanently in the United States, although an LPR may still be deported under certain circumstances. An LPR may also lose his LPR status if he resides outside the U.S.

An LPR may work in the United States. Often, an LPR may travel in and out of the U.S. without advance permission from the government. Also, often, an LPR does not have to go through immigration scrutiny when returning to the U.S. Also, LPRs may become U.S. citizens (see above for naturalization requirements.)

The main ways to become an LPR are:

• Through a family member;

• Through a petition filed by an employer;

• Through asylee and refugee status. For an explanation of what asylee and refugee status is, see "How can a person attain the status of Refugee or Asylee?" below. To find out how to become an LPR through asylee and refugee status, click here.

• Through a pathway available to victims of serious crimes.

To see the steps to get a U.S. Green Card, click here.

To be allowed to live in the U.S. as an asylee or refugee, you must prove:

• You are outside the country of your nationality;

• Or if you have no nationality, you are outside the country where you last lived; and

• You are unwilling or unable to return to that country because of persecution, or a well-founded fear of persecution because of your

• Race

• Religion

• Nationality

• Membership in a particular social group, or

• Political Opinion.

To be granted status as an asylee or refugee, you must send an application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and have an interview with an asylum officer. After the interview, the asylum officer will decide whether to grant you asylum. If the asylum officer decides not to grant you asylum, you may appeal the officer’s decision.

For more information on how to apply for asylum or refugee status, click here.

If USCIS grants you asylum or refugee status, you will eventually be able to apply for U.S. citizenship. For more information on how an asylee or refugee may become a citizen, click here.

A nonimmigrant, does not have as many rights as an LPR. Some of the categories below allow a person to work in the U.S.; others do not. Also, many of the categories below do not allow a person to stay in the U.S. permanently. Also, persons in most of these categories, do not have the right to become LPRs; if a nonimmigrant wants to become an LPR, the nonimmigrant must qualify by some other right.

The following persons may apply for a “nonimmigrant visa”:

• Athlete, amateur or professional (competing for prize money only)

• Au pair (exchange visitor)

• Australian professional specialty

• Border Crossing Card: Mexico

• Business visitor

• CNMI-only transitional worker

• Crewmember

• Diplomat or foreign government official

• Domestic employee or nanny - must be accompanying a foreign national employer

• Employee of a designated international organization or NATO

• Exchange visitor

• Foreign military personnel stationed in the United States

• Foreign national with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics

• Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professional:

• International cultural exchange visitor

• Intra-company transferee

• Medical treatment, visitor for

• Media, journalist

• NAFTA professional worker: Mexico, Canada

• Performing athlete, artist, entertainer

• Physician

• Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor)

• Religious worker

• Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge

• Student: academic, vocational

• Temporary agricultural worker

• Temporary worker performing other services or labor of a temporary or seasonal nature.

• Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitor

• Training in a program not primarily for employment

• Treaty trader/treaty investor

• Transiting the United States

• Victim of Criminal Activity

• Victim of Human Trafficking

• Nonimmigrant (V) Visa for Spouse and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)

A list of these visa categories, along with more complete explanations, may be found here.

At certain times, the United States Government will allow certain categories of persons to enter, or remain in the U.S., who would not otherwise be allowed to do so. These categories change often. To see if you qualify for any temporary humanitarian category, consult an attorney.

Undocumented persons (often called “illegal aliens”) are non-citizens who are present in the United States, but do not have the legal right to be here. There are two ways that a person can become undocumented:

• He can enter the country illegally. If he does this, he is undocumented from the moment he enters the country.

• He can enter the U.S. legally, but can stay longer than he is authorized to stay. If he does this, he is undocumented from the moment that his authorized stay period expires.

Under certain circumstances, an undocumented person can change his status and be allowed to remain in the country legally. If you are undocumented, and would like to ask about ways that you may have lawful immigration status, consult an attorney.

The U.S. Constitution says, “The Congress shall have power … To establish a uniform rule of naturalization.” In Hines v. Davidowitz, the U.S. Supreme Court held that, this provision gives Congress the authority to make immigration law.

Most of the immigration laws passed by Congress are found in the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Also, certain federal agencies have the power to make immigration law. Most of the immigration laws enacted by federal agencies are found in Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Also, federal courts may make immigration law. Federal courts consist of the U.S. Supreme Court, thirteen courts of appeals, and 94 district courts. Many of these courts have made decisions on immigration law, and these decisions are legally binding.

Many of the best websites, for finding federal court cases, charge a fee for access. Two of the best free websites for searching federal case law are Justia and GoogleScholar. These websites provide federal case law on all topics, not just immigration law. Federal court decisions on immigration law are not found in any one place.

There are also “administrative courts.” The published decisions of these administrative courts are binding federal law. These courts are part of federal administrative agencies. These are courts not true federal courts, because their judges are not appointed by the President, and their judges do not have lifetime job security, and the judges do not have constitutional protection from having their pay lowered. But, these courts make decisions that are an important part of U.S. immigration law. Many of the immigration law decisions of administrative courts can be found in the “Immigration and Nationality Decisions” available for free here.

NOTE: This page only scratches the surface of U.S. immigration law. Immigration Law changes frequently, and, for an update on immigration law, it would be wise to consult an attorney.

Read my blog post here.

Fees change frequently. To find out the current fee, contact the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.

Go to a DPS facility that tests for Commercial Driver’s Licenses. Bring proof that you are a US Citizen and an Oklahoma resident. If you will be driving a commercial motor vehicle out of state, bring a US Department of Transportation Medical Card.

You must first pass a vision test and a written test. After you have passed a vision test and a written test, you will get a Commercial Learner’s Permit. You must hold a learner’s permit for at least fourteen days before you can obtain an unrestricted commercial driver’s license. A learner’s permit is good for 180 days, and may be renewed for another 180 days. A learner’s permit may not be renewed twice; however, after you have renewed a commercial learner’s permit once, and the second period has expired, you may apply for another commercial learner’s permit.

After you’ve held a Commercial Learner’s Permit for at least fourteen days, you may take the driving test. You may take this test at a DPS facility, or at a school certified to administer the commercial driving test.

If you fail the driving test, you may re-take the test at least one business day after you fail. If you fail three times, you will have to wait at least thirty days before you re-test. If you fail this test, you will have to wait thirty days after each failure, before you can re-test.