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I just got denied citizenship foooor *drumroll*

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P

PS360

Banned
A simple misdemeanor that happened over 5 years ago :lol

Sometimes I simply have to laugh at the utter incompetence of the US CIS (formerly the INS). These people are ****ing RETARDED.

Back in 2002 (I was 19) a friend of mine and I were going to the Delaware beaches to stay at a friend's house (5 million dollar beach house in Bethany Beach; elevator, 3 decks, movie theater...but I digress)....

...so anyway at one point I pull over to let him piss...and what do you know a curious State Trooper pulls up behind me and starts getting nosey. Long story short we were arrested for possession of paraphanalia (tiny, glass, weed pipe).

On my citizenship application, which was returned to me today, I am accused, by the US CIS, of being guilty of an "aggrevated felony" as defined by some statute they've referenced.

That's right kids. Having a small weed pipe is now an AGGREVATED FELONY...apparently :lol

I'm pissed. It's been such a hassle to travel and such with no passport and just my permanent resident card and now I have to go through a "hearing" so that I can go somewhere and yell at these ****heads and explain to them that possession of paraphanalia has never been an aggrevated felony, nor will it ever be one.

US CIS is surely American beauracracy at its absolute WORST.

I hope none of you ever have to deal with them. If you do....good luck...
 
PS360 said:
A simple misdemeanor that happened over 5 years ago :lol

Sometimes I simply have to laugh at the utter incompetence of the US CIS (formerly the INS). These people are ****ing RETARDED.

Back in 2002 (I was 19) a friend of mine and I were going to the Delaware beaches to stay at a friend's house (5 million dollar beach house in Bethany Beach; elevator, 3 decks, movie theater...but I digress)....

...so anyway at one point I pull over to let him piss...and what do you know a curious State Trooper pulls up behind me and starts getting nosey. Long story short we were arrested for possession of paraphanalia (tiny, glass, weed pipe).

On my citizenship application, which was returned to me today, I am accused, by the US CIS, of being guilty of an "aggrevated felony" as defined by some statute they've referenced.

That's right kids. Having a small weed pipe is now an AGGREVATED FELONY...apparently :lol

I'm pissed. It's been such a hassle to travel and such with no passport and just my permanent resident card and now I have to go through a "hearing" so that I can go somewhere and yell at these ****heads and explain to them that possession of paraphanalia has never been an aggrevated felony, nor will it ever be one.

US CIS is surely American beauracracy at its absolute WORST.

I hope none of you ever have to deal with them. If you do....good luck...
Click to expand...
You complaining about that? You better be glad they have not deported you yet! I have had TWO friends deported for crap they did YEARS ago. One guy when he came to America was a taxi driver. Some guy tried to beat him up and take the keys to his taxi. He pulled a knife on the guy and told him the back the eff up. He got arrested for that but nothing came of it. Fast forward 10 yrs and INS came to his door and said its time for you to go home. (true story)

Another friend of mine was arrested for possession of weed. He had to do some community service hours off of that. Fast foward two years later, he comes back into the country from a business trip to the Caribbean. They hold him up at the airport and question the hell out of him for two hours and they take his passport from him. Tell him he has to explain his conviction and all this other crap. He had to get a lawyer and all this other stuff. He ended up going back to his country instead of trying to fight for the passport because he didn't have the money for the lawyers.
 
So what I'm interested in is how to get that permanent resident card in the first place. I could never figure that out.

Does being caught speeding count against one too?
 
While that is a dumb rule, you do have an expectation of playing by all the rules if you want to become a permanent resident / citizen. Soooooo, yeah.
 
elostyle said:
So what I'm interested in is how to get that permanent resident card in the first place. I could never figure that out.

Does being caught speeding count against one too?
Click to expand...
after 9/11 the whole dynamics changed. I suggest you get a lawyer who specializes in this stuff to help you along the way.
 
hey man, i hear you. i have the same problem as of now...travelling anywhere requires a passport, getting which is a great hassle. i cant wait to just move the f*ck to europe eventually. getting sick of america.
 
nitewulf said:
hey man, i hear you. i have the same problem as of now...travelling anywhere requires a passport, getting which is a great hassle. i cant wait to just move the f*ck to europe eventually. getting sick of america.
Click to expand...
I could be wrong but I don't think your going to get much better anywhere these days. with terrorism on the rise, the dynamics of everyday live has changed. I mean it might not be as bad as America but every where will have its quirks.
 
Lost Fragment said:
Canadian immigration really isn't much better.
Click to expand...

I'm trying to get my mother setup with a citizenship now. The stupid immigration status card seems to be more difficult to get. Right now she can't leave the country because they wouldn't let her back in. She's been here for 33 years.
 
Mustaphadamus said:
I could be wrong but I don't think your going to get much better anywhere these days. with terrorism on the rise, the dynamics of everyday live has changed. I mean it might not be as bad as America but every where will have its quirks.
Click to expand...
you're probably right, but at least i'll be able to travel around europe more easily. i meant getting a visa is a hassle (not a passport), since i dont have an american passport. if i can become a permanent resident of any european country i'll be bale to travel to neighboring countries more easily.

may be ill just move back to asia though.
 
nitewulf said:
you're probably right, but at least i'll be able to travel around europe more easily. i meant getting a visa is a hassle (not a passport), since i dont have an american passport. if i can become a permanent resident of any european country i'll be bale to travel to neighboring countries more easily.

may be ill just move back to asia though.
Click to expand...
where in Asia you from? I am tossing around the idea of U.A.E. (middle east, not really asia) or Japan.
 
Gigglepoo said:
America denying citizenship to drug users is a bad thing now? What did you expect them to do?
Click to expand...
should we start revoking others citizenship for the same? Maybe bush for putting coke up his nose, Obama or Clinton for his grass escapades?
 
Get a lawyer, a good one.
you may be able to fight this, I know some states wanted to pass laws that make any drug related conviction an aggravated felony, but possession of paraphernalia?
I hope not, at least not Delaware (in Texas you'll probably get the chair).

The main problem with nationalization in the US is that is takes so ****ing long.
Now don't get me wrong, I have no sense of entitlement, if the government had told me I've been found unfit to these united states, I would've accepted it and moved along.
But as it now stand, the pass to citizenship can easily take close to a decade.
In this time not only you are effectively on super double secret probation, you also have no representation.
Every time I file my taxes I want to just write "No taxation without representation" all over my 1040.
Then I think better of it.
I'd rather not test the IRS's sense of historical irony.
 
Mustaphadamus said:
should we start revoking others citizenship for the same? Maybe bush for putting coke up his nose, Obama or Clinton for his grass escapades?
Click to expand...

America has to deal with drug users who have a legal right to live here but they certainly don't have to willingly accept more into this country.
 
Mustaphadamus said:
You complaining about that? You better be glad they have not deported you yet! I have had TWO friends deported for crap they did YEARS ago. One guy when he came to America was a taxi driver. Some guy tried to beat him up and take the keys to his taxi. He pulled a knife on the guy and told him the back the eff up. He got arrested for that but nothing came of it. Fast forward 10 yrs and INS came to his door and said its time for you to go home. (true story)
.
Click to expand...

Dude, he pulled a deadly weapon on someone.

That is a felony.

I was convicted of having a weed pipe. And they're calling that an AGGREVATED FELONY. Do you understand what I'm saying?

So, no I'm not "glad" that I wasn't deported, because nobody gets deported for a simple misdemeanor...ever. Then again nobody is mistaken to have committed an aggrevated felony when they committed a simple misdemeanor.

In retrospect having a pipe on me on the way to the beach wasn't a great idea, I know, but jesus!

It's not like this was even assault, or drug possession....a ****in weed pipe! Not to mention that it was the first time I had ever been in trouble with the law (and have not been in since).

Does anyone at the CIS know what an aggrevated felony is?!?!?!

They provided me a form for a hearing to appeal the decision which of course I will do and win.
 
PS360 said:
Dude, he pulled a deadly weapon on someone.

That is a felony.

I was convicted of having a weed pipe. And they're calling that an AGGREVATED FELONY. Do you understand what I'm saying?

So, no I'm not "glad" that I wasn't deported, because nobody gets deported for a simple misdemeanor...ever. Then again nobody is mistaken to have committed an aggrevated felony when they committed a simple misdemeanor.

In retrospect having a pipe on me on the way to the beach wasn't a great idea, I know, but jesus!

It's not like this was even assault, or drug possession....a ****in weed pipe! Not to mention that it was the first time I had ever been in trouble with the law (and have not been in since).

Does anyone at the CIS know what an aggrevated felony is?!?!?!

They provided me a form for a hearing to appeal the decision which of course I will do and win.
Click to expand...
i was only giving you a hard time ;)
 
PS360 said:
I was convicted of having a weed pipe. And they're calling that an AGGREVATED FELONY. Do you understand what I'm saying?
Click to expand...

According to US Law, an aggravated felony could be, "illicit trafficking in a controlled substance, including a drug trafficking crime"

Thanks Wikipedia!
 
Mustaphadamus said:
i was only giving you a hard time ;)
Click to expand...

Haha thanks.

Also, I should add that immediately following the conviction I signed up for a 12 week "rehab" class where I spent 2 hours a week being told how bad drugs and alcohol are.

The funny thing was I was sitting with people who had been to prison, convicted of Schedule I drug possession...and when it came time for me to tell my story they sort of looked at me like they were going to pull a Bob Saget from Half Baked and go "YOU IN HERE FOR A WEED PIPE? MAAAN THAT'S SOME BUUULSHIT! BOO THIS MAN!"

I completed the class, even took their drug tests (and passed). And it cost me almost a grand.

Got a nifty little certificate of completion too; I'll bring that with me to the hearing. I truly think I've served a fitting punishment for what I did.

Gigglepoo said:
According to US Law, an aggravated felony could be, "illicit trafficking in a controlled substance, including a drug trafficking crime"
Click to expand...

I had no drugs. I was sober. I had a PIPE.

I think I now hate the US CIS more than I hate the state of Delaware.
 
PS360 said:
I had no drugs. I was sober. I had a PIPE.
Click to expand...

Here's the thing: the government does not have to allow anyone born outside this country to become a citizen. There are thousands of people turned away every day. If they have the choice between someone with a completely clean record and someone convicted of a drug related crime, they will probably choose someone who is clean. Why wouldn't they? Do you blame them?

They can't choose who is born here but they can sure as hell keep out people they don't want. Clearly, you're not an evil thug, but one strike can be enough to deny citizenship.
 
Gigglepoo said:
Here's the thing: the government does not have to allow anyone born outside this country to become a citizen. There are thousands of people turned away every day. If they have the choice between someone with a completely clean record and someone convicted of a drug related crime, they will probably choose someone who is clean. Why wouldn't they? Do you blame them?

They can't choose who is born here but they can sure as hell keep out people they don't want. Clearly, you're not an evil thug, but one strike can be enough to deny citizenship.
Click to expand...

Clearly, I'm still not getting through to some of you.

I am being denied citizenship for committing an "aggrevated felony." In the letter, that is the sole reason for the rejection of my application.

I did not commit an aggrevated felony.
 
glistenm said:
Did you mention the charge on your initial application?
Click to expand...

Of COURSE i had to send them ALL my documents. I sent them a letter explaining the "rehab" class that I took; everything.

Again, will someone who is knowledgeable of law explain to me in what circumstance the possession of a single, marijuana pipe can be considered an aggrevated felony???
 
Given the Paris Hilton witch hunt going on in other threads, I don't believe GAF has much sympathy based on the scale of the crime. Linking yourself with 5-million dollar beach houses isn't going to do you much good on that front either.

Prepare yourself for the photoshops and the jubilation when you get deported.
 
PS360 said:
I'm a permanent resident. The only meaningful thing you can do that I can't is vote.
Click to expand...

Or hold a public office...

Or join the military...

Hey wait, that's one way for you to get citizenship.
 
I have to agree with them. There are thousands of people wanting US citizenship, and most probably have clean records, it's not fair for them if someone with even a misdemeanor gets picked. I'm sorry you made a poor choice then, but them's the breaks.
 
BTW, I got my US Citizenship in March '05.

I had a clean record.
 
Wow, what the **** is up with the immigrant hate in this thread? It's pissing me off. To the OP: I have a permanent card too, haven't had it long enough to be eligible for citizenship though... And yea, fight that shit man. Don't listen to all these posters with the "holier than thou" attitude, cause I'm sure they've done things that were illegal at some point in their lives too, they're just full of shit. Good luck with that stuff man, you should be good once you fight it.
 
Somnid said:
I have to agree with them. There are thousands of people wanting US citizenship, and most probably have clean records, it's not fair for them if someone with even a misdemeanor gets picked. I'm sorry you made a poor choice then, but them's the breaks.
Click to expand...

It's like talking to a brick wall in this thread.

The application accuses me of committing an aggrevated felony, which I did not. Ever.
 
OxtheMidget said:
Wow, what the **** is up with the immigrant hate in this thread? It's pissing me off. To the OP: I have a permanent card too, haven't had it long enough to be eligible for citizenship though... And yea, fight that shit man. Don't listen to all these posters with the "holier than thou" attitude, cause I'm sure they've done things that were illegal at some point in their lives too, they're just full of shit. Good luck with that stuff man, you should be good once you fight it.
Click to expand...

It doesn't bother me in the slighest. I've lived in the states for a longer period of time than the two countries previous to my moving here, including the one in which i was born. There is nothing about me that is not American. Plus, I work and pay taxes here.

Certainly I'm not suggesting that misdemeanors be ignored when considering someone's application for naturalization...but this happened over 5 years ago, it was my first and last time being in trouble with the law, and I took a 3 month drug awareness class.

I'm confident in saying that I've contributed more to this society than many other permanent residents who are accepted who have a completely clean record.
 
PS360 said:
It's like talking to a brick wall in this thread.

The application accuses me of committing an aggrevated felony, which I did not. Ever.
Click to expand...


Unfortunately, you're a victim of shitty drug laws like someone else mentioned. If you look through all the laws for what consitutes "aggravated felony" you'll see a large portion dedicate to "softening" up the definition of "aggravate felony" to include minor drug infractions.
 
PS360 said:
It doesn't bother me in the slighest. I've lived in the states for a longer period of time than the two countries previous to my moving here, including the one in which i was born. There is nothing about me that is not American. Plus, I work and pay taxes here.

Certainly I'm not suggesting that misdemeanors be ignored when considering someone's application for naturalization...but this happened over 5 years ago, it was my first and last time being in trouble with the law, and I took a 3 month drug awareness class.

I'm confident in saying that I've contributed more to this society than many other permanent residents who are accepted who have a completely clean record.
Click to expand...

I'm just really surprised with the overall attitude in this thread, I would have thought people in GAF were more open minded than that.

PS: How did the cop even find this pipe? Did he have any reason to search the car/you?
 
PS360 said:
A simple misdemeanor that happened over 5 years ago :lol

Sometimes I simply have to laugh at the utter incompetence of the US CIS (formerly the INS). These people are ****ing RETARDED.

Back in 2002 (I was 19) a friend of mine and I were going to the Delaware beaches to stay at a friend's house (5 million dollar beach house in Bethany Beach; elevator, 3 decks, movie theater...but I digress)....

...so anyway at one point I pull over to let him piss...and what do you know a curious State Trooper pulls up behind me and starts getting nosey. Long story short we were arrested for possession of paraphanalia (tiny, glass, weed pipe).

On my citizenship application, which was returned to me today, I am accused, by the US CIS, of being guilty of an "aggrevated felony" as defined by some statute they've referenced.

That's right kids. Having a small weed pipe is now an AGGREVATED FELONY...apparently :lol

I'm pissed. It's been such a hassle to travel and such with no passport and just my permanent resident card and now I have to go through a "hearing" so that I can go somewhere and yell at these ****heads and explain to them that possession of paraphanalia has never been an aggrevated felony, nor will it ever be one.

US CIS is surely American beauracracy at its absolute WORST.

I hope none of you ever have to deal with them. If you do....good luck...
Click to expand...

This is nothing new. If you have a criminal record it's hard getting US citizenship. It's always been like that.
 
glistenm said:
Unfortunately, you're a victim of shitty drug laws like someone else mentioned. If you look through all the laws for what consitutes "aggravated felony" you'll see a large portion dedicate to "softening" up the definition of "aggravate felony" to include minor drug infractions.
Click to expand...

Good ol' internets:

AGGRAVATED FELONY - Murder, any illicit trafficking in any controlled substance, including any drug trafficking crime, or any illicit trafficking in any firearms or destructive devices, any offense described in section 1956 of title 18 (relating to laundering of monetary instruments), or any crime of violence (not including a purely political offense) for which the term of imprisonment imposed is at least 5 years, or any attempt or conspiracy to commit any such act. Such term applies to offenses described in the previous sentence whether in violation of Federal or State law and also applies to offenses described in the previous sentence in violation of foreign law for which the term of imprisonment was completed within the previous 15 years. 8 U.S.C.
Click to expand...

I did find this:

Generally, an aggravated felony applies to criminal offenses in violation of state or federal laws, but if a conviction was classified as a misdemeanor under state law, it may still be considered an aggravated felony under federal law
Click to expand...

But posession of paraphanlia is still not a felony under federal law. And that is precisely my charge. It's not trafficking. It's possession.

I do not find it logical to be put in the same category as a murderer, a trafficker of illicit drugs/firearms, or any of the aforementioned crimes.

This is madness.

THIS...IS..AMERICAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 
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