Immigrants with conditional permanent green cards have right to donate to electoral c

Immigrants with conditional permanent green cards have right to donate to electoral campaigns
Permitted to contribute cash, work in support of favorite political candidates

Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 4:00 AM

Q. I am a conditional green card holder. Can I contribute to a candidate in the upcoming presidential campaign? I love politics and I have been following the race closely. I intend to live here the rest of my life and to someday become politically active myself.

Compaore Issoufn, Bronx

A. Yes. Permanent residents, including conditional permanent residents, may contribute to U.S. election campaigns. Non-citizens who are not permanent residents may not.

Conditional permanent residents are immigrants who received immigrant visas based on marriage or investment. In marriage cases, the immigrant receives only conditional residence when he or she became a resident within two years of the marriage. Conditional permanent residents have all the rights and benefits of other immigrants, including the right to contribute to electoral campaigns. Of course, you cannot vote until you become a U.S. citizen, but you can donate money and work in support of your favored candidate.

I’m pleased to hear that you are following the presidential race closely. Newcomers to the United States often show more interest in politics than native-born Americans. For more information on donating to campaigns, visit the Federal Election Commission website,fec.gov and click on “Quick Answers,” then “General.”

By the way, once you become a U.S. citizen you can serve in any elected office except President and Vice President.

Q. Seven years ago I petitioned for my then-husband and he got his permanent residence. We divorced and I have remarried. I am a U.S. citizen. How long must I wait until I petition for my new husband?

Serlene Murray, Queens

A. You can petition for your husband now. The law does not limit the number of spouses you can petition for permanent residence. However, since this is the second time you are sponsoring a husband, a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services examiner may think that you are marrying men just to help them get green cards. So, make an extra effort to show that your marriage is bona fide or “real.” Or, in the words of the USCIS, that yours is not a “sham” marriage. Depending on how long you were married to your first husband, an examiner may also ask for proof that your first marriage was bona fide. Though seven years is a long time, do your best to provide it. Even without proof that your first marriage was not a sham, I doubt the agency can deny your petition just because you previously petitioned for a husband. Unless of course, the USCIS has evidence that your first marriage was a sham, After seven years, it would be unreasonable for the USCIS to require you to provide lots of evidence about your past marriage.

Read more: Immigrants with conditional permanent green cards*have right to donate to electoral campaigns ** - NY Daily News