New to this.

So i am new. but i have been reading this forum for a while.
i am what people call illegal. and i am tired of this. i cant drive. i cant work. i cant do stuff that is considered a given.

so what i want to know is, can i go to a immigration court and apply for residency just on the fact that i want to live here.

its like a either i get in or i leave situation. what would be my chances???


thanks in advance

If that were possible, all of us would be legal already. The immigration process is much more complicated than that and unfortunately 'just wanting to stay here' will not be a good enough reason to be given legal residency.

Do you qualify for the DREAM Act? Because if you do, I recommend you stay in the country until at least 2010 to see what happens with it. And also help us in the effort to pass it. And whatever you do, make sure you consider all your options very carefully before making a decision.

And welcome!

Hi Tiger66 & Welcome to DAP,going to an immigration court is never a good idea,& as Maria mentioned it really isn't that simple.The benefits that you're talking about are called "Cancellation of Removal" & "Suspension of Deportation" both are for people who are placed in removal proceedings ONLY.

They are primarily used as last ditch efforts to keep someone in the United States if they have US citizen or Permanent resident immediate relatives,typically spouses &/or children.A typical applicant must meet a lot of stringent requirements through the use of evidence on your part before you can even be considered for either benefit,especially "Cancellation of Removal".

yeah i would really expect " wanting to stay here" to not pass as a valid excuse. as well i understand that there plenty of people like me.
i have been here since before i was 1 year old. i am now 19.
i hate that i cant do many things that other people just take for granted. its getting to the point to which if things do not work out by the time i get my bachelor's degree, i will go back to Mexico and just do something there.
although i really do not relate to mexico at all, it seems that unless things get better i will have no other option.

i appreaciate ur answers.

How do you go to college without being legal in the USA, can any onw give me an idea?

Thank You

If you applied to a school while your status was valid, you can attend as long as you don't take time off. If you miss a whole semester, you are required to re-apply. In my case, I went illegal during my education at a JC, dropped out of a semester (for reason I now regret with all my life) and now unable to be re-admitted due to my status.

It's a real bummer isnt it?

Yours is a unique case and isn't the common situation with many of us. You attended college on an I-20 with a F-1 visa as an international student, who are different from undocumented students. The fact that your status expired played a role in your non-admission is because you're still being treated as an international student.

You have to speak to the college admissions office and say that you're not an international student but an undocumented student. Some colleges will not accept you and that is their discretion but if you continue to apply as an international student and you don't provide proof of I-20/F-1, then you'll be rejected all the time.


To Iyaniv, you just apply to college as a normal person would. If you have a SSN, then you can put it down on the application. If the application inquires about citizenship status, DO NOT select citizen or permanent resident or international student. There usually is an option called "other" , so select that.

The problem isn't necessarily admission but the financial aid. If you can afford to go to college, then you should try to attend. If you can't afford to college, then limited financial aid may be available. Talk to the other members who also attend college in Florida.

THanks Rahman! I'm going to call them and ask.. I want to go back and get my edumacation while I'm still young.. at least until I become legal and the DREAM act passes.