ADVICE BY CONSUL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 4, 6 January 1944, Page 3

ADVICE BY CONSUL

BRIDES OF UNITED STATES SERVICEMEN LAW GOVERNING IMMIGRATION. Helpful advice to New Zealand girls who have married or become engaged to United States servicemen was given recently by Mr. John C. Fuess, American Vice-Consul in Auckland. He explained the immigration laws, steps which must be taken by friends who wish to enter the United States, and the position regardng the children oi U.S. servicemen, but born outside the States. New Zealand girls who marry or become engaged to American servicemen fall into two classes of immigrants to ‘the United States, said Mr. Fuess. Fiancees of servicemen, who intend to marry in America, are Imited in the number who may eater the States by the quota restrictions. Only 100 New Zealand-born people may enter each year for permanent residence in the United States, unless they are accorded non-quota status. Al present the transport position makes it extremely difficult for fiancees to leave New Zealand for America, Wives of servicemen are not restricted by the quota, provided the husband makes out a petition and obtains its approval in the States, seeking permission for his bride to go to his homeland. The petition must then be returned to the Consulate in the city where the bride is living. Regardng transport, it is a little less difficult for a New Zealand girl who has married an American .serviceman to go to America, than for one who is only engaged. Mr. John C. Fuess added that only five visas had been issued to Auckland brides of U.S. servicemen this year. He could not say whether they had left New Zealand or not. Helpful Advice. Mr. Fuess gave some information which should be valuable to girls contemplating marriage to Americans, before a fiancee or a wife applies to the Consulate for an immigration visa, several conditions must be complied with. The husband or fiancee must be under assignmen I to the States, so that the bride will not be left without anywhere to stay in America. The husband must make out an allotment in the girl’s name to a bank in the States so that .she will have money when she arrives there. A number of routine documents and certificates must be presented by the girl to the Consulate. The immigration visa is valid " for only four months, and the New Zealand exit permit for only one month, so that a girl should not apply lor these until she is ready to leave. ’ The immigration laws are concerned with the girl’s welfare, and ensure that she does not tiecom? a public ! charge,’ said Mr. Fuess. “It is important that the husband make the petition, for this constitutes a privilege enabling his bride to get outside the quota. It is available only for wives, of course. As far as transport is concerned, it is subject to any last-minute alteration caused by war conditions.” Position of Children. Mr. Fuess said that about 250 of U.S. servicemen and 110 fiancees were listed at the Consulate, and he believed there were many more. ‘‘We are most anxious that those who have not already been interviewed by us should come and see us” he said.* “We will give them all the help and advice they need.” There was no waiting list for fiancees to enter the States, Mr. Fuess added. This meant that when the list was opened there would be a terrific demand from those who wished to be included in New Zealand’s quota ot 100 persons a year, and it would be a case of ‘‘first come, first served.” “In the case of a child born outside the States of an American father and an alien mother, he can claim to be an American citizen if he was born after January 12, 1941, and if his father was over 21 at th« time of his birth and had previously lived in the States,” Mr Fuess said. ‘ln order for such children to have full rights of American citizenship, their birth should be re-

ported immediately to the Consulate, which registered them.” An illegitimate child, whose fat hetcomplied with the same conditions as those outlined above was not an American citizen, the Consul added, but could acquire citizenship after lemtimisatio-