Raw Transcript:

Introduction: You ask we answer your immigration questions. Simple. And now your host immigration lawyer Jacob Sapochnick.

Jacob: I’ve been in the US for the past 15 years. I’ve been working using somebody else’s social security number and I’ve been paying my taxes. But I don’t have any records or documents with my own real name. How is that going to affect me as I try to qualify for the new immigration reform?

Well, it’s a very good question Mr. Hernandez because unfortunately many immigrants who came here several years ago undocumented had to live and work in the US and most people try to get documents that were not issued in their name and even building credit, even building a full history with a different name. While the incorrect name that you were using to work served you to be able to get that job.

You need to start finding ways to link yourself to your real name because that’s really what the government is going to be looking for to see that you came here in a particular date. Any records … you have to start looking back and see if you’ve been using your real name with the doctors or among friends or landlords and try to get those affidavits from these people trying to establish the one central identity.

It’s a major problem when people are not able to show that they’re actually living in the US because obviously they’re not supposed to. I believe the government will accept any secondary evidence, anything to show that legitimately you were living and working in the US but it’s going to be very important to do so because the element of proof of entry when you entered and when you lived and how you live in the US is going to be very important as this reform becomes an actual … a piece of legislation.

Because many people are going to try to enter the US claiming that they were here and those that were living here will need to separate themselves from those that just arrived not knowing there’s going to be some sort of an amnesty or type of immigration reform. So trying to … even though you used some fake documents try to find a way to show that you are actually the same person and there could be many ways to do it and now is the time to start doing so.

Closing: Thank you for listening to the Ask My Immigration Lawyer Podcast, the show that’s dedicated to answering your immigration questions. Simple as that. See you next week for another round of questions and much needed answers.