Can a foreign born law student go into politics in the USA? Forum

[justwondering123]

I aspire to go to Yale Law School and after working for a couple of years in a firm to pay of debt, i wish to enter politics, like maybe run for senator/mayor/ representative.

I just wanted to know if this is possible and the realities of this since ill be coming to the states at the age of 22. Will i just be viewed as a foreigner even if i was a green card citizen (would i have to declare citizenship to run)


Thanks guys

p.s. im a UK student

[bdubs]

You post the most ridiculous questions. Stop it.

[kwais]

not that there is anything necessarily wrong with your goals, but I'm genuinely curious, if you've never lived in the States, why do you want to represent it's people?

[5ky]

You have to be a citizen of the US for x number of years to be a Rep or Senator. 7 and 9, I think. Legally, yes, it is possible.

I give you about a .01% chance of that career path.

[schooner]

I aspire to go to Yale Law School and after working for a couple of years in a firm to pay of debt, i wish to enter politics, like maybe run for senator/mayor/ representative.

I just wanted to know if this is possible and the realities of this since ill be coming to the states at the age of 22. Will i just be viewed as a foreigner even if i was a green card citizen (would i have to declare citizenship to run)


Thanks guys

p.s. im a UK student

Candidates for Congress and major statewide office usually have deep roots in the districts/states they wish to represent. After a decade or more of seriously laying down roots (getting married to an American and having kids, community leadership, local office, etc) and probably getting independently wealthy (so you can self-fund your campaigns), you might actually have a shot. Also you get points if you're tall and good-looking.

By the way, I can't believe you asked such a dumb question about citizenship and expect to go to YLS. It's common sense and basic research. But then again, neither is required to be a successful politican in the US.

[AreJay711]

You have to be a citizen of the US for x number of years to be a Rep or Senator. 7 and 9, I think. Legally, yes, it is possible.

I give you about a .01% chance of that career path.

1/10000? Being a little generous don't you think?

[schooner]

You have to be a citizen of the US for x number of years to be a Rep or Senator. 7 and 9, I think. Legally, yes, it is possible.

I give you about a .01% chance of that career path.

1/10000? Being a little generous don't you think?

If this guy ever runs for office, I hope somebody outs his stupidity on these forums.

[tww909]

I aspire to go to Yale Law School and after working for a couple of years in a firm to pay of debt, i wish to enter politics, like maybe run for senator/mayor/ representative.

I just wanted to know if this is possible and the realities of this since ill be coming to the states at the age of 22. Will i just be viewed as a foreigner even if i was a green card citizen (would i have to declare citizenship to run)


Thanks guys

p.s. im a UK student

uhh duh, don't you know barack obama was born in kenya?

[schooner]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fo ... oliticians

[LoyalRebel]

I wouldn't vote for you.

No offense....

[Aston2412]

p.s. im a UK student

By the way, I can't believe you asked such a dumb question about citizenship and expect to go to YLS. It's common sense and basic research. But then again, neither is required to be a successful politican in the US.[/quote]

That's a little harsh. Maybe I was being overly generous when I read his question as pertaining to feasibility, not possibility?

[holybartender]

Kozinski is Romanian...

[tea_drinker]

I aspire to go to Yale Law School and after working for a couple of years in a firm to pay of debt, i wish to enter politics, like maybe run for senator/mayor/ representative.

I just wanted to know if this is possible and the realities of this since ill be coming to the states at the age of 22. Will i just be viewed as a foreigner even if i was a green card citizen (would i have to declare citizenship to run)


Thanks guys

p.s. im a UK student

Nah, you should just get buff and be this guy

[vanwinkle]

It's possible. You would first need to 1) become a US citizen, 2) adapt yourself to American culture and sensibilities, and then 3) run a successful political campaign. (I'm not sure that point 1 is legally necessary, but you'll have a very hard time with voters these days once your opponent starts attacking your lack of citizenship.)

Basically, come here, stay here, work here, show you belong here, and then you'll have the same ridiculously slim chances of actually running and winning a major political election as any American-born person naive enough to pick it as a life goal.

[justwondering123]

what about being a judge i here that its more easier to be a foreign born judge in america than a politician?

[bdubs]

what about being a judge i here that its more easier to be a foreign born judge in america than a politician?

There is absolutely no way you are getting into Yale when you "here" that it's "more easier" to be a foreign born judge in america than a politician.

[sunynp]

McCain was born in Panama but he was born on an part of Panama (Panama Canal Zone Naval Base) controlled by the US so he is a US citizen. He doesn't count as a foreign born politician even if Wikipedia lists him that way. I don't think that he was ever considered as a citizen of Panama under Panamanian Law.

But probably the best way to become a successful foreign-born American politician is to marry into a powerful political family.

[emciosn]

what about being a judge i here that its more easier to be a foreign born judge in america than a politician?

There is absolutely no way you are getting into Yale when you "here" that it's "more easier" to be a foreign born judge in america than a politician.

Does anyone else think the phrase "I aspire to go to Yale" is just silly in the first place. Of course you do, everyone does. That's like saying I aspire to breath tomorrow. It's the most prestigious and most selective law school in the world good luck.

Even if you do get in (unlikely) your next question is if you could become a US senator or representative or a state mayor even though you were not born here. There are Americans with existing political connections to schools like Yale and Harvard that can't even attain these political positions. There are kids at T1 schools that can't even get jobs right now. The odds of anything happening in your OP are extremely small.

[ghostwhowalks]

McCain was born in Panama but he was born on an part of Panama (Panama Canal Zone Naval Base) controlled by the US so he is a US citizen. He doesn't count as a foreign born politician even if Wikipedia lists him that way. I don't think that he was ever considered as a citizen of Panama under Panamanian Law.

But probably the best way to become a successful foreign-born American politician is to marry into a powerful political family.

Looking at the list of incumbents, it becomes apparent that there is actually no chance for an individual who first came to the U.S. at age ~20 to become a successful politician.

[schooner]

...

[prezidentv8]

You have to be a citizen of the US for x number of years to be a Rep or Senator. 7 and 9, I think. Legally, yes, it is possible.

I give you about a .01% chance of that career path.

Seems generous.

[memoryl0ss]

Governor

--ImageRemoved--

[TheFriendlyBarber]

We don't like your kind 'round here.

[GATORTIM]

U can be president with some construction paper, watermark and high quality printer

[BrianGriffintheDog]

You could probably go "into" politics, but I doubt you'll be able to get very far.