non citizens owning firearms?

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ozhuntsman

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In a few years time when the worlds economy is back on track, i would like to move to the USA.

Other than being able to find a job similar to what i do now, my main concern is whether or not i will be able to own guns and also hunt. If it is against the law for someone such as myself to own firearms then it would be and unfortunate deal breaker, since it is my no. 1 hobby.

Can anyone please give me some infomation about such laws?

And if some states do allow it, while other don't?

thanks in advance.
 
Most, maybe all states allow legal residents to own firearms and to hunt. Doesn't matter what your nationality, only that you are a legal resident of the US and the state where you live. You do not need to be a US citizen. Some states require that you be a resident for 90 days, maybe 6 months. That's all I could find on a quick search.
 
ozhuntsman, looks like you are in luck! Even for gun control to the max California, non-US citizens provide Alien Registration Number or I-94 Number to the firearms dealer to purchase a firearm and proof of California residency for purchase of a handgun. This is an exerpt from the CA Dept of Justice/Attorney General website:

3. What is the process for purchasing a firearm in California?

All firearms purchases and transfers, including private party transactions and sales at gun shows, must be made through a licensed dealer under the Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) process. California imposes a 10-day waiting period before a firearm can be released to a buyer or transferee. A person must be at least 18 years of age to purchase a rifle or shotgun. To buy a handgun, a person must be at least 21 years of age, and either 1) possess an HSC plus successfully complete a safety demonstration with the handgun being purchased or 2) qualify for an HSC exemption.

As part of the DROS process, the buyer must present "clear evidence of identity and age" which is defined as a valid, non-expired California Driver's License or Identification Card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. A military identification accompanied by permanent duty station orders indicating a posting in California is also acceptable.

If the buyer is not a U.S. Citizen, then he or she is required to demonstrate that he or she is legally within the United States by providing to the firearms dealer with documentation that contains his/her Alien Registration Number or I-94 Number.

Purchasers of handguns are also required to provide proof of California residency, such as a utility bill, residential lease, property deed, or government-issued identification (other than a drivers license or other DMV-issued identification).

(PC Section 12071)
Click to expand...
 
Permanent Resident

My Danish son-in-law is a permanent resident.

He owns a Browning .308 rifle.

No problem in Idaho and Oregon, don't know about other places.

There are, of course, states that will be a guaranteed pain in the butt on the subject, simply because they're a pain for American citizens. Just off the top of my head, a short list of good (friendly) candidate states would include Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon.

My own familiarity is with the western states. Someone else will be able to list the candidates from the rest of the country.

You will want to obtain and review the specific state statutes for your target states for particulars.



What is it that you get paid to do?

 
You would be an Immigrant Alien if you live here permanently and have a "green card". Otherwise you would be a Non-immigrant Alien. In either case you would have to establish residency in your state for 90 days, so get a utility bill in your name ASAP. Some states have slightly different requirements for proof of residency, so check your state's rules.


http://www.atf.gov/publications/newsletters/ffl/ffl-newsletter-2008-11.pdf
 
"What is it that you get paid to do?"

i operate directional drills, boring holes under roads and rivers for pipes and cables. as well as driving trucks, backhoes, excavators and the like.

its good to know i would be able to pursue my interests, if i was able to move to the USA.

thanks.
 
Along the lines of this thread and my plans to move to the USA. I was wondering roughly what sort of $$ a directional driller/ backhoe operator earns in your country?

As I'm keener than ever to enjoy the american lifestyle.

thanks.
 
One needed a only a valid Florida driver's license to purchase a gun in Florida a while back as far as I know. That proves legal residency.
 
Legal immigrants can even in this gun-hating state....shoot, we had a guy on our local County Sheriff's Auxiliary for a few years, that wasn't a US citizen. Wore a uniform, packed a 6" .357.

Over 10 years later, he was in the local newspaper for having just completed his citizenship stuff and becoming a citizen.
 
Going from immigrant alien to citizen is not an instantaneous process. I know several h1b visa immigrants working at my company for years and just only got their citizenship. Would you be willing to wait a few years after moving between states to get your RKBA back?

Sent from a van down by the river
 
My wife is a resident alien. She carries her gun in her jacket pocket and here in Alaska doesn't have or need a permit to do so.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone.

I was wondering roughly what sort of $$ a directional driller/ backhoe operator earns in your country? as this will determine if I can afford to move or not. ( the wife won't be happy about it if I have to take a paycut to).

I don't mean to ask exact amounts of what other members earn. Just a rough ball park figure on what i could expect to earn with my current skill set and experience in that industry.

Thanks
 
A quick internet search turned up two answers both agreed with this figure:

35 to 50K salary, with field incentives of $500-$750/day in the field. Total package of 150 to 300K per year.

Of course I don't know what industry they were thinking of... that may be the figure for oil field directional drillers.
 
I think you will find our "worst" states for firearms beats the dickens out of what you have now and 50K and up will be the average pay in most areas, some more some less.
 
Most of the country is in a recession, so... keep that in mind. Here in Alaska, we're in better shape than elsewhere and a heavy equipment operator will make $50 to $70 an hour. Up on the north slope, he can make considerably more. A lot of those big money jobs are set up where you live in civilized Anchorage and fly in for for a couple of weeks of work living out of a barracks, then get a couple of weeks off. It's rugged and cold, but the money is good and you can't beat Alaska for hunting.

You can actually search for jobs online.
 
Okay thanks.

I tried searching on the job sites but nothing came of for directional drillers.

What are the good job sites?
 
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Per Florida Firearms Law... by Gutmacher

Under federal law a citizen of another country may purchase a firearm if they are a resident of the State in which the firearm is purchased and have been a resident for an uninterrupted 90 days.

The dealer must obtain proof of residency by examination of documents such as a lease or utility bill showing at least 90 days of time has passed. The person must also present a photo ID. Both are recorded on the Form 4473.

A private citizen may not transfer a firearm to a non resident either.

Florida will issue a CCW license to a legal resident assuming all other criteria are met.
 
heavy equipment operator will make $50 to $70 an hour.

Kodiak you also need to relate the high cost of living in Alaska. That eats up a lot of the high pay.
 
I was a green card from Canada up until 1970, and this is what I found out before I gave up my Green card.

Depends on the state. National Law says there is no problem, some states (like NY and MA) are very restrictive, but then they are restrictive to their own citizens also.

Where I now live in WA, if you are a green card, they have a seperate "alien" license, basically so they can check police records of your home country,,,and it takes a bit longer, but it is still shall issue.

MO absolutely will not issue to a Green Card, TN will...read the state law and choose you poison carefully.
 
Here is the Arizona statute regarding aliens in possession of firearms, which, as I understand it, is copied verbatim from the federal statute:

7. "Prohibited possessor" means any person:

...

(e) Who is an undocumented alien or a nonimmigrant alien traveling with or without documentation in this state for business or pleasure or who is studying in this state and who maintains a foreign residence abroad. This subdivision does not apply to:

(i) Nonimmigrant aliens who possess a valid hunting license or permit that is lawfully issued by a state in the United States.

(ii) Nonimmigrant aliens who enter the United States to participate in a competitive target shooting event or to display firearms at a sports or hunting trade show that is sponsored by a national, state or local firearms trade organization devoted to the competitive use or other sporting use of firearms.

(iii) Certain diplomats.

(iv) Officials of foreign governments or distinguished foreign visitors who are designated by the United States department of state.

(v) Persons who have received a waiver from the United States attorney general.
Click to expand...


link

Some states have laws more restrictive than the federal law (Washington is one such state, IIRC) but I don't think that there are many that do.

If you're an immigrant alien, you should be good to go in most states. If you're a non-immigrant alien, but you buy a hunting license and keep it current, you should also be GTG in most states. Hope this helps.
 
MO absolutely will not issue to a Green Card, TN will...read the state law and choose you poison carefully.
Click to expand...

I don't think this guy is too interested in getting a carry permit, just in having guns for hunting and whatnot. That's not going to be a problem in most states.
 
Not to hijack your thread, but the reverse situation is a bit of a challenge.
A visiting US citizen who has not established recent residency in a particular state will find it well-nigh impossible to purchase a firearm in the United States.

Fascinating how that works. (Mostly due to how the administration of FFL-based sales are derived from GCA '68 legislation/statute).
 
i hadn't even considered a CCW permit, as i never thought it would be an option. i was only thinking of hunting/ target shooting and maybe home defense.

i would like to be able to carry but it would depend on how long i would be able to live in the USA.
 
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