Vivek Ramaswamy's father, V. Ganapathy Ramaswamy, has been able to remain in the United States for decades without becoming a citizen by maintaining legal residency status, likely through a series of visas and permanent residency (commonly known as a "green card"). While specific details about his immigration journey are not fully documented in public sources, here’s how this is generally possible under U.S. immigration law, applied to what is known about his situation.

Vivek has stated that his parents immigrated legally from Kerala, India, to the United States. His father, a graduate of the National Institute of Technology Calicut, worked as an engineer and patent attorney at General Electric, a career that suggests he entered the U.S. on a work-related visa. A common pathway for skilled professionals from India during that era (likely the 1970s or 1980s, given Vivek was born in 1985) was the H-1 visa, the predecessor to the modern H-1B visa. The H-1 visa allowed foreign nationals with specialized skills to work in the U.S. for a sponsoring employer, such as a major corporation like General Electric. These visas were initially temporary but could be renewed, and they often served as a stepping stone to permanent residency.

Once in the U.S., Vivek’s father could have applied for and obtained a green card, which grants lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. This status allows individuals to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely without becoming citizens. Green cards can be obtained through employment sponsorship (e.g., by General Electric), family ties, or other categories, though employment-based immigration aligns with his professional background. As a permanent resident, he would have had no obligation to pursue citizenship—naturalization is optional, not mandatory. Many immigrants choose to remain permanent residents for personal, familial, or cultural reasons, as Vivek has indicated his father did, citing "familial reasons" for not taking the citizenship test.

Permanent residents enjoy most of the rights of U.S. citizens, including the ability to work, own property, and reside in the country, though they cannot vote in federal elections or hold certain public offices. They must maintain their status by adhering to residency requirements (e.g., not abandoning U.S. residency by living abroad for too long) and renewing their green card every 10 years. Given that Vivek’s father has lived in the U.S. for over 40 years and raised a family, including Vivek (born in Cincinnati, Ohio), it’s reasonable to infer he secured and maintained this LPR status.

Vivek has emphasized that his parents’ immigration was legal, distinguishing their situation from undocumented immigrants. His father’s long-term presence without citizenship is thus not unusual—millions of green card holders live in the U.S. for decades without naturalizing. For example, as of recent estimates, roughly 13 million lawful permanent residents live in the U.S., and many never take the final step of citizenship. In his father’s case, this choice may reflect a desire to retain Indian citizenship (India historically did not allow dual citizenship, though policies have evolved), maintain family ties in India, or simply a lack of need to naturalize given the stability of permanent residency.

In summary, Vivek’s father likely entered the U.S. on a work visa, transitioned to permanent residency through employment sponsorship, and has remained a lawful permanent resident without pursuing citizenship, a path well within the framework of U.S. immigration law.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5688409&forum_id=2#48712380)

"but you gained citizenship through birthright in that sense too"

this mannequin has to go

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5688409&forum_id=2#48711851)