Amerikano ka nga ba? Derivative Citizenship enables multi-awarded actor Christopher de Leon to reclaim his American birthright

A REAL CITIZEN PINOY !   Multi-awarded actor Christopher de Leon with wife Sandy Andolong and Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel, on the set of Citizen Pinoy, where Christopher tells how he was able to obtain his "instant" US citizenship for himself and his children on CITIZEN PINOY -- this coming Sunday, July 10 at 5:00 pm (PST) on TFC.

With countless acting awards, blockbuster movies and a rich and colorful life as one of the most respected talents in the Philippine entertainment industry, multi-awarded actor Christopher de Leon still hoped for a brighter and more solid future for his children.

"We wanted our children to realize their personal dreams--even if it meant going abroad to study, or eventually settling down there," Christopher says, noting that his eldest son Rafael, had already expressed plans of becoming a cartoonist or animator like Walt Disney. 

It was Rafael's childhood dream that inspired and pushed de Leon to pursue his much-publicized American citizenship case in 1999.  Leading immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel was certain that de Leon had a great chance of obtaining his US citizenship because his maternal grandfather, Abe Strauss, naturalized in 1919 as an American citizen.

After much diligence and hard work by Atty. Gurfinkel, de Leon was granted "instant" US citizenship through derivative citizenship.  He did not need to go through the traditional route of acquiring citizenship such as being petitioned, getting a green card, waiting five years and applying for naturalization, etc.  He simply walked into the Embassy and minutes later walked out with a US passport. Eventually de Leon's American bloodline paved the way for his children to also acquire their US citizenship by virtue of their American birthright.

Aside from this legacy to his immediate family, de Leon's story also affected the lives of Grace Giner and the family of Paul and Katrina Montenegro.  Now, these families have the opportunity to provide for a better future and to help realize their children's dreams.

Tune in to CITIZEN PINOY this coming Sunday, July 10, at 5:00 pm (PST) on TFC to find out how Christopher de Leon became an instant citizen and changed the lives and futures of other families, as they discuss derivative citizenship.

CITIZEN PINOY is a one-hour talk show that will provide information on the various possibilities, issues and problems regarding US immigration. --- Hosted by Atty. Mike Guingona, Ms. Odette Alcazaren-Keeley and leading immigration lawyer Atty. Michael J. Gurfinkel.

CITIZEN PINOY airs on TFC every Sunday at 5 p.m., with replays every Monday at 4 a.m. , and on ANC-USA every Friday at 8 p.m. (all Pacific Standard Time).    In the Philippines, the show airs every Saturday at 11 a.m. on ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel).

Back to Main