DEAR ABBY: Maybe you can help me with this. I called the Immigration and Naturalization office and couldn't get an answer to my question.
I am a white American female. My husband is Chinese, born in Vietnam. He has a permanent resident visa.
My question: What nationality does that make our children? Someone told me that they are white American, but to me that means that they are ignoring their Oriental heritage.
My daughter says she is half-Chinese and half-American. Please straighten this out, as we never know how to fill out the forms when this question is asked. -- PUZZLED IN FLORIDA
DEAR PUZZLED: Your daughter's nationality is American because she is a natural-born citizen of the United States of America. As for the racial issue: She is half-Oriental and half-Caucasian (or white).