I can't wait til I get older
I think an IF probably has to gain emancipated status by the courts because they would probably have to prove that they can support themselves and more likely than not that their creator/current owner no longer needs them.
Edited to Add: I just finished re-watching 'Settling a President' and I noticed something to further support PBL's statement of IF having the same rights as Blacks pre CRM. When Herriman is walking past the help wanted signs one of them said that IF were not allowed to apply for the job (I think it went something along the lines of No Imgaginary Friends wanted)