An Introduction to the E-1 “Treaty Trader” Visa
People wishing to work in the United States have several kinds of work visas that they can apply for, depending on their situation. There are visas for temporary workers and visas for permanent workers, and visas for specific professions such as agriculture workers and artists. Those who work for a company engaged in international trade […]
Basic Background Information concerning Security Checks
Since September 11th, numerous measures designed at enhancing security and simplifying visa processing at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad have been employed, in order to identify and eliminate weaknesses of the visa processing system. Various government agencies have conferred in an extensive review of visa issuing procedures, resulting in mandatory visa interviews and increased security […]
The Diversity Lottery
The Diversity Lottery (Green Card Lottery) is a Green Card program created by the United States Government. Under the current rules of this program, 55,000 Green Cards are made available on an annual basis through a lottery system. However, the Diversity Lottery is not open to all people in the world. Rather, it is only […]
Immigration and “Employment” in the 21st Century
There is little argument that modern technology is changing the way that we perform our jobs. For many employees and employers alike, only an internet connection is required in order to complete the full range of job tasks. Combine this fact with the near omnipresence of mobile devices and laptop computers, and it becomes clear […]
The Problem of “Immigrant Intent”
Many people who apply for visitor (B1/B2) visas to the US are rejected for reasons that may at first seem obscure. A common scenario involves a visa applicant being rejected on “214(b)” grounds. Section 214(b) of the Immigration Nationality Act (INA) deals with “immigrant intent.” Immigrant intent is an issue that comes up often with […]
USCIS Immigrant Fee
After Receiving the DV visa but before entering the US: Diversity visa holders who seek permanent residence in the United States need to pay a fee to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The immigrant fee allows USCIS to recover the cost of issuing a permanent resident card (Green Card). Diversity visa holders […]
The Myth of “Permanent” Resident Status
A new Green Card is in many ways like a new car. It looks shiny, smells freshly manufactured, and signals newfound mobility. However, Permanent Residency is a misleading term. The Green Card is in fact only a symbol of a person’s status as a Lawful Permanent Resident (“LPR”) of the United States. It is […]
Becoming a US citizen By Naturalization through Marriage
What is Naturalization? In general, naturalization is a process by which a foreign national (a person who was not born in the US) obtains US citizenship by fulfilling certain requirements. There are a number of naturalization processes, but the most common one is naturalization through marriage. When a foreign national, who has obtained a Lawful […]
Has The Statue of Liberty Changed Her Mind?
Almost all United States residents can agree that immigration reform is something that must happen in the future. However, the shape and design of the reforms themselves are hotly contested and have become one of the most controversial political topics throughout the entire country. Proponents of US immigration reform must fall into one of two […]
US Citizenship through Parents
In addition to obtaining citizenship by birthright or by naturalization, another common way to obtain US citizenship is through parents. Citizenship through parent or parents is a useful way to qualify for US citizenship if the applicant was not born in the US, and the applicant has not lived in the US for enough time […]
