Latest Immigration Articles

A foreign national coming to the US to marry and live with an American Citizen must first get a non immigrant classification (K-1) Visa. The US citizen has to file Form I-129-F, Petition for Alien Fiancé (e) and the required supporting documents with the USCIS Office in the US. Once the petition is approved by [...]

Form I-129 F, which is the Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) must be filed with the Department of Homeland Security’s United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office serving your area of residence. You can refer to the USCIS website for information regarding the office at which you need to file this petition. Note: This petition [...]

If an American citizen wants his or her fiancée or fiancé to come over to US in order to marry and live there, the Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) must be filed. As a foreigner fiancée or fiancé, one must get the K-1 visa initially. Fiancée/Fiancé Visa Processing Form I-129-F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) must be [...]

A conditional resident is a person who has acquired such a status through marriage. Once an immigrant gets married to a US citizen, he/she is eligible for a conditional Green card. If a US citizen gets married to a person who is not a US citizen or a foreigner, the US citizen can apply for [...]

A lawful permanent resident (green card ) status is given to a foreign national to live and work permanently in the US. Foreign nationals can come to the US based on their relationship with a US citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR). While applying for a green card, the first step is to check whether [...]

Recently, the House of Representatives passed a bill that made a small alteration to the visa system that would facilitate more highly skilled immigrants from countries like India and China to become lawful permanent resident s in the US. 389 members voted for the bill, and 15 were against it. Sponsors of the bill were [...]

The most important thing that one should have while planning a travel out of the United States is a US Passport. Without this any kind of travel will be totally impossible. However, becoming a United States passport holder is not an easy task and one should first become a US citizen, in order to apply [...]

Undocumented immigrants are a frightened lot, thanks to the Alabama H-56 bill. The bill that was recently amended will allow more powers to the government officials and the police in making inquiries or arrests. Rights groups are already asking the Democrats to table a better bill and amend the law. Some Hispanics rued the fear [...]

  Generally, if you are seeking immigrant status like a green card, it is important to have all the documents in order, especially if you are going to travel abroad, before getting the green card on hand. If that is the case, one has to apply for a reentry permit, refugee travel document or advance [...]

To bring your relative to live permanently in the United States, you must accept legal responsibility for financially supporting this family member. You will become your relative’s sponsor and have to complete and sign a document called an affidavit of support. This responsibility will last until your relative becomes a US citizen or can be [...]

If you filed an immigrant visa petition for your relative, you should be the sponsor. You should also be at least 18 years old and a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident. It is also important that you have a domicile in the United States or a territory or possession of the United States. [...]

If you become a lawful permanent resident through an adjustment of status you can use the Form I-824 follow to join application to apply for an immigrant visa for your spouse and children below the age of 21. In this case, a separate Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative need not be filed. Instead, the [...]

With several colleges in the United States offering scholarships, students from all over the world dream of a college education in the United States. Though admissions are tough and the number of colleges offering full scholarships are few, the race to study in the United States has only increased. The USCIS has issued guidelines for [...]

There are two non-immigrant categories for foreign nationals wishing to study in the US namely, the F visa and the M visa. The F visa is for for non-immigrants who wish to pursue academic studies and/or language training programs, whereas the M visa is for non-immigrants who want to pursue non academic or vocational studies. [...]

A student visa application should generally include the following: Certificate of Eligibility form (SEVIS I-20), certified by your school and it has to be signed by you, the student. Evidence (receipt) of payment of the SEVIS fee. Form DS-160, Non-immigrant Visa Application. Evidence (receipt) of payment of the machine readable visa application fee (MRV) fee. [...]

Off late, there is a significant number of people talk of leaving the US for good. Though most do not end up doing it, things are slightly changing. Per estimates, the number of persons who renounced their US citizenship (or US permanent residency) was on the higher side in 2011. If one goes by the [...]

You can use your US passport as your best proof of American citizenship. You can use other documents too. Citizens born in the US Persons under this classification can use their birth certificate as proof of citizenship. To get a copy of your birth certificate, you can get in touch with the Bureau of Vital [...]

As part of the Naturalization process, all applicants have to take the Naturalization test. As the applicants span the spectrum of races and cultures, it is important they understand the native language of the US, English. Applicants should also prove basic understanding of the US government (Civics). The test has turned out to be a [...]

U.S. citizens will be allowed to apply online for a passport card.. This is possible under the U.S. Department of State’s pilot program that is being conducted for a limited time. There are certain eligibility requirements to be met to be eligible to participate in this program. The applicant must: be 16 years or older [...]

The similarity between the U.S. passport and the U.S. passport card are that both are issued only to eligible U.S. citizens. However, there ends the similarity. There are more differences between the two. The U.S. passport is a small book and can be used for international travel. The passport card is a wallet-size card and [...]

An e-passport will have an electronic chip that will have the same information that is printed on the passport’s data page such as the passport holder’s name, date of birth, and all other biographic information. An e-Passport will also have a biometric identifier. The chip also has a digital photograph of the passport holder. All [...]

With several colleges in the United States offering scholarships, students from all over the world dream of a college education in the United States. Though admissions are tough and the number of colleges offering full scholarships are few, the race to study in the United States has only increased. The USCIS has issued guidelines for [...]

There are separate visas for religious workers. Since there are several religions and every religion has different needs for religious workers, there is a visa category exclusively for them. The R-1 visa as it is known is given to members of religious organizations that have a genuine background of doing religious work. It is also [...]

Concern over restrictive visa policies towards employees may become a thing of the past if influential Senator from New York Chuck Schumer and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had their way. The American Senator has assured that he is working towards a bipartisan bill to reform immigration laws that would allow more Indians into the [...]

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will conduct first-ever national Chinese-language public engagement forum at San Francisco. US immigration officials will be present to answer questions about the US naturalization process. This event will also be held in Mandarin and Cantonese, with a belief that it will encourage more Chinese immigrants to become US citizens. [...]

Through the free InfoPass service, you will be able to schedule an appointment with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Immigration Officer. If you have any issue related to immigration and want to get it clarified by an Immigration Officer, you can get it done through InfoPass, instead of requesting it in person at [...]

One major difference between applications for asylum or refugee status is where the application is made. Refugees are required to apply from outside the United States, whereas people requesting asylum must apply either at a US border (airports, seaports) or from within the US. Applying for Refugee Status To apply for refugee status, you have [...]

The B-1 visa classification is intended for foreign nationals entering the US to engage in business activities. The activities list allowed within the general term “business”is far and wide. While the B-1 visa does permit the foreign national for a wide range of activities, this category is strictly not intended for employment within the United [...]

The visitor visa classification (B visa) is used for temporary visits to the US for business or pleasure. No US employment is allowed and pre-approval from the USCIS is not needed. You have to file the application directly at the US consulate or embassy. Visitor visas are valid for a few months to a few [...]

This B visa classification permits foreign nationals to come to the United States for the purpose of business (B-1) or pleasure (B-2). This category is not intended for employment or study within the United States. If you wish to work or study in the US, you should apply for a visa classification more appropriate to [...]

There are separate visas for religious workers. Since there are several religions and every religion has different needs for religious workers, there is a visa category exclusively for them. The R-1 visa as it is known is given to members of religious organizations that have a genuine background of doing religious work. It is also [...]

Concern over restrictive visa policies towards employees may become a thing of the past if influential Senator from New York Chuck Schumer and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had their way. The American Senator has assured that he is working towards a bipartisan bill to reform immigration laws that would allow more Indians into the [...]

Form I-9 is considered to be one of the important papers while hiring new employees. It is regulated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is a mandatory requirement according to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. It is used to check if a new employee is eligible to work in the [...]