Immigration
Employment Based
An immigrant is a foreign national who has been authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. If you want to become an immigrant based on the fact that you have a permanent employment opportunity in the United States, or if you are an employer that wants to sponsor someone for lawful permanent residency based on permanent employment in the United States, you must go through a multi-step process.
Family BasedA lawful permanent resident is a foreign national who has been granted the privilege of permanently living and working in the United States. If you want to become a lawful permanent resident based on the fact that you have a relative who is a citizen of the United States, or a relative who is a lawful permanent resident, you must go through a multi-step process.
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Nonimmigrant VisasVisas are permits which enable individuals to enter the United States. A nonimmigrant visa is given to someone who resides in another country and desires to come to the United States on a temporary basis for a specific purpose. Foreign citizens apply for such visas an American embassy overseas or consulate abroad when desiring to travel to the United States. Each visa (see below) has its own requirements regarding how long a period may retain in the United States and what activities are allowed during that person's stay. If approved, the visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to the United States and arrive at a port-of-entry, such as an international airport. At the port-of-entry, an officer of the Department of Homeland Security, determines whether the foreign citizen is allowed to enter the United States and how long he or she can remain in the United States. A Form I-94 is created by the officer when the foreign citizen is inspected upon arrival in the United States.
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NaturalizationGenerally, anyone over the age of 18 who has been a legal permanent resident alien for at least five (5) years may apply for naturalization. The applicant must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the five years prior to the date of filing of the application and must have resided for at least three months within the state in which the application if filed. The applicant must demonstrate good moral character, be attached to the principles of the U.S. Constitution, be willing to bear arms on behalf of the U.S. or perform other work of national importance, and must not otherwise be barred from naturalizing, e.g., as having committed an aggravated felony. All naturalization applicants will be fingerprinted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and have their criminal backgrounds reviewed by the FBI. The applicant must demonstrate a basic ability to read, write, speak and understand the English language. The applicant must also pass a short oral or written test on the history and government of the U.S. Finally, the applicant must be interviewed in person by an USCIS officer. If the applicant is approved for naturalization, the applicant will attend a public ceremony and take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. After taking the oath, the applicant will return the green card to the USCIS and receive a certificate of citizenship. This certificate of citizenship can be used to obtain a U.S. passport.
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