Immigration

Difference Between U.S. Green Card and U.S. Citizenship

While both green card holders and citizens can stay in the U.S. indefinitely, there are some major reasons to get U.S. citizenship.

How Expensive Is an Immigration Lawyer?

Immigration lawyers are not, in general, the most highly paid of lawyers. They know that their clients often have difficulty obtaining so much as the right to work in the U.S., and adjust their fees accordingly.

Mental-Health Based Inadmissibility: Which Psychiatric Issues Can Lead to Green Card Denial

If you plan to apply for a U.S. temporary visa or for lawful permanent residence (a green card), you will be expected to show that you do not present a health risk to the general American public. This is one of the grounds of inadmissibility.

Am I Eligible for a Green Card?

Categories of people who qualify for a U.S. green card (lawful permanent residence).

Chances of Winning a Grant of Asylum in the U.S.

Your asylum application will be decided based on your unique facts, evidence, and witness statements. Moreover, asylum officers and Immigration Judges have a certain amount of discretion, and your chances might vary depending on who gets assigned to your case.

How Long Must I Be Married to a U.S. Citizen to Get U.S. Citizenship by Marriage?

What needs to happen between when you get married to a U.S. citizen and when you yourself can apply to naturalize?

Green Cards for Your Family: Sponsorship Rules

Overview of who you can help to immigrate, and how long it will take.

Chart: What to Expect When Sponsoring a Fiancé or Spouse for a Green Card

Find out how long it takes to get a K-1 fiancé or spousal immigrant visa--and how to do it.

When Children Can Immigrate to the U.S. With Their Parents as "Derivatives"

Here is when a spouse or child can take the derivative visa route to immigrate and when they cannot.

When Can I Apply for U.S. Citizenship?

The "five years of permanent residence" rule and more guidance on the naturalization process.

Filling Out USCIS Form N-400 Application for Naturalization

How to fill out the N-400 citizenship form with which a green card holder applies to naturalize.

Will USCIS Check My Criminal Background If I Apply for Citizenship?

After you apply for naturalization, USCIS takes your fingerprints for a reason.

Grounds of Deportability: When Legal U.S. Residents Can Be Removed

Whether on a nonimmigrant visa or green card, committing certain acts or crimes can make a person deportable from the U.S.

Possible Defenses to Deportation of an Undocumented Alien

If you are “undocumented” and are in “removal” proceedings, a few legal defenses are available.

Immigration Detention 101: Information for Detainees’ Family and Friends

What you should know if a friend or family member has been picked up and held by ICE.

Crimes That Make U.S. Visa or Green Card Applicants Inadmissible (Ineligible for a Visa or Green Card)

A crime on one's record can block eligibility for a visa or U.S. lawful permanent residence. Learn the details here.

Common Crimes Making Visa or Green Card Holders Deportable: Theft, Burglary, Assault

Even a lawful permanent resident can be removed from the U.S. for any of various criminal acts, depending on the crime's definition and severity.

Will a Misdemeanor Conviction Prevent You From Receiving a U.S. Visa or Green Card?

Understanding when a seemingly minor crime can disqualify someone from eligibility for a U.S. visa or green card.

How Long It Takes to Get an H-1B Visa Petition Approved

How long a wait to expect, and how to monitor your progress toward approval of USCIS Form I-129.

Overview of PERM Process (Obtaining Labor Certification)

Obtaining a U.S. green card is a multi-step process. If you are a foreign worker seeking a green card, the first step in the process is normally to obtain a job offer from a U.S. employer.

Can I Help My Nanny Get a Visa or Green Card?

While both temporary visa and permanent green card possibilities exist to bring a foreign nanny to the United States, if your nanny is already living in the U.S. without legal status, these possibilities become far fewer.