Want to live, work, or travel in the United States? U.S. Immigration Made Easy has helped tens of thousands of people get a visa, green card, or other immigration status. You’ll learn:
whether you and your family qualify for a short-term visa, permanent U.S. residence, or protection from deportation
how to obtain, fill out, and submit the necessary forms and documents
insider tips on dealing with bureaucratic officials, delays, and denials
strategies for overcoming low income and other immigration barriers, and
how to select the right attorney.
U.S. Immigration Made Easy provides detailed descriptions of application processes and helps you avoid traps that might destroy your chances. There’s also an immigration eligibility self-quiz, which helps you match your background and skills to a likely category of visa or green card.
The 19th edition is completely updated to cover recent legal and fee changes including Trump administration efforts to end TPS for various countries and end DACA.
Author(s): Ilona Bray , Richard Link
Edition: 19
Publisher: NOLO
Year: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 958
Tags: 1413325955
Title......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Acknowledgments......Page 7
About the Authors......Page 8
Table of Contents......Page 9
Your Immigration Companion......Page 20
Part I: Getting Started: U.S. Immigration Eligibility and Procedures......Page 22
1 Where to Begin on Your Path Toward Immigration......Page 23
A. Roadmap to U.S. Immigration......Page 25
B. The Typical Application Process......Page 30
C. Immigration Eligibility Self-Quiz......Page 32
2 Are You Already a U.S. Citizen?......Page 44
A. Acquisition of Citizenship Through Birth to U.S. Citizen Parents......Page 46
B. Automatic Derivation of U.S. Citizenship Through Naturalized Parents......Page 52
C. Obtaining Proof of U.S. Citizenship......Page 55
D. Dual Citizenship......Page 59
3 Can You Enter or Stay in the U.S. at All?......Page 61
A. Particularly Troublesome Grounds of Inadmissibility......Page 63
B. Avoiding or Reversing an Inadmissibility Finding......Page 96
4 Dealing With Paperwork, Government Officials, Delays, and Denials......Page 101
A. Getting Organized......Page 103
B. How to Obtain and Prepare Immigration Application Forms......Page 105
C. How to Obtain Needed Documents......Page 116
D. Before You Mail Anything......Page 122
E. Dealing With Delays and Other Issues......Page 124
F. Attending Interviews With USCIS or Consular Officials......Page 132
G. Procedures for USCIS Interviews......Page 140
H. What to Do If an Interview Is Going Badly......Page 143
I. What to Do If an Application Is Denied......Page 144
J. When All Else Fails, Call Your U.S. Congressperson......Page 149
5 Special Rules for Canadians and Mexicans......Page 151
A. Canadian Visitors and Nonimmigrants......Page 152
B. Special Work Privileges for Canadian and Mexican Visitors......Page 153
D. Simplified Procedures for Canadian Students and Exchange Visitors......Page 163
E. F-3 Visa for Border Commuter Students......Page 164
F. Preflight Inspections for Canadians......Page 165
G. NEXUS for Faster Entry by Canadians......Page 166
6 How and When to Find a Lawyer......Page 167
A. When Do You Need a Lawyer?......Page 168
B. Where to Get the Names of Good Immigration Lawyers......Page 170
C. How to Avoid Sleazy Lawyers......Page 172
D. How to Choose Among Lawyers......Page 173
E. Signing Up Your Lawyer......Page 175
F. Paying Your Lawyer......Page 178
G. Firing Your Lawyer......Page 179
H. Do-It-Yourself Legal Research......Page 180
Part II: Introduction to Permanent U.S. Residence (Green Cards)......Page 184
A. Categories of Green Card Applicants......Page 185
B. How Many Green Cards Are Available?......Page 190
7 Getting a Green Card Through Family Members in the U.S.......Page 192
A. Are You Eligible for a Green Card Through a Relative?......Page 195
B. Quick View of the Application Process......Page 212
C. Step One: Your U.S. Relative Files the Visa Petition......Page 214
D. Step Two: Preference Relatives Wait for an Available Visa......Page 224
E. Step Three: You Submit the Visa or Green Card Application......Page 228
F. Step Four: Immigrant Visa Holders Enter the U.S.......Page 246
G. Removing Conditional Residence in Marriage Cases......Page 248
8 Getting a Visa to Come Marry Your U.S. Citizen Fiancé (K-1)......Page 253
A. Do You Qualify for a K-1 Visa?......Page 256
B. Quick View of How to Apply for a K-1 Visa......Page 257
C. Step One: Your U.S. Citizen Fiancé Submits a Visa Petition......Page 258
D. Step Two: You Apply at a U.S. Consulate......Page 264
E. Step Three: You Enter the U.S. on Your Fiancé Visa......Page 268
9 Getting a Green Card Through Employment......Page 271
A. Are You Eligible for a Green Card Through Employment?......Page 274
B. Quick View of the Application Process......Page 289
C. Step One: The Prevailing Wage Determination......Page 291
D. Step Two: Employer Advertising and Recruitment......Page 292
E. Step Three: Your Employer Seeks Labor Certification......Page 295
F. Step Four: Your Employer Files the Visa Petition......Page 298
G. Step Five: You Might Have to Wait for an Available “Visa Number”......Page 309
H. Step Six: You Submit the Green Card Application......Page 313
I. Step Seven: Immigrant Visa Holders Enter the U.S.......Page 327
10 Getting a Green Card Through the Diversity Visa Lottery......Page 329
A. Are You Eligible for a Green Card Through the Lottery?......Page 331
C. Step One: Registering for the Lottery......Page 334
D. Step Two: Your Application for Permanent Residence......Page 338
E. Step Three: Immigrant Visa Holders Enter the U.S.......Page 355
11 Getting a Green Card as an Investor......Page 357
A. Are You Eligible for a Green Card Through Investment?......Page 360
B. Quick View of the Application Process......Page 364
C. Step One: You File a Visa Petition......Page 365
D. Step Two: You May Have to Wait to Apply for Permanent Residence......Page 368
E. Step Three: You Apply for an Immigrant Visa or Green Card......Page 369
F. Step Four: Immigrant Visa Holders Enter the U.S.......Page 383
G. Step Five: Converting Your Conditional Residence Into Permanent Residence......Page 384
12 Getting a Green Card as a Special Immigrant......Page 387
A. Do You Qualify for a Green Card as a Special Immigrant?......Page 388
B. Quick View of the Application Process......Page 394
C. Step One: You File the Petition......Page 395
D. Step Two: You May Need to Await an Available Visa Number......Page 400
E. Step Three: You Apply for Permanent Residence......Page 401
F. Step Four: Immigrant Visa Holders Enter the U.S.......Page 414
13 Getting a Green Card as an Asylee or Refugee......Page 418
A. Do You Qualify as a Refugee or an Asylee?......Page 421
B. How to Apply for Refugee Status......Page 430
C. How to Apply for Asylum......Page 433
D. How to Get a Green Card as a Refugee or an Asylee......Page 446
14 After Your Approval for a Green Card......Page 456
A. How to Prove You’re a U.S. Resident......Page 457
B. Traveling Abroad......Page 458
C. Your Immigrating Family Members’ Rights......Page 462
D. Losing Your Permanent Resident Status......Page 463
E. How to Renew or Replace Your Green Card......Page 465
F. Green Cards and U.S. Citizenship......Page 468
G. Green Cards and U.S. Taxes......Page 469
Part III: Introduction to Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Visas......Page 471
A. Types of Nonimmigrant Visas......Page 472
B. Difference Between a Visa and a Status......Page 476
D. Getting a Nonimmigrant Visa at a Consulate Outside Your Home Country......Page 477
E. At the Border......Page 478
F. Time Limits on Nonimmigrant Visas......Page 479
H. Nonimmigrant Visas and U.S. Taxes......Page 484
15 Getting a Business or Tourist (B-1 or B-2) Visa......Page 486
A. Do You Qualify for a Visitor Visa?......Page 488
B. How to Apply for a Visitor Visa......Page 491
C. Visa Issuance and Entry Into the U.S.......Page 496
D. Extensions of Stay......Page 497
16 Getting a Temporary Specialty Worker (H-1B) Visa......Page 500
A. Do You Qualify for an H-1B Visa or Status?......Page 503
B. Quick View of the H-1B Visa Application Process......Page 509
C. Step One: Your Employer Files an LCA......Page 510
D. Step Two: Your Employer Files a Petition......Page 511
E. Step Three: Applicants Outside the U.S. Apply for Visa......Page 521
G. Extending Your U.S. Stay......Page 525
H. Your Rights as an H-1B Worker......Page 527
17 Getting a Temporary Nonagricultural Worker (H-2B) Visa......Page 529
A. Do You Qualify for an H-2B Visa?......Page 532
B. Possibilities for a Green Card From H-2B Status......Page 540
C. Quick View of the H-2B Visa Application Process......Page 541
D. Step One: Your Employer Applies for PWD......Page 542
E. Step Two: Your Employer Places a Job Order......Page 543
F. Step Three: Your Employer Applies for Temporary Labor Certification......Page 545
G. Step Four: Your Employer Conducts Recruitment......Page 551
H. Step Five: The DOL Certifies the Temporary Labor Application......Page 552
I. Step Six: Your Employer Submits an H-2B Visa Petition......Page 553
J. Step Seven: Applicants Outside the U.S. Apply to a U.S. Consulate......Page 563
K. Step Eight: You Enter the U.S. With Your H-2B Visa......Page 564
L. Extending Your U.S. Stay......Page 565
18 Getting a Temporary Trainee (H-3) Visa......Page 568
A. Do You Qualify for an H-3 Visa?......Page 569
C. Step One: Your Employer Submits an H-3 Petition......Page 573
D. Step Two: Applicants Outside the U.S. Apply to a U.S. Consulate......Page 581
E. Step Three: H-3 Visa Holders Enter the U.S.......Page 583
F. Extending Your U.S. Stay......Page 584
19 Getting an Intracompany Transferee (L-1) Visa......Page 588
A. Do You Qualify for an L-1 Visa?......Page 590
C. Quick View of the L-1 Visa Application Process......Page 600
D. Step One: Your U.S. Employer Files a Petition......Page 601
E. Step Two: Applicants Outside the U.S. Apply to a U.S. Consulate......Page 613
F. Step Three: L-1 Visa Holders Enter the U.S.......Page 616
G. Extending Your U.S. Stay......Page 617
20 Getting a Treaty Trader (E-1) Visa......Page 621
A. Do You Qualify for an E-1 Visa?......Page 623
C. How to Apply From Outside the U.S.......Page 633
D. How to Apply If You’re in the U.S.......Page 640
E. Extending Your U.S. Stay......Page 645
F. Visa Revalidation......Page 647
21 Getting a Treaty Investor (E-2) Visa......Page 648
A. Do You Qualify for an E-2 Visa?......Page 651
C. How to Apply From Outside the U.S.......Page 661
D. How to Apply If You’re in the U.S.......Page 671
E. Extending Your U.S. Stay......Page 675
F. Revalidating Your Visa......Page 676
22 Getting a Student (F-1 or M-1) Visa......Page 678
A. Do You Qualify for a Student (M-1 or F-1) Visa?......Page 682
B. How Long the Student Visa Will Last......Page 689
C. Quick View of the Student Visa Application Process......Page 691
D. Step One: Your School Issues a SEVIS I-20......Page 692
E. Step Two for Applicants Outside the U.S.: Applying at a U.S. Consulate......Page 693
F. Step Two for Some Applicants Inside the U.S.: Applying to USCIS for a Change of Status......Page 699
G. Step Three: Student Visa Holders Enter the U.S.......Page 704
H. Extending Your Student Stay......Page 705
I. Traveling Outside the U.S. While You’re a Student......Page 706
J. Reinstatement of Student Status......Page 709
K. Getting Permission to Work......Page 710
L. Transferring to a Different School......Page 717
M. Changing Your Course of Studies......Page 719
23 Getting an Exchange Visitor (J-1) Visa......Page 720
A. Do You Qualify for a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa?......Page 724
B. How Long the J-1 Status Will Last......Page 729
C. Students: Comparing J-1 Visas to F-1 and M-1 Visas......Page 733
E. Internships as a Way for Foreign Students to Work in the U.S.......Page 734
G. Quick View of the J-1 Visa Application Process......Page 735
I. Step Two for Applicants Outside the U.S.: Apply for a Visa at a U.S. Consulate......Page 736
J. Step Two for Some Applicants Inside the U.S.: You Apply to USCIS for a Change of Status......Page 742
K. Step Three: J-1 Visa Holders Enter the U.S.......Page 746
L. Extending Your J-1 Stay in the U.S.......Page 747
O. Reinstatement......Page 750
P. Working as an Exchange Visitor......Page 753
R. Traveling Outside the U.S. While on an Exchange Program......Page 756
24 Getting a Visa as a Temporary Worker in a Selected Occupation (O, P, or R Visa)......Page 758
A. Do You Qualify for an O, P, or R Visa?......Page 760
B. Quick View of the O, P, and R Visa Application Process......Page 770
C. Step One: Your Employer or Agent Submits a Petition......Page 771
D. Step Two: Applicants Outside the U.S. Apply to a U.S. Consulate......Page 781
E. Step Three: Visa Holders Enter the U.S.......Page 783
F. Extending Your U.S. Stay......Page 784
Part IV: Introduction to Other Forms of Long-Term Legal Status in the U.S.......Page 786
25 Humanitarian Remedies Allowing Stays in the U.S.......Page 788
A. Do You Qualify for TPS?......Page 789
B. TPS Application Process......Page 790
C. Are You Eligible for Deferred Enforced Departure?......Page 792
D. Humanitarian Parole......Page 793
26 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)......Page 796
A. Do You Qualify for DACA?......Page 797
B. Who Is Not Eligible for DACA......Page 798
C. Risks and Downsides to Applying for DACA......Page 799
D. Who Shouldn’t Apply for DACA......Page 801
E. How to Apply for DACA......Page 803
27 Getting a U Visa as a Crime Victim Assisting Law Enforcement......Page 807
A. Are You Eligible for a U Visa?......Page 810
B. How to Apply for a U Visa......Page 815
C. Will You Be Eligible for a Green Card After Your U Visa?......Page 821
Glossary......Page 827
Index......Page 837
