US Immigration Laws
Whether the decision of having an open or closed door policy toward immigration is based upon political, economic or security issues of the day, the fact remains, America regulates who enters its borders. This issue will provide you with general information relating to the laws and regulations of United States Immigration.
In dealing with immigration matters, a basic term to adjust to is the word ‘alien’. It refers to a person who is not a US citizen.
Aliens do not have the right to vote or hold certain government positions and may have their status taken away for committing certain crimes. The status of an alien permits the individual to live, work and take part in all that America offers.
US citizens are given the right to vote and take part in the political process. Also, citizenship, in most cases, can never be taken away.
There are two types of US citizens: natural born and naturalized. Natural born citizens receive their citizenship just for being born in America. Naturalized citizens acquired their citizenship after birth. There is no difference between a natural born citizen and a naturalized citizen, except the latter cannot become the President of the United States. Permanent residents are able to become naturalized citizen. Their previous alien status then becomes a thing of the past, and they keep their US citizenship for life.
Anyone wishing to enter the United States, whether for a short visit or for a permanent stay, will usually need to obtain advance permission to do so. This permission is called a visa. There are two categories of visas: Immigrant Visas and Nonimmigrant Visas.
There are many types of Nonimmigrant Visas: tourist visas, business visas, employment visas, diplomatic visas, etc...
In order for a person to permanently live and work in the US, the individual must obtain an Immigrant Visa from US immigration authorities.
An Immigrant Visa is not the same thing as a Green Card. The Immigrant Visa simply allows the person to enter the country. Green cards are only issued to people once they are legally inside the US.
There are three major ways to get a US Green Card which grants you the right to live and work in the United States legally:
- An employer sponsors you.
- You married a United States citizen lawfully.
- Participating in the US Green Card Lottery program.
If a person really wants to live and work in the United States, the easiest way to accomplish this, is to enter the US
Green Card Lottery program. To enter the program one needs to fill out an electronic application form with digital photos,
go through a security check and have a personal interview before the United States will grant him a Green Card.
While a person can go it alone and apply for the Green Card Lottery program through the US Department of State’s website,
GCUS offers our application review services. Many times, applicants do not fill out the form correctly or do not submit
the correct photos – all which automatically disqualify a person from the program. The choice is now in your hands!
Apply for a U.S. green card today.
This chapter was taken out of the Immigration Bible by Zila Katz and Esq.Dotan Cohen, Adv. Get your copy today
See you in our next edition,
Tom Wright
Editor in Chief
GCUS PRESS