Immigration Law

If a person applies for U.S. Citizenship and is denied, she does not become a citizen and remain a lawful permanent resident. She can correct the reason for the denial and apply again after five...

A permanent resident card is sometimes called a green card. It is obtained by people accepted for permanent residency in the United States. They must carry the card with them, as you would your...

Usually, automatic citizenship through birth can be acquired only by the child of a U.S. citizen. However, Section 322 is the loophole for grandchildren of U.S. citizens. In the case of death of a...

There are many ways to obtain an immigration status, some requiring more effort than others. Most foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States will be classified as a non-immigrant or...

A green card allows a foreign national to live and work in the United States for an indefinite length of time. Getting a green card can also be the first step to U.S. citizenship through...

There are many benefits to becoming a U.S. citizen. If a noncitizen marries a citizen, he or she will soon be able to apply for citizenship and enjoy those benefits.

A fiancé(e) visa, also known as K1 visa, is a nonimmigrant visa allowing the fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen to enter the United States and marry the petitioner. Before filing, it is...

The Citizenship and Immigration of Canada (CIC) bureau maintains an online service that allows you to check the application status of submitted cases. Unfortunately, it is selective in what...

Immigrating to Canada from Germany requires the same process and procedure as immigrating to Canada from France or Brazil. You must work through the Canadian foreign embassy in Berlin or one of...

A visa authorizes a foreign national to live in another country for a set period of time. It is against immigration law to violate the terms and conditions of your specific visa type. Visas issued...

Conditional "green cards" (officially Permanent Residence cards) are issued to non-citizen spouses of U.S. citizens who are married less than two years from the date the green-card application was...

Under U.S. immigration law, immigrants wanting to become naturalized U.S. citizens must take and pass a naturalization test. The two main subjects tested on the naturalization test are English and...

You can only claim dual citizenship if you have a viable connection to another country; you cannot simply close your eyes and point to a country on a map and decide to become a citizen. Every...

Conversion of an O-1 visa to a "work permit" involves applying for an adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Commonly called the "green card" application, people...

To adjust your immigration status, you will need to file the I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. For many temporary grants of residency, a change of status is...

While navigating the U.S. immigration system is a daunting task, particularly in the wake of 9/11, the system is still relatively smooth for foreign students. This article addresses the student...

You are eligible to apply for citizenship following three years of permanent residency gained by marriage. As a permanent resident, you are legal to remain in the United States without ever...

Naturalization records show proof of U.S. Citizenship. To obtain a name change on your naturalization records you need to file paperwork through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and...

Citizens of the United States may find it very difficult to relinquish that status. The process is very specific, as loss of citizenship may have serious consequences. In some situations,...

You can check the status of any submitted document pertaining to U.S. immigration online or through the automated 1-800 number. The I-485, application to register for permanent residency (green...

There are two ways to check the status of your marriage K-1 fiancé(e) visa application, by phone with the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) or at their website. You...

Naturalization records show proof of U.S. citizenship. Obtaining your naturalization records can be done through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by filling out a form and paying...

Canadian citizens and permanent residents enjoy many immigration benefits. One such benefit is the ability to sponsor their non-Canadian family members to immigrate to Canada. Sponsoring a family...

U.S. citizenship can be gained through two types of residency: three years through marriage immigration or five years through family, work or refugee immigration. After meeting the legal residency...

Giving up U.S. citizenship is a serious matter; once you proceed with the renouncement, the process is irrevocable. Giving up citizenship results in the loss of all U.S. rights and protections, as...

A Certificate of Naturalization is an important document issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to immigrants upon...

An immigrant in the United States who fears returning home may apply for asylum. You may qualify for asylum if you have been persecuted (severe harm) or fear persecution based on your race,...

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Genealogy Program provides a service for locating immigration records. It is a fee-based program that offers an index search for...

Also known as a Petition for an Alien Fiancé(e), a K-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa approved by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allowing United States citizens to...

The United States Government controls immigration to the country by requiring employers to verify the immigration status for all employees. Employers use Form I-9 to verify an employee is...

U.S. Immigration Law requires that any immigrant interested in obtaining U.S. citizenship through naturalization begin the application process with United States Citizenship and Immigration...

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires a foreigner, who entered the United States through a fiancé/fiancée visa, to marry the petitioner within 90 days of...

A fiancé or K1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows a foreign fiancé to enter the United States and marry an American citizen. Getting a visa for a foreign fiancé is a lengthy...

The Citizenship Test, also known as the Naturalization Test, is a requirement to become a legal citizen of the United States through naturalization. The test demonstrates the applicant's knowledge...

Losing U.S. citizenship is more difficult than most think. As citizenship constitutes a right of birth, the law ensures that nothing short of court-tried treason and self-renunciation can result...

The U.S Permanent Resident Card gives foreign-born citizens the right to live and work in the United States of America. The card can be carried around and used as an identity card.

If you wish to become a naturalized American citizen, you must meet certain criteria. These include requirements regarding residency, character and knowledge about the United States. There is also...

Americans can luckily visit Canada, their neighbors to the north and the land of maple syrup and hockey; without a visa for stays up to 180 days. All that is needed is a Passport or an enhanced...

Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) has two programs government agencies can use to verify the eligibility of a person holding a permanent resident alien card, or "green card." These two...

A visa is a document that allows someone to stay in a foreign country for a particular purpose. There are different types of visas, such as a student visa or a visitor visa. Under U.S. Immigration...

Obtaining a green card in the United States is a time-consuming process. If you are waiting for a decision on your case, be careful when considering foreign travel because it could ruin your...

The SEVIS I-190 fee is for international students or visitors to the United States that are sponsored by an American school or organization in an exchange program. I-901 is the application for...

A U.S. "green card" is a colloquial term that refers to a permanent residence card authorizing the holder to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis. U.S. green cards are issued by the...

Becoming a United States citizen can be a long and challenging one for many immigrants. Depending on the individual circumstances and the backlog of immigration cases at United States Citizenship...

If you entered the U.S. on a valid visa and decide that you would like to stay permanently, you may qualify for an adjustment of status. If your adjustment of status is approved, you will hold...

Immigration is a tough issue to discuss in most communities due to the aggressiveness of most political debates. When fraud is added to the immigration mix, action must be taken to ensure the...

A green card is your evidence that you have the right to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis and that you registered properly according to United States law. A green card...

The decision to get married is one of the most important ones you will make in your entire life. But once you get engaged, unnecessary trepidation and worry fades away unless your fiance is not a...

There are many benefits to holding dual citizenship with a second nation, including education, employment and health advantages. The United States permits its citizens to hold citizenship with a...

If you are applying for U.S. citizenship, or already have been granted citizenship, you may obtain a copy of your immigration papers by filing a Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act Request with...