Immigration Law

SEVIS--the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System--is an Internet-based, U.S. government electronic-tracking system for all non-immigrant students, exchange visitors, and their...

All visitors to the United States, either temporary or permanent, must have a valid visa covering their entire length of stay. Those seeking a change of status, resident alien status (green card),...

Certificates of citizenship and naturalization both serve as proof of U.S. citizenship, but the eligibility requirements differ significantly. A certificate of citizenship is available to people...

An alien who has a petition for residency or citizenship denied can appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board of the U.S. Justice Department or to the Administrative Appeals Unit at U. S....

The H-1B visa allows workers in specialty occupations to work in the U.S. for up to a total of six years. Specialty occupations are professions that normally require a college education, job...

A CR-1 (Conditional Resident) visa is a provisional permanent resident visa issued to alien spouses of United States residents who have been married for less than two years. The purpose of a CR-1...

Alien registration cards, widely known as "green cards" but formally called Permanent Resident Cards, are issued by the U.S. government as evidence that a non-citizen is authorized to live and...

Each year thousands of Americans move to Canada for work, personal and educational reasons. According to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 247,437 immigrants became permanent...

Naturalization refers to the process when foreigners become U.S. citizens. The process is initiated by filling the Application for Naturalization, N-400. After a few weeks, applicants receive...

Dual citizenship can be a useful asset for travelers or for those looking to connect with the country of a parent's origin. A U.S. citizen who acquires dual citizenship in the Philippines is...

A United States citizen or permanent resident interested in reuniting with his loved one can file a petition with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to have a relative...

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office is available to assist any person who has lost his certificate of citizenship or naturalization. Naturalized citizens must submit the...

F-2 immigration status is given to spouses, or dependents under the age 21, of F-1 immigration visa holders. F-1 visa holders are foreign nationals enrolled in full-time academic programs in the...

The law specifies two ways in which a person can become a citizen of the United States: you are either born in the United States or if you are not born in the United States you must be naturalized...

A passport is a travel document that allows an individual to not only prove his citizenship status, but also allows him to travel internationally. U.S citizens needing to apply for a U.S. passport...

Birth certificates serve as an important official and legal document used to obtain passports and conduct other types of business. If you are a French citizen or a citizen of another country but...

The K1 Visa Thailand allows the Thai fiancee of a US Citizen to enter the United States for the purpose of marriage. The Thai fiancee and US Citizen must marry within 90 days of her arrival to...

The U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detains aliens or non-U.S. citizens who are suspected of immigration violations. An Immigration Court judge will probably review...

OPT also known as optional practical training is a benefit for F1 students that allows them to work off campus for one year in order to gain work experience in the chosen field. Normally, students...

E-verify is an online government tracking system that enables employers to determine if an employee is authorized to work in the U.S. E-verify is operated by department of human services (DSS)...

You can demonstrate that you are a U.S. citizen in many ways. If you were born the United States. you can use your birth certificate or passport. However, if you were born outside of the U.S., you...

Canadian permanent residency allows an individual to enjoy many benefits that Canadian citizens enjoy. A foreign national on a student visa in Canada can apply to become a permanent resident by...

An E-3 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued exclusively to Australian nationals/citizens that allows them to live and work in the U.S. for a specific length of time. E-3 visa holders can bring...

To obtain a green card, an official from the Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may interview you and your spouse to determine your eligibility and credibility. Although this...

Social Security numbers and identification (ID) cards have a dependent relationship. You must first obtain a Social Security number before an ID card can be issued. Despite their relationship,...

Crossing the Canadian border is usually a straightforward experience. The biggest hassle is the long lines. It helps if you know what and what not to bring across the border.

Health insurance helps you pay for doctor and medical bills, which can quickly escalate in case of illness or injury. Generally, health insurance companies charge a monthly premium, along with a...

A Green Card is an immigration document issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to legal resident aliens, allowing them to live and work in the United States...

The Freedom of Information Act allows any person access to another persons' immigration records; however, the process must be done precisely and in writing. These records provide a vast amount of...

Administrative processing is a term used by American Immigration officials to describe a visa application that has been set aside for further review. Applications in administrative processing...

An L-1 visa allows a foreign national to enter and work in the United States temporarily. Generally, an L-1 visa is issued to the employee of an international company that has local offices in the...

A legal permanent resident is a citizen of another country who has been granted the legal right to live and work in the United States. There are several different ways a person may file for this...

The back of a Permanent Resident Card has useful information on it both in readable and embedded formats. Because of its holographic image, it is important to view the back of the card in bright...

Various types of petitioners file immigration applications. For instance, if you are married to a U.S. citizen, then your spouse can file a family-based petition. If you are a foreign employee,...

While the United States issues several visas each day, application procedures and processing times can last several months or years. If you currently reside in the United States, you might be able...

Filipino citizens are entitled to apply for a Philippine passport. Filipino nationals who were naturalized citizens of foreign countries are not entitled to use or renew their Philippine passports...

There are so many people who would love to move to Canada and be able to live there permanently. This is a dream that can come true. I am a prime example. I met a girl, now my wife, and we got...

An immigration marriage case refers to getting a lawful permanent resident status (green card) through marriage to a U.S citizen or a green card holder. It is considered a family-based green card...

On June 29, 1946, Congress enacted legislation to "facilitate the admission into the United States the fiancees or fiances of members of the armed forces of the United States."

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a special identification number issued by Service Canada to Canadian citizens and residents. A SIN is a vital part of everyday living in Canada, especially since...

Immigration to the United States can be a long and complex process. It can take anywhere from a year to more than a decade, and refusals are common. The two most common ways to immigrate to the US...

A permanent resident card is what an individual files for when they choose to live in a different country. An applicant can have a sponsor such as an employer or family member file for them to...

Diversity visas are reserved in allotments of 50,000 annually for residents of countries with low immigration rates to the United States.

In order to become a citizen of the United States, most adults born out of the U.S. must undergo a lengthy, expensive and complicated process known as "naturalization." To become naturalized, a...

Applicants for an immigrant visa in the United States usually require a sponsor. This sponsor can be a relative--either a spouse, parent or child--or an employer. Family members must either be...

Green Card is the common name given to a Permanent Resident Card that serves as proof that a person is a legal permanent resident of the United States. These cards are issued to immigrants who...

The fiancée visa (also called a marriage visa) is used when a current United States citizen becomes engaged to someone from another country. This non-immigrant visa allows the fiancée to...

Serving as a United States Immigration Officer can be a rewarding career choice. Whether choosing to adjudicate immigration petitions, or serve as a field officer with the Department of National...

Loss of citizenship is a serious issue. Losing your citizenship in the United States does not happen easily; aside from acts of treason, the only way to lose your citizenship is to renounce it in...