Temporary Protected Status, also called TPS, is a valuable option for those immigrants who meet all the standards for this status. This is a temporary status, and has to be renewed quite often, within months or a year or two. However, for those in the USA without any other status options, this status is highly valuable for providing safety from immigration removal proceedings and a work permission card, which allows the TPS holder to work and study in the USA. TPS is only available to immigrants from a country designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as eligible for TPS. This designation is specific to both a country and a time period. TPS application periods are only open at certain times for applicants from a country, so staying organized and understanding both the time limits and the country limits is essential for success. USCIS Overview Of Eligibility Guidelines: To be eligible for TPS, you…Read More
Becoming a naturalized citizen in the United States is a powerful action, and gives an immigrant stability and belonging in this country. This comes with both rights and responsibilities: a U.S. citizen can vote and is fully eligible to participate in American democracy. Who Can File For Naturalization? Naturalization is the application process to become a U.S. citizen from a person who is not yet a U.S. citizen. A naturalization applicant has to first be a U.S. lawful permanent resident, or green card holder. If you have a green card, you can then consider becoming a U.S. citizen as long as you meet several conditions. These include: You live in the USA; You have spent more than 50% of your time in the USA in the recent past; If you have spent over 6 months outside the USA at a single time, since obtaining a green card, you may face additional inquiry into whether you…Read More
Our spouses are often the most important people in our lives. It is cruel to separate couples, so U.S. immigration policy favors U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents who petition for their foreign spouse. As a result, marriage is one of the easiest and most straightforward paths to the right to live and work in the United States. This also means, however, that some marriages may be placed under additional scrutiny; this article explains what to do about it, including: Why and to whom you need to prove that your marriage is valid. Warning signs that a marriage might not be in good faith, and how to deal with them. Documents and evidence that can help you prove a genuine marriage. Why Do I Need To Prove My Marriage Is Valid? U.S. law allows U.S. citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouses for immigration to the U.S.. In fact, a U.S. citizen petition for…Read More
The United States has always been, even before it was an independent country, a place of refuge for people fleeing persecution or seeking a haven in which to start a new life. This article explains the fundamentals of the asylum-seeking process for the U.S., including: When and where to file for asylum. Who is eligible to seek asylum status in the United States. How to apply for asylum and what documents need to be attached. Can I File For Asylum In The U.S.? Asylum is an application for immigration benefits that must be filed when a person is inside the U.S. An asylum application must show that the applicant has a credible fear of persecution for a protected reason in their home country. If you fail to apply for asylum within one year of entering the United States, it becomes much more difficult to do so. Am I Eligible For Asylum In The U.S.? To…Read More
For such a small piece of paper and plastic, the U.S. Green Card is immensely treasured and sought after around the world. This article covers the basics of requesting a United States Green Card as well as the alternative, which is applying for a Visa from outside the U.S. You will learn: The correct form for applying for a Green Card from within the United States. Who is eligible to apply for this residency permit. Why filing for a green card is often preferable to the alternative. What Is The Procedure For Applying For A Green Card In The U.S.? Your path to residency and a U.S. Green Card starts with Form I-485, or the Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. This form can be used by someone in the United States to apply for lawful permanent resident status (i.e., the “green card”). It is often called an application for adjustment of status…Read More
Few things are more heartbreaking than a family divided by distance or as heartwarming as being able to reunite that family in their new home. This article covers the basics of family-based immigration to the United States, including: Why you need a family connection to immigration and which family members qualify in the U.S. The strengths and limits of different familial relationships for U.S. immigration purposes. How to start a family-based immigration application and how long it is expected to last. Why Do I Need A Family Relationship To Immigrate To The U.S.? Over history, the United States has developed a complex immigration system to account for various categories of people who are allowed to ask for immigration status in the U.S. Simply wanting to immigrate to the U.S. is not enough; you must have a foundation to ask to immigrate. While there are many different foundations available, one major foundation for immigration to the…Read More
