U.S. Immigration Made Easy

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Ready to move to the USA? Here’s the insider’s guide you need!

U.S. Immigration Made Easy covers every possible way to legally enter and live in the United States. The author explains how the immigration system really works, showing you how to qualify for:

• work visas
• student visas
• refugee status
• green cards
• citizenship
• and more

Table of Contents

Part I. Getting Started: U.S. Immigration Eligibility and Procedures

1. Where to Begin on Your Path Toward Immigration

• A. Roadmap to U.S. Immigration
• B. Immigration Eligibility Self-Quiz
• C. The Typical Application Process

2. Are You Already a U.S. Citizen?

• A. Acquisition of Citizenship Through Birth to U.S. Citizen Parents
• B. Automatic Derivation of U.S. Citizenship Through Naturalized Parents
• C. Obtaining Proof of U.S. Citizenship
• D. Dual Citizenship

3. Can You Enter or Stay in the U.S. at All?

• A. Particularly Troublesome Grounds of Inadmissibility
• B. Avoiding or Reversing an Inadmissibility Finding

4. Dealing With Paperwork, Government Officials, Delays, and Denials

• A. Getting Organized
• B. How to Obtain and Prepare Immigration Application Forms
• C. How to Obtain Needed Documents
• D. Before You Mail an Application
• E. Dealing With Delays
• F. Attending Interviews with USCIS or Consular Officials
• G. Procedures for USCIS Interviews
• H. What to Do If an Interview Is Going Badly
• I. What to Do If an Application is Denied
• J. When All Else Fails, Call Your U.S. Congressperson

5. Special Rules for Canadians and Mexicans

• A. Canadian Visitors and Other Nonimmigrants
• B. Special Work Privileges for Canadian and Mexican Visitors
• C. Simplified Procedures for Students and Exchange Visitors
• D. Preflight Inspections for Canadians

6. How and When to Find a Lawyer

• A. When Do You Need a Lawyer?
• B. Where to Get the Names of Good Immigration Lawyers
• C. How to Avoid Sleazy Lawyers
• D. How to Choose Among Lawyers
• E. Signing Up Your Lawyer
• F. Paying Your Lawyer
• G. Firing Your Lawyer
• H. Do-It-Yourself Legal Research

Part II. Introduction to Permanent U.S. Residence (Green Cards)

• A. Categories of Green Card Applicants
• B. How Many Green Cards Are Available?

7. Getting a Green Card Through Family Members in the U.S.

• A. Are You Eligible for a Green Card Through a Relative?
• B. Quick View of the Application Process
• C. Step One: Your U.S. Relative Files the Visa Petition
• D. Step Two: You Wait for an Available Visa
• E. Step Three: You Submit the Green Card Application
• F. Step Four: You Enter the U.S. With Your Immigrant Visa
• G. Removing Conditional Residence in Marriage Cases

8.Getting a K-1 Visa to Marry Your U.S. Citizen Fiancé

• A. Do You Qualify for a K-1 Visa?
  B. Quick View of How to Apply for a K-1 Visa
  C. Step One: Your U.S. Citizen Fiancé Submits a Visa Petition
  D. Step Two: You Follow Instructions from the National Visa Center
  E. Step Three: You Apply at a U.S. Consulate
  F. Step Four: You Enter the U.S. on Your Fiancé Visa

9. Getting a Green Card Through Employment

• A. Are You Eligible for a Green Card Through Employment?
• B. Quick View of the Application Process
• C. Step One: The Prevailing Wage Determination
• D. Step Two: Employer Advertising and Recruitment
• E. Step Three: Your Employer Seeks Labor Certification
• F. Step Four: Your Employer Files the Visa Petition
• G. Step Five: You Wait for an Available Visa Number
• H. Step Six: You Submit the Green Card Application
• I. Step Seven: Entering the U.S. With Your Immigrant Visa

10. Getting a Green Card Through the Diversity Visa Lottery

• A. Are You Eligible for a Green Card Through the Lottery?
• B. Quick View of the Application Process
• C. Step One: Registering for the Lottery
• D. Step Two: The Green Card Application
• E. Entering the U.S. With Your Immigrant Visa

11. Getting a Green Card as an Investor

• A. Are You Eligible for a Green Card Through Investment?
• B. Quick View of the Application Process
• C. Step One: You File a Visa Petition
• D. Step Two: You Await an Available Visa Number
• E. Step Three: You Apply for a Green Card
• F. Step Four: You Enter the U.S. Using Your Immigrant Visa
• G. Converting Your Conditional Residence into Permanent Residence

12. Getting a Green Card as a Special Immigrant

• A. Do You Qualify for a Green Card as a Special Immigrant?
• B. Quick View of the Application Process
• C. Step One: You File the Visa Petition
• D. Step Two: You Await an Available Visa Number
• E. Step Three: You Apply for a Green Card
• F. Step Four: You Enter the U.S. With Your Immigrant Visa

13. Humanitarian Protection: TPS, DED, Asylee, and Refugee Status

• A. Do You Qualify for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?
• B. How to Apply for Temporary Protected Status
• C. What Is Deferred Enforced Departure?
• D. Do You Qualify as a Refugee or Asylee?
• E. How to Apply for Refugee Status
• F. How to Apply for Political Asylum
• G. How to Get a Green Card as a Refugee or Asylee

14. After Your Approval for a Green Card

• A. How to Prove You're a U.S. Resident
• B. Traveling Abroad
• C. Your Immigrating Family Members' Rights
• D. Losing Your Permanent Resident Status
• E. How to Renew or Replace Your Green Card
• F. Green Cards and U.S. Citizenship
• G. Green Cards and U.S. Taxes

Part III. Nonimmigrant (Temporary) Visas

• A. Types of Nonimmigrant Visas
• B. Difference Between a Visa and a Status
• C. Time Limits on Nonimmigrant Visas
• D. At the Border
• E. Heightened Security Measures
• F. Effect of Nonimmigrant Visas on Green Cards
• G. Nonimmigrant Visas and U.S. Taxes
• H. Status Overstays and Automatic Cancellation of Visas

15. Getting a Business or Tourist (B-1 or B-2) Visa

• A. Do You Qualify for a Visitor Visa?
• B. How to Apply for a Visitor Visa
• C. Extensions of Stay

16. Getting a Temporary Specialty Worker (H-1B) Visa

• A. Do You Qualify for an H-1B Visa?
• B. Quick View of the H-1B Visa Application Process
• C. Step One: Your Employer Files an LCA
• D. Step Two: Your Employer Files a Visa Petition
• E. Step Three: Applicants Outside the U.S. Apply to a U.S. Consulate
• F. Step Four: You Enter the U.S. With Your H-1B Visa
• G. Extending Your U.S. Stay
• H. Your Rights as an H-1B Worker

17. Getting an H-2B (Temporary Nonagricultural Worker) Visa

• A. Do You Qualify for an H-2B Visa?
• B. Possibilities for a Green Card From H-2B Status
• C. Quick View of the H-2B Visa Application Process
• D. Step One: Your Employer Applies for Temporary Labor Certification
• E. Step Two: Your Employer Submits an H-2B Visa Petition
• F. Step Three: Applicants Outside the U.S. Apply to a U.S. Consulate
• G. Step Four: You Enter the U.S. With Your H-2B Visa
• H. Extending Your U.S. Stay

18. Getting a Temporary Trainee (H-3) Visa

• A. Do You Qualify for an H-3 Visa?
• B. Quick View of the H-3 Visa Application Process
• C. Step One: Your Employer Submits an H-3 Visa Petition
• D. Step Two: Applicants Outside the U.S. Apply to a U.S. Consulate
• E. Step Three: You Enter the U.S. With Your H-3 Visa
• F. Extending Your U.S. Stay

19. Getting an L-1 (Inter company Transferee) Visa

• A. Do You Qualify for an L-1 Visa?
• B. Possibilities for a Green Card From L-1 Status
• C. Quick View of the L-1 Visa Application Process
• D. Step One: Your U.S. Employer Files a Visa Petition
• E. Step Two: Applicants Outside the U.S. Apply to a U.S. Consulate
• F. Step Three: You Enter the U.S. With Your L-1 Visa
• G. Extending Your U.S. Stay

20. Getting an E-1 (Treaty Trader) Visa

• A. Do You Qualify for an E-1 visa?
• B. Quick View of the E-1 Visa Application Process
• C. How to Apply From Outside the U.S.
• D. How to Apply If You're in the U.S. .
• E. Using Your E-1 Visa to Enter the U.S.
• F. Extending Your U.S. Stay
• G. Visa Revalidation

21. Getting a Treaty Investor (E-2) Visa

• A. Do You Qualify for an E-2 Visa?
• B. Quick View of the E-2 Visa Application Process
• C. How to Apply From Outside the U.S.
• D. How to Apply If You're in the U.S.
• E. Using Your E-2 Visa to Enter the U.S.
• F. Extending Your U.S. Stay
• G. Revalidating Your Visa

22. Getting a Student (F-1 or M-1) Visa

• A. Do You Qualify for a Student Visa (M-1 or F-1)?
• B. How Long the Student Visa Will Last
• C. Quick View of the Student Visa Application Process
• D. Step One: Your School Issues a SEVIS I-20
• E. Step Two for Applicants Outside the U.S.: Applying at a U.S. Consulate
• F. Step Two for Some Applicants Inside the U.S.: Applying to USCIS for a Change of Status
• G. Step Three: You Enter the U.S. With Your Student Visa
• H. Extending Your Student Stay
• I. Getting Permission to Work
• J. Transferring to a Different School
• K. Changing Your Course of Studies

23. Getting a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa

• A. Do You Qualify for a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa?
• B. How Long the J-1 Visa Will Last
• C. Students: Comparing J-1 Visas to F-1 and M-1 Visas
• D. Can You Apply for a Green Card From J-1 Status?
• E. Quick View of the J-1 Visa Application Process 23/11
• F. Step One: Your Sponsoring Organization Issues a Certificate of Eligibility
• G. Step Two for Applicants Outside the U.S.: Applying at a U.S. Consulate
• H. Step Two for Applicants Inside the U.S.: You Apply to USCIS for a Change of Status
• I. Step Three: Entering the U.S. Using Your J-1 Visa
• J. Extending Your J-1 Stay in the U.S.
• K. Working as an Exchange Visitor
• L. Annual Reports for Foreign Medical Graduates

24. Getting a Visa as a Temporary Worker in a Selected Occupation (O, P, or R Visa)

• A. Do You Qualify for an O, P, or R Visa?
• B. Quick View of the O, P, and R Visa Application Process
• C. Step One: Your Employer Submits a Visa Petition
• D. Step Two: Applicants Outside the U.S. Apply to a U.S. Consulate
• E. Step Three: You Enter the U.S. With Your O, P, or R Visa
• F. Extending Your U.S. Stay

Glossary

Index