Understanding Immigration Types in the US: Who all are Eligible?

More than 6 million applicants around the globe express their interest to immigrate to the US every year, however, not every application is approved. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS, has laid stringent immigration guidelines to ensure only authorized people enter and stay in the US to maintain harmony in the country. Among an exorbitant number of applications, in order to ensure that your application gets the weightage it deserves is quite challenging. That’s why most people hire an immigration lawyer in Texas or elsewhere to stay on top of immigrant applications. Before contacting an immigration lawyer, it’s advisable to get a brief understanding of the ways immigration laws work in the US.

To help, the blog post discusses different immigration categories in the US.

Family Immigration

Under the family immigration or family-based permanent residency category, only US citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents can invite their spouse and family members to stay in the US. The program, however, caps the maximum number of relatives that can be invited and only immediate relatives qualify under the program. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the legal body governing immigration laws also defines immediate relatives.

They can be:

• Spouse of a US citizen
• Unmarried kids of US citizens below 21 years of age
• Parents of US citizens, however, the petitioner needs to be at least 21 at the time of applying

Employment Immigration

The employment immigration category allows skilled, overseas workers to lawfully enter and work in the US. Work permits or visas awarded under this category can either be temporary or permanent, depending on a range of complex factors. A temporary visa allows employers to hire overseas talent including technical workers, religious workers and diplomats meeting the requirements through 20 different visa types including the most coveted- H1B. A permanent visa, on the other hand, entertains applicants with outstanding contributions in the field of science, arts, research and business. The number of permanent visas granted in a year is capped to 140,000 that also covers spouses and relatives of qualified applicants and the immigration department revises these numbers as and when required, depending on global economic conditions and several other factors.

Naturalization

Naturalization or becoming an US citizen is the most lucrative, but competitive way to permanently stay in the US and get exclusive federal benefits. To get a US citizenship, a person must hold a LPR status for at least 3 years or 5 years if green card is granted under US citizen spouse grounds. The applicant must be at least 18 years of age with an unblemished record in the country and must furnish proof of continuous residence.

The entire process can be overwhelming at once and to increase your odds of success, you can hire an immigration lawyer in Texas or elsewhere in the US.

The Diversity Visa Program

Though the USCIS receives thousands of immigrant applications every year, application rates are lower for some countries. To maintain diversity among immigrants, US introduced the diversity visa program. Under the program, countries who have sent 55,000 applications in the last five years get an edge. In other words, a person has a fair chance of immigrating if they belong to one of these few listed nations. Even then, the process is fairly intricate and therefore, it is advisable to seek assistance from an immigration lawyer to learn the finer lines of the process.

Wrapping Up

Immigration laws in the US and any other country for that matter are dynamic and intricate. The government revises the laws on regular intervals depending on various internal and external factors. In recent amendments, under the presidency of newly elect, Mr. Donald Trump the US immigration process has become trickier than ever. If you are willing to immigrate to the US, but confused about the way to proceed, hire an immigration lawyer. You can also seek assistance of lawyer referral services, which can help you find a reputable and experienced immigration lawyer in Texas or in any other state.

I am an avid reader and writer with a keen interest in Law. I like to spread awareness about existing laws in Austin, TX through my comprehensive and thoroughly researched articles. In my spare time, I loves to travel and spend time with my pets.