Understanding How the United States Immigration System Works

Whether you’re interested in working, living, or studying in the United States, understanding how our immigration system works is an important part of that decision. There are many different factors that go into it, and it can be hard to get a grasp of it all. This article will help you understand some of the basics of our immigration laws and how they work.

Family-Based Immigration

Family-based immigration in the United States is a legal immigration system in which citizens can sponsor family members for green cards. It is the most popular method of legal immigration to the U.S., accounting for 65% of all legal immigration.

Family-based immigration in the United States is the foundation of our immigration system. This category includes unmarried minor children, spouses, parents, and other immediate relatives of United States citizens. In fact, immigrants in this group contribute to the social and economic wellbeing of the U.S. and their local communities.

Family-based immigrants also play a significant role in business development. Immigrants in this category tend to invest in human capital, which increases the well-being of the current workforce. They can also provide care for elderly family members.

Employment-Based Immigration

Employment-based immigration is a process where an individual seeks a lawful permanent residence in the United States. This can be accomplished through the right combination of education and experience.

The United States has historically relied on immigrants to support its economy. As a result, immigration is a complicated process. A person seeking an employment-based green card must work with an experienced immigration lawyer. Despite the complexity, the process is not impossible.

There are five types of employment-based visas that grant permanent residency in the United States. They are referred to as the Employment First Preference (EB-1), the Employment Second Preference (EB-2), the National Interest Waiver (NIW), the Special Immigrant Category (SIC), and the Multinational Executive or Professional (EB-1).

Refugees and Asylees

In the United States, there are two pathways for humanitarian relief. One pathway is the refugee resettlement process. The other is the withholding of removal, which is more complex. Both processes are designed to grant legal status to individuals who have fled persecution in their home countries.

When you apply for asylum, you are required to prove that you have a well-founded fear of persecution. If your application is approved, you can then remain in the U.S. until conditions in your country improve. You can also petition for family members to join you.

You can obtain a green card (lawful permanent resident) if you are granted asylum. You can also obtain citizenship after you have lived in the United States for a certain amount of time.

The Diversity Visa Program

The Diversity Visa program is a United States Immigration System program that allows immigrants from underrepresented countries and regions to come to the United States. Unlike the lottery system that selects winners at random, the Diversity Visa program allocates a quota of 50,000 visas per year to eligible countries. It is called the DV Program for short.

Applicants to the program must meet basic requirements. Among these are education and work experience. For example, applicants must have completed two years of work in the required occupation. They also must have a photo that meets the government’s standards.

The Department of State conducts a lottery to select a few hundred applicants each year. Those selected will be issued Green Cards. The program is designed to be a win-win for applicants and the US.

U.S. Citizenship

The United States Citizenship and Immigration System (USCIS) administers the immigration laws in the United States. It is the successor of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). USCIS is responsible for enforcing immigration laws, protecting national security, and processing immigration applications.

Immigrants who wish to obtain permanent residence can apply for a green card. Green cards are granted to immigrants who meet basic requirements. They can also be granted to people who are victims of crimes. Generally, most green cards require sponsorship by a relative.