Immigration

• Temp Visas
  

  This page explains how you can obtain a temporary visa to visit, study or work in the United States.

  It contains a number of articles and links explaining the various types of temporary visas. It explains the difference between a "visa" and a "status". It provides you with the procedure for obtaining a visa abroad as well as detailing the process of obtaining an extension of stay and a change of status in the U.S. It links to the online visa appointment system for U.S. Consulates in Canada and Mexico.

• Green Cards
  

  This page explains how to obtain a green card also known as permanent residence.

  Permanent residence enables a person to live and work in the United States for the rest of his/her life. Most people obtain green cards by being sponsored by their employers or their relatives, and this page contains dozens of articles and links explaining who qualifies and how the process works. Other people obtain permanent residence through the green card lottery, through asylum and through various other means. Scroll down this page to learn how you can qualify to receive a green card even if you have no special job skills or relatives who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

• Citizenship
  

  This page explains how to become a citizen of the United States.

  Lawful permanent residents may apply for naturalization. We provide dozens of articles and links explaining who is eligible for naturalization as well as the application procedures, including an online, self-correcting history and government examination. Other persons may obtain U.S. citizenship at birth or while they are minors through their parents or grandparents. It is also possible to have your naturalization revoked. Finally, we link to articles regarding who is eligible to be a "dual" citizen, a citizen of more than one country.

• Waiting Times
  

  This page provides you with the most recent processing times for petitions and applications submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (formerly the INS), the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of State (DOS). .

  We link to the most recent processing times for each of four USCIS Service Centers and to the National Benefits Center in Missouri. We also link to the processing times of all of 83 USCIS District Offices and Suboffices. The District Offices process applications for (1) adjustment of status, (2) employment authorization documents (EADs), (3) travel permits ("advance parole"), and (4) applications for naturalization. We list the latest processing times of appeals decided by the INS's Administration Appeals Office (AAO). The AAO decides the appeals of denials of most USCIS petitions. Also, we link to the Labor Department's page entitled "Processing dates for labor certification applications". These include both state and federal processing times for both regular and reduction in recruitment (RIR) labor certifications. Finally, we link to the State Department's "Visa Wait Times" page. Simply enter the consulate where you wish to apply for a temporary nonimmigrant visa, and you will be informed as to how long it takes to obtain such a visa at any visa-issuing consulate post overseas.

• Government
  

  This page enables you to read and research all laws and regulations relating to immigration online.

  In addition, we link to internal INS Operating Instructions and other hard-to-find sources of agency policies and procedures.

  We also link to the websites of the all major government departments and agencies which relate to immigration laws and procedures. Frequently, we link not only to the homepages of the agencies, but to specific and useful pages within their websites in order to save you many hours of time and effort.

  By clicking on the links listed below, you may either be transported to the official website of the particular government department or agency, or in the case of the INS, the State Department and the Labor Department, to another page on our website which will provide you with dozens of helpful links to specific pages within the website of the government agency.

• Deportation
  

  When you attend a removal (deportation) proceeding, make sure that you walk into the courtroom accompanied by the most experienced and knowledgeable attorney that you can find.

  Why? Because the government will be represented by an attorney who has probably appeared in hundreds, or even thousands, of such hearings. (I know - I once served as an INS Trial Attorney.) If your attorney is not knowledgeable and experienced, you will be at a distinct disadvantage.

  Too many people facing removal proceedings do not take the time to find the best and most experienced attorney to represent them. They look for an inexpensive attorney or, worse yet, appear without an attorney. This is a recipe for disaster. Why? Because you are creating a record before the Immigration Judge. If you lose, and then hire a new (and improved) attorney to appeal the Judge's decision, he will be saddled with the record of proceedings that you, or your inexpensive (and probably inexperienced) attorney, created before the Judge.

  The record of proceedings consists of the transcript of the hearing and the exhibits, including copies of any applications submitted on your behalf.If you do not make a good record before the Judge, it may be difficult for your new attorney to win your appeal.

  The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), which rules on appeals, never sees or hears from you.They only see the printed record, the decision of the Immigration Judge and the attorneys'legal briefs.

  Once the BIA rules against you and you finally decide to hire a great immigration attorney to take your case to Federal Court, the court must rely on the record of proceedings. You never get the chance to testify in court.

  With this in mind, use the information contained in the following articles and links tohelp you avoid deportation, and become a permanent resident of the United States.