Immigration Blogs

l1-visa

Intracompany Transfer The L visa is a US visa for Intracompany transferees. There are two L visas – L-1A, Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager, and L-1B, Intracompany Transferee Specialized Knowledge. The purpose of the L visa is for US employers to transfer professionals to a United States location to work temporarily. L visas are nonimmigrant visas, meaning they are temporary and not eligible for adjustment of status to permanent residence (green card). L-1 A Visa The L-1A visa is a visa for executives and managers of international companies. The purpose of the L-1A visa is for US employers to transfer managers and executives to work temporarily in the United States. To qualify for an L-1A visa, you must meet the

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U.S. Citizenship Cost

Applying for U.S. citizenship is a process that takes quite some time to get through. To being the process you must first determine your eligibility to file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. The process ends with the naturalization ceremony. Below we explain how much you can expect to spend on the naturalization fee. Intro on U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Naturalization allows U.S. permanent residents to become U.S. citizens. In general, to apply to become a U.S. citizen you will have to meet a series of requirements such as: Be at least 18 years old Be a permanent resident (green card holder) for a specific period of time depending on your situation It’s 5 years of permanent residency for most people,

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U.S. Citizenship Form

It’s through the process of naturalization that a non-U.S. citizen is able to obtain U.S. citizenship. In general, you must first be a permanent resident (green card holder) for a certain period of time before becoming eligible to file the U.S. citizenship form: Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Intro on U.S. citizenship If you were not born in the U.S., it may be possible for you to become a U.S. citizen either through your parents or through naturalization as long as you can meet certain requirements. In general, you can apply to gain citizenship through your parents if: You had a parent or parents who were citizens at the time of your birth OR You were under the age of

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Adjustment of Status

Every year thousands of people from all over the world apply to become permanent residents (green card holders). It’s a highly coveted status because it allows you to live and work in the U.S. legally and permanently. And it’s a status that doesn’t expire for you once you’ve been approved. According to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, the USCIS issues green cards to about a million immigrants each year. Most of these immigrants get their green cards through adjustment of status. What is the Adjustment of Status? Adjustment of status is the process of applying for a green card while already inside the U.S. In general, this means that you don’t have to leave the country to

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Proof of Citizenship

Though the U.S. constitution and laws protect anyone living in the U.S., there are many benefits and rights that are reserved exclusively to U.S. citizens. To be able to take advantage of all the benefits, it’s important to have proof of your U.S. citizenship. What Documents Prove U.S. Citizenship? The documents that you can use to prove your U.S. citizenship depend on how you became a U.S. citizen: For natural born citizens (those born inside the U.S.), an official birth certificate showing your U.S. place of birth can be proof of your U.S. citizenship. If you have lost your birth certificate, you can contact the Bureau of Vital statistics in the state where you were born and request a copy.

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Renew Green Card

Thousands of people gain legal permanent resident status in the U.S. every year. Once approved for LPR status, their proof of status becomes the permanent resident card, also known as a green card. Most green card holders receive a green card that is valid for 10 years. Some, however, receive a green card valid for only two years. These are called conditional green cards. It’s a legal requirement for permanent residents to have a valid green card with them at all times. How to Renew Green Card To renew your green card, Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card can be filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) online or by mail. You must be inside

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Resident Alien Card

A resident alien card generally referred to as a green card, shows that a person is authorized to live and work in the U.S. permanently. The card is issued to people from other countries (foreign nationals) who have been approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for permanent residency through a family or work sponsorship. Who is a resident alien? The term resident alien is used to describe someone who is allowed to live and work in the U.S., even though they are not U.S. citizens. There are other terms that may be used to describe a resident alien. Sometimes you may see the terms “permanent resident”, “legal permanent resident” and/or “green card holder” used interchangeably. What

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Form I-90 Instructions

Having a valid permanent resident card (green card) is a convenient way to prove your authorization to live and work in the U.S. legally. For example, all an employer really needs to see from you to know that you’ve got the permission to work is your green card. However, having a green card is important not just because it helps you prove your status, but carrying one is also a requirement. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) states that: “Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him… Any alien who fails to comply with

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U.S. Citizenship Test – Preparation Guide

The U.S. citizenship test is one of the last steps of the naturalization process. You should prepare yourself for it with the right U.S. citizenship test prep tool, such as our U.S. citizenship test DVD. When do you take the U.S. Citizenship Test? Once you file your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization and have gone to your bio metric (fingerprint) appointment, you will receive a notice with an appointment date and time for your citizenship (naturalization) interview. It’s during this citizenship interview that you will take the U.S. citizenship test. The naturalization processing time (from filing Form N-400 to getting your naturalization certificate) varies. In some cases, it can take 6 months or even a year. No two cases are

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How to Become a US Citizen Through Marriage?

Obtaining U.S. citizenship through marriage starts off the same way most paths to naturalization start: by first getting a green card. Get a Green Card Through Marriage Once you and your U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (green card holder) spouse have married, he or she should sponsor you for a green card. The process of applying for a green card will be different depending on whether you are already inside the U.S. or outside the U.S. If you are already inside the U.S., you and your spouse should file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative and, if you’re eligible, Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. If you are outside the U.S., your spouse should file

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