Immigration Blog Archives - Page 32 of 39 - VISANOW Global Immigration

October 2013 visa bulletin says F2A category is no longer current

By VISANOW Contributor|2013-11-08T17:16:19+00:00September 10, 2013|

The October 2013 visa bulletin was released this week and as we predicted, the family- based F2A category for green cards was not current for very long. When the priority date falls back in time as it has for the F2A category it is known as “retrogression.” The F2A category, which is designated for the minor unmarried children and spouses of green card holders, remains current through September 30, 2013 but it will retrogress for October and probably for much longer after that.

Visa wait times by category and country are outlined each month by the U.S. State Department in the visa bulletin. We discussed the different categories and wait times in our recent blog about visa wait times. If you would like to know more about each visa category and why some family-based visas and work-based visas have such long wait times, we suggest reading it.

Here are the priority dates for the October 2013 visa bulletin:

The priority dates show which green card applications are currently being processed, therefore a priority date of September 22, 1993 means USCIS is just now beginning to process applications submitted in September 1993.

The F2A category is luckily still very close to being current: September 8, 2013 is the priority date for all categories except Mexico, which has a September 1, 2013 priority date. This means F2A applicants will still not likely wait very long in comparison to the other family-based visa categories if they choose to apply soon.

Making a difference for all DREAMers at NIU’s immigration panel

By VISANOW Contributor|2013-11-11T08:49:24+00:00September 5, 2013|

Ever since I started college, I always had to face more struggles than other students. My freshman year I was afraid I would not be able to return for second semester because I could not pay for it. Even with my 3.8 GPA at the time, and all the multiple extracurricular activities, I still could not get any financial aid from the government. I was afraid to go ask for help because I did not know who in the school was an ally to DREAMers. My lifelong dream of getting an education was slipping away like water running through my fingers. I was losing hope and felt like it was not worth it anymore. Why struggle so much? Why work three times as hard just to see if maybe I would return? I felt hopeless and alone.

In the Northern Illinois University Latino Resource Center I found my salvation. Even if each year the story repeats itself, I know I will come back as long as I work hard in school and stay involved because I have the support of staff members, DREAM Action NIU, and other allies. I consider myself lucky because not many DREAMers have the strength to look for help; they just give up.

Last Tuesday, October 27, 2013 I was given the opportunity to be at a historical event for NIU. NIU’s President Baker came out and in front of the media and agreed to help DREAMers. This means many DREAMers to come will not have to go through the struggles that I did. Discrimination will decrease and hopefully we will get financial aid as well as emotional support.

During the event I was the only undocumented person in the panel. I represented all the DREAMers at NIU. I felt honored to be selected for this historical event sponsored by the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition and NIU. As a 21 year-old woman with a learning disability, I was shocked to be selected. I told them my story, how I came here, and how I was raised in a violent neighborhood. I informed them that I graduated in top 20 of 1,100 students in my high school. I spoke of my involvement in the executive board of the first Latin Honor Society at NIU. I mentioned that I am a mentor for other students through various groups and that I am in the Honors Program at NIU. During the summer time I worked three jobs, went to school and interned at VISANOW. Even with all this I informed them that I still struggle to come back each semester. President Baker acknowledged that the school does need to help us.

“It should not be this difficult for a student like Christian to get an education,” President Baker said. The other members of the panel were Billy Lawless, chair of the Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform, Emily Gray, executive director of World Relief, Manny Sanchez , chair of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Employment Law Forum, and Lauren Carini, student at Wheaton College.

It has been a short journey for me. Two years ago I was living a double life not letting anybody know that I was undocumented. I was afraid of applying to DACA and I did not even know if I would finish my first year at NIU. Today I am two years from graduating with honors from one of the best business schools in the Midwest. I have fought for a voice to be heard not only for myself but for my people, for my family. As a DREAMer I am not the problem, I am one of the millions of solutions. To other DREAMers struggling like me, I tell you do not lose hope. Never let anybody tell you it’s impossible. On behalf of DREAM Action NIU and all DREAMers that attend NIU I thank President Baker for his support.

U.S. visa wait times: Who’s waiting and for how long?

By VISANOW Contributor|2015-07-15T13:23:12+00:00September 4, 2013|

Not all United States visas are created equal. And when it comes to relocating to the U.S., citizens of countries with a high volume of immigrants must wait a great deal longer than others.

Immigrant visas are designated for individuals who wish to relocate permanently to the United States, and depending on your personal and professional circumstances, they can be very difficult to obtain. Over 4 million foreign citizens are currently waiting for the opportunity to move permanently to the U.S. with a green card.

U.S. Visa Wait Times for Foreign Workers

Employment-based immigrant visa petitions will commonly take less time than family-based visas for a number of reasons. There are far fewer employment-based applications due to low government caps, and the work-based visa application process requires the applicant and his or her United States employer to provide an immense and exceptionally detailed amount of information before proceeding.

The U.S. has five major types of employment-based green cards: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4 and EB-5. Their wait times depend on the applicant’s country or origin and priority level. Currently the EB-2 visa (2^nd priority employment-based green card) and the EB-3 visa (3^rd priority employment-based green card) have applicants waiting to be processed since as far back as 2003. In contrast, the EB-1 visas (1^st priority) are “current” which means that USCIS will begin to process those applications as soon as they are received.

U.S Visa Wait Times for Family Members

Like employment-based visas, family visas or green card petitions are segmented into different priority levels. Applicants with U.S. citizen family petitioners will have priority over those with family members who only have green cards.

The different types of family-sponsored visa categories are roughly as follows:

F1: The unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
F2: The spouses and children of Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs or green card holders)
F2A: Spouses and Children of LPRs
F2B: Unmarried Adult Children of LPRs
F3: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
F4: Brothers and sisters of adult U.S. citizens

According to the most recent visa bulletin from the U.S. State Department, there is currently no backlog for the F2A category, a rare occasion that we detailed in a previous blog post. Potential applicants from other categories must wait a notoriously long time. For example, the F4 category has individuals waiting for their turn to apply since 1990. Mexican applicants in the F1 category (children of U.S. citizens) are still waiting from as far back as 1993 for their visa to be processed.

Visa Wait Times by Country of Origin

U.S. immigration policy limits the yearly amount of green cards granted to citizens of a specific country, which mean that high-volume immigration countries like India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines endure the worst of the U.S. visa wait times. With the passage of comprehensive immigration reform, immigration experts and attorneys are hopeful that some of these wait times will be minimized so that the United States can more realistically accommodate the American businesses and individuals seeking a new life in the United States.

What is the Schengen Visa and who can use it?

By VISANOW Contributor|2013-11-08T17:30:13+00:00September 3, 2013|

Recently we talked about the visa waiver program and how it facilitates movement and temporary migration for certain foreign citizens traveling to the U.S. Similar to the visa waiver program, Europe’s Schengen Visa facilitates international travel for citizens of designated countries. The Schengen Visa is convenient because it allows travelers access to 26 European countries at once with only one point of entry.

Origins of the Schengen Visa

Originally implemented by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands in 1985, the Schengen Borders Agreement promotes free movement, European unity, and international collaboration by lessening border controls within an area that contains nearly 5,000 miles of land boundaries. Named after the town in Luxembourg where it was signed, the Schengen agreement abolished many of the checks in place at border areas throughout Western and Central Europe. Almost 30 years later, the Schengen Area contains 26 countries. Four more European Union member countries are legally bound to join the Schengen area in the near future. The United Kingdom and Ireland have opted out of the Schengen agreement due to their concerns that island countries have different needs and expectations when managing their international borders.

The Schengen visa is the name given to the travel visa needed to visit anywhere in the Schengen Area. Once a foreign citizen has obtained his or her Schengen visa, he or she can move freely throughout the Schengen Area without worrying about multiple checks at customs and border patrol.

Do United States citizens need a Schengen Visa?

If you are a U.S. citizen with a valid passport who is traveling for business or tourism, you do not need to apply for the Schengen Visa. The United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, and many other North and South American countries have visa-free access to the Schengen Area for up to 90 days at a time. Asian and African countries tend to have the most restrictions to the Schengen area, which means they require a Schengen Visa. See a map of the Schengen Visa restrictions by country here.

Schengen Visa Restrictions

Like the U.S. travel visa, activities on the Schengen Visa are mostly limited to business trips and tourism. One of the most important rules for Schengen visitors to remember is the restriction on time. 90 days is the maximum amount of time a traveler is allowed in the Schengen Area within a 180 day period. This applies even if a citizen hails from a visa-free country like the United States. Your passport must be valid for at least 90 days after your arrival in the Schengen Area or you will not be admitted. You may apply to readjust your visa status while in the Schengen area if you wish to stay longer than 90 days.

Entering the US with the Visa Waiver Program

By VISANOW Contributor|2016-02-04T14:05:36+00:00August 23, 2013|

What is the Visa Waiver Program, and what kind of travel does it permit?

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries (there are currently 37, also mapped out here) to travel to the Unites States without a visa if they will be staying for 90 days or less and meet all requirements. Citizens of all other nations wanting to visit the U.S. for tourism must apply in advance for the U.S. visitor visa (B visa.)

When traveling under the VWP, the purpose of travel must be permitted on a Visitor (B-1 or B-2) Visa”this includes business, tourism, visiting, or pleasure. For example, plans to travel to the U.S. to attend a business convention or conference, visit with friends or relatives, or pursue medical treatment could all qualify as permissible intentions under the VWP.

What kind of travel activities are not allowed under the VWP?

Pursuing study (for credit), employment, work as information media, or permanent residence in the U.S would not be permitted under the VWP and would require a work visa. For example, entering the U.S. to attend training for which you are being paid or enrolling in classes that count as credit towards your formal education would not be allowed under the VWP.

What are some requirements that need to be met to be eligible under the VWP?

VWP travelers must be from one of the 37 participating countries and must have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to travelling in the U.S. The travel must be carried out on an approved air or sea carrier, and a round trip ticket must be in possession. The traveler cannot have prior visa denials or ineligibilities and must have a record of complying with U.S. admissions policies. The traveler’s passport must also meet certain requirements in order to be VWP eligible.

Can I travel to Canada or Mexico if I am in the U.S. as a VWP traveler?

Short trips to Canada or Mexico while in the U.S. under the VWP are generally permitted. The length of time of a total stay, including such a short trip, must be 90 days or less.

Where can I find more information about the Visa Waiver Program?

Detailed information about admissions and entry to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program can be found on the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection website.

If you’re looking to engage in more activities than just those permitted under the VWP, VISANOW can help you process your U.S. non-immigrant visa. Check out our U.S. Work Visas informational page! And if you have other questions, feel free to contact us or get connected on Facebook and Twitter.

The EB-5 Investor Visa Program is More Popular Than Ever

By VISANOW Contributor|2013-10-31T18:24:36+00:00August 22, 2013|

The EB-5 Investor Visa is one of the lesser-known avenues to citizenship in the U.S., but demand for them among foreign national investors is skyrocketing. Since the program began over 20 years ago, over 29,000 EB-5 investor visas have been issued to foreign national investors looking to move the United States. Since its inception, the EB-5 program has generated approximately $6.8 billion in foreign investments in American companies and created at least 50,000 American jobs.

Most of the success of the EB-5 has been very recent: 75% of all EB-5 visas have been issued since 2008 thanks to the U.S. economic downtown and the resulting loss of capital among American investors. USCIS has recently increased their staff for the EB-5 program from 10 to 50 employees. One of the biggest beneficiaries of the EB-5 investor visa program has been the U.S. hotel industry, as many foreign investors see hotels as a “safe investment that works well in a variety of regions in the United States.

What Are the EB-5 Investor Visas Requirements?

The EB-5 investor visa is a special type of employment-based green card available to foreign nationals who can invest either $500,000 or $1,000,000 of their own money (not a loan) to start a new business that creates at least 10 jobs in the United States. The $500,000 investment (by far the most common) requires the EB-5 investor to certify to USCIS they are building a business in a designated “target area – an area of high unemployment or a rural area in need of business development. Another common scenario is multiple investors pooling their money into a multi-million dollar investment.

Unlike other employment-based green cards like the EB-2 and EB-3, EB-5 investors petition themselves and do not need an employer sponsorship. Like all legal permanent residents, EB-5 green card recipients must remain in the US for more than 6 months each year, or they risk jeopardizing their permanent residence status. They are subjects to all the same restrictions and qualifications as other green card recipients, and much more.

Without a doubt, the EB-5 application process requires a great deal of patience and legal expertise. All potential EB-5 investor visa applicants must submit a mountain of personal and financial information to USCIS in order to get their case approved. Extensive research and knowledge of U.S. immigration law, employment law, and the EB-5 program in particular are key for processing any successful case.

How Many EB-5 Investor Visas Are Issued Each Year?

The EB-5 Visa is open to all nationalities, with no more than 10,000 EB-5 green cards issued per year. This number includes EB-5 spouses and dependents. No more than 7% of all EB-5 investor visas can be issued to one single nationality unless the cap has not been reached.

Up until recently, USCIS never came close to issuing the 10,000 EB-5 visa limit. The 2013 fiscal year cap has not yet been reached, but it is expected to come very close to 10,000. Looking at the accelerated growth of the EB-5 investor visa program over the last 5 years, there is little doubt the program will cap out early in the 2014 fiscal year, much like the H-1B visa program.

International Competitors to the EB-5 Investor Visa program

The EB-5 Investor Visa program owes a great deal of its success to wealthy Chinese immigrants looking to grow their business in a more open, safe, business-friendly environment. Countries around the world have begun to compete for wealthy Chinese immigrants to settle permanently and develop failing Western economies. Southern European countries that have recently suffered extreme economic hardship like Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, and even Spain have developed programs that reward immigrants with permanent residence or long-term visas in exchange for real estate investment.

In May, Australia issued its first “significant investor visa to a wealthy Chinese immigrant who had to invest at least $5 million to grow his business there. Caribbean nations like St. Kitts have extremely lax requirements for investment visas in the hopes of beating out bigger competitors like Canada, Australia, and the United States.

The Future of EB-5 Visas in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill

The EB-5 Investor Visa program has been praised by right-leaning and pro-business groups for its benefits to the U.S. economy and job creation. It’s an easy “win for both Democrats and Republicans to support the program, and the Senate’s 2013 immigration reform bill expands the EB-5 program quite a bit. Two major changes to the program outlined in the Senate bill are 1) spouses and children (minor dependents) will no longer count towards the 10,000 visa cap, and 2) per-country quotas will be eliminated, ostensibly to benefit Chinese investors.

If you have more questions about EB-5 visas or how to secure one with an investment, please contact us for more information.

3 College DREAMers, 3 Different Countries, 1 Struggle

By VISANOW Contributor|2013-11-11T11:12:15+00:00August 21, 2013|

I interviewed three undocumented college students who all who come from different backgrounds. I wanted to compare how they view the struggles of being undocumented. These DREAMERs, one European, one Asian, and one Hispanic, study in different colleges and are in different places in their studies, but they all struggle with the same issue.

A DREAMER from Albania

Talking to an undocumented student from Europe I realized that we share the same problems but we face different struggles that come from being undocumented. The person that I interviewed showed no real worries. He has never been questioned for his legal status in a public setting. I concluded that it was because of his looks. This person had a white complexion with light eyes and his English is impressive for the 4 years he has been here.

I was curious to know why he had come to the USA if Europe is supposed to be better economically. His reason was that in his homeland everything was easy, he had money, a home but his mother thought it would be better here for them. They came using tourist visas and over stayed the estimated visiting days- just like my family. He was disappointed when he arrived here because he expected something better. However his mother forced him to stay. When he was old enough to leave by himself, he didn’t want to because he found here the piece he was missing in his home land. In his case he found struggles making his life interesting and he found a new reason for life. For him, the struggle of being undocumented is not as difficult and his wealth back in his homeland has permitted him a comfortable life style. In my opinion, not all of Europeans are as lucky as him.

A DREAMER from the Philippines

A wonderful Asian woman also shared her story with me. She is currently attending college, works and has a four year old boy name Buddy. At first glance, everyone thinks that she has it all put together. People believe that it is easy for her to have a 3.6 GPA as well as to manage being a single mother and to provide for her son with no problem. This happens because she keeps her immigration status very private. Only a few people know of her real struggles. Once you get to know her you realize she struggles to pay out of pocket for her education because she is undocumented. You can tell she has been through discrimination from her past partner. Even with all the struggles she faces, she still manages to be extremely involved in the community. She brings Buddy to DREAM Action meetings. She teaches him that even if they do not have much he still has to give back. She also has served as the president of Phi Theta Kappa and Vice President for Intercultural Student Association. She is very involved with her community church. Like many Dreamers she was brought here as a child at the age of eight. She completed her elementary and high school years in the Oak Park community.

A DREAMER from Mexico

I also interviewed a person that fits the stereotype of an immigrant. He grew up in the United States and as a child he encountered the hardships of being an illegal Immigrant. He told me that during fourth grade he received an award for an art piece he created. The award was a savings bond that he could use to pay for college. He could not retrieve it because he did not have a Social Security number. Ever since then he has believed that he is not good enough for the system. Currently he is a senior at NIU and works three jobs just to pay for school. He told me he has gotten discriminated while driving and even in the movie theater. I could see he has lost hope. Now he takes any discrimination and obvious abuse from society as a normal thing.

One Year Later, What Have We Learned from Deferred Action?

By VISANOW Contributor|2016-02-04T14:16:37+00:00August 15, 2013|

Today, August 15, 2013 marks the one year anniversary of the day USCIS officially began accepting applications for its Deferred Action (DACA) program. What have we learned since then about this unprecedented executive order issued to protect young undocumented immigrants?

When the program launched last August, no one was certain of the risks of applying to this new and untested program. Many applicants were extremely fearful of possible deportations or consequences for family members. Others weren’t satisfied with the program because it wasn’t as comprehensive as the failed DREAM Act.

What We Now Know About Deferred Action

Ask any DACA-mented DREAMer, immigration-focused nonprofit, or immigration attorney and they will agree that Deferred Action was an incredible and occasionally frustrating learning experience. What we all now know:

We learned that lack of access to educational programs like the GED made hundreds of thousands of DREAMers ineligible for the program.
We learned that some parts of the application requirements can be tricky to prove, but that applicants could get creative with their evidence.
We learned that the more complex Deferred Action cases with criminal background or continuous residency issues required the assistance of a reliable attorney.
We learned that USCIS’s estimated application process times were no guarantee, and some applicants spend up to six months or more in Deferred Action processing limbo.
We learned that applicants need to be aware of notario fraud and immigration scams that take their money and leave them with heartbreak and increased risk of deportation.

Where Are the DACA-mented DREAMers Today?

Since last summer, we have listened to and read about the success stories of DREAMers who applied to Deferred Action. Despite many DREAMers’ limited finances, lack of access to information, and personal doubts and fears, hundreds of thousands of undocumented youth have applied to Deferred Action and are now pursuing their dreams. DREAMers are attending college (with access to in-state tuition rates in some states), using their work permit and Social Security number to make money and reach professional goals, and much more.

However, recently released Deferred Action application statistics (and today’s monthly DACA report from USCIS) have shown that the program hasn’t served young undocumented immigrants as effectively as originally hoped. Here’s a brief summary of the year in DACA:

Only about half (573,000) of the estimated 1.1 million currently eligible for DACA have applied, making the national application rate roughly 50%.
75% of the DACA applications received have been approved, about 1% were rejected, and the rest are pending.
75% of applicants have been in the U.S. for at least 10 years, with more applicants entering in 2000 than any other year.
33% of applicants were five or younger when they arrived in the U.S.
39% (423,000) of the 1.1 million potentially eligible for DACA are currently disqualified for not meeting the education requirement.
392,000 more young immigrants will become eligible for DACA once they reach the age requirement of 15 and stay enrolled in an educational program.
Mexican and Central American immigrants make up 65% of the DACA-eligible population but accounted for 85% of DACA applicants.
Immigrants from Asian countries such as the Philippines and China have some of the lowest application rates despite having substantial undocumented populations.
60% of those eligible speak both English and a second language “very well.
33% of the DACA-eligible live in households at or below the federal poverty level ($22,000/year for a family of 4.) Most of those who are technically above the poverty level still face extreme financial hardship.

If you have questions about Deferred Action , feel free to contact us or get connected on Facebook and Twitter.

Deferred Action Anniversary: The Year Our Hope Came Back

By VISANOW Contributor|2015-12-21T14:07:47+00:00August 14, 2013|

August 15, 2012 I was walking into a shop when I saw a friend of mine who also happens to be a DREAMER. She was super happy to tell me President Obama had opened Deferred Action (DACA) for DREAMERs. At that moment I had no idea what this document was or how was it going to affect our lives. I remember asking her if we were going to get our citizenship. I learned later that DACA was just a work permit and nothing else.

The first months of Deferred Action were very disorganized. Nonprofit organizations wanted to help all the DREAMERs they could reach out to, but they did not even know what the process to obtain the permit was going to be. I attended a DACA workshop at Navy Pier hosted by several organizations and it completely failed. They didn’t plan for so many people, therefore millions of people didn’t even get close to the doors. I was one of those people. It was frustrating how it seemed that nothing was in order. I was terrified to the bones; I knew that by applying I was going to prove my family’s immigration status. I was afraid they could get deported or go to prison. My fear was confirmed by some organization leaders. They told me Deferred Action was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and if the government did not approve people’s information, applicants would be sent to immigration authorities. Therefore I waited to see what was going to happen to the first people that applied.

Many of the DREAMERS I knew did apply and they all received their work permit. DREAM Action NIU and many other places started hosting workshops to help fill out the Deferred Action application. Ironically, I was one of the helpers at some of these workshops. By December most of my friends already had their work permit. Many of the people that knew my situation were trying to push me to apply but I still did not trust the system. What was going to happen to us after the two years? Better yet, what was going to happen to all the information that we provided? In two years they could get that information and maybe hurt my family.

April of 2013, I needed a way to finance my school and I needed a Social Security number to apply for an internship position. By this time many had applied for DACA, and I knew that the more applicants there were, the more costly it would be to deport everyone. The only way that I could continue my studies was to apply for Deferred Action. By this time the process was more transparent, and everyone knew what documents to use. Also, people realized that they did need an attorney to look over their application just to be safe. My process was still very emotional and not so clear. May 2013 I received my Deferred Action work permit.

I became one more of those DREAMERs whose doors opened to many possibilities. I obtained two jobs and was given the opportunity to intern at VISANOW. Like many of my friends I could dream and actually accomplish my goals for at least two years. Some of the DREAMERS that I knew traveled to other states like California to do research. Others were hired in departments that related to their fields of study, like physical therapy. Some just simply were hired at a job that did not pay them below minimum wage. Today all of the DREAMERs that I know have higher self-esteem, and their hope of someday becoming a professional has come back. Not only has it helped DREAMERS but also the U.S. economy as a whole. With all the talent and hard work now being recognized, Deferred Action has to have improved the USA for the better.

I believe that DACA still is not good enough. There is no path to citizenship for all these talented people. Also, there are still many questions of what is going to happen after the two years are up. Are we going to be able to renew our application or will we be able to apply for citizenship? What has happened to the information we provided to the U.S. government? Deferred Action has provided many benefits, but hopefully comprehensive immigration reform is better organized and we will finally have a path to citizenship for everyone.

8.8 Million Green Card Holders Eligible for U.S. Citizenship

By VISANOW Contributor|2013-11-26T17:42:09+00:00August 13, 2013|

The U.S. has an estimated 13.3 million legal permanent residents (also called LPRs or green card holders) according to a recent report from the Department of Homeland Security. Of those 13.3 million, DHS estimates that 8.8 million LPRs currently qualify for U.S. citizenship. Most green card holders are eligible for U.S. citizenship after five years of legal residence in the United States. Spouses of U.S. citizens are an exception; they only have to wait three years to apply for naturalization.

With almost 2/3 of green card holders eligible for U.S. citizenship, why haven’t more applied? The Pew Hispanic Center reports that 93% of Hispanic green card holders would like to become citizens, but say they cannot complete the process. Eligible LPRs that opt out of applying for U.S. citizenship often cite these reasons:

Financial barriers (too expensive)
Language barriers (not English proficient)
Don’t feel prepared for the U.S. citizenship test
Simply not interested in going through a new process

Most of these concerns are valid, and the language and financial barriers can be a real burden, but U.S. citizenship provides huge benefits that many green card holders don’t realize:

A one-time naturalization process is much less expensive than multiple green card renewals over time
Only U.S. citizenship can completely protect you from deportation
Only U.S. citizens can vote in national elections
U.S. citizens have preference in sponsoring family members to come to the U.S. on a green card
U.S. citizens have access to more jobs and college scholarships
International travel is much easier with a U.S. passport, and you can stay outside the U.S. as long as you want with U.S. citizenship
The U.S. allows dual citizenship so you don’t have to relinquish citizenship in your native country

As we mentioned in a previous post, technology will help lessen or defeat obstacles in the immigration and citizenship process. There are now free mobile apps (such as this one) that prepare green card holders for the U.S. citizenship test, as well as many other free online resources to work on English language skills and to research the most effective and affordable ways to apply for U.S. citizenship.

The value of U.S. citizenship far exceeds the price of the application or the few extra hours spent preparing for a U.S. history and policy test. Talking to an experienced attorney or immigration specialist can help lessen your fears and simplify the naturalization process for you. If you are a green card holder interested in pursuing United States citizenship, visit our U.S. Citizenship page or contact us for a free case assessment.

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