You came to the United States with dreams and hopes for a better life. What happens if the life you built has turned into a nightmare? If you’re a legal immigrant married to a U.S. citizen who is abusive and threatens deportation, you might feel trapped. Don’t be. The...
Immigration
Who may be eligible for a family preference visa?
People often enter the United States for educational or employment opportunities. They can sometimes qualify for green cards if they stay in the country for years and develop their relationships in the United States. There are also visa programs that focus on family...
The differences between a green card and full citizenship
Some immigrants dream of becoming United States citizens. Others just want to obtain a green card. A green card makes someone a lawful permanent resident, which means that they can potentially stay in the United States for the rest of their life. Permanent residents...
When can a conditional green card holder remove the conditions?
Green card holders are lawful permanent residents of the United States. Most of them only need to submit paperwork to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend their stay in the country once every 10 years. They can work jobs, marry and...
How do you prove your relationship is genuine for a fiancé visa?
A fiancé visa, also known as a K-1 visa, allows a foreign national to enter the United States with the purpose of marrying a U.S. citizen. Once married, the foreign national can adjust their status from a visa holder to a lawful permanent resident. One of the...
What happens if you fail a naturalization test?
For a lot of immigrants to the United States, their journey from their old homeland to this one isn’t complete until they become a naturalized citizen. To do that, however, an immigrant has to show that they meet certain criteria, and their application for citizenship...
What applicants should know about I-601 waivers
For many, a fast path to US citizenship results from an illegal crossing and subsequent marriage with a legal citizen. Due to hardship reasons, deportation mostly does not occur. However, an I-601 application may represent a path to remain in the United States. I-601...
Do immigrants need to master English to become citizens?
The process of becoming a citizen after legally entering the United States is a lengthy one. It can take people years to meet the criteria for naturalization. Even when someone has been in the country for long enough and has avoided criminal charges that might affect...
Income Tax Filing Options for Married Couples with an Immigrant Spouse
If you are a United States citizen (or a resident alien) and are married to a non-citizen, who cannot otherwise qualify as a resident alien under either the Substantial Presence Test or the Green Card Test (as explained at the IRS link directly below), then you have...
What happens if you lose your job on a work visa?
For many people, the initial path that they choose to enter the United States is a visa. For instance, students who want to study abroad can get a student visa to attend a university in the U.S. Even those who simply want to stay for a short time can get tourist...