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The Violence against Women Act (VAWA) [ but applicable to victims of either gender] passed by the U.S Congress in 1994 gives the spouses and children of U.S citizens to apply for permanent residency on their own without the need for somebody else petitioning on their behalf. The objective of this act is to ensure fair entry to immigrants who are victims of marital and parental violence and abuse.

 

Under this particular act, a battered immigrant can file for permanent residence to obtain sanctuary from domestic violence. Victims of such forms of violence can file for immigration relief without the knowledge of the perpetrator of violence.

 

VAWA falls under the INA [Immigration and Nationality Act] law and codifies the rules and regulations associated with self-petition.

 

Eligibility requirements for petitioning on behalf of one’s own self require that you must be the battered spouse of a U.S citizen. You can be the petitioner for your children unmarried and under the age of twenty-one years. You can initiate a self-petition as a parent if your child has been abused by your spouse who is a U.S citizen. In this case too, unmarried children under the age of twenty one years who have not faced abuse can be included as derivative beneficiaries. A battered child can also petition for one’s own self if he or she is unmarried and under the age of twenty one.

 

A spouse wishing to submit such a petition has to prove her legal marital status, i.e. she should be married to a citizen of the United States or to a lawful permanent resident. If the batterer has died two years before the petition being filed, the petition is considered valid. The same time period is applicable for a petition filed after divorce from an abusive spouse.

 

The battery and abuse must happen in the U.S. The petitioner should have an upright character, and experience battery and extreme cruelty as defined by the act. It is important that the marriage not have taken place with the objective of getting U.S citizenship. If the petitioner is a child; then he or she should be proven as one according to the definition and conditions for the term in the Immigration and Nationality Act.

 

The benefits application process requires that you fill and submit the USCIS Form I-360 along with all documents demanded. You are required to submit a copy of all the submissions you make and also the proof of having mailed the form. You will receive an acknowledgement receipt within a few weeks of having mailed the application and necessary fees amount to the Vermont Service Center.

 

Under Section 501 of the Illegal Immigrant Responsibility and Immigration Reform Act (IIRIRA), if you can establish a prima facie case for being treated as a battered immigrant then your case will be up for consideration for treatment as a “qualified alien” who can receive public benefits. You will receive an Employment Authorization Card once your Form I-360 application is approved and you are placed for deferred action; the term “deferred action” means that the Service will not initiate any deportation action against the battered spouse.

 

You can, if you wish, have your case represented by an immigration lawyer, attorney, or an accredited organization that helps battered spouses obtain citizenship in America.

 

Here’s a detailed how to  guide to becoming a  citizen of the US, for all those that wish to become naturalized citizen of the land of the free, the land of opportunities – the US of A.

 

American law makes it possible for immigrants to become permanent or naturalized citizens of America. U.S citizenship brings with it several rights and benefits not available to green card holders. These include the inalienable right to stay in the country without the fear of being extradited. Green card holders can be asked to leave the country for even not-so-serious crimes but with U.S citizenship you need not worry about being asked to leave the country. Naturalized citizens are eligible for government benefits. Once you become a U.S citizen you can bring your family members to America that much more easily. The job sector opens up for U.S citizens, you can apply for employment opportunities with the federal government. Estate taxes rules are different for U.S citizens and green card holders.

 

As a general rule, you need to be 18 years or older and be a legal green card holder to be eligible for naturalization. You need to stay for five years in the U.S as a permanent resident before you consider becoming a citizen of the US. If your permanent residentship is no longer applicable because you have married an American then you need to reside in America for one year after this. You cannot leave America after your application for U.S citizenship. If you are a permanent resident and wish to apply for U.S citizenship do not stay outside the U.S for more than one year without first getting approval for Form N-470.

 

The USCIS Form N-400 is the form to be filled when applying for citizenship. You can actually fill this form three months prior to completing the eligibility requirements. The filing fee for this form is a not insignificant $595. Once you have submitted your form you will have to undergo fingerprinting and then an interview. Finally, after a wait of months, if all goes well, you will be called for your swearing-in ceremony and receive your certificate of citizenship given by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) which is documentary proof that you are a citizen of America.

 

If you are planning to apply for U.S citizenship, you should be reasonably conversant with the English language and have some knowledge of American history as well as how the U.S government functions. However; you can be exempted from knowing English if you have lived as a permanent resident in the country for twenty years and are fifty years of age. If you are fifty-five years of age, you need have been a permanent resident alien for only fifteen years.

 

Be on your best behavior all through the permanent resident status period and particularly during the phase when the application is in review. Stay on the right side of the law. Your moral conduct has to be above reproach.

 

One minor along with you can become a citizen of the  U.S ; this includes adopted children as well.

 

If you come from the United Kingdom, Canada, or Northern Ireland you are eligible for dual citizenship.

 

 

The Greencard lottery program for a diversity visa to the USA is of the most eagerly awaited events of the year for millions of people from around the globe. 50,000 immigration visas or Green Cards are up for grabs; these will be distributed to the lucky ones.

For the purpose of these green cards, the U.S Department of State defines an eligible country as one that has had fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the past five years. The selection process is computerized and random. If you happen to win a diversity visa then you are a legal permanent resident of America. You can apply for American citizenship and also hold your own country’s passport, if you want to. These green cards are valid for a lifetime and entitle you to all the benefits that an American citizen can get, these include education, healthcare, owning property, being able to travel anywhere, etc. What’s more, you can actually act as a sponsor for your relatives trying to get an Immigration Visa.

There is no age limit for the applicants. But you do need a high school diploma or its equivalent as the minimum education qualification. You also need two years of work experience in the past five years in a trade or occupation that needs at least two years of work experience or training to execute. If selected, you can take your spouse and children below 21 years of age with you.

Here is the list of eligible countries for  DV- 2014 US Greencard Lottery

• Africa: Eligibility extends to all African countries and adjacent islands.
• Asia: Eligibility covers all countries except Mainland China, Pakistan, India, South Korea, Philippines, and the Vietnam.
• Europe: Apart from the United Kingdom, all European nations are eligible.
• North America: Only Bahamas.
• Oceania: The entire region including Australia, NZ, and the South Pacific islands is eligible.
• South and Central America: All countries except Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, and Mexico.

The results of the DV-2011 lottery are out. Here’s an important clarification that all applications need to be made aware of at the very outset. You will not receive any intimation via email, nor anything from us. The U.S Department of State Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) dispatches an official letter by regular postal mail to the mailing address provided by you in your application. And yes, selection does not guarantee an entry into the U.S, there is a due process which includes application and qualifying for an immigrant visa.

You can check the number of selected winners by country on our results page. If you could not make it for DV-2011, keep your fingers crossed for DV-2012, the applications for which will begin in October this year.
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Knowing the worst U.S. cities is one of the best ways to make sure you don’t move to one when you first come to America. There are plenty of ways to measure how successful a city is. Economic growth or economic losses, housing levels, green space, and crime are just a few. The list below is of the 20 most dangerous US cities, calculated by measuring how much major crime there is relative to the number of people who live there. Specifically, this list uses the highest crime rates for six major crimes (murder, assault, robbery, rape, auto theft, and burglary).

By learning which cities are dangerous, you can help discern the worst cities America has in a more general sense. For example, if crime is high, that indicates that people are desperate for money, which suggests that unemployment is high as well. If unemployment is high, then cities do not have a lot of tax revenue coming in, so there is likely to be less green space and parks. Less green space and parks means that property values will not be as high, so neighborhoods may have challenges keeping quality housing around.
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The history of football goes back a long time, more than 2000 years in fact. There is evidence of a similar game being played in China a long time ago. Ancient Greece and Rome can also lay claims to being the earliest proponents of the game. Today, football is the most popular sport by far. More countries play footy, soccer, futbal, or football as it is variously known, than any other sport. This is the single outstanding feature that makes the football world cup so special. It adds richness and flavor to its 80 years of history.

The Beautiful Game is perhaps the only sport that can truly lay claim to hosting a global meaningful World Cup in which the participation rivals that of the Olympic Games. Most other sports be they cricket or hockey have to choose from a limited pool of playing nations, but not so football.
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It’s the time of the year that comes but once every four years – football fever has gripped billions across the globe. And this time it is South Africa that gets to host the football world cup 2010. Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth are the major venues.

The rainbow nation becomes the first African country to host the prestigious football world cup which was first held in 1930 and won by Uruguay. Since then there have been 18 editions and seven nations have shared the victor’s podium between them. South America has been the traditional powerhouse from where “the beautiful game” has derived some of its most beautiful moments of play and the most inspiring players.
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Just because you’ve been drawn in the green card DV lottery does not guarantee you will receive a visa to the United States. Whether you’ve already been selected in the green card DV lottery or whether you’re just beginning the DV application process, understanding how the green card lottery works and what to do if you’re selected are essential.

What is the Green Card DV Lottery?
DV stands for “Diversity Visa,” and is part of a program begun in 1990 that each year gives 50,000 people from dozens of different countries the opportunity to enter the United States and, if they choose, begin the path to naturalized citizenship. The name “Diversity Visa” is given because visas are distributed only to people from countries that have low rates of immigration into the United States. Distributing the 50,000 visas to these countries essentially makes for a more diverse group of immigrants into the United States for each year the lottery is in effect.

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I thought anyone reading this blog should know the Oath of Allegiance – I took this from Wikipedia. The United States Oath of Allegiance (officially referred to as the “Oath of Allegiance,” 8 C.F.R. Part 337 (2008)) is an oath that must be taken by all immigrants who wish to become United States citizens. The first officially recorded Oaths of Allegiance were made on May 30th, 1778 at Valley Forge, during the Revolutionary War.

The current oath is as follows:
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Green cards allow immigrants to have permanent residency in the US but what about naturalization? What’s the difference and why bother getting naturalized? Much of the freedoms and liberties taken for granted in the west are not available in many other countries throughout the world. Winning the green card lottery or being granted permission to reside and work in the US is indeed a privilege taken up by countless immigrants that are happy to call America home. Many of these US permanent residents decide to become US citizens relinquishing their homeland through the process of naturalization.

What’s required to become an American? Firstly immigrants wishing to become citizens of the US must agree to uphold the United States Constitution as well meet the specific responsibilities deemed as all American. By swearing allegiance to these US principals and thereby becoming a naturalized citizen; certain benefits and privileges are granted in return. In fact as a naturalized American citizen you are afforded the same rights as someone that is born in America.
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Myusgreencard.com assists persons seeking US Citizenship to apply for the US green card lottery.

 

We are not affiliated with the US Government or US Citizenship and Immigration Services and do not guarantee applicants have a better chance of winning a US visa by applying for the Diversity Lottery using our service. We are well-versed in the terms and conditions for application to the US Diversity Lottery. Our service provides the electronic submit needed to enter the green card lottery on your behalf. You provide the information, and for a fee we review and submit your application.