MyUSGreenCard.com Blog

The Green Card, or United States Permanent Resident Card, is an identification card for aliens attesting to their permanent resident status. A green card is proof that its holder is a lawful permanent resident and is granted immigration benefits, which include permission to live and work in the United States. Green cards are issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services which is a part of the Department of Homeland Security.

In order to obtain a green card, a three step process is necessary that can take years to complete, depending on the immigrant category and country of birth. The first step is an immigrant petition which is usually approved through a qualifying relative or employer. The three main groups of petitions are immediate relative immigrants, family-based immigrants and employer based immigrants.

The next step is determined by visa availability, according to quotas set by the Immigration and Nationality Act. (more…)

Quite appropriately, Tuesday exposes another facet of the foolishness that is U.S. immigration policy. April 1 is the day when employers are allowed to begin filing petitions with the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services for highly skilled workers to be given what are known as H-1B visas.

H-1Bs allow employers to hire foreign workers in certain professional occupations. They are good for three years and can be renewed for an additional three. Though an H-1B cannot lead to a green card - meaning the foreign professional is tied to one employer and has to leave the country after six years of productive employment - it’s still a pretty good deal.

The problem is that, even in this economic downturn, there aren’t enough visas: Congress limits the annual grant of H-1Bs, and that magic number has been set at 65,000 for five years now. Before that, and in response to the technology boom of the late ’90s, Congress temporarily raised the cap to 195,000. But that expansion expired in 2004, and the cap has been reached earlier and earlier in each year since. (more…)

A visa is a primary requirement of a foreign national who is not a citizen of one of the twenty-seven coutries included in the Visa Waiver Program, not a citizen of Bermuda or Canada or anyone who has past criminal record, and wants to enter the United States.

 
There are mainly two types of visas namely: nonimmigrant and immigrant visa. A nonimmigrant visa is for temporary visits like business trips, work, tourism or studying while an immigrant visa is designed for people who want to obtain permanent residency in the United States without any time limitation.
 
Other Types of Visas
 
K Visas for Immediate Relatives
 
These are for people who have the intent to immigrate in the United States whereby the U.S. citizen will apply for a K temporary visa for the spouse or fiancee and unmarried children of spouse or fiancee. It should also be noted that same sex partners of U.S. citizens are not recognized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). (more…)

On Sept. 27, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is revamping the naturalization exam given to applicants for citizenship. According to Professor of Political Science Deborah Schildkraut, the Civics portion of the citizenship test had been under scrutiny for several years. “There was concern for a long time that the test was too easy,” Schildkraut said. “People felt that it needed to measure more meaningful things.”

The old test emphasized more trivia-based questions, such as “What is the name of the ship that brought the pilgrims to America?” The new test asks more detailed history questions, such as “The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.” It also incorporates more questions on current U.S. poltics, recent events in America, U.S. geography and conceptual questions on U.S. government structure.

But at Tufts, even the easier exam would be challenging to some students, according to a Daily poll conducted this weekend. The Daily asked 24 students in the campus center and dining halls to answer a sample of 20 questions listed on the USCIS Web site as being used on the old, easier citizenship exam. The quiz included easier questions such as “For how long is the president elected?” and harder questions like “Name the amendments that guarantee or address voting rights,” (more…)

News Release September 14, 2007 WASHINGTON – More than 23,000 men and women across the country will become United States citizens next week during naturalization ceremonies hosted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to commemorate Citizenship Day and Constitution Week.

“Citizenship Day honors the brave act of 39 patriots who, on September 17, 1787, signed the Constitution of the United States and charted the course of our nation that has continued for 220 years,” said USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez. “With the words, ‘We the People,’ they established the basic purposes of our government, forming a country that protects the rights and secures the liberties for all citizens - both native born and naturalized.” (more…)

The process for a foreign citizen to legally acquire a green card and eventually become a legal naturalized citizen of the U.S. is difficult, time consuming, and expensive. Many critics of the system maintain that if the process was simpler there would be far fewer foreign citizens entering and remaining in the U.S. illegally.

When a foreign citizen visits the U.S. as a tourist, a medical patient, a student, or for business purposes, they generally need to present only a valid national passport, a photo ID card or birth certificate, and sometimes an entry visa. A visa is simply an endorsement on a document that shows authenticity and conveys permission to travel to and to enter a foreign country. This type of visa is also known as a nonimmigrant visa. Fees for a passport, a nonimmigrant visa, and a border crossing card total about $300.

However, when a foreign citizen wishes to reside and work in the U.S., they need to present an immigrant visa, also known as a green card. The green card was originally called the Alien Registration Receipt Card, but it has recently been renamed the Permanent Resident Card. Originally the card was green in color but now the card is white with some green printing on the back. It is still known generally as the green card. Recipients of the green card must carry it with them at all times. The green card is valid for a period of 10 years.

The green card is issued to a foreign citizen as a response to a petition by an employer or a relative who is a U.S. citizen. The petition by the employer or relative allows the foreign citizen to enter the U.S. for the purposes of being employed and residing permanently in the country.

The process for acquiring the green card generally follows three steps. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) issues the green card. This service used to be known as the INS or Immigration and Naturalization Service. USCIS is often referred to as simply the Immigration Service and is now part of the Department of Homeland Security. The first step is for the USCIS to review all of the paperwork and approve the petition from the qualifying relative or employer. The second step is to send the approved paperwork to the National Visa Center (NVC) where the petition waits for a visa number to become available. Only a limited number of visa numbers are available each year. Once a visa number becomes available, then the third step is for the petition to be forwarded to the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate in the foreign citizen’s home city or country. (more…)

What is a Visa? A “Visa” is simply a stamp in a passport that gives the passport holder authorization to enter the United States. The INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) handles most matters involving visas. You may find an immigration lawyer to help you with your H1 visa or any other visa on this site. What is the H1-B Visa? The H1-B visa is also commonly called a “work visa” or “work permit.” This is the most common form of temporary work visa. It enables the foreign worker to enter the United States to work temporarily in a professional capacity.

H1B Employment opportunities in the state of Minnesota, which reflect the national trend, are abundant, so abundant that employers are seeking out the assistance of foreign workers to fill the gaps in the workplace. To locate an H1B job in the U.S. use the links at the right to draft and post your resume.

The government requires at least five agencies to certify a foreign employee for H1B work in the United States, often a long process in itself. But the government recently made this process even more arduous by reducing its funding to one key player in the certification process, the State Economic Security Department. This cut in funding has had a grave impact on this state’s, as well as this country’s, ability to recruit and retain foreign professionals for employment, especially those H1B professionals with technical experience and in the field of health care.

How Do I Qualify? (more…)

The lure of riches in a foreign land, the potential of awesome new opportunities, dreams of what might be � all these sometimes entice people to immigrate to a different country. Being reunited with a loved one or just longing for adventure are also strong reasons for immigrating. Sometimes, rather than being drawn to a new country, one is pushed: religious persecution, starvation when the crops have failed, escaping unbearable family situations.

Certainly wars, revolutions and political unrest have caused thousands to try to find a peaceful existence elsewhere. And decades ago, many were forced against their will to live in a new country as slaves or as prisoners.

For all who move on, pulling up roots from their homeland can be traumatic. It truly is not an easy decision to make, and today about 15% of those who leave their native country choose to return, finding that adjusting to a new society is too difficult. (more…)

By: Paul Babs The lure of riches in a foreign land, the potential of awesome new opportunities, dreams of what might be � all these sometimes entice people to immigrate to a different country. Being reunited with a loved one or just longing for adventure are also strong reasons for immigrating. Sometimes, rather than being drawn to a new country, one is pushed: religious persecution, starvation when the crops have failed, escaping unbearable family situations. Certainly wars, revolutions and political unrest have caused thousands to try to find a peaceful existence elsewhere. And decades ago, many were forced against their will to live in a new country as slaves or as prisoners.

For all who move on, pulling up roots from their homeland can be traumatic. It truly is not an easy decision to make, and today about 15% of those who leave their native country choose to return, finding that adjusting to a new society is too difficult. (more…)

LOS ANGELES –Demonstrators demanding a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants hope that nationwide marches will spur Congress to act before the looming presidential primaries take over the political landscape. Though this year’s turnout will likely be lower, organizers say immigrants feel a sense of urgency to keep immigration reform from getting pushed to the back burner by the 2008 presidential elections. “If we don’t act, then both the Democratic and Republican parties can go back to their comfort zones and do nothing,” said Angelica Salas, director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. “They won’t have the courage to resolve a major situation for millions of people.”.

In Miami, Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean was scheduled to speak to a coalition of immigrant groups, while Ricardo Chavez, the brother of famed agricultural labor leader Cesar Chavez, was expected address crowds in Milwaukee. (more…)

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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.