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Students from all over the world come to the USA for further study in this great country. They come here on student visas normally. This student visa does not allow the students to stay here at the USA permanently. They will be forced to leave this country as soon as their study and the training period of one year is completed. However, there is a way to settle down in the USA for the students.

I have tried to briefly explain the legal cycle as to how this can be made possible. The students have normally obtained their student visa for the USA in their home countries. The student visa is generally issued for 3 years for the master’s students and around 5 years for the bachelor’s students.

The students are allowed to stay for one year more after they complete their study. This period is said to be job training. The students are allowed to work in their own fields so as to get on the job training. This helps all the students to learn the practical aspects of their study. If you want to settle down in this country after your study, you must take maximum advantage of this training period. Some of the companies are authorized to apply for H1B visa (Scholar visa) for the students having a specialized knowledge in the subject. Try to select such companies for the job after your study that can sponsor you for your H1B visa if they found you capable and knowledgeable. The total number of such visas is 65000 per year at present but the talks are going on to increase this number to 115,000 per year shortly. The application date for this visa opens in every October for the next calendar year. The fees of around $1200 are charged by the INS to issue this visa. It is rather difficult to get this visa, as the INS authorities will check with your company as to how the applicant is qualified for this special scholar visa category. This visa can be obtained rather easily if you have got master’s degree in the USA as some special quota is kept for the students who have done their master’s here in the USA.

If you are issued H1B visa, you are required to go back to your home country once and get your passport stamped with this visa category. This is your first step towards permanent settlement in the USA. The H1B visa is issued normally for 2 or 4 years period and can be renewed up to total 8 years subject to your working with the same company through which you got your H1B visa. There is a provision for applying for permanent residence ship (green card) after you have completed 4 years of holding valid H1B visa. The application for green card also needs to be approved by your company where you are working,on the basis of your specialized technical knowledge. The procedure of approval of your green card begins after your applying for the green card through your company. You will have to pass through various stages like approval of application, labor permit, and finally, the approval of your green card. You have option of getting your green card by remaining in the USA or getting your green card in your home country. The first option of taking your green card by remaining in the USA takes a long time of around 2 to 3 years for green card issue. While the second option of getting green card in your home country is faster but is having slight element of doubt as you might also be refused for green card in case you are not able to justify your case with the embassy officials of your home country. Once you have got the green card, you have become a permanent resident of the USA.

After this, your only task is to keep your green card valid for at least 5 years by not leaving the USA for more than 6 months in any calendar year. You can apply for the USA citizenship after 5 years of issuing the green card. You will have to again pass through various stages like application approval, clearing the test for the citizenship, and other criterions of morality, prison records etc. You will be finally notified the date of your oath as the USA citizen on passing through all these stages successfully. This can easily take around 2 to 3 years. One short route is available to become the USA citizen after 2 years of issuing green card. If you have got your green card on the ground of marriage with the USA citizen girl, you can apply for the citizenship of the USA after two years of the date of green card.

As you can see, the entire cycle to become citizen from student visa takes around 15 to 17 years and can vary depending upon the state where you are residing and your individual case. Moreover, you must be able to prove your capabilities and your need in the USA based on the skill and knowledge you have. I sincerely hope that this article shall help many students/USA residents to proceed to be the citizens of this great country of ours.

By Harishrai Mehta From: www.associatedcontent.com

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