Immigration law is quite complicated and confusing, especially to people without relevant information. It is comprised of complex rules, regulations, and court rulings that are ever-changing. Anyone wishing to immigrate to any country, especially the United States, will have to face many immigration law changes until they receive their citizenship. The process can take several years in some cases.
It is advisable for anyone that wants to start the immigration process to get representation from an experienced attorney from a reputable firm such as Goldstein Immigration Lawyers to make everything more comfortable. Your attorney will walk you through the different types of immigration status and which one to pursue. The following are the immigration categories that may work for an immigrant;
Family-based immigration
Anyone born in the United States would be a U.S. citizen even if they got raised in a different country. If one of the parents was a U.S. citizen when you were born, you could also proceed to acquire citizenship. Family-based immigration is reliant on having a close relative in the U.S. with citizenship. Every United States citizen has the right to live, work, and vote. Likewise, they are eligible to enjoy various federal benefits like education loans and social services. It’s worth noting that no United States citizen can be deported or forced to leave the country unless they have made severe infringements that undermine the United States’ security.
Immigration as a result of employment
One of the provisions of U.S. immigration law is that it allows permanent and temporary placements for immigrant workers. There are various visas in place, depending on the type of work someone wants to pursue and other factors. For instance, there’s a different visa for each profession. If someone is a farmworker, an athlete, engineer, or any other job type, there are specific guidelines on the type of visa they receive. In most cases, immigrants that receive a work visa are sponsored by a particular employer. If at one point they lose their job, it could mean they also lose the visa. It’s worth noting that students studying in the United States must apply and receive a permit to convert to an employment-based Visa later on.
Humanitarian immigration
The U.S. protects people fleeing from their countries due to conflicts. Sometimes refugees are permitted to make their stay permanent if their country of origin is too unstable or fear being persecuted once they return. Asylum is the same as refugee status only offered to people who are already in the United States. According to immigration law, such individuals should petition for asylum within 12 months after arriving in three United States. Failure to do so can lead to automatically declining their petition. An immigration lawyer can help draft the request for asylum or refugee status.
Regardless of what you want, immigration law is a complicated process. Law changes every day, so staying updated on the current developments is nearly impossible. It’s also worth noting that there is a lot of paperwork involved, whether you want a new visa or to renew an existing once. Working with a reputable law firm makes everything more comfortable.