Immigrating or Visiting the USA
As John F. Kennedy once said, “We are a Nation of Immigrants.” But what does it mean to be an immigrant? Are there non-immigrants? What is the difference between the two? How can someone become an immigrant or a non-immigrant? Can you become a citizen once you are an immigrant?
In our Immigration section, we hope to give you some insight into the immigration system and provide you with easy to understand guidance.
The System:
We are also a nation of laws. There are two specific sources of laws you need to consider. First, there is the “Immigration and Nationality Act.” Second, there is the “Aliens and Nationality Regulation.” If you are ever bored and really want to learn, feel free to read through them. If not, we’ll provide you with a basic outline. Also, your lawyer will know this best.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services oversees lawful immigration to the United States. It receives 6 million applications annually and has about 19,000 employees and contractors working out of 223 offices across the world.
You can find an office nearby your home, here.
Non-Immigrant vs. Immigrants vs. Citizens:
The distinction between a non-immigrant and an immigrant is quite simple. Do you want call the United States your home or are you here for a vacation or just a temporary stay? A non-immigrant is here temporarily whereas an immigrant wishes to live here permanently. Both the non-immigrant and the immigrant, however, remain citizens of other countries.
You can also move between the categories. You can first be a non-immigrant and become an immigrant and vice versa. For instance, you can come to the U.S. as a student and fall in love with a classmate or someone you met at the library who is a U.S. citizen. Alternatively, you can also lose your immigration status if you commit certain types of crimes. You are, however, not deportable if you become a U.S. citizen. Lastly, as an immigrant you can also apply to become a citizen if you meet the eligibility requirements.
In our Immigration section, we hope to give you some insight into the immigration system and provide you with easy to understand guidance.
The System:
We are also a nation of laws. There are two specific sources of laws you need to consider. First, there is the “Immigration and Nationality Act.” Second, there is the “Aliens and Nationality Regulation.” If you are ever bored and really want to learn, feel free to read through them. If not, we’ll provide you with a basic outline. Also, your lawyer will know this best.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services oversees lawful immigration to the United States. It receives 6 million applications annually and has about 19,000 employees and contractors working out of 223 offices across the world.
You can find an office nearby your home, here.
Non-Immigrant vs. Immigrants vs. Citizens:
The distinction between a non-immigrant and an immigrant is quite simple. Do you want call the United States your home or are you here for a vacation or just a temporary stay? A non-immigrant is here temporarily whereas an immigrant wishes to live here permanently. Both the non-immigrant and the immigrant, however, remain citizens of other countries.
You can also move between the categories. You can first be a non-immigrant and become an immigrant and vice versa. For instance, you can come to the U.S. as a student and fall in love with a classmate or someone you met at the library who is a U.S. citizen. Alternatively, you can also lose your immigration status if you commit certain types of crimes. You are, however, not deportable if you become a U.S. citizen. Lastly, as an immigrant you can also apply to become a citizen if you meet the eligibility requirements.