Obtaining Permanent USA Residence for Your Spouse
If you are a legal permanent resident of the United States, naturally you would want your spouse to be one, too. Listed below are the mandatory requirements you need to fulfill to obtain the permanent residence for your spouse:
- You should be a permanent resident of USA who is at least 18 years old
- You should have a residence in USA
- Make sure you have a financial sponsor for your spouse (You can be one if you satisfy all the criteria expected to be a financial sponsor)
- Submit a I-130 petition to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Ensure a completed petition is signed and submitted with the appropriate fees
- Send all required evidences to avoid delay
If your status is shifted from permanent resident to U.S citizen while your spouse waits for the visa, upgrade your spouse’s visa classification, which will advance the processing of your petition by notifying the appropriate department of your naturalization
For efficient and hassle free way to understand the U.S. immigration process, contact an experienced Philadelphia immigration attorney who is up to date with the immigration laws.
Significant Changes to Immigration Law in North Carolina
Immigration law refers to nationality law, which governs the legal status of citizenship and nationality. Immigration laws are different in different countries, and the changes in law depend on the political situation of a particular country at that time. Immigration law is the most complex area of law in United States -- even more complicated than tax law. Constantly changing immigration laws make the immigration process more complicated.
Immigration Law
The United States Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) was enacted in 1952. Since then, many new immigration laws have been passed, layered through the INA, and made the interpretation of immigration laws more complex. As immigration laws change, enforcement changes accordingly. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created in 2002 in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and the former INS was brought under DHS and revamped into the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Immigration law involves a complex maze of agencies. And DHS is not the only U.S. executive department involved in immigration law and the visa process. The Department of Justice operates the Immigration court system. The Department of State handles all issuances of visas. Each agency has its own appeals, review structure and the decisions of agencies are discretionary.
Experienced North Carolina Immigration Attorneys
Immigration law cases involve a lot of legal proceedings. It is good to have an experienced and knowledgeable legal professional who specializes in immigration law. Reputable North Carolina immigration attorneys keep up with immigration law changes and provide legal advice accordingly.
What are the Benefits of U.S. Citizenship?
A U.S. citizen has many constitutional rights as compared to residents with green cards or temporary visas. However, getting U.S. citizenship is not an easy process. There are many eligibility factors that decide if a person can apply for United States citizenship. Although it is possible to successfully become a naturalized U.S. citizen, most people can use the help of an experienced immigration attorney to help them understand and meet all of the criteria.
Criteria for citizenship
An immigrant applying for U.S. citizenship must be a resident for five years, have a clean criminal record, and pass the citizenship test conducted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Moreover, the applicant must pass the test using English language. But there are some exceptions based on the applicant's age and the amount of time the applicant has stayed in U.S. There are many additional requirements as well.
The benefits of citizenship
An experienced immigration lawyer can assist you with the citizenship application process so you can enjoy the following rights after you become a citizen of United States:
- Hold a government job
- Hold a public office
- Rights to vote
- Receive government benefits
- Live and work permanently in U.S.
- Sponsor family members to immigrate to the United States
- Hold a U.S. passport
To know more about the process and benefits of U.S. citizenship, contact one of the well-known immigration lawyers in Philadelphia who has experience in handling immigration cases in U.S.
Understanding Immigration & Naturalization
Naturalization is the process by which citizenship is acquired by an individual who was not a citizen at the time of birth. Naturalization is difficult to achieve alone and thus, an immigration and naturalization service is often employed by those seeking such status.
Naturalization requirements
To be eligible for naturalization, you must meet the following requirements:
- Lived in the U.S. as a permanent resident holding a green card for at least five years
- Been physically present in the U.S. for at least half of the past five years
- Must not have spent more than a year outside of the U.S. during that period
- Primary home must not be in another country
If you are applying for naturalization in Corpus Christi, you must have lived in Texas for at least three months. You also must be at least 18 years of age and willing to swear your loyalty to the U.S. and belief in its principles and Constitution.
Becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen
The naturalization process involves a series of steps that can become confusing, which is why many applicants seek aid from an immigration and naturalization service. In Corpus Christi, the experienced professionals at The Whittle Law Firm can guide you through this process. After initial submission of the naturalization forms, supporting documents, and required application fees, the applicant will be contacted for a fingerprint appointment and then for an interview appointment where the naturalization test is administered.
Passing the naturalization test
Your Corpus Christi immigration lawyer can help you prepare for the interview appointment, in which you will be tested in reading, writing, and speaking English, as well as in U.S. history and government. Your ability to speak English will be assessed in the interview as you answer questions about your background and application.
It is required that you read at least one out of three sentences correctly in English and write at least one of three sentences correctly in English. Finally, six out of ten questions pertaining to U.S. history and government must be answered correctly to pass the test.
The Whittle Law Firm - Corpus Christi Immigration Lawyers
5151 Flynn Pkwy. Suite 308
Corpus Christi, Texas 78411
Phone: 361-232-4329
Fax: 361-887-6999