Immigration laws in the U.S define an individual’s status of citizenship and residency, which binds them with the concerned rights and obligations. The law is also involved in the management of non-residents rights to residency, nationality, or visitation. Deportation too is a part of the immigration law. Here are some of the critical aspects of U.S’s Immigration Law that you must be aware of :

US Immigration

  1. In order to naturalize, you must be a green card holder for a minimum period of five continuous years and three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen spouse while a permanent resident yourself. Different rules apply to asylees, refugees, active military service members and veterans.
  2. If you have stayed abroad for a period of six months or more continuously, you need to explain the reason for your long absence. In case of absence for a year or more, you need to speak to an immigration law expert before you apply for U.S. citizenship.
  3. If you are the family of the following, you will qualify for permanent citizenship: the spouse of a U.S. citizen, daughter or son of a U.S. citizen (either married or single), unmarried daughter or son of a permanent resident, and sibling of a U.S. citizen.
  4. Children who are born illegitimate count as children or daughter or son when the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services looks into a parent/child relationship.
  5. If you have met an immigration officer during your last visit to the United States, you can interview there for permanent residence, the process is called the adjustment of status, in case you are the spouse, parent ( Child must be above 21 ) or unmarried child, of a U.S. citizen.
  6. If you’re a recipient of the green card before age 18, and one of your parents is a citizen of the U.S.A, you automatically become a U.S. citizen.
  7. The authority to grant you legal immigration advice is only given to a lawyer, a paralegal under a lawyer, or an individual accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals.
  8. The Visa Waiver Program permits citizens of specified countries to visit the U.S. for 90 days. This permit cannot be utilized to attend school, to work, or to apply for residency. The purpose is to promote tourism. A total of Thirty-seven countries are a part of this program.
  9. The Temporary Protected Status is for individuals currently in the U.S. and whose home countries are affected by natural disasters, war, or other temporary, dangerous circumstances. The law permits their stay in the U.S for an additional six, 12, or 18 months.
  10. Illegal immigrants are deported if they commit a crime once in the U.S. Things like not reporting a change of address and false documents can lead to deportation.