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How
do I sponsor my spouse?
There are two way to bring a future spouse
to the United States:
A. You can file a K-1 visa
for a spouse, this visa is appropriate if
you are not yet married. The USCIS gives
you 90 days to get married once your spouse
enters the United States. This is the faster
of both methods, however the USCIS requires
that you prove that you have been in contact
with you future spouse within a two year
period.
B. If your marriage took
place aboard then an I-130 (Alien-Spouse
Immigrant Visa) should be filed at the appropriate
consulate or USCIS office.
The K-1 Visa generally takes less time to
process than the Alien-Spouse Visa. The
Alien-Spouse Visa, however, is a proven
path toward lawful permanent residency for
your spouse.
I am traveling through the U.S.
can visit people while waiting for my connecting
filght?
If you are traveling through the United
States and you intend to visit people while
waiting for a connecting flight you should
apply for a C-1 visa at the U.S. Consulate
or U.S. Embassy in your country, the C-1
Visa (transit visa), enables traveling nonimmigrants
to leave the airport. Each family member
should apply for a separate C-1 visa, which
will enable the entire family eligible to
travel through the U.S.
How can I enter the USA as an academic
student?
Foreign national students who want to study
in the U.S. usually apply for the F-1 visa.
Although the J-1 and M-1 Visas (for vocational
students) are sometimes used, most foreign
students enter in F-1 status.
Your spouse and unmarried children under
the age of 21 are allowed to join you in
the U.S., under F-2 status. A prospective
student's Form I-20A-B may be used to request
an F-2 visa.
If your spouse and/or dependant children
are joining you later, they will need to
submit Form I-20A-B, endorsed from the school
you are attending. F-2 visa holders can
not work while in the U.S.
How can I enter the USA for a business
meeting?
The best way to temporarily visit the U.S.
to deal with your business venture is under
B-1 status. You may apply for a B-1 visa
at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your
country.
I am a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent
resident. Can I sponsor my family for immigration
to the U.S.?
FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION
One method to obtaining lawful permanent
residency is through a relative who is either
a citizen of the U.S. or a lawful permanent
resident.
There are two categories for unlimited family-based
immigration:
1. Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens:
A spouse, widow or unmarried child under
the age or 21 of a U.S. citizen. This category
also includes parents of adult U.S. citizens
2. Returning Residents: Immigrants who previously
lived in the U.S. under lawful permanent
resident status. These individuals should
be returning to live in the U.S. after being
abroad for more than one year.
There are four preference categories for
limited family-based immigration:
3. First Preference: Unmarried children
over the age of 21 of U.S. citizens.
4. Second Preference: Spouses of lawful
permanent residents, their unmarried children
under the age of 21, and unmarried children
under the age of 21 of lawful permanent
residents.
5. Third Preference: Married children of
U.S. citizens.
6. Fourth Preference: Siblings of adult
U.S. citizens.
Your relative should first submit an immigrant
visa petition, I-130 Petition for Alien
Relative. This form should be accompanied
by proof of your relationship to your relative.
Upon approval of this petition, the Department
of State will determine if an immigrant
visa number is available for you. When a
number becomes available, you may apply
for assignment of that number.
In order to sponsor a relative for lawful
permanent residency, you must prove the
following:
7. You are a citizen or a lawful permanent
resident of the U.S.
8. You can support your relative at 125%
above the mandated poverty line.
You must also show proof of your relationship
I have just been granted asylum
how long do I wait before I apply for my
green card?
If you have been a refugee or asylee for
one year you can apply for your green card
by filing an I-485 along with various supporting
documents.
I have just moved from the address
I gave to immigration to a new address what
do I have to do?
You have to fill in a Form AR-11 with ten
days of such change and send it to:
U.S Department of Homeland Security
B ureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Change of Address
PO Box 7134
London, KY 40742-7134
For commercial overnight or fast freight
services, only:
U.S Department of Homeland Security
Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Change of Address
1084-I South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744
Note that you such send such a document
through certified mail
How do I find out about the status
of a case I filed with the United States
Department of Homeland Security?
There are two ways:
1. You can schedule an interview on www.USCIS.gov
clicking on inforpass;
2. If you have a receipt number You can
go to www.uscis.gov and click on case status.
• If have just been granted asylum
is it possible for me to leave the country?
• Yes, all you have to do is apply
for a travel permit, bear in mind that if
you go back to the country you claimed you
persecuted at, that you asylum status could
be revoked.
• What are the penalties for remaining
in the U.S. past expiration the date on
my I-94 card?
• If you exceed the time given to
you by the Immigration officers at the airport
you will not be eligible for a nonimmigrant
visa from a country other than your home
country. If you enter the U.S. with a visitor’s
visa then overstay by 180 days and then
leave the country, you will not be allowed
to return for 180 days. Like wise if you
overstay by one year and then leave you
will not be allowed into the U.S. for ten
years.
Also there is a possibility of you being
arrested and place in removal proceedings
(deportation).
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