Immigration

• Nonimmigrant Visas: Temporary visits to the U.S. for tourism, study, or work
• Immigrant Visas : Allow for Permanent Residence in the U.S.
• Becoming a United States Citizen

I. Nonimmigrant Visas: Temporary visits to the U.S. for tourism, study, or work

1. General
   • B-1 and B-2 Visa
     1. B-1 Visa: A foreign national having a residence in a foreign country which she/he has no intention of abandoning and who is visiting the US temporarily for business
        (only applies to countries without visa waiver program)
     2. B-2 Visa: A foreign national having a residence in a foreign country which she/he has no intention of abandoning and who is visiting the U.S. temporarily for pleasure
        (only applies to countries without visa waiver program)
   • F-1 Visa
     
     1. A foreign national who is a bona fide student qualified to pursue a full course of study and who seeks to enter the U.S. temporarily to study at an established college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, language training program, or other academic institution
   • M-1 Visa
     
     1. Student attending a full course of study at vocational or other nonacademic institution, other than a language training program
   • K-1 Visa
     
     1. Allows the fiancé of an U.S. Citizen to enter the United States for a 90 day period to marry U.S. citizen
     2. Unmarried minor children under the age of 21 years old may be eligible to enter the U.S. with a K-2 visa
   • J-1 Visa
     
     1. Permitted for a student, scholar, trainee, teacher, au pair, professor, research assistant, specialist, or leader in a field of specialized knowledge
   • Q-1 Visa
     
     1. Permits individuals to enter for the purpose of sharing culture, history, and tradition’s of one’s nationality
   • T-1 Visa
     
     1. Permits entry for victims of “trafficking”
   • U-1 Visa
     1. Permits entry for victims of severe criminal activity
2. Employment Based Nonimmigrant Visas
   • H1-B
     
     1. Permits entry for a professional who will be working temporarily in a “specialty” occupation
        
        1. Must have a 4 year college/university degree or
        2. Foreign equivalent or
        3. Equivalent experience in field
   • Intercompany Transferees L1-A/L1-B
     1. L1-A: Permits entry for a professional who is an executive or manager coming to the U.S. to provide similar services in the same company
     2. L1-B: Permits entry for a professional who has “specialized knowledge” of a company’s business activities. He/she will provide similar services in the U.S. for the same company
     3. Must be employed abroad for at least one year
   
   For more information see: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1286.html

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II. Immigrant Visas : Allow for Permanent Residence in the U.S.

1. Employment based Immigrant Visas
   • EB-1: Professional of extraordinary ability; outstanding researcher or professor
   • EB-2: Professional with an advanced degree
   • EB-3: Professional/Skilled Worker
   • EB-4: Special Immigrants
   • EB-5: Investors

   For more information see: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1323.html

2. Family Based Immigrant Visas :
   
   1. United States citizens may sponsor the following individuals for lawful permanent resident visas:
      
      1. Spouses
      2. Their children under the age of 21
      3. Their children over the age of 21
      4. Their married children
      5. Their siblings
      6. Their parents
   2. Legal Permanent Residents (LPR) may sponsor the following individuals for lawful permanent visas:
      
      1. Their unmarried children under the age of 21
      2. Spouses

   For more information see: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1310.html

   See Visa Bulletin : http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4558.html

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III. Becoming a United States Citizen

1. Must be 18 years old
2. Must be a lawful permanent resident (a.k.a. LPR or green card holder) for at least 5 years or married to and living with a U.S. citizen for at least 3 years and have been a green card holder for at least 3 years
3. Must have lived in the state or USCIS district for at least 3 months where naturalization application will be filed
4. Must not have traveled outside the U.S. for more than 6 months at a time in the last 5 years as a LPR or last 3 years if married and living with U.S. citizen
5. Must have been physically present in U.S. for at least 30 months in the past 5 years as a LPR or 18 months in the last 3 years if married and living with U.S. citizen
6. Good moral character
7. Application Fees
8. Exam and Interview
9. Oath of Allegiance

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