How to Avoid Having Your Green Card Invalidated If you want to sponsor a green card holder, it is important to understand the financial sponsorship requirements set by the U.S. government. The income requirements for eligibility vary based on family size, as shown in the tables below. In this article, we will break down what you need to know to meet these requirements to help your loved one gain permanent residency in the United States. 2022 Minimum Annual Income Requirements for Most Sponsors: 125% of Federal Poverty Guidelines 2022 Minimum Annual Income Requirements for Military Sponsors: 100% of Federal Poverty Guidelines Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) What sources of income can I include? As of the 2021 tax filing year, your annual income as a sponsor will be reported on line 9 of IRS Form 1040, including wages or salaries earned and retirement benefits. A lot goes into determining how much is required by the sponsor. Funds can come from many different avenues such as through employer paychecks, alimony payments, trust account, and more. Also, child custody and support may also determine the amount needed to sponsor a loved on. Can I include income from other members of my household? The short answer is YES. You can include other adults within your household to meet the minimum financial threshold aggregately. All parties must sign an I-864 form which outlines financial commitments made towards the individual being sponsored. Can I include income from other people outside my household? The answer to this is also, YES. You may have heard that if your household doesn’t meet the minimum annual income requirement together, there’s other options. And here it is. You can include individuals outside of your household but they must reside in America and hold either American citizenship or permanent residency status. What if my income still isn’t high enough? Can I count my assets? Yes, you may be use assets as a substitute for income. Generally, USCIS requires that the assets “can be converted into cash within one year and without considerable hardship or financial loss to the owner.” Such assets can include savings accounts, certificates (CDs), mutual fund investments, individual stocks and bonds, and similar. You may also use other household members’ assets as long as they meet the following criteria: 1. They’re related to you by birth, marriage, or adoption. 2. They were listed on your most recent tax return, or they lived with you for the past six months. If you don’t have enough income or assets to meet the green card sponsor requirements, you may be able to find a joint sponsor. A joint sponsor is another person who agrees to take on financial responsibility for the sponsored immigrant.
The citizenship process in the United States can be long and complex, but it all begins with the Application for Certificate of Citizenship, for those who already have citizenship but lack proof of U.S. citizenship. This form is used to apply for citizenship for those born outside of the United States or with parents who are citizens. The N-600 must be filed with the USCIS (the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) and includes a variety of information about the applicant, including their biographical information, criminal history, and employment history. Once the form is submitted, the USCIS will review the application and make a decision on whether or not to grant citizenship. If you were not born in the United States or lost your birth certificate, don’t worry – you can still establish citizenship! You will need to take a few steps to prove your citizenship, and we will discuss them in this article. Keep in mind that each situation is unique, so it’s important to speak with an immigration lawyer to get specific advice for your case. But overall, these are the steps that you will need to take: First, you will need to obtain a copy of your birth certificate from the country where you were born. If you cannot get a copy of your birth certificate, you may be able to get a citizenship certificate or other similar document that proves your citizenship. Once you have this document, you need to get it translated into English and notarized. Next, you will need to gather other documents that prove your identity and ties to the United States. This could include things like school records, employment records, medical records, and more. You will also need to provide proof of any residency in the United States – this could be a lease agreement, utility bills, or other similar documents. Once you have gathered all of these documents, you must submit them to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). They will review your documents and determine if you are eligible for citizenship. If they approve your citizenship, you will be scheduled for an interview. During the interview, you will be asked questions about your background and ties to the United States at the interview. Once you pass the interview, you will be sworn in as a U.S. citizen! As you can see, it is possible to establish citizenship even if you don’t have a birth certificate. But it’s important to note that each situation is unique, so it’s always best to speak with an immigration lawyer before beginning the process. Book a consultation with us so we can help and guide you on what documents you will need to gather, so we can help you through the citizenship process. Do you have any questions about citizenship or immigration? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check our website for other citizenship and immigration law articles. Thank you for reading!
Do you want to come live in the United States? If so, there are a few different ways that you can go about doing this. The easiest way to get into the country will depend on your unique background and what type of visa you are eligible for. This article will discuss family-based immigration, employment-based immigration, and investment-based immigration into the United States. We will outline the process for each type of visa and provide tips on making the process as smooth as possible. There are many ways to immigrate to the United States, but some methods are easier than others. If you have family members who are already citizens or permanent residents of the U.S., you may be able to enter the country through a family-based petition. Alternatively, you may be eligible for a work visa if you have a strong working background and experience. Finally, if you have financial backing and want to open a business in the U.S., you may be eligible for an investment visa. Each option has different requirements, so it is important to research which would be best for your situation. Regardless of your path, immigrating to the United States can be a long and complicated process. However, with careful planning and preparation, it is possible to make your dream of living in the US a reality. A Green Card allows a person to live and work permanently in the United States. Green Cards are also called Permanent Resident Cards or Alien Registration Cards. A Green Card is evidence of your permanent resident status. It entitles you to certain rights, such as the ability to live and work in the United States without restriction, travel in and out of the country, and apply for a U.S. passport. If you have a Green Card, you can also apply for citizenship after five years (or three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen). The L visa is a type of United States visa that allows foreign national employees of an international company to enter the U.S./ in order to continue working for the same employer. Also known as the Intracompany Transferee Visa, the L visa is available to executives, managers, and employees with specialized knowledge. To qualify for an L visa, applicants must have been employed by their overseas employer for at least one year out of the past three years. In addition, they must be entering the US to work in a managerial or executive position or to work in a position that requires specialized knowledge. The L visa is valid for up to seven years, and holders are eligible to apply for permanent residency. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The duration of the H-1B visa is three years, with the possibility of an extension for an additional three years. To qualify for an H-1B visa, applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in a relevant field. TN visas are available for Canadian and Mexican citizens who wish to work in the United States under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). TN status is similar to H-1B status in that it allows citizens of NAFTA countries to live and work in the United States for a specific period of time. TN visas are available for various occupations, including engineers, accountants, architects, and scientists. The E-3 visa is a U.S. visa for highly skilled workers from Australia. The E-3 visa allows the holder to work in the United States for up to two years. The E-3 visa is a renewable visa. E-3 visa holder’s spouse and children below 21 years of age can accompany the E-3 visa holder to the United States. E-3 visa holders are not subject to an annual visa lottery and are available for citizens of Australia with a job offer from a U.S. employer in a specialty occupation. E-2 visas are nonimmigrant visas for foreign nationals who come to the United States to invest in a U.S. business or to work for a business they have invested in. E-2 visas are available for citizens of countries with which the United States has a treaty of commerce and navigation. E-2 visa holders and their dependents may live and work in the United States as long as the E-2 visa remains valid. O-1 is a United States visa for individuals who possess an extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who have a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and are coming to the U.S. to work in their field of expertise. O-1 visa holders are admitted into the U.S. for the duration of their project, up to three years. The P-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa category for athletes, artists, and entertainers coming to the United States to perform. P-1 visa holders must be part of an internationally recognized Athletic or Entertainment organization. P-1 visas are also available for members of essential support personnel. P-1 visa holders may enter the United States up to 10 days before their event or performance, and they can stay in the United States for up to 5 years. If you are interested in immigrating to the United States, the first step is to research your options and determine which type of visa would suit your situation. Once you have done this, you can begin gathering the necessary documents and completing the application. The U.S. immigration process can be complex, but with careful planning and preparation, it is possible to make your dream of living in the U.S. a reality. Schedule a consultation with one of our Direct U.S. Immigration attorneys today to learn more about your options and start your journey. If you have any questions regarding any of the information in this guide, or if you’re interested in hiring Direct U.S. Immigration to handle your immigration case, feel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZYAslHRi2M For many students, the chance to study in the United States is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Unless the person is already a U.S. citizen or green card holder, most prospective students will have to apply for a visa to study in the United States. The non-immigrant F-1 visa is a powerful visa that allows international students to enter the U.S. and study at institutions certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The F-1 visa is the most popular type of student visa for individuals seeking to study at a U.S. university or college. As a F-1 student, the duration of your stay will vary based on the program in which you enroll. During and after your program, you are eligible to apply for work authorization through Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT). For STEM graduates, you can request additional time to work in your field. If you do not have any extensions or additional training, you will need to return to your home country after your graduation. F-1 Visa Requirements Here is a general list of the documents required to apply for an F1 Visa: ⦁ Valid passport.⦁ Form DS-160 for non-immigrant visa applications.⦁ Two photographs meeting the U.S. Visa Photo Requirements.⦁ Proof of paid F-1 visa fee.⦁ Form I-20. Your Form I-20 states the funds you need to finance your education and living in the U.S. You must submit documents that prove you have that amount readily available. This can be done by submitting various documents, such as: ⦁ Bank statements ⦁ Tax records ⦁ Pay stubs ⦁ Scholarship letter⦁ Paying a semester’s or a year’s worth of tuition is also a good idea, but not mandatory⦁ If you are supported or sponsored by someone else in the U.S., you will need to submit Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, and additional bank statements.⦁ If you are funding your U.S. education through a loan, you must show proof of the approved loan ⦁ Documents that prove your previous education and current qualifications: ⦁ Degree diploma certificate and transcripts⦁ Standardized test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, etc.)⦁ Acceptance letters from the educational institution which accepted you ⦁ Proof of purchased health insurance for international students. How to Apply for an F-1 Visa? The application process for the F-1 visa goes through the following steps: ⦁ Get your admissions documents from the SEVP approved institution.⦁ Submit the DS-160 form.⦁ Pay the application fee.⦁ Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.⦁ Schedule your F-1 visa interview.⦁ Submit the file with the required F-1 visa documents.⦁ Attend the student visa interview. Get Your Admissions Documents From the SEVP InstitutionAfter you apply and are accepted into the school you want to attend, the school will complete certain procedures on their end so that you can apply for the F-1 visa. The most important document you need to have is Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. Without this form, you will not be able to apply for an F-1 student visa and attend your interview. Submit the DS-160 FormAfter you get your Form I-20, you can start the usual application process. This includes filing the DS-160 online with the necessary information about your visa status. Pay the DS-160 Application FeeThe application fee for the student visa is $160. You must pay this fee and get the receipt, which you will need later for your interview documents. You might have to pay additional fees based on your country of origin and the U.S. Embassy you are applying from. Pay the SEVIS I-901 FeeWhen the SEVP institution admits you, your school immediately registers you in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). To have full registration, there is a SEVIS I-901 fee. For the F1 visa, this fee is generally $200. Schedule Your F-1 Visa InterviewAfter filing the DS-160 form and paying the fees, you must schedule your interview. The interview is a mandatory step before you get your student visa. Try to schedule it as early as possible since there might be delays due to the heavy workload of the US Embassy. When you schedule it, you will receive an interview appointment letter which you will need later on in the application process. Attend the student visa interviewBefore you attend your interview, you should prepare your file with the required documents for students.When you attend the student visa interview, the questions will mostly revolve around your reasons for going to the U.S. and the institution you will be attending. The interviewer will try to assess whether you intend to return to your home country after completing your degree. F-1 Visa Validity When your visa is approved, it is generally for the full time that you will be in school in the US. However, if it is approved for less time, you will need to renew the visa at the appropriate time. To confirm the validity of your F1 visa, you should look at your I-20 and I-94 form upon entering the U.S. If you are renewing your visa, you may follow the same procedure. However, depending on how you renew it, the interview may be waived. Once your visa is approved, you can enter the U.S. 30 days prior to your program beginning.
How to Avoid Having Your Green Card Invalidated If you are a green card holder and plan to travel outside of the United States for an extended period of time, it is important to be aware of green card abandonment. Green card abandonment can happen when you are absent from the U.S. for one year or more. To avoid having your green card invalidated, it is important to apply for a re-entry permit prior to leaving the U.S. This article will discuss green card abandonment and how to apply for a re-entry permit to prevent it from happening. Holding a green card comes with many responsibilities, one of which is maintaining a continuous physical presence in the United States. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always cooperate with our plans, and there may be times when you need to travel outside of the country for an extended period of time. If you aren’t careful, this can put you at risk for green card abandonment. The green card becomes invalid for re-entry if you’ve been outside the U.S. for one year or more. Even trips over 180 days can invite additional questions from the CBP officer about the nature of your trip when reentering. You can avoid such issues by applying and obtaining an approved a re-entry permit prior to exiting the U.S. A re-entry permit can help you prevent green card abandonment in scenarios where you expect to be absent from the U.S. for over one year but less than two years, you expect to be absent from the U.S. for multiple short trips, or if you need to live outside of the U.S. for employment reasons. If you have any questions about green card abandonment or need help applying for a re-entry permit, please schedule a consultation with an experienced immigration attorney from Direct U.S. Immigration. Traveling can be stressful enough without worrying about whether or not your green card will still be valid when you return. Let us take the stress away from your return!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rx9klikusY&t=5s&ab_channel=DirectU.S.Immigration We all know that obtaining an employment-based green card can be a long and intensive process that usually requires job offers, labor certifications, petitions, and long waiting periods. Each different preference level has its benefits as well as its disadvantages. Fortunately, there are two types of green cards that circumvent both the labor certification and job offer requirements by allowing you to self-petition. ● EB-1 green card for managers, executives, and people with extraordinary achievements. ● EB-2 green card for advanced degree holders and people with exceptional ability who obtain an NIW. The national interest waiver (NIW) is a powerful option for certain highly qualified people to get a green card to the United States through self-petition. With an approved national interest waiver, someone can get a green card without having a job offer. What Is Being Waived? Normally, an EB-2 category green card process requires an employer to sponsor someone by offering a permanent job and “testing” the labor market to see if qualified U.S. workers are available instead. This process, known as labor certification, involves advertising the job through a rigid series of steps. It’s a process that can be lengthy and expensive. The government agency reviewing the case may reject or deny it if it finds that the company identified a suitable U.S. worker but refused to hire that person or if there were inconsistencies in the application process. On the other hand, with the national interest waiver, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) decides that the person’s work is so important to the U.S. that there’s no need to prioritize a U.S. worker. It will thus “waive” or set aside the requirements of employer sponsorship and labor certification. Benefits of NIW 1. Ability to Self-Petition.As mentioned above, one of the primary benefits of the EB2 national interest waiver is the ability to self-petition for your green card. Through the national interest waiver, you do not need to go through the hassle of finding a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your immigrant petition. Another benefit is that you can avoid the labor certification process altogether through the national interest waiver. 2. SpeedAnother primary benefit of the national interest waiver is the speed of the process. Through a traditional employer-sponsored green card, the process can be very long. The employer has to undergo various recruitment activities and obtain an approved labor certification from the Department of Labor. This process alone can take several months to complete. However, the benefit of the EB2 national interest waiver is that there is no need do go through the labor certification process. You can file your immigrant petition directly, which saves a tremendous amount of time. National Interest Waiver Requirements. There are 4 main requirements to qualify for EB2 NIW: 1. You must qualify under the EB2 immigrant category2. Your proposed endeavor in the U.S. must have substantial merit and national importance3. You must be well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor4. You must show that, on balance, it would be beneficial to the United States to waive the requirement that you have a job offer and that a U.S. company undergo the labor certification process. You must be well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor To qualify for a national interest waiver, you must demonstrate that you are well-positioned to advance your proposed endeavor. When determining whether you satisfy this requirement, USCIS is looking to see your potential to contribute to the national interest based on your prospective work in the field. Here are some factors USCIS uses to determine whether you satisfy this requirement: ● education● skills● knowledge● record of success in related or similar efforts● model or plan for future activities● any progress towards achieving your proposed endeavor● interest from potential customers, users, investors, or other relevant entities or individuals Required Documents to Apply for a National Interest Waiver There are many different types of documents that should be included in your application for a national interest waiver. The documents that you will include will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. Before making any decisions regarding what documents to submit with your case, it is important to consult with an experienced immigration lawyer. Here is a general list of some of the documents that may be included: ● Copies of your educational degrees● Evidence of exceptional ability (if applicable)● Curriculum Vitae (CV)● Citation report● Link to Google Scholar profile● Publications, articles, books that you have authored● Evidence of prizes or awards that you have received● Evidence that you have reviewed the work of others● Published material about you/your field of endeavor● Evidence of the receipt of grants/patents● Copy of the biographic page of your passport● Testimonials from experts in your field National Interest Waiver Process Step 1. Consult with an Immigrant Lawyer The first step in the NIW process is to consult with an experienced immigration lawyer . An experienced immigration lawyer can review your credentials and provide you with an analysis regarding the likelihood of approval of your case. Step 2. File Form I-140 with USCISThe Form I-140 is also called the Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. This is the initial form that must be filed with USCIS to apply for a green card under EB2 NIW. Step 3. Either Adjustment of Status or Visa Processing Once your Form I-140 is approved, and a visa number is available for you, the next step will be to either do an adjustment of status or to undergo immigrant visa processing. National Interest Waiver Fees Here are the USCIS filing fees for each step of the EB2 NIW process: -Filing Fee for Form I-140: $700-Filing Fee for Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status): $1,225-Premium Processing Fee: Optional $2,500 National Interest Waiver Processing Time The overall processing time to receive your green card through EB-2 NIW will depend on multiple factors. Please see below for the different scenarios. 1. Concurrent Filing of Form I-140 and Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status)If you are lawfully present in the U.S. in valid non-immigrant
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