UNDERSTANDING THE IMMIGRATION STATUS IN THE UNITED STATES

Introduction

The US offers a ton of chances for both work and personal goals. But, if you want to move here legally from another place, you will need to go through the immigration process. During this process, you might end up in one of the different categories: most likely either a resident or a non-immigrant.

Getting a green card or becoming a citizen in the US usually takes a long time. There is a lot to learn about getting a green card or citizenship and figuring out where to start can be tough. There are four main types of immigration statuses in the US. So, depending on which one you are in, your situation might be different. An immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX, can always guide you through the process.

Packing in all the info and doing your own digging can feel like a lot, but with the help of immigration lawyers in Arlington, TX, who know their stuff, you will get to know exactly what to do. Let’s talk about the different types of status in the US and dive into some questions about the categories.

Overview of immigration status

All individuals in the United States have a kind of immigration status. This describes the length of their stay and their citizenship status. There are types of immigration statuses, such as non-immigrant and immigrant status, which include the length of stay and whether one is a citizen or not.

People in the country legally can alter this status by taking the proper steps and dealing with various government offices. These offices include but are not limited to the Department of Homeland Security-DHS, with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service-USCIS as a department within this office, the Department of State-DOS, the Department of Justice-DOJ, and the Department of Health and Human Services-HHS. An immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX can help you interact with immigration officers.

The US government allows for both non-immigrants and immigrants to change their status when the appropriate paperwork is completed. This may include something like Form I-485 completed to change permanent residency status. However, an individual must be qualified to gain entry into various different immigration categories. You can navigate through this process with the help of an immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX.

What are the immigration statuses in the US?

If you are just getting into the immigration game, you might be wondering, “What is all the buzz about the different immigration statuses?” Well, there are four main ones you need to know about.

We are going to give you the lowdown on these immigration status types so you can figure out what steps to take next. Depending on where you stand in the immigration spectrum, you can also dive deeper into your rights and learn more about how to navigate the immigration process. An immigration lawyer in Arlington TX can give you more insight.

• Citizenship status

First up, we have US citizens. These are people born in the US and get their citizenship after living here for three to five years. Once you are a US citizen, you are legally allowed to work and can also get government benefits if you qualify. You can even help your family members, like your spouse, kids, siblings, and parents, to get their green cards or citizenship through you. The government can’t kick anyone out of the US once they become a citizen. This is excepted under certain fraud cases related to getting citizenship status. If you need help getting this status, contact an immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX.

• Undocumented status

Undocumented immigrants are those who enter the country illicitly and reside in it, unable even to obtain a temporary visa or apply for permanent residency.

Moreover, they can’t work or use any government service like health insurance or driver’s license. If they get caught, they will be deported to their country.

• Visitors and short-term status

Visitors and those with short-term statuses are persons legally resident and working temporarily in the United States. Examples of such are tourists, students, fiancé-visas, and working visitors.

It is really crucial in the case of visitors and short-term workers not to outstay their welcome. Secondly, visitors and people with short-term status should never lie to obtain a visa or violate any terms of their visitor status.

• Green card holders and conditional green card holders

The last group includes green card holders and conditional green card holders. Green card holders are aliens who received their green cards. They can receive these through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and have the right to live and work in the US forever.

You become eligible for a green card if you are sponsored either by a family member or an employer. Anyone can also be eligible to get a green card as a refugee or asylum seeker. Those people who come to the US seeking asylum qualify if they meet some set criteria. Get to know these criteria by talking with an immigration lawyer in Arlington, TX.

In the case of conditional green card holders, they received their green cards prior to their marriage and completed their two-year marriage period. They are going to have to file for their marriage at the time of receiving the green card. The couple have to try to remove the condition within two years; otherwise, they will run out of their green card and be sent back to their country of origin.

Highlights of points on the US immigration statuses

It is of essence to understand, if relocating to the United States, the various kinds of individuals living in the US. Each, right, from citizen, resident, non-immigrant, to undocumented people, carries different rules. The different statuses come along with various duties and things of a legal nature that one has to observe. You will have all the rights and protection if you are a citizen. But the ones who aren’t here legally have to be very careful not to mess up, and you get kicked out of the country.

If you are here on a temporary visit, you are a non-immigrant. If you want to live and work here forever, you need to become a legal permanent resident. But those in the process of becoming permanent residents, called conditional residents, have extra things they need to do. With this information, you will be better equipped to decide where you would wish to reside or work in the United States.

If you need some one-on-one help, don’t hesitate. Reach out to a team of experienced immigration lawyers in Arlington TX. They are all about helping people just like you.

Get help!

At Gehi and Associates, we are here to assist anyone looking to move to the United States. Whether you are trying to become a citizen or want to help your family come over, we are here to back you up every step of the way. Reach out to us now to find out how you can begin your journey!