How To Get A Green Card

by Nicolas Lewis, Loida

• ISBN13: 9781413301823
• ISBN10: 1413301827
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-05-31
• Publisher: Nolo

Summary

With green cards at a premium, it's essential that people know all that's required to get these much sought-after documents. This book presents ways to get a green card through:- parents, siblings and adult children- spouses or fiancées- employers- green card lotteries- political asylum or refugee status.Includes lists of more than 400 groups that help with paperwork and offer counseling and legal referrals.

Table of Contents

A Look at Immigration History
America's Earliest Settlers	2	(1)
Early Immigration Restrictions	2	(2)
Today's Immigration Laws	4	(1)
Looking Forward	5
Overview of Categories
Family-Based Relationships	2	(1)
Employment-Based Relationships	3	(1)
Special Immigrants	3	(1)
Entrepreneur Immigrants	4	(1)
Asylum and Refugee Status	4	(1)
Amnesties	4
Short-Term Alternatives to a Green Card
How Do Foreigners Enter the United States?	2	(1)
Types of Visas	2	(2)
Tourists Who Can Visit Without a Visa	4	(1)
The Importance of Keeping Legal	5	(1)
How to Extend a Visitor Visa	6	(1)
Changing Your Reason for Staying	7	(1)
What to Do If Your Application Is Denied	7	(1)
Tips on Filling Out Form I-539	7
Will Inadmissibility Bar You from Getting a Green Card?
Inadmissibility Defined	2	(1)
The Possibility of Waiving Inadmissibility	2	(5)
Reversing an Inadmissibility Finding	7	(1)
Most Troublesome Grounds of Inadmissibility	8
How Long You'll Have to Wait
Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens: No Waiting	2	(1)
Relatives in Preference Categories: Longer Waits	3	(1)
Dealing With the Wait	3	(1)
Can You Predict How Long You'll Wait?	4	(2)
Revocation of a Petition or Application	6
Fiance and Fiancee Visas
Who Qualifies for a Fiance Visa	2	(1)
Quick View of the Fiance Visa Application Process	3	(1)
Detailed Instructions for the Fiance Visa Application Process	3	(3)
How to Bring Your Children on a Fiance Visa	6	(1)
Marriage and After	6
Green Cards Through Marriage
Who Qualifies	2	(1)
Special Rules in Court Proceedings	3	(1)
Quick View of the Marriage-Based Green Card Application Process	3	(2)
Detailed Instructions for the Marriage-Based Green Card Application Process	5	(4)
Bringing Your Children	9	(1)
If Your Marriage Is Less Than Two Years Old	10	(2)
If You Remarry	12	(1)
Common Questions About Marriage and Immigration	12
Your Parents As Immigrants
Who Qualifies to Petition for the Parents	2	(1)
Who Qualifies As Your Parent	3	(1)
Quick View of the Application Process	4	(1)
Detailed Instructions for the Application Process	4
Child Immigrants
Who Qualifies	2	(1)
Definition of ``Child''	2	(3)
Quick View of the Application Process	5	(1)
Detailed Instructions for the Application Process	5	(1)
Automatic Citizenship for Children	6
Orphan Immigrants
Who Qualifies As an Orphan Child	2	(1)
Who Can Petition for an Orphan Child	3	(1)
Pre-Adoption Requirements	3	(1)
Starting the Adoption Process	4	(1)
Where to File	5	(1)
After the Petition Is Approved	5	(1)
Filing for a Visa	5	(1)
Automatic Citizenship for Adopted Orphans	6
The Diversity Visa Lottery
Who Qualifies for the Lottery	2	(1)
How to Apply for the Lottery	3	(1)
After You Win---The Green Card Application	4	(1)
How to Bring Your Spouse and Children	5
Amerasian Immigrants
Who Qualifies As an Amerasian	2	(1)
Who Can Start the Process	2	(1)
Who Will Serve as a Sponsor	2	(1)
How to File	3	(1)
Where to File	4
Your Brothers and Sisters As Immigrants
Who Counts As Your Brother or Sister	2	(1)
Quick View of the Application Process	3	(1)
Detailed Instructions for the Application Process	3	(1)
What Happens After Filing Form I-130	4
Refugees and Political Asylees
Who Qualifies	3	(1)
Who Is Barred from Qualifying	4	(1)
How to Apply for Refugee Status	4	(1)
How to Apply for Political Asylum	5	(3)
If Your Asylum Application Is Denied	8	(1)
Asylees Can Bring Overseas Spouses and Children to the United States	9	(1)
Getting a Green Card After Asylum Approval	10	(1)
Revocation of Asylee Status	10	(1)
Temporary Protected Status	10
Veterans and Enlistees
Who Qualifies	2	(1)
How to File	2	(1)
Becoming a U.S. Citizen	3
Registry: For Those in the U.S. Since 1972
How You Got Here Is Irrelevant	2	(1)
Short Absences Allowed	2	(1)
How to File	2	(1)
Additional Documentation Required	2	(1)
Approval of Registry	3
Cancellation of Removal
Applying in Court Proceedings	2	(1)
Who Qualifies for Cancellation	2	(1)
Who Is Not Eligible for Cancellation	2	(1)
Preparing a Convincing Case	3	(2)
How to File	5	(1)
Approving Your Application	6	(1)
Additional Forms of Cancellation of Removal	6
Adjustment of Status
Who Is Allowed to Use the Adjustment of Status Procedure	2	(3)
People Who Can't Adjust Status at All	5	(1)
How to File	5	(3)
After You Apply	8	(1)
Interview and Approval	8
Consular Processing
How Your Case Gets to the Consulate	2	(1)
Forms and Documents You'll Need to Mail	3	(1)
Forms and Documents You'll Bring to Your Interview	3	(1)
Your Visa Interview	4	(1)
Approval of Your Immigrant Visa	5	(1)
Arriving in the United States	5
Private Bills
What Is a Private Bill?	2	(1)
How a Private Bill Is Passed	2	(1)
Inside the Immigration Bureaucracy
Understanding the USCIS Culture	2	(1)
Where to Go	2	(1)
When You File Your Applications	3	(1)
Inquiring About Delays	4	(2)
Speeding Up Processing in Emergencies	6	(1)
Reporting Wrongdoing	7
Immigration Forms: Getting Started
Don't Give False Answers	2	(1)
Check for Current Forms and Fees	2	(1)
Tips for Filling Out Forms	2	(1)
When Additional Proof Is Required	3	(3)
Submitting Photographs for Identification	6	(1)
Fingerprinting Requirements	7	(1)
Keep Your Own File	7
Keeping, Renewing, and Replacing Your Green Card
Renewing or Replacing Your Green Card	2	(1)
When the Immigration Authorities Can Take Away Your Card	2	(1)
How to Find and Work With a Lawyer
Where to Look for a Lawyer	2	(1)
Deciding on a Particular Lawyer	3	(1)
Paying the Lawyer	3	(1)
Managing the Lawyer	4	(1)
Firing a Lawyer	4