Illegal entrants into America are getting deported if there are no proper documented records of their immigration. The Trump administration is urging illegal immigrants to self-deport using the deportation app and return legally to live the American dream.
That does not mean America has closed its doors on all foreigners. By following the law of the land, foreigners can look forward to living, working and settling in America. As an immigrant, one can become a lawful permanent resident (LPR) and, subsequently, through Naturalization, can become a full US citizen.
So, what are the legal ways to immigrate to America?
U.S. immigration law prioritizes family reunification, economically valued immigrants, humanitarian protections, and diversity promotion. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is the legal framework that governs U.S. immigration policy.
Up to 675,000 permanent immigrant visas may be issued by the US annually under the INA in a variety of visa categories. The annual entry of spouses, parents, and children under 21 of U.S. citizens is unrestricted by the INA, in addition to the 675,000 visas.
A person can apply to become a lawful permanent resident (LPR) after being granted an immigrant visa or after being awarded certain other qualified safeguards, such as asylum or refugee status. When people enter the country on immigrant visas, they are considered LPRs.
LPRs are entitled to petition for U.S. citizenship through the process called Naturalization, after living in the country for five years (or three years in some cases). In addition to being allowed to stay in the nation permanently, LPRs are nonetheless subject to immigration regulations and can apply for almost any job (i.e., employment that isn’t legally limited to U.S. citizens).
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The United States also temporarily admits a range of noncitizens each year. Tourists, international students, and temporary workers are all eligible for these “non-immigrant” visas, which allow them to stay in the nation for varied periods. Some non-immigrant visas, such as student and tourist visas, have no numerical restrictions, although some employment-based visas are subject to annual constraints.
If you meet the requirements for education, training, and/or work experience, you may be eligible to apply for an employment-based immigrant visa, which would allow you to live and work in the United States permanently. The five employment-based immigration visa preferences or categories include permanent workers.
If you meet the education, training, and/or work experience requirements, you may be qualified to apply for an employment-based immigrant visa, allowing you to live and work permanently in the United States. Permanent workers are among the five types of employment-based immigration visas.
If you are in the United States in a lawful nonimmigrant status that does not provide employment authorization, you generally may apply for:
- A change of status to a nonimmigrant classification that provides employment authorization; or
- An adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident. This may be a concurrent filing with an immigrant visa petition or, depending on the circumstances, may require an applicant to obtain an approved immigrant visa before applying for an adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident.
Approximately 140,000 immigrant visas are available each fiscal year for aliens (and their spouses and children) who seek to immigrate based on their job skills. These employment-based immigrant visas are allocated among 5 preference categories.
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Some immigrant visa preference categories require you to have a permanent job offer from a U.S. employer. This employer will be considered your sponsor/petitioner and will file an immigrant petition with USCIS on your behalf. If no job offer is required, you may file a petition on your behalf.