In the United States, there are approximately 34 million legal immigrants. Florida alone had 4,379,341 foreign-born individuals in 2017. Those immigrants enter the country in many ways. While some come on temporary visas, others have green cards.
The immigration process is a difficult one, and the laws are always changing. If you or a loved one is considering coming to the U.S., there are a few things you should know. A closer look at the policies can make the process less intimidating.
DACA
In the past, some unauthorized immigrants were able to obtain temporary work permits. They were also able to be protected from deportation. This was all due to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Created for children who entered the country before they turned 16, the program participants had an opportunity to remain in the United States.
In 2017, the Trump administration demanded the program came to an end. People who were already in the program at the time of the order can remain in it. But the federal court is trying to decide the future of the program and the immigrants it protects.
Family-Based Immigration
The family-based immigration program allows citizens or green card holders to sponsor their family members. However, there is often a wait. The government does not issue an unlimited amount of green cards. Rather, it limits the number on an annual basis.
Depending on how many people apply for immigration from your country, you could be waiting years for a green card. Your wait time also depends on your relationship with the sponsor. For instance, an unmarried daughter of a citizen gets priority over the brother of a citizen.
Employment-Based Green Cards
Some workers can enter the country with employment-based green cards. If you have a certain sought-after skill, the government may allow you and your family members to work and live in the United States.
To receive this type of green card, you need to have an employer who is willing to sponsor you. They need to advertise the position you will fill in a public forum. Then, they need to be able to show that there were no qualified applicants with citizenship or green card status.
H1B Visas
Some highly skilled workers are eligible for H1-B visas. It’s the largest short-term employment visa in the country and has issued millions of visas in the past decade. The applicants need to be sponsored by an employer. Furthermore, the employer needs to prove that they are not taking jobs away from citizens or green cardholders.
This is a temporary visa. Therefore, it is not intended to be a path towards permanent residency of citizenship. If you receive an H1B visa, you can only stay for three years. After that, you could receive an extension of as much as three more years. According to recent data, the Trump administration has been denying more H1B visas than in the past.
Visa Lottery
In the past, the visa lottery has been a way for immigrants to get into the country regardless of their family relationships or employment prospects. On a yearly basis, about 50,000 individuals receive green cards through this program. It is only available to individuals from underrepresented countries. For instance, immigrants from China, Mexico, and India cannot apply for the visa lottery.
Trump has stated that he does not want to keep the visa lottery. Therefore, this is one of the immigration policies that could change. If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest changes, you should work with an immigration lawyer in Florida.
