How to Get a Green Card: Legal Ways to Stay in the USA

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Applying for a green card? Read this book first.

The U.S. immigration system is an enormous bureaucracy. It’s vital that you understand all the requirements for getting a green card before starting your application – making a mistake can ruin your chances.

Fortunately, How to Get a Green Card explains the best ways to work with U.S. immigration officials, how to prepare and present the right documents, and what to expect every step of the way. Learn the quickest way to get a green card through:

• parents, siblings and adult children
• spouses and fiancés
• green card lotteries
• political asylum or refugee status
• and much more

Table of Contents

Is This Book for You?

1. A Look at Immigration History

• A. America's Earliest Settlers
• B. Early Immigration Restrictions
• C. Today's Immigration Laws
• D. Looking Forward

2. Overview of Categories

• A. Family-Based Relationships
  B. Employment-Based Relationships
• C. Special Immigrants
• D. Entrepreneur Immigrants
• E. Asylum and Refugee Status
• F. Amnesties

3. Short-term Alternatives to a Green Card

• A. How Do Foreigners Enter the United States?
• B. Types of Visas
• C. Tourists Who Can Visit Without a Visa
• D. The Importance of Keeping Legal
  E. How to Extend a Visitor Visa
• F. Changing Your Reason for Staying
• G. What to Do If Your Application Is Denied
• H. Tips on Filling Out Form I-539

4. Will Inadmissibility Bar You From Getting a Green Card?

• A. Inadmissibility Defined
• B. The Possibility of Waiving Inadmissibility
• C. Reversing an Inadmissibility Finding
• D. Most Troublesome Grounds of Inadmissibility

5. How Long You'll Have to Wait

• A. Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens: No Waiting
• B. Relatives in Preference Categories: Longer Waits
• C. Dealing With the Wait
• D. Can You Predict How Long You'll Wait?
• E. Revocation of a Petition or Application

6. Fiancé and Fiancée Visas

• A. Who Qualifies for a Fiancé Visa
• B. Quick View of the Fiancé Visa Application Process
• C. Detailed Instructions for the Fiancé Visa Application Process
• D. How to Bring Your Children on a Fiancé Visa
• E. Marriage and After

7. Green Cards Through Marriage

• A. Who Qualifies
• B. Special Rules in Court Proceedings
• C. Quick View of the Marriage-Based Green Card Application Process
• D. Detailed Instructions for the Marriage-Based Green Card Application Process
• E. Bringing Your Children
• F. If Your Marriage Is Less Than Two Years Old
• G. If You Remarry
• H. Common Questions About Marriage and Immigration

8. Your Parents as Immigrants

• A. Who Qualifies to Petition for the Parents
• B. Who Qualifies As Your Parent
• C. Quick View of the Application Process
• D. Detailed Instructions for the Application Process

9. Child Immigrants

• A. Who Qualifies
• B. Definition of "Child"
• C. Quick View of the Application Process
• D. Detailed Instructions for the Application Process
• E. Automatic Citizenship for Children

10. Orphan Immigrants

• A. Who Qualifies As an Orphan Child
• B. Who Can Petition for an Orphan Child
• C. Pre-Adoption Requirements
• D. Starting the Adoption Process
• E. Where to File
• F. After the Petition Is Approved
• G. Filing for a Visa
• H. Automatic Citizenship for Adopted Orphans

11. The Diversity Visa Lottery

• A. Who Qualifies for the Lottery
• B. How to Apply for the Lottery
• C. After You Win-The Green Card Application
• D. How to Bring Your Spouse and Children

12. Amerasian Immigrants

• A. Who Qualifies As an Amerasian
• B. Who Can Start the Process
• C. Who Will Serve as a Sponsor
• D. How to File
• E. Where to File

13. Your Brothers and Sisters as Immigrants

• A. Who Counts As Your Brother or Sister
• B. Quick View of the Application Process
• C. Detailed Instructions for the Application Process
• D. What Happens After Filing Form I-130

14. Refugees and Political Asylees

• A. Who Qualifies
• B. Who Is Barred from Qualifying
• C. How to Apply for Refugee Status
• D. How to Apply for Political Asylum
• E. If Your Asylum Application Is Denied
• F. Asylees Can Bring Overseas Spouses and Children to the United States
• G. Getting a Green Card After Asylum Approval
• H. Revocation of Asylee Status
• I. Temporary Protected Status

15. Veterans and Enlistees

• A. Who Qualifies
• B. How to File
• C. Becoming a U.S. Citizen

16. Registry: For Those in the U.S. Since 1972

• A. How You Got Here Is Irrelevant
• B. Short Absences Allowed
• C. How to File
• D. Additional Documentation Required
• E. Approval of Registry

17. Cancellation of Removal

• A. Applying in Court Proceedings
• B. Who Qualifies for Cancellation
• C. Who Is Not Eligible for Cancellation
• D. Preparing a Convincing Case
• E. How to File
• F. Approving Your Application
• G. Additional Forms of Cancellation of Removal

18. Adjustment of Status

• A. Who Is Allowed to Use the Adjustment of Status Procedure
• B. People Who Can't Adjust Status at All
• C. How to File
• D. After You Apply
• E. Interview and Approval

19. Consular Processing

• A. How Your Case Gets to the Consulate
• B. Forms and Documents You'll Need to Mail
• C. Forms and Documents You'll Bring to Your Interview
• D. Your Visa Interview
• E. Approval of Your Immigrant Visa
  F. Arriving in the United States

20. Private Bills

• A. What Is a Private Bill?
• B. How a Private Bill Is Passed

21. Inside the Immigration Bureaucracy

• A. Understanding the USCIS Culture
• B. Where to Go
• C. When You File Your Applications
• D. Inquiring About Delays
• E. Speeding Up Processing in Emergencies
• F. Reporting Wrongdoing

22. Immigration Forms: Getting Started

• A. Don't Give False Answers
• B. Check for Current Forms and Fees
• C. Tips for Filling Out Forms
• D. When Additional Proof Is Required
• E. Submitting Photographs for Identification
• F. Fingerprinting Requirements
• G. Keep Your Own File

23. Keeping, Renewing, and Replacing Your Green Card

• A. Renewing or Replacing Your Green Card
• B. When the Immigration Authorities Can Take Away Your Card

24. How to Find and Work With a Lawyer

• A. Where to Look for a Lawyer
• B. Deciding on a Particular Lawyer
• C. Paying the Lawyer
• D. Managing the Lawyer
• E. Firing a Lawyer

Endnote: Responsibilities of the New Immigrant

Appendix: USCIS Offices

Sample Filled-In Forms

• Sample Form I-102, Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document
• Sample Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
• Sample Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) (as used by an unmarried couple)
• Sample Form I-134, Affidavit of Support
  Sample Form DS-230, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration (as used by immigrating fiancé)
• Sample Form DS-156, Nonimmigrant Visa Application (when used by immigrating fiancé)
  Sample Form DS-156K, Nonimmigrant Fiancé(e) Visa Application
• Sample Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (as used for an immigrating husband or wife)
• Sample Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) (as used by a married couple)
• Sample Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence
• Sample Form G-325 A, Biographic Information
• Sample Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (as used for immigrating parents)
• Sample Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (as used for immigrating children)
• Sample Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship
• Sample Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition
• Sample Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow (er), or Special Immigrant
• Sample Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (as used for immigrating brothers or sisters of U.S. citizens)
• Sample Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal
• Sample Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition
• Sample Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow (er), or Special Immigrant
• Sample Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Resident or Adjust Status
• Sample Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
• Sample Form DS-230, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration
• Sample Form I-134, Affidavit of Support
• Sample Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act
• Sample Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member
• Sample Form DS-230 Part II, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration
• Sample Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
• Sample Form I-131, Application for Travel Document