General Immigration

Immigration to the United States is based upon the following principles: the reunification of families, admitting immigrants with skills that are valuable to the U.S. economy, protecting refugees, and promoting diversity.

Noted above are some important tenets to immigration into the U.S.

1. Family-Based Immigration: this focus is on immediate relatives or the family preference system. Prospects must meet standard eligibility criteria and also meeting requirements (like age or financial requirements).
2. Employment-Based Immigration: this provides way for immigrants with valuable to come to the country (either permanent or temporary).
3. Per-Country Ceilings: there are limits for how many immigrants from each country may come into the U.S.
4. Refugees and Asylees and Other Vulnerable Populations:there are options for people fleeing persecution or who are unable to go back to their home country. Tied into are humanitarian processes.
5. Diversity Visa Program: a lottery that encourages immigration from countries with low rates of immigration.

Is it hard to enter the U.S.?

Congress decides immigration laws like who can enter, from where, for how long, as well as the screening procedures for those entering and exiting the country, using starting with visas. They also create standards of who is deemed American through the Naturalization Process. Some countries can have their visas waived, which encourages the flow of people between the countries.

The U.S. immigration process must first start with visa application if immigrants wish to permanently live in the U.S.:

1. Submit a petition.
2. After petition is approved (in order): check the priority date, begin National Visa Center (NVC) processing, choose an agent, pay fees.
3. Collect and submit forms to NVC (in order): submit visa application form, collect financial documents, collect supporting documents, submit documents to NCV.
4. Interview (in order): prepare for the interview, visa applicant interview, after the interview receive approval or denial.

10,381,491 were approved for visa status in 2016.

The Naturalization Process looks like this:

1. Determine citizenship eligibility status.
2. Prepare and submit Application for Naturalization.
3. Biometrics (fingerprinting) appointment.
4. Interview.
5. Receive Acceptance or Denial.
6. Receive notice and subsequently take the Oath of Allegience.
7. Understand rights and responsibilities.

Note: the applicant must go through a naturalization test during interview (includes speaking test (determined in application interview), reading test, writing test, and civics test- see links for example vocab and tests).

Navigating the U.S. Immigration Process

Currently U.S. policy is experiencing a shift in preference. The Obama Administration supported programs like DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans). Each of these would made the process of visas and naturalization easier for those seeking assimilation and livelihood in the U.S. The Trump Administration is currently working to role back these programs, with some indications that they will work to legalize these programs and legitimize the users of the programs. The Trump Administration is also working on restricting immigration from terrorist producing countries through travel bans.

Some quick stats of immigration: 13.5% of U.S. population are immigrants; 45% of those immigrants have Hispanic or Latino background; the states with largest immigration growth includes North Dakota, Tennessee, South Dakota, South Carolina, and Wyoming; 17% of the labor force is made up of immigrants.