Immigration Advice Work Permits

August 30, 2009

US Visas

Filed under: Immigration Requirements,US Visas,Visa Immigration — New Thirteen @ 6:48 pm

If you are considering emigrating from the UK to the US, you must first find the right visa that will meet your requirements. There are many different visas that apply to a wide range of categories and if you don’t choose the right one, it is highly likely that your application will be rejected.

The laws and regulations for US Immigration are quite strict and certain rules and procedures must be followed. One of the easier ways to gain a US visa is if you have a family member or spouse living in that country. You can also apply for a working visa as a highly skilled migrant, but to be in with a chance of having your application approved you will need to be sponsored by a prospective employer within the United States. Highly skilled migrants will need to show how they have excelled within their field and must also have a degree or equivalent professional qualification.

If you do not fit into either of these categories, there are other visas that will be more applicable to your needs. Religious workers and people contracted to work for the U.S. Government can also be granted immigration visas. Also worth considering is the Green Card Lottery, which is held every year and sees selected countries allocated a certain number of places. The closing date for registration is in November and winners are informed by post between May and July of the following year. Registering for the Green Card Lottery is free, but as with the other US visas, there are strict rules to follow during application.

August 7, 2009

Moving to the United States of America

Filed under: Immigration Requirements,US Visas,Work Permit — New Thirteen @ 11:13 am

When you’ve made the decision to settle in the USA you may want to know more about what it will be like to live across the Atlantic Ocean. Perhaps you’ve been to the country often and are familiar with the lifestyle, or have only visited on occasion and are more familiar with the way America is portrayed in film and on TV.

Even if you consider yourself an experienced traveller of the United States, actually living there permanently will still come as something of a shock for most. As close as the UK and USA are to each other (culturally rather than geographically) the fact remains that the USA is a different country and you are likely to find that a different way of life applies.

So how can you make sure that you’re as prepared as possible? First, it’ll be a good idea to read up on the USA as much as possible. This should go further than travel guides – read about the country’s history, its geography, its political figures. Find out what makes each State different and unique, and how the States came to be unified. It might be worthwhile going to the library and digging out as much fiction and non-fiction as you can about the American way of life.

Of course applying for your Visa as soon as possible, getting your vaccinations, and researching where and how you will live when you get to the USA are all important. Preparing yourself as much as possible for the adventure of US immigration will mean you can enjoy it even more when you do arrive – and will mean that you settle into your new life more easily.

July 28, 2009

What is the H-1B visa?

Filed under: H-1B Visas,Immigration Requirements,US Visas — New Thirteen @ 2:23 pm

Created under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the H1b is a visa for non-immigrants in the USA. The H1b visa can allow employers in the country to temporarily employ workers from other countries for speciality occupations. For foreign workers who want to apply for a speciality job, there are several steps to acquiring the visa.

The first thing to do is to find a reliable company who will serve as sponsor for your H1b. You can find companies online using the Web search engines, but make sure that the company you choose is not on the blacklist of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. For information about the laws in filing an H1b visa, you can register at www.USCIS.gov and have daily updates. You can also register on several immigration bulletins for more information about the H1b visa.

A schedule for your application can be set to complete all necessary requirements in time. First on the schedule is that you must have a sponsor with whom you will file your H1b visa request by January 15. You must get the checklist for H1b visa filing and prepare your requirements. By February 15, you must submit your documents to the company to give them time to pass them on to a lawyer. Your visa application along with your documents must be ready by March 15, and your application must reach the USCIS by April 1st. If your application is selected, you employer will receive a Notice of Action with an EAC number.

The H1b visa gives foreign workers three years in the USA, and can be extended to six years. It can further be extended for another year if the application for labour certification is pending for 365 days.

July 18, 2009

Effects of Immigration to the United States

Filed under: Immigration Requirements,US Visas — New Thirteen @ 3:23 pm

Immigration to the United States has been a source of cultural change and major population growth throughout America’s history. The social, political, and economic aspects of immigration have also led to many controversies about religion, ethnicity, economic benefits, settlement patterns, job growth, nationalities, crime levels, work habits, and moral values. As of 2006, the United States has accepted more immigrants than any other country in the world. The U.S. population has a total of approximately 37.5 million immigrants.

The results of immigration presented many new challenges for the United States government. In 1998, during his commencement address held at Portland State University, former president Bill Clinton declared his support for the immigrants, particularly the ones from Latin America and Asia. Clinton stated that America has incessantly drawn spirit and strength from wave after wave of the immigrants. He added that the immigrants have been proved to be the most adventurous, the most industrious, the most restless, and the most innovative people.

Since the 1960s, immigration to the U.S. has been dangerous and expensive for those who have illegally crossed the border from Mexico. However, recent legislation has attempted to halt illegal immigration. As a result, a barrier was built along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border.

On the other hand, many cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Diego, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Phoenix, Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis, Jersey, Seattle, Baltimore, Denver, Portland, Maine and Portland, Oregon, and Miami have adopted ordinances that ban law enforcement officers from asking people about their immigration status.

July 13, 2009

Facts about US Immigration

Filed under: Immigration Requirements,US Visas,Visa Immigration — New Thirteen @ 1:39 pm

Immigration to the USA is a complicated issue, mostly because it includes many rules and regulations. In the United States, there are many immigration lawyers who assist individuals in filing their application. However, it is also possible to submit an application without their assistance. USA Immigration Services is an organisation that is committed to guiding green card holders, foreigners, and other potential citizens of the U.S. in filing their applications for a fee.

Millions of people around the world want to become citizens of the United States. However, it is not easy to move to the United States. The foreigners who visit the United States must have a valid visitor visa. However, according to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which applies to 35 countries as of 31 December 2008, any individual with a machine-readable passport can stay in the United States for 90 days even without a visa.

However, most individuals must have a visitor visa in advance. Before an individual can visit the United States on a temporary visit, he must get a non-immigrant visitor visa. Foreigners who want to invest in the U.S. or marry a U.S. citizen should apply for a green card or immigrant visa.

Those who are chosen in the Green Card Lottery are lucky since they only have to go through the application process. In the Green Card Lottery, the computer-generated draw selects applicants randomly. Furthermore, the United States allow people to hold multiple or dual citizenship.

The process of acquiring a non-immigrant or immigrant visa can involve large fees and can be time consuming. However, if you do finally obtain a visa, you can legally work and live in the U.S.

June 26, 2009

USA Visa Policy

Filed under: Immigration Requirements,US Visas,Visa Immigration — New Thirteen @ 3:26 pm

The United States welcomes several million foreign immigrants and investors who arrive in the US every year in accordance with its immigration laws. They greatly add to the nation’s educational, cultural, and economic life.

The US Congress has enacted immigration laws which have authority over immigration matters. These include how long the foreigner may stay and when they must leave, determining who may enter the country, and the entry and exit of travellers. The foundation for immigration law is provided under the Immigration Naturalization Act, or INA, together with its amendments. The Act is the basic body of immigration law.

The current changes in the US laws about visa procedures and policies have increased the amount of time it can take to get a visa. It is unavoidable that delays often happen, although visa processing improvements have been made. The processing times will often differ. The mission of the State Department is visa delivery in not more than 30 days from the time of its application. However, cases which require administrative processing may take longer. Administrative processing is a requirement that most applicants must meet when they apply for a visa. It can take 60 days from the time of application for most of the administrative processing to be resolved. The timing will differ, depending on the individual circumstances of the case when administrative processing is needed. Therefore, applicants must wait for at least 90 days from the time of submission of documents before making inquiries regarding the status of administrative processing.

If a person wishes to visit the US and get a visa, he must schedule his visa interview well in advance of his date of departure.

June 13, 2009

United States Immigramtion Law

Filed under: US Visas,Visa Immigration — New Thirteen @ 3:54 pm

Before the creation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) in 1952, United States immigration law was governed by a variety of different statutes. The passage of the act consolidated these statutes into the basic body of immigration law. This is separated into sections, chapters, and titles under the United States Code, the compilation of federal U.S. laws.

Also known as the McCarran-Walter Act, the law was named after its sponsors, Congressman Francis Walter and Senator Pat McCarran. Although several immigration policies from the earlier statutes were kept in the new law with few changes, gender discrimination and racial restrictions were eventually removed. A self-reporting system was introduced, under which foreign citizens must report their address each year to the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service. For use by law enforcement and security agencies, a central index of aliens living in the United States was established.

Over the years, the 1952 law was amended several times. The biggest changes were introduced with the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965, when national origin, ancestry, and race as the basis for immigration were removed from the law. In addition, a preference system was established which favours potential immigrants who have special abilities or much-needed skills, and also foreign nationals who are the relatives of US citizens.

Work to improve the present Immigration and Nationality Act continues, with several immigration reform bills having been submitted to Congress. However, none of these bills has so far passed into law.

June 4, 2009

UK Nationals Moving to US

Filed under: Immigration Requirements,US Visas,Work Permit — New Thirteen @ 3:41 pm

Moving abroad is a very big step as there are a lot of things to consider concerning family, friends and other related issues. As a UK national, one has the right to work and live in any European Union or European Economic Area country. UK nationals will be given the same privilege as nationals of their destination country in social security matters, pay and working conditions. However, working further afield such as in the United States may entail different terms and conditions from the employment rights that they are enjoying in other EU-member states.

For those looking for new career opportunities or a fresh start, America remains a popular and attractive country. British citizens or any other national of an overseas country who desires to enter the US must first have either an immigrant visa for permanent residence or a non-immigrant visa for a temporary stay. The immigration law defines the type of visa that one must obtain in relation to one’s travel purpose. Although having a visa does not assure entry into the US, obtaining a US visa lets you to take a trip to a port-of-entry and ask for permission to enter the US from a Customs Border Protection officer of the Department of Homeland Security.

Nationals of certain countries, through the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), can travel to the US for business and tourism for a time span of 90 days or less without a visa. Such a programme has been established for the purpose of removing any unnecessary hindrances to travel, permitting the Department of State to focus its consular resources in other areas and stimulating the industry of tourism. Prior to the admission, VWP travellers will be screened. The United Kingdom is one of the 27 countries currently participating in this programme.

May 22, 2009

What is a Green Card?

Filed under: Green Card,US Visas — New Thirteen @ 9:36 am

A Green Card, a United States Permanent Resident Card, is an identification document that is issued by the USA to allow people from other countries to legally and permanently work and live in the country. It also serves as proof that immigration benefits have been granted to a Lawful Permanent Resident. There are many people around the world who want to have a Green Card to experience life in the USA; however, it is hard to apply for one and even harder to get one.

In 1990, the US Department of State administered the Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery Program, also known as The Green Card Lottery, to increase diversity in the population of the country. The program was created by Congress, and was called the Immigration Act of 1990. It was intended for natives of countries that have fewer immigrants in the USA.

The requirements for those who want to avail themselves of the opportunity involve certain areas in education or training and other general requirements. No minimum age was set; however the education and training requirements exclude people under the legal age. You must not have a criminal record, must not be mentally disturbed, and you must be able to support yourself.

If you meet the requirements, you can apply for the lottery which is done online. You have to answer several questions, and after filling in all the information needed, you can submit the form to The Green Card USA GLOBAL. A processing fee must be paid upon submission. A notice will be sent to you confirming that your application has been passed on to the US Department of State. Winners of the lottery will be notified through the mail, and will be given instructions to receive their Green Card.

May 14, 2009

American visas

Filed under: US Visas,Visa Immigration — admin @ 3:32 pm

The time it takes to file for an American visa depends on one’s status in relation to the United States, the type of visa that one is filing for, and one’s success in completing the required paperwork. All applicants who try to receive a visa cannot be sure that they will obtain one. However, there are several steps that one can consider in order to save time for this particular endeavour.

The first thing that one can do is to call the nearest Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) office. The consulate INS office or the American Embassy must be contacted. Upon doing so, all the necessary application documents must be requested. Should you find yourself incapable of supporting yourself, inquire if there is a need for a U.S. sponsor who will shoulder all the finances. In this case, a sponsor must be searched for immediately. Next, the preliminary application must be filled out neatly and completely. It should be mailed back along with the documents, fees and photos needed for processing. Unless otherwise requested, copies of the original documents may be sent. To save time, and to check if one’s application is already complete, these documents must be delivered personally. Call the INS for a filing/interview appointment once all the documents are completed. It may take a number of days to accomplish this last process; after the interview, the applicant will be informed if the visa will be given to him/her.

With this kind of undertaking, aside from those required documents, one should also possess patience, persistence and courtesy, as there are thousands of people requesting an American visa.

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