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Legal entry into the United States
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There are various methods by which foreign-born individuals can gain legal entry into the United States on a temporary or permanent basis. Through these methods, individuals obtain express permission from the federal government to cross or remain within the borders of the United States. This article details some of the ways foreign-born individuals may enter or reside in the United States on a legal basis.
Diversity Lottery
Diversity Lottery refers to the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, which issues visas specifically for immigrants who are citizens of countries from where few immigrants have come to the United States in the past. The program is referred to as a lottery because registrants are randomly selected to apply for a visa.[1]
Family reunification
Family reunification refers to a type of permanent immigration to the United States whereby an immediate relative or other family member of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident legally immigrates to the United States. Visas issued for family reunification are the most common among all of the visa classifications.[2]
Guest work
Guest workers are individuals from other countries who come to the United States for temporary work. Guest workers may receive one of several types of visa, each intended for a different type of work. In 2015, the United States issued over 807,000 temporary worker visas.[3]
Naturalization
Naturalization is the process by which an individual born in another country becomes a citizen of the United States. These individuals are referred to as naturalized citizens. The process is primarily governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 and its amendments.[4]
Permanent residency
A permanent resident, or Green Card holder, is anyone who is not a citizen who is legally authorized to "live and work in the United States on a permanent basis," according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Permanent residents receive documentation, commonly referred to as Green Cards, as proof of their status.[5]
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, about 1.05 million individuals obtained lawful permanent resident status in 2015.[6]
Refugees
The admission of refugees into the United States for resettlement is primarily the responsibility of the federal government and the executive branch. The process for resettling refugees in the United States involves collaboration between the United Nations (UN) and the U.S. Department of State. The UN is primarily responsible for referring refugee cases to the State Department, which then oversees the security screening process and coordinates with other organizations to provide resettlement services for admitted refugees.
Visas
A U.S. visa is a type of documentation issued to both immigrant and nonimmigrant travelers to the United States that displays identifying information and indicates the reason for the visit. The issuance of a visa does not automatically guarantee someone entry into the United States; at the point of entry, an officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection evaluates the individual's visa and other documents and decides whether or not to allow entry. Citizens from 38 countries traveling temporarily to the United States are not required to obtain a nonimmigrant visa before entering the country.[7][8]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, "The Diversity Visa Process - Entry," accessed January 12, 2017
- ↑ U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, "Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visas Issued at Foreign Service Posts, Fiscal Years 2012 - 2016," accessed January 10, 2017
- ↑ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, "Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Workers," accessed December 22, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, "INA: Act 313 - Prohibition upon the Naturalization of Persons Opposed to Government or Law, or Who Favor Totalitarian Forms of Government," accessed December 18, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, "Green Card," accessed October 4, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Department of Homeland Security, "Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)," accessed December 20, 2016 (Click on "Lawful Permanent Residents 2015 Data Tables" to access the data.)
- ↑ U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, "About Visas - The Basics," accessed January 2, 2017
- ↑ U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, "Visa Waiver Program," accessed January 10, 2017
