When you’re ready to take your photo for your green card, it’s not the time to get artistic. U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State (the agency that runs US embassies and consulates) require that all visa and green card applicants follow specific requirements for their photos. The requirements are found here. The U.S. State Department website provides examples of acceptable visa photos.
If you are a Canadian or Mexican citizen and you want to work in the U.S. temporarily, there are several visa programs available, one of which is the TN visa. The North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, created the TN visa to make temporary employment in the U.S. easier for approved Canadian and Mexican citizens. The purpose of the TN visa was to strengthen business and trade relationships between these countries. Note that the revised 2020 treaty, the United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement (USMCA) did not change the TN visa.
The path to becoming a U.S. citizen isn’t always short or straightforward. The process through which a non-citizen becomes a U.S. Citizen is called naturalization. You can become a naturalized citizen if you:
If you’re preparing for a marriage green card interview, it can be an intimidating process. While the stakes are high, the best way to feel confident is to prepare. That’s why it’s essential to understand what you should expect during a green card interview and ensure you bring all of the correct records.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows anyone to request records and information from the U.S. government. See 5 U.S.C. § 552 (2016). While the FOIA’s primary purpose is to keep citizens informed and government transactions transparent, the legislation also proves useful in some immigration cases.
If you’re beginning the process of immigrating to the U.S. and have a criminal record, you’re probably wondering whether this will affect your chances of getting a green card. While there’s no definitive answer to this question, serious criminal offenses may prevent you from obtaining a green card. For lower-level offenses, a green card may still be an option, but it’s good to work with an experienced immigration attorney.
An I-601 “Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility” allows a foreign citizen to immigrate to the U.S., adjust their status to permanent resident, or seek admission to the U.S. as a nonimmigrant if the immigrant can prove that a “qualifying relative” would suffer extreme hardship if the waiver is not granted. You will use Form I-612 if there is a reason U.S. immigration would deny you entry to the U.S. because you are inadmissible. The waiver process is complex and faces a great deal of scrutiny from the USCIS.
Because tourist VISAs are the easiest to obtain, people often ask me if they can work in the United States with a tourist visa. The answer is no; you generally can’t do it. If you are in the U.S. on a visitor visa, a B1 or B2 visa, you cannot accept employment to work in the United States.
You’re married! Congratulations! If you want to live in the U.S. with your new spouse, you’ll need to obtain a marriage green card. Getting a green card is generally a three-step process that involves preparation and answering Green Card interview questions. Here are the steps:
You’ve read the website and all the instructions carefully, but if you are a green card holder or a sponsor, there are some things you’ll need to do even if the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service doesn’t tell you to, like changing your address. If you are in search of an immigration in Cambridge, MA and the surrounding area, click here or call (617) 714-4375 to get in touch.
