Becoming American: Understanding legal and Illegal Immigration

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Becoming American : Understanding legal and Illegal Immigration

People pour over American borders every day, searching for a better life, as United States is one of the hot destination,

Everyone foreign national who legally enters the United States is required to have a visa which is issued by the United States Department of State.

If person comes to the United States without a visa or stays after their visa is expired, then that person is breaking the law .

Types of Visas Issued

The U.S. government issues two types of visas.

Immigrant
Non-Immigrant

The person become resident aliens or legal permanent residents and obtain their green cards, if he/she holds immigrant visas

Most of the immigrants finally become citizens of the United States.

Non-Immigrant visas are issued to The people who return to their homeland when their trip or schooling is completed, Non-Immigrant visas are issued to them such as tourists or students.

What is an Illegal Alien ?

According to the Nationality Act of 1952 immigration is defined as “a person who is not a citizen or national of the United States”.

In other words, an alien is anyone who is not the citizen of United States but the citizen of a country other than the United States.

If someone is living in the United States illegally, either without the correct legal documentation or by violating the terms of documentation is known as an illegal alien.

For example overstaying the time period specified on a studentor tourist visa.

In the United States illegal aliens have no legal status. Among other things, illegal immigrants can not vote, receive social services from federally funded programs, social security benefits, or hold United States passports.

Illegal aliens are subject to custody and expulsion at any time, as are legal aliens if they commit and are convicted of a crime.

In many cases most of the illegal aliens are not detained or removed from the U.S. unless they committed a crime and been convicted because they can’t be identified as illegal aliens.

Becoming a Naturalized Citizen

Naturalization is the process of becoming a United States citizen with full citizenship rights.

Overseen by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS),aliens have several ways to become naturalized

By residing in the country for a period of five years, an immigrant visa holder can obtain legal permanent resident status.

During these five years, a legal alien may not spend more than six months at once in foreign countries.

For at least six months of the year for a total minimum of two and a half years he or she must be physically present in the country.

It is possible to become a permanent legal resident of the United States and later a naturalized citizen through marriage to a United States citizen. In this case, the naturalized period is shortened from five years to three years,provided the couple has been married for at least three years, and the spouse is still a citizen of the United States.

Other factors that affect naturalization and eligibility for citizenship includes being at least 18 years old,possessing good moral character and basic reading and writing skills.

Prospective citizens are required to understand United States government and history, but there are some age related exceptions to the latter two.

The BCIS will grant or deny citizenship to the individual who has applied, after the completion of the application and interview process .

The case will continue if the BCIS needs more information before a decision can be made. Individuals who have been denied citizenship may retrial.

While the American immigrant’s face has changed and will change over the years,one thing remains the same: you can enter just as long as you have the correct paperwork and can follow the State Department’s rules.