D. How to Use This Book

This book is a unique combination of legal analysis and form preparation instructions. If you’re like most people, you’ll be tempted to go straight to the form preparation portions of the book. After all, how many of us read the directions before we plug in a new appliance? But consider this a great big warning label: If you just “plug in” to the visa application process, it could blow up. The U.S. government may give the lucky ones a second chance, but many careless applicants have found themselves deported or prevented from coming to the United States for many years. You won’t need to read every section of this book, but please figure out which ones apply to you, and read them.

First, however, a word of reassurance. Most applicants do get a second chance at bringing their application up to the government’s standards. A number of people are going through the immigration process on their own, and the U.S. government is accustomed to seeing badly prepared applications. You don’t need to worry that one little mistake will lead to an instant denial of your visa or green card. If there is a problem in your application that can be corrected, you’ll usually be given time to correct it.

The trouble is, you could make a mistake that’s irreversible—like unnecessarily revealing something that makes it look like you’re ineligible. So you may as well use the advice in this book to get your application right the first time around.

1. Chapters Everyone Should Read

There are a few chapters that everyone needs to read. These include Chapters 1 and 2, which explain whether this book can help you; and whether the immigration laws might exclude you automatically for health, security, or other reasons. We also highly recommend that everyone read Chapter 3, dealing with the income levels necessary to support a new immigrant. Lack of financial support is now one of the most common reasons for green card denials.

If your visa or green card prospects still look promising, move on to Chapter 4, which contains important tips on handling all the necessary paperwork. This is a vital chapter—the first impression that you create with your paperwork often determines how much scrutiny the government will give your application.

Caution: Always watch for changes in the law. The U.S. Congress, USCIS, and the State Department are constantly fixing, adjusting, and updating the immigration laws, procedures, fees, and forms. We can’t track you down to tell you if anything in this book is affected—you’ll need to watch the news and check the Updates to this book at www.nolo.com.

2. Chapters for Your Situation

After you read Chapters 1 through 4, skip to the chapter that best describes your situation. For example, as shown in “Which Chapter Is for You?” below, if you’re living overseas and engaged to a U.S. citizen, you’d turn to Chapter 5. But if you’re living in the United States and married to a lawful permanent resident, you’d read Chapter 12.

Each of Chapters 5 through 12 will help you analyze your immigration situation, discuss what options are available to you, and take you through any necessary preliminary procedures. If you qualify for and want to obtain a green card, you will also be coached to decide whether to apply in the United States, through a procedure called adjustment of status, or at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, through a procedure called consular processing, and directed to a chapter or section which explains these procedures.

You will be guided through each part of the process, using checklists designed for your immigration status. The checklists will summarize all the forms and documents that you need, and direct you to the proper forms, line-by-line discussions of how to fill out the forms, and other necessary information. Chapter 13 will instruct you on preparing for your visa or green card interview (the required final step for every applicant).

3. Chapters for Unique or Problem Situations

Hopefully, the chapters described above will be all you need to get your visa or green card. However, things don’t always happen as they should when dealing with the U.S. immigration bureaucracy. Therefore, we’ve included chapters to cover special situations or problems.

If you’re lucky, you’ll never have to read Chapter 15, Dealing With Bureaucrats, Delays, and Denials. But most people find their application takes longer than they think it should. In that case, you’ll be glad to have this chapter, as well as the sample reminder and inquiry letters that accompany it. Chapter 15 also deals with what to do if your application is denied.

Finally, if your case is turning out to be much more complicated than you’d expected, you’ll need to consider getting a lawyer or doing some legal research of your own. In that case, review Chapter 17.

4. Chapters to Save for Later

Even after you win a visa or new immigration status, you will still be required to follow some immigration rules. Chapter 16, After You Get Your Green Card, covers the rights and responsibilities of visa and green card holders, including you and members of your family. After all this hard work, you wouldn’t want to lose your residency.

Chapter 16 also covers certain people with young marriages, whose green cards expire after a two-year testing period called “conditional residency.” This chapter gives them all the instructions they need to go from conditional residency to a normal green card—that is, permanent residency.

Chapter 16 also gives you instructions on how to renew or replace the green card itself.

5. Appendixes

The appendixes to this book include a great deal of useful information, including a summary of the types of green cards and visas available to people and tear-out versions of the various handy checklists provided throughout this book.

Tip: Remember to use the checklists. No matter which immigration status you plan to pursue, it will involve lots of paperwork and documents. If you rely on the proper checklist, you should avoid missing any steps.

Next: E. Getting the Latest Forms and Fees

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