Table of Contents

Your Immigration Companion

A. Types of Green Cards We Cover
B. How Much You Can Do Without a Lawyer
C. Using This Book

1. Immigration Then and Now

A. America’s Earliest Settlers
B. Early Immigration Restrictions
C. Today’s Immigration Laws
D. Looking Forward

2. All the Ways to Get a Green Card

A. Family-Based Relationships
B. Employment-Based Relationships
C. Special Immigrants
D. Entrepreneur Immigrants
E. Asylum and Refugee Status
F. Diversity Visa Lottery
G. Amnesties

3. Short-Term Alternatives to a Green Card

A. How Do Foreigners Enter the United States?
B. Types of Visas
C. Tourists Who Can Visit Without a Visa
D. The Importance of Staying Legal
E. How to Extend a Visitor Visa
F. Changing Your Reason for Staying
G. What to Do If Your Application Is Denied
H. Tips on Filling Out Form I-539

4. Will Inadmissibility Bar You From Getting a Green Card?

A. What Is Inadmissibility?
B. The Possibility of Waiving Inadmissibility
C. Reversing an Inadmissibility Finding
D. Most Troublesome Grounds of Inadmissibility

5. How Long You’ll Have to Wait

A. Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens: No Waiting
B. Relatives in Preference Categories: Longer Waits
C. Dealing With the Wait
D. Can You Predict How Long You’ll Wait?
E. Revocation of a Petition or Application

6. Fiancé and Fiancée Visas

A. Who Qualifies for a Fiancé Visa
B. Quick View of the Fiancé Visa Application Process
C. Detailed Instructions for the Fiancé Visa Application Process
D. How to Bring Your Children on a Fiancé Visa
E. Marriage and After

7. Green Cards Through Marriage

A. Who Qualifies
B. Special Rules in Court Proceedings
C. Quick View of the Marriage-Based Green Card Application Process
D. Detailed Instructions for the Marriage-Based Green Card Application Process
E. Bringing Your Children
F. If Your Marriage Is Less Than Two Years Old
G. If You Marry Again
H. Common Questions About Marriage and Immigration

8. Your Parents as Immigrants

A. Who Qualifies to Petition for Their Parents
B. Who Qualifies As Your Parent
C. Quick View of the Application Process
D. Detailed Instructions for the Application Process

9. Child Immigrants

A. Who Qualifies
B. Definition of "Child"
C. Quick View of the Application Process
D. Detailed Instructions for the Application Process
E. Automatic Citizenship for Some Children

10. Orphan Immigrants

A. Who Qualifies as an Orphan Child
B. Who Can Petition for an Orphan Child
C. Pre-Adoption Requirements
D. Starting the Adoption Process
E. After the Petition Is Approved
F. Filing for a Visa
G. Automatic Citizenship for Adopted Orphans

11. The Diversity Visa Lottery

A. Who Qualifies for the Lottery
B. How to Apply for the Lottery
C. After You Win—The Green Card Application
D. How to Bring Your Spouse and Children

12. Amerasian Immigrants

A. Who Qualifies as an Amerasian
B. Who Can Start the Process
C. Who Will Serve as a Sponsor?
D. How to File
E. Where to File

13. Your Brothers and Sisters as Immigrants

A. Who Counts As Your Brother or Sister
B. Quick View of the Application Process
C. Detailed Instructions for the Application Process
D. What Happens After Filing Form I-130

14. Refugees and Political Asylees

A. Who Qualifies
B. Who Is Barred From Qualifying
C. How to Apply for Refugee Status
D. How to Apply for Political Asylum
E. If Your Asylum Application Is Denied
F. Asylees Can Bring Overseas Spouses and Children to the United States
G. Getting a Green Card After Asylum Approval
H. Revocation of Asylee Status
I. Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
J. Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)

15. Military Veterans and Enlistees

A. Who Qualifies to Apply for Citizenship Without a Green Card
B. Who Qualifies for Permanent Residence

16. Registry: For Those in the U.S. Since 1972

A. How You Got Here Is Irrelevant
B. Short Absences Allowed
C. How to File
D. Additional Documentation Required
E. Approval of Registry

17. Cancellation of Removal

A. Applying in Court Proceedings
B. Who Qualifies for Cancellation
C. Who Is Not Eligible for Cancellation
D. Preparing a Convincing Case
E. How to File
F. Approving Your Application
G. Additional Forms of Cancellation of Removal

18. Adjustment of Status

A. Who Is Allowed to Use the Adjustment of Status Procedure
B. People Who Can’t Adjust Status at All
C. How to File
D. After You Apply
E. Interview and Approval

19. Consular Processing

A. How Your Case Gets to the Consulate
B. Forms and Documents You’ll Need to Provide
C. Attending Your Visa Interview
D. Approval of Your Immigrant Visa
E Arriving in the United States

20. Private Bills

A. What Is a Private Bill?
B. How a Private Bill Is Passed

21. Acquiring Citizenship Through U.S. Citizen Parents

A. Who Qualifies for Acquisition of Citizenship
B. Obtaining Proof of U.S. Citizenship
C. Dual Citizenship

22. Filling Out and Submitting Immigration Applications

A. Don’t Give False Answers
B. Get the Latest Forms and Fee Amounts
C. Tips for Filling Out Forms
D. When Additional Proof Is Required
E. Submitting Photographs for Identification
F. Fingerprinting Requirements
G. Keep Your Own File
H. Tips for Filing Applications

23. Tracking Your Application Through the System

A. Understanding the USCIS Culture
B. Where to Go
C. Inquiring About Delays
D. Speeding Up Processing in Emergencies
E. Reporting Wrongdoing

24. Keeping, Renewing, and Replacing Your Green Card

A. Renewing or Replacing Your Green Card
B. When the Immigration Authorities Can Take Away Your Card
C. Planning to Apply for U.S. Citizenship

25. How to Find and Work With a Lawyer

A. Where to Look for a Lawyer
B. Deciding on a Particular Lawyer
C. Paying the Lawyer
D. Managing the Lawyer
E. Firing a Lawyer

Sample Filled-In Forms

Sample Form I-102, Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document
Sample Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
Sample Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) (as used by an unmarried couple)
Sample Form I-134, Affidavit of Support
Sample Form DS-230, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration (as used by immigrating fiancé)
Sample Form DS-156, Nonimmigrant Visa Application (as used by immigrating fiancé)
Sample Form DS-156K, Nonimmigrant Fiancé(e) Visa Application
Sample Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (as used for an immigrating husband or wife)
Sample Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) (as used by a married couple)
Sample Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
Sample Form G-325A, Biographic Information
Sample Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (as used for immigrating parents)
Sample Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (as used for immigrating children)
Sample Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship
Sample Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition
Sample Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant
Sample Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (as used for immigrating siblings of U.S. citizens)
Sample Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal
Sample Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition
Sample Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant
Sample Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Resident or Adjust Status
Sample Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
Sample Form DS-2001, Notification of Applicant(s) Readiness
Sample Form DS-230 Part I, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration
Sample Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act
Sample Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member
Sample Form DS-230 Part II, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration
Sample Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
Sample Form I-131, Application for Travel Document

Index

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