The Immigration Handbook

Ivan Vasic, an attorney in Oak Park, Illinois, is himself an immigrant and has been practicing immigration law for more than a decade.

Table of Contents



Preface     

Introduction     



Part I. Permanent Resident Status

Chapter 1. Overview     

A. Permanent Resident Status     

B. Backlog     

C. Immediate Relatives     

D. Derivative Beneficiaries     

E. Aging Out—The Child Status Protection Act     

F. Adjustment of Status     

G. Travel During Adjustment of Status     

H. Work During Adjustment of Status     

I. Denial of Application for Adjustment of Status     

J. Rescission of Adjustment of Status     

K. Visa Processing     

L. Required Documents     



Chapter 2. Obtaining Permanent Resident Status Through Family Relations     

A. Relatives You Can Sponsor     

B. Relatives You Cannot Sponsor     

C. Evidence of United States Citizenship     

D. Evidence of Permanent Residence Status     

E. Evidence of Family Relationship     

F. Special Rules Regarding Marriage     

G. Affidavit of Support     



Chapter 3. Other Family Categories     

A. Amerasians     

B. Widows and Widowers     

C. Battered or Abused Spouses or Children of U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents     

D. Orphans     

E. Hague Adoption Convention     



Chapter 4. Obtaining Permanent Resident Status Through Employment     

A. Priority Workers     

B. Advanced Degree Professionals and Aliens with Exceptional Ability in Sciences, Arts, or Business     

C. Skilled Workers, Professionals and Unskilled Workers     

D. Special Immigrants     

E. Investors     

F. Labor Certification     



Chapter 5. Obtaining Permanent Resident Status Through Immigration Lottery     

A. Eligibility Requirements     

B. Application Process     

C. Special Instructions for Photographs     



Chapter 6. Asylum and Refugees     

A. General Information     

B. Asylum and Withholding of Removal Application     

C. Asylum Procedure     

D. Withholding of Removal     

E. Spouse and Children     

F. Work During Asylum Proceedings     

G. Travel During Asylum Proceedings     

H. Temporary Protected Status     



Chapter 7. Useful Forms and Tips     

A. How Do I Obtain a Replacement I-94 Card?     

B. How Do I Obtain a Replacement Green Card?     

C. Why Have I Not Received My Green Card?     

D. How Do I Report a Change of Address?     

E. How Do I Get My Original Documents Back?     

F. How Do I Get Advance Permission to Reenter the United States If I Believe I May Be Inadmissible?     

G. E-Verify—How Can I Determine Whether an Employee Can Legally Work in the United

States?     

H. INFOPASS—How Do I Make an Appointment with USCIS or Check the Status of My Case?     

I. How Do I Apply for Reentry Permit If I Am a Permanent Resident and My Trip Will Last

More Than Twelve Months?     



Part II. Obtaining Citizenship

Chapter 1. Citizenship by Birth     

A. Child Residing in the United States     

B. Child Residing Outside the United States     

Chapter 2. Citizenship by Naturalization     

A. Residency Requirements     

B. “Good Moral Character”     

C. English and Civics Test     

D. Naturalization Procedure     

E. Selective Service     

F. Obtaining a Replacement Certificate of Naturalization     

Chapter 3. Losing Citizenship     



Part III. Obtaining Nonimmigrant Visas

Chapter 1. Visitor Visa/Business Visa (B1/B2)     

Chapter 2. Visa Waiver Program     

Chapter 3. Canadian and Mexican Citizens as Visitors     

A. FAST (Free and Secure Trade)     

B. NEXUS and SENTRI     

Chapter 4. Exchange Visitor Program ( J1/J2)     

A. Categories     

B. Employment for J2 Visa Holders     

C. Procedure and Requirements for Visa Approval     

D. Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement     

E. Waivers to Two-year Residency Requirement     

Chapter 5. Cultural Visitors (Q1/Q2/Q3)     

Chapter 6. Student Visas (F1/F2 and M1/M2)     

A. F1/F2 Visas     

B. M1/M2 Visas     

Chapter 7. NAFTA Professional Workers (TN and TD Visas)     

Chapter 8. Specialty Visa (H1B)     

A. Persons in Specialty Occupations (H1B1)     

B. Persons Providing Services to the Department of Defense (H1B2)     

C. Distinguished Fashion Models (H1B3)     

D. Physicians (H1B)     

Chapter 9. Temporary Agricultural Workers (H2A)     

A. Job Offer     

B. Statement of Assurances     

C. Duration of Status     

Chapter 10. Nonagricultural Temporary Workers (H2B)     

A. Procedure     

B. Tree Planters and Entertainers     

Chapter 11. Trainees (H3)     

A. Special Education Programs     

B. Duration     

Chapter 12. Treaty Traders and Investors (E1/E2)     

A. Treaty Traders (E1)     

B. Treaty Investors (E2)     

C. Documentation     

D. Duration, Spouse and Dependents     

Chapter 13. Fiancé/Fiancée Visa (K1/K2)     

A. Documentation     

B. International Broker Regulation Act     

Chapter 14. Spouse of U.S. Citizen (K3)     

Chapter 15. Religious Worker (R1/R2)     

Chapter 16. Foreign Media: Press, Radio and Film (I)     

Chapter 17. Intracompany Transfers (L1/L2)     

A. Documentation     

B. Blanket L Visa Petitions     

C. Duration and Dependents     

Chapter 18. Aliens of Extraordinary Ability (O1/O2)     

A. Evidentiary Requirements for O1 Arts and Motion Picture and Television Industry     

B. Evidentiary Requirements for O1 Science, Education, Business or Athletics     

C. Consultation with “Peer” Group or Union     

D. Duration, Spouse, and Dependents     

E. Traded Professional Athletes in O1 Status     

Chapter 19. Artists, Athletes, and Entertainers (P1/P2/P3/P4)     

A. Athletes and Entertainers (P1)     

B. Reciprocal Exchange (P2)     

C. Culturally Unique Programs (P3)     

D. Duration of P Visas     

Chapter 20. Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents (V)     

Chapter 21. Victims of Criminal Activity (U)     

Chapter 22. Premium Processing Service     

Chapter 23. Waiver of Inadmissibility for Nonimmigrants     



Part IV. Inadmissibility and Deportability

Chapter 1. Inadmissibility     

A. Health-related Grounds     

B. Criminal and Related Grounds     

C. Security Grounds     

D. Public Charge     

E. Labor Certification     

F. Illegal Entrants and Immigration Violators     

G. Lack of Documentary Requirements for Entry into the United States     

H. Persons Ineligible for Citizenship     

I. Draft Evaders     

J. Aliens Previously Deported     

K. Aliens Unlawfully Present in the United States     

L. Waivers for Refugees     

Chapter 2. Deportation or Removal from the United States     

A. Grounds for Deportation     

1. Inadmissible persons or violators of immigration status     

2. Criminal offenses     

3. Change of address and falsification of documents     

4. Security grounds     

5. Public charge     

6. Unlawful voting in the United States     

B. Deportation Procedure     

1. Deportation of aliens seeking admission into the United States     

2. Deportation proceeding     



Appendix A. Form Packages for Various

Family Categories     

Appendix B. Sample Immigration Forms     

Appendix C. Web Sites     

Sources     

Index