{"id":606,"date":"2021-03-08T12:05:12","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T12:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magpantay.net\/practice-areas"},"modified":"2022-08-06T07:21:11","modified_gmt":"2022-08-06T07:21:11","slug":"immigrant-visas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/magpantay.net\/immigrant-visas","title":{"rendered":"IMMIGRANT VISAS"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"606\" class=\"elementor elementor-606\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9cb7e59 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9cb7e59\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c18e4fd\" data-id=\"c18e4fd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dce9410 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dce9410\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 26-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">IMMIGRANT VISAS<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-64aa708 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"64aa708\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7794e12\" data-id=\"7794e12\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-580afa9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"580afa9\" data-element_type=\"section\" id=\"sec1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-fc662da\" data-id=\"fc662da\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5312964 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5312964\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">I.  GREEN CARD THROUGH RELATIVES<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-066eece elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"066eece\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 26-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Immigration of foreigners to the United States is allowed based on their relationship with\u00a0 US citizens or legal permanent residents.\u00a0\u00a0 Family based immigration is divided into two groups:\u00a0 (1)\u00a0 unlimited \u2013 with no numeric limit on it;\u00a0 and (2) limited \u2013 has annual numeric limit.<br \/>U.S. citizens may petition for spouses, parents, children and siblings.<br \/>Permanent residents may petition for spouses and children.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68bdb62 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"68bdb62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">VISAS WITH NO NUMERIC LIMIT:<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-183d15c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"183d15c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Who are eligible?<\/strong><\/p><ol><li>Spouses of US citizens;<\/li><li>\u00a0Widows\/Widowers of US Citizens; must have been married to the deceased for at least two years and be widowed within two years of the application;<\/li><li>Unmarried people under the age of 21 with at least one US citizen parent;<\/li><li>Parents of US Citizens, if the citizen child is over the age of 21;<\/li><li>Adopted children of US Citizens where the formal adopting relationship occurred before the child&#8217;s 16th birthday;\u00a0 and<\/li><li>Stepchildren or stepparents of US Citizens where the family relationship began before the stepchild&#8217;s 18th birthday<br \/><br \/><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-691c602 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"691c602\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">VISAS WITH ANNUAL NUMERIC LIMIT<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4eef143 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4eef143\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Preference Immigrants:<\/strong><\/p><ol><li>First Preference\u2014Unmarried sons or daughters of U.S. citizens (i.e., those who are 21 years of age or older).<\/li><li>Second Preference<br \/>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.\u00a0 Spouses or children of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence; 21 or<br \/>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 b.\u00a0 Unmarried sons or daughters of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.<\/li><li>Third Preference\u2014Married sons or daughters of citizens of the United States;\u00a0 and\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>Fourth Preference\u2014Brothers or sisters of citizens of the United States, if such citizens are at least 21 years of age.<br \/><br \/><em><strong>To determine priority dates for family-based immigration, please go to <a href=\"http:\/\/travel.state.gov\/visa\">http:\/\/travel.state.gov\/visa<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><br \/><br \/><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0311a92 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0311a92\" data-element_type=\"section\" id=\"sec2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1184a6d\" data-id=\"1184a6d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a30fd7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3a30fd7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">II. GREEN CARD THROUGH EMPLOYMENT<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-456fce4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"456fce4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>These are some of the ways to gain permanent residence through employment:<br \/><br \/><strong>EB-2<\/strong><strong><br \/><\/strong><strong>Workers with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability in the Sciences, Arts or Business<\/strong><br \/><br \/>Aliens in this category normally must have a job offer and the potential employer must complete the labor certification process.\u00a0 The labor certification process involves a testing of the job market to demonstrate that the potential visa holder is not taking a job away from a US worker.<br \/><br \/>In some cases where an individual can show that his entry is in the national interest, the job offer and the labor certification requirements can be waived.<br \/><br \/><strong>EB-3<\/strong><strong><br \/><\/strong><strong>Skilled Workers and Professionals<\/strong><br \/><br \/>Aliens in this category normally must have a job offer and the potential employer must complete the labor certification process.<br \/><br \/>In order to obtain permanent residency through the EB3 category, the applicant must have an employer willing to sponsor him or her through labor certification or PERM. The applicant does not have to be employed when labor certification\/PERM is filed. A job offer is sufficient. Labor certification\/PERM is the process whereby, the US government determines whether qualified US workers can fill the open position. Once the labor certification is approved, the employer may sponsor the applicant for permanent residency.<br \/><br \/><em>The EB3 process is as follows:<\/em><br \/><br \/><strong>Step 1 &#8211;<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Labor Certification Application: The employer must first file an application for an alien employment certification (&#8220;labor certification&#8221;) with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on behalf of the individual;<br \/><br \/>A labor certification is an official government finding that (1) no U.S. workers can be found, at the time of filing the application and in the geographic area where the job exists, who are available, willing, and able to fill the position; and (2) the individual\u2019s employment will not &#8220;adversely affect&#8221; the wages and working conditions of similarly situated U.S. workers. \u00a0\u00a0For a discussion of the new labor certification under PERM, please see the section on PERM.<br \/><br \/><strong>Step 2 &#8211;<\/strong>\u00a0 Immigrant Petition (I-140): Once the labor certification application is approved, the company files an immigrant petition with the USCIS.<br \/><br \/>An employer files an immigrant petition on behalf of an employee when the employer wishes to formally sponsor the employee for U.S. immigration. The petition is a formal offer of \u201cpermanent\u201d employment (that is, employment of indefinite duration).<br \/><br \/><strong>Step 3 &#8211;<\/strong> The employee would file an Adjustment of Status application to adjust your status to that of permanent resident (if in the U.S.) or consular process for an immigrant visa at a U.S. consulate (if outside of the U.S.).<br \/><br \/>The employee must wait until his or her \u201cpriority date\u201d is current before he or she will be allowed to begin the third step of the immigration process. The priority date is the date the employee\u2019s labor certification application was originally filed (generally, the date the application was received by the state employment security agency).<br \/><br \/><strong><u>Adjustment of status:<\/u><\/strong><br \/><br \/>Adjustment of status is a procedure allowing certain aliens already in the United States to apply for immigrant status. Aliens admitted to the United States in a nonimmigrant, refugee, or parolee category may have their status changed to that of lawful permanent resident if they are eligible to receive an immigrant visa and one is immediately available. In such cases, the alien is counted as an immigrant as of the date of adjustment, even though the alien may have been in the United States for an extended period of time.<br \/><br \/>A person applies for adjustment of status with the USCIS from within the US. Along with the adjustment form, results of a medical examination, an affidavit of support, if required, evidence of the approval for immigration and a copy of the applicant\u2019s passport must be submitted. Evidence of any familial relationships must also be submitted, if family members are seeking to adjust their status with the principle applicant.<br \/><br \/>If the applicant wishes to work or travel abroad while the adjustment of status application is pending, additional forms must be filed. A person is work and travel authorized for only one year at a time, so in many cases, because of INS processing delays, the applicant must renew these documents.<br \/><br \/>Not all adjustment of status applicants are interviewed, although the law provides that any adjustment applicant may be interviewed. Interviews are always conducted in marriage cases, but are less frequent in other family relationships. Interviews are quite rare in employment-based cases.<br \/><br \/>After approval for adjustment of status, it takes some months before the physical green card is obtained. If the approval follows an interview, the INS will stamp the applicant\u2019s passport with an indication that they are a US permanent resident. If there is no interview, the applicant will receive a notice that the application has been approved, which they can take to a local INS office and obtain the stamp. A few months later, they will receive the green card.<br \/><br \/><strong><u>Consular Processing<\/u><\/strong><br \/><br \/>In consular processing the applicant applies for and processes an immigrant visa at a US consulate abroad, most often in their home country. The applicant determines the desired method of processing at the time the initial petition for classification as an immigrant is filed.<br \/><br \/>In consular processing, USCI forwards the approved immigrant petition to the National Visa Center (NVC), which is part of the State Department. \u00a0When an immigrant visa number becomes available, the NVC generates a collection of documents known as Packet 3. Packet 3 includes the State Department form for applying for an immigrant visa, an affidavit of support, which must be filed in all family cases and in some employment-based cases, and instructions on the process.<br \/><br \/>The applicant must complete the forms and return them to the appropriate consulate. The applicant must also gather documentation, including a passport, birth certificates, police certificates, court and prison records if relevant, military records if relevant, and marriage and divorce certificates for each person immigrating. Upon receipt of the forms and notification that the applicant has obtained all necessary documentation, the consulate will issue what is known as Packet 4. Packet 4 includes the time for the visa interview appointment, as well as information on obtaining the required medical examination.<br \/><br \/>If the application is approved, the person will be issued an immigrant visa, which is good for only six months. If the person does not enter the US within that period of time, the visa will expire and the opportunity to immigrate will be lost.<br \/><br \/>If the application is denied, the consular officer at the post reviews it. If the officer desires, he can get a second opinion from the State Department. However, if, after this point, the denial is upheld, there is no recourse for the applicant.<br \/><br \/>Consular processing was once the only way to obtain an immigrant visa, as there was no adjustment of status process.\u00a0 When adjustment of status was created, it became tremendously popular, due in large part to the reentry bars that were created in 1996. However, as USCIS backlogs have grown longer and longer, more and more people are looking at consular processing to speed the process.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IMMIGRANT VISAS I. GREEN CARD THROUGH RELATIVES Immigration of foreigners to the United States is allowed based on their relationship with\u00a0 US citizens or legal permanent residents.\u00a0\u00a0 Family based immigration is divided into two groups:\u00a0 (1)\u00a0 unlimited \u2013 with no numeric limit on it;\u00a0 and (2) limited \u2013 has annual numeric limit.U.S. citizens may petition [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"disabled","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"enabled","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magpantay.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/606"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magpantay.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magpantay.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magpantay.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magpantay.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=606"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/magpantay.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1634,"href":"https:\/\/magpantay.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/606\/revisions\/1634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magpantay.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}