1. Modern Immigration

2. 3 Legal Actions Visas Green Cards Citizenship

3. Visas Visitor Visa Student/Exchange Visas Marriage (foreign fiancé) Adoption of foreign child Foreign citizens who want to live permanently in the U.S. – First step to becoming a “lawful permanent resident” To be eligible – foreign individual must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative, future employer, or U.S. permanent resident.

4. Visas Only a certain number of visas are allowed each year, depending on country. Too many applicants? – Wait listed

5. Visa Process Petition – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approves or denies immigrant petitions Approved Petitions – National Visa Center processes personal documents and sends them to U.S. embassies & consulates Documents are submitted to the National Visa Center Interview – Applicant is interviewed at U.S. embassy or consulate. They issue U.S. visas to those eligible.

6. Green Cards Green Cards are permits that allow a foreign citizen to live/work permanently in the U.S. Can be received because of family, job, or refugee status

7. Green Card Process Determination of eligibility Adjustment of Status (if already in the U.S.) Consular Processing (outside of U.S.) Petition Filing Employment Authorization Immigrant Medical Examination Affidavit of Support – ensures individual can support themselves and will not need welfare

8. Citizenship Naturalization – U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen after he/she fulfills the requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

9. Process Permanent resident of the U.S. for at least 5 years. Permanent resident of the U.S. for at least 3 years and are married to a U.S. citizen File naturalization form, and pass the citizenship test

10. Citizen Test Speaking Test – ability to speak English will be determined Reading Test – must read aloud one out of three sentences correctly to demonstrate an ability to read English Writing Test – must write out one of three sentences correctly to demonstrate ability to write in English Civics Test – will be asked up to 10 of 100 questions, must answer 6 correctly Individuals have 2 opportunities to pass each test

11. Citizenship Test American Government – What is the supreme law of the land? – What does the Constitution do? – The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? – How many amendments does the Constitution have? – What are two Cabinet-level positions? – What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? – What happened at the Constitutional Convention? – What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for? – What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? – What did Susan B. Anthony do?

12. Diversity Visa Program Same-sex couples are offered the same immigration benefits as opposite-sex couples