Immigration

United States (US) immigration law encompasses a wide range of situations that involve a person from a foreign country coming to the United States, whether for a temporary visit or with the intent to live permanently in the U.S. (as a citizen or as a legal permanent resident).

U.S. immigration law is very complex, and there is much confusion as to how it works. The Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) is the body of law governing current immigration policy.  Every year hundreds of thousands of people seek immigration benefits based on these laws, ranging from various non-immigrant visas, to permanent residency and citizenship.  Still others find themselves facing deportation and other issues having to do with being unable to access these benefits.

Lawful permanent residency status, commonly known as a “green card allows a foreign national to work and live lawfully and permanently in the United States. Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) are eligible to apply for nearly all jobs (i.e., jobs not legitimately restricted to U.S. citizens) and can remain in the country even if they are unemployed.  While there are a number of different benefits that individuals seek through the INS, below is some information on some of the most popular.