Since the founding of the country, immigration has been a topic of legislation. In 1790, the Congress created a systematic process allowing the foreign born to become U.S. citizens known as U.S. Immigration Law. Just over a century later, in reaction to growing levels of immigration, the federal government assumed the responsibility of reviewing and processing all immigrants seeking entry to the United States. Numerous changes have been made to U.S. immigration Law & policy ever since.
Immigrating to the United States means permanently relocating by receiving a green card (officially referred to as an "immigrant visa" or "lawful permanent residence"). A green card allows unlimited jobs, and can be renewed indefinitely. It offers a route to U.S. citizenship as well.
Types of U.S. Visas:
The category of family-based immigration enables U.S. residents and LPRs to bring to the United States specific family members either as immediate relatives of U.S. residents or via the family preference system. The most common being the Spousal sponsorship program.
Family-based immigrants made up 66 percent of all new LPRs in the United States in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017.
Employment-based green cards are given in five different categories based on the expertise or other assets you bring to the country. Immigration Consultants are well equipped with the knowledge on the five categories.
The first four grades, named EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, and EB-4, concentrate on the skills you carry. In some cases, you'll need a U.S. employer to support your application; in others, you'll have to show exceptional abilities or specialized training. People who invest between $500,000 and $1 million creating opportunities in American communities are issued with the EB-5 green card.
By the Immigration Act of 1990, the Diversity Visa lottery was created as a dedicated platform for immigrants from countries with low immigration rates to the United States. Per year, 55,000 visas are issued randomly to citizens from countries that in the previous five years sent less than 50,000 immigrants to the United States.
Many other forms of green cards are provided by the U.S. government under U.S. Immigration Law, including those for "special immigrants" such as media professionals, religious employees, residents of Afghanistan and Iraq who have supported the U.S. government, and refugees and asylees.