Difference between U.S. citizenship and U.S. green card

People often get confused between the words “U.S. citizenship” and “U.S. green card,” thinking that both are the same thing. Although both allow immigrants to live in the United States legally for an unlimited period of time, there are some differences between the two. Therefore, before you apply for the US immigration visa, it is important to know the differences.

Although hiring one of the best immigration attorneys in Los Angeles will help you meet all the requirements, you must be aware of the steps required during the process.

The process - from obtaining a green card to becoming a U.S. citizen

Are you a foreign national considering to migrate to the United States on a permanent basis? If so, first, you need to apply for a green card to become a legal resident. You can obtain a legal permanent residence status with a sponsored visa either by the US employers or family members.

On the other hand, asylees and refugees can also obtain a permanent residence status after a certain period of time.

Once you become a legal resident, you may become eligible candidate to apply for US citizenship. For this, you need to file Form N-400. However, you cannot start the process soon after obtaining a green card. To apply for naturalization, you must wait for five years as well as meet few requirements.

The following are the major differences between US citizenship and US green card.

Both green card holders and US citizens have certain rights and responsibilities while living in the United States. However, the rights that are granted to US citizens may not be granted to the green card holders.

When it comes to permanent residents, they are usually issued with ten years Green Cards. And lawful residents must keep their identity documents with them at all times. Besides this, US employers hire permanent residents with valid green cards. Most importantly, lawful residents cannot travel abroad without green card and they are allowed to live in foreign countries for a long time. In case they do, the United States immigration authority will revoke their Green Cards. But this is not the case with US citizens. They are allowed to remain in the foriegn countries for as long as they want without worrying about the cancellation of their status.

Likewise, the US citizens will not be deported by the United States immigration authorities for any reason. However, the United States can deport Green Card holders if they found guilty in any criminal case or don’t abide by the immigration laws while living in the US.

The bottom line

If you’re a foreign national looking for immigration to the United States, you can apply for permanent residence through sponsored visa either by family members or US employers. And if you already have a permanent residence status in the US, you can apply for a US citizen through the process called “naturalization.” Moreover, consulting the best immigration law firm in Los Angeles can help with proper assistance throughout the process.

I-Visa: What you should know about it?

The current administration has made numerous changes to the immigration process. The parameters of majority of visas are changed and the immigrants have to understand how to make the immigration system work for them. From filling of the forms to their submission, the I-visa has become complex for a layman immigrant to understand. The immigration attorney in Los Angeles advice the immigrants (present and potential) to consult the experts.

What is I-visa?

The I-visa is specifically for the representative of the foreign media. Currently, it is a nonimmigrant visa. You can only fall under this visa if you represent any foreign media such as film, radio, press etc. Any immigrants who fall under this category need to be working as reporters, film crew, editors and any other similar occupations.

Eligibility Parameters:

To be eligible under I visa, the individual needs to:

• Be coming to the country to only engage in the profession of foreign media.
• Have the home office or headquarters in the home country
• Be an individual who is under 21 and he should be accompanied by or should join an I-visa nonimmigrant already present in the country.

It is extremely important that you should be able to demonstrate the reasons behind your visit and your job activities should be necessary to your organization. A consular at the embassy will determine if you have qualified to obtain the visa.

Application Process:

To apply for the I-visa, the applying individual needs to visit the America embassy or consulate present in their home country. The application will be processed to the Department of State where the visa application process will be established along with the issuance fee.

To engage in your profession in US, you need to have I-visa. Without the visa, anything you do will do professionally would be considered illegal. This applies to you even if your country is part of U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Any attempt to travel and work in the country without proper visa would result in non-admission and deportation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

If you are still searching for the best immigration lawyers in Los Angeles, consult Wildes & Weinberg. They have leading immigration lawyers specializing in family-based immigration cases.

Has scaled back on the “zero tolerance” policy worked?

While the administration has scaled back on the “zero tolerance” policy, it is still difficult for the families to be united with their children. The president tweeted last Sunday that the zero tolerance policy is fair and the system should give preference to those who are “legally waiting their turn.”

While Trump and his followers are pro zero tolerance policy, the other side of the coin are the people who are protesting the policy. The majority of best immigration attorneys of Los Angeles are behind the immigrants. They are protesting for a better life that the US has provided in the past. The best immigration lawyers in Los Angeles are advising the immigrants to immediately hire or contact their respective immigration attorneys.

There might be several pros of zero tolerance policy that Republicans can see or visualize, but the separation of the families, and the wrong implementation of the policy has made the several zero tolerance policy defenders and supporters go against it.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that any individual crossing the border for illegal immigration will be prosecuted immediately.

"We're going to continue to prosecute those adults who enter here illegally. We're going to do everything in our power, however, to avoid separating families. All federal agencies are working hard to accomplish this goal," Sessions said.

Although, the Trump administration might have started back pedaling from the policy, the children who are separated from their parents are yet to be united. However, President Trump is still hoping to apply the policy in near future. He tweeted: "Our Immigration policy, laughed at all over the world, is very unfair to all of those people who have gone through the system legally and are waiting on line for years!" he said. "Immigration must be based on merit - we need people who will help to Make America Great Again!" Hoping to make immigration an issue in the upcoming elections, Trump might  be planning to put the issue of “strong borders, no crime” in front of the GOP Congress.

With such future of US immigration, the immigration attorneys around the country are working together to help the immigrants build a secure future. Want to hire best immigration attorney for your case? Contact Wildes & Weinberg. They are best immigration law firm in Los Angeles with expertise in all kinds of immigration formalities.

Is It Worth Hiring A Los Angeles Immigration Attorney?

Immigration is a lengthy and complicated process, especially if you are looking to immigrate to the United States of America. Anyone who needs any kind of visa or is dealing with any kind of immigration aspect, needs the best immigration attorney. Choosing the best lawyer with enough experience in several immigration issues is a plus point. There are so many options to find the best immigration lawyer in Los Angeles. You can check online, in newspapers, phone book or through advertisements on the TV.

Immigration attorneys are important for sought issues related to immigration as there are many aspects to look after if you are looking to move to another country for study basis or to establish your business. For business visa, there are several formalities and forms that needs to be filled in the given time. Moreover, the other criteria is that you need to fill the formsl exactly as described by the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Service). This immigration department of US is very strict with their rules and regulations.

Strict rules and prolonged waiting time is tougher for a common man to handle and have made immigration issue a bit daunting. This is one of the reasons some people who file for the United States find themselves depressed while dealing with all paperwork and fees required to acquire the permanent legal status. Whereas the immigration attorneys are the professionals of legal works who not only help you but also correct the things that are not filled or filled wrong.

These small details are important as if the department finds any contradictory thing they may cancel your application and even deport an individual. So, it's better that you must hire the best immigration lawyers before taking any step towards to the immigration application.

Immigration attorneys assist you in every aspect of the immigration. From filling a form to preparing for any kind of interviews at the immigration office immigration attorneys may be needed. They prepare their applicants to face all kind of questions. Are you looking for best immigration attorneys in Los Angeles? Consult- Wildes & Weinberg, P.C. It is a well-known law firm concentrating on all the immigration-related issues. For more information, visit- https://www.wildeslaw.com/

Top 3 sanctuary cities for immigrants

The Trump Administration is slowing breaking all the corners of the US immigration system. DACA is gone. However, the cities across the countries are opening their arms wide for the immigrants. The majority of cities have rolled out immigrant-friendly policies with campaigns designed to attract the newcomers. The respective law enforcement has changed the way they work with federal immigration authorities making it more easy on the immigrants.

These cities are working to provide a better quality of life through lowering the average cost of living and opting to enhance and change the policies making them immigrant friendly. An immigrant will choose the city that has a better minimum wage, affordable public transportation, municipal ID programs, great immigrant policies and programs, universal preschool and whether the cities label themselves as “sanctuary cities." Here are top 3 cities considered best if you are an immigrant:

San Francisco
The city of San Francisco fulfilled all the criteria that is looked by an immigrant to settle in the city. It only falls short in the department of affordable living. The house prices have skyrocketed in the recent years along with the boom in the tech industry. There has been a huge increase in the influx of start-ups.
The average cost of living in the city is 62% more than the average living cost in the country. However, the city has higher graduation rate and extremely affordable public transportation system in comparison with the other “sanctuary cities." It also has a strong municipal ID program.

Chicago
Just like San Francisco, the Windy City has the high minimum wage, good municipal ID program, along with universal pre-school, and "sanctuary" policies. This city already has the reputation of inviting the immigrants with open arms and helping them live their lives as they want. The government of the city also directs the resources of the city towards the immigrants. They offer legal assistance, mental health care, and citizenship information. However, the city has drawn the attention of Trump administration towards it due to its high crime rate.


New York
While the city of NY has the largest municipal ID program in the country, it is on the third number due to its crumbling transportation system. The city also has a high cost of living, which makes it difficult for the immigrants to live comfortably in the city.


Do you want to know more about your immigrant status? Contact Wildes & Weinberg. They have one of the best immigration lawyers in Los Angeles.

R1 Visa for Religious Workers – Know The Key Features!

R visas are a type of short-term work visas that is liable for people who have been offered jobs as religious workers in the United States. An immigration lawyer in Los Angeles can help secure R1 visa- which is a non-immigrant visa that permits religious workers to work in the U.S for a period of up to 5 years and for permanent visa application is send for green card.

Religious workers are ministers of religion approved by a recognized denomination to conduct religious duties and are defined as occupations whose duties must:

•    involve traditional religious function

•    be recognized as a religious occupation within the denomination

•    Involve religious creed and beliefs of the denomination.

Key Features of the R Visa

•    The worker can work as religious worker legally in the U.S. for the employer that files a visa petition with the U.S. immigration authorities. In case the worker wants to change the job, they need to get a new visa.

•    When the application is send for second R visa it can be issued reasonably quickly.

•    R visas will be granted initially for up to 30 months which can be extended up to maximum of total five years.

•    The R visa holder may travel in and out of the U.S. as long as R visa stamp and status are valid.

•    If the visa holder has a spouse and unmarried children under age 21 they may be granted R-2 visas to accompany the primary visa holder.

For your application process, you may also want to consult an immigration attorney for full analysis of eligibility with the application process. You can find an experienced immigration lawyer in Los Angeles who fit your needs and is undergoing promising respectful service.

Why Companies Require The Help Of An Immigration Lawyer?

In the United States, there are numerous companies with a large number of employees especially in Los Angeles. However, many of these companies also rely of employees who are foreign nationals. And, this is where an immigration lawyers comes. Any company that requires a foreign national on a position in America has to go through legal compliance procedure.

An immigration attorney helps companies in this procedure by –

Conducting I-9 training programs for staff – To ensure a company’s compliance, it is essential that there is an I-9 training program conducted for the staff. Immigration lawyers in Los Angeles can help you in conducting the training program.

I-9 review and audit – You will also need the help of an attorney for I-9 review and audit. A government auditor will measure the compliance and only legal help can ensure that come out unscathed from the procedure. Your lawyer can ensure that your firm is prepared for the audit without suffering any consequences.

They will prepare the I-9 records to present to the government auditor as a response to the audit notices. Attorneys will represent your organization throughout the audit process, which includes negotiating settlements. Furthermore, they will explore the litigation possibilities accordingly.

Protection against discrimination – Discrimination is a word that can ruin your business. And, developing a policy manual for your company is the only way to gain legal protection against discrimination.

Your will also need your attorney’s help for the I-9 maintenance programs as well as to monitor re-verification obligations. They can also assist you in managing your company's I-9 retention and destruction.

Your firm’s compliance with Form I-9 is vital in order to avoid various legal, financial and public relations risks. Non-compliance can lead to severe consequences that can affect your business and reputation. So, contact a professional immigration attorney to get rid of any compliance issue.

Join Your Fiancé(e) In America With K-1 Visa

Do you want to accompany your American citizen fiancé(e) to America? You would be happy to know that there is a visa category for that, which is known as K-1. With this visa, you can enter the United States and marry your fiancé(e) in the country.

However, the main requirement in this category is that the applicant has to marry their U.S. citizen fiancé(e) within the 90 days of their entry in country. Once married, they can apply for the status of a permanent resident.

And, it is essential that both fiancées are eligible for marriage. It includes requirements of legal age along with the appropriate marital status. They should not be married to anyone else or even to each other legally. Furthermore, their marriage should be legally possible according to laws of the particular American state in which they are planning to get married.

Even the same-sex partners can apply under this category. There are several other requirements for this visa. For example, the applicant must have met the fiancé(e) in person at least once within the two years prior to filing the application. If the applicant has unmarried children, who are under the age of 21 years, can apply for K-2 visa and accompany their parent.

You can get to know more about all these requirements, rules and regulations from an experienced immigration attorney. Choose a lawyer in the city you are planning to wed and live with your partner.

American cities such as Los Angeles are the centers of immigrant population as these cities provide numerous opportunities at life and career. This is the reason why every Los Angeles immigration lawyer handles many cases related to visas, green cards etc. If you are also planning to apply under the K-1 category, then hire a veteran attorney to handle your case.

Steps To Get A US Visa

America is a country with numerous cultures that have entered the nation due to immigration process throughout the years. People from different countries come to USA every year. And, cities like Los Angeles have the highest number of immigrants due to the numerous opportunities at job, business and life they offer.

However, to obtain an American visa, you need to follow several steps.

Get to know the right visa – First thing that you need to know is the right type of visa category under which you can apply. There are numerous categories and you will fall under one of those according your requirements and qualifications. You should also learn about all the eligibility requirements related to a certain type of visa, so that you can prepare accordingly.

Apply – After gather proper knowledge about the visa, you can apply by filling appropriate form. You should know about the fees, requirements, documents included in application and so on. All this information is necessary to avoid mistakes in the application process and ensure visa approval.

Appointments – After applying, you need to get appointments for the Visa Application Center (VAC) and for the visa interview. To ensure application approval, you need to excel in both these appointments. In addition, you need to your documents with you including passport (both old and new one), DS-160 confirmation page along with appointment confirmation page.

After completing these procedures, you will be issued visa if you meet all these essential requirements. But, you should know that this process can be exhausting. The lack of knowledge and familiarity with the immigration law increases the risk of mistakes that might jeopardize your application.

However, there is another way of doing it all. You can contact the best immigration lawyer in Los Angeles to ensure that you have all the help you need for a successful visa approval.