America: the land of plenty. Right? Many of the friends that I have gained over the years that have been natives of foreign countries were always nursed on stories about the United States and all it had to offer.
But the truth is that life can be just as difficult here as it is anywhere else. Just ask the millions of illegal immigrants that enter the United States annually. While America can be a refuge and a place of opportunity for many hopeful immigrants, it is important to establish yourself legally if you ever hope to get ahead.
One of the simplest and most straightforward ways to safely remain in the United States is through kinship. If you have a parent, child, or spouse that is an American citizen, you will have the chance to obtain a green card, which enables you to legally reside in the country.
If you maintain your Green Card for three to five years (depending upon the relationship), you may be able to apply for citizenship. But remember that you will be required to pass an examination which some find quite challenging.
Plus, you will have to wait for your country of nativity to approve the application for U.S. citizenship. This can take a number of years!
Even if you are not related to a current United States citizen, you still have a good chance of procuring a green card if a relative already has one.
Immediate family members--spouses, children, and parents--are the most likely relationships to gain you a shot at obtaining a green card, but you will still want to investigate your chances if a sibling, cousin, aunt, etc. have been cleared for immigration purposes.
No relations in good standing in the U.S.? You still have a shot. If you have a specialized professional degree or have an entrepreneurial pursuit that allows you to in essence "give back" to the U.S., you may be able to get a green card.
However, in any one of these instances listed above, you will need to speak to an attorney that specialized in immigration cases. Choose an immigration attorney in New York, San Diego, Los Angeles, or Miami.
Immigration lawyers in these areas are going to have tremendous experience with all kinds of cases and varying circumstances. You may want to take referrals from family members if they have been through this process. If not, use the internet as your greatest resource in finding someone that will be able to handle your case.
America IS a great place--a land of plenty. But it will not be available to you if you are kept out of its best opportunities because you are of illegal status.
Author Resource:
Berd & Klauss, PLLC (http://www.berdklauss.com/) is a full service immigration attorney NY law firm. Art Gib is a freelance writer.Distributed by Content Crooner
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