| Your Immigration Companion | p. 1 |
| A | Types of Green Cards We Cover | p. 2 |
| B | How Much You Can Do Without a Lawyer | p. 2 |
| C | Using This Book | p. 3 |
| 1 | America: A Nation of Immigrants | p. 5 |
| A | America's Earliest Settlers | p. 6 |
| B | Early Immigration Restrictions | p. 7 |
| C | Today's Immigration Laws | p. 8 |
| D | Looking Forward | p. 10 |
| 2 | All Ways to Get a Green Card | p. 11 |
| A | Family-Based Relationships | p. 12 |
| B | Employment-Based Relationships | p. 13 |
| C | Special Immigrants | p. 14 |
| D | Entrepreneur Immigrants | p. 14 |
| E | Asylum and Refugee Status | p. 15 |
| F | Diversity Visa Lottery | p. 15 |
| G | Amnesties | p. 15 |
| H | Private Bills | p. 16 |
| 3 | Short-Term Alternatives to a Green Card | p. 17 |
| A | How Do Foreign Nationals Enter the United States? | p. 18 |
| B | Types of Visas | p. 18 |
| C | Tourists Who Can Visit Without a Visa | p. 21 |
| D | The Importance of Staying Legal | p. 23 |
| E | How to Extend a Visitor Visa | p. 23 |
| F | Changing Your Reason for Staying | p. 24 |
| G | What to Do If USCIS Denies Your Extension Application | p. 24 |
| H | Tips on Filling Out Form 1-539 | p. 25 |
| 4 | Will Inadmissibility Bar You From Getting a Green Card? | p. 27 |
| A | What Is Inadmissibility? | p. 28 |
| B | The Possibility of Waiving Inadmissibility | p. 28 |
| C | Most Troublesome Grounds of Inadmissibility | p. 34 |
| D | Reversing an Inadmissibility Finding | p. 39 |
| 5 | How Long You'll Have to Wait | p. 45 |
| A | Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens: No Waiting for Eligibility | p. 47 |
| B | Relatives in Preference Categories: Longer Waits | p. 47 |
| C | Dealing With the Wait | p. 48 |
| D | Can You Predict How Long You'll Wait? | p. 49 |
| E | Revocation of a Petition or Application | p. 53 |
| 6 | Fiancé(e) Visas | p. 55 |
| A | Who Qualifies for a Fiancé Visa | p. 56 |
| B | Quick View of the Fiancé Visa Application Process | p. 57 |
| C | Detailed Instructions for the Fiancé Visa Application Process | p. 58 |
| D | How to Bring Your Children on a Fiancé Visa | p. 63 |
| E | Marriage and After | p. 64 |
| 7 | Green Cards Through Marriage | p. 65 |
| A | Who Qualifies | p. 66 |
| B | Special Rules in Court Proceedings | p. 67 |
| C | Quick View of the Marriage-Based Green Card Application Process | p. 68 |
| D | Detailed Instructions for the Marriage-Based Green Card Application Process | p. 70 |
| E | Bringing Your Children | p. 76 |
| F | If Your Marriage Is Less Than Two Years Old | p. 78 |
| G | If You Marry Again | p. 80 |
| H | Common Questions About Marriage and Immigration | p. 80 |
| 8 | Your Parents as Immigrants | p. 83 |
| A | Who Qualifies to Petition for Parents | p. 84 |
| B | Who Qualifies as Your Parent | p. 85 |
| C | Quick View of the Application Process | p. 86 |
| D | Detailed Instructions for the Application Process | p. 87 |
| 9 | Child Immigrants | p. 91 |
| A | Who Qualifies | p. 92 |
| B | Definition of "Child" | p. 93 |
| C | Quick View of the Application Process | p. 97 |
| D | Detailed Instructions for the Application Process | p. 97 |
| E | Automatic Citizenship for Some Children | p. 99 |
| 10 | Orphan Immigrants in Non-Hague Convention Countries | p. 101 |
| A | Who Qualifies as an Orphan Child | p. 103 |
| B | Who Can Petition for an Orphan Child | p. 103 |
| C | Preadoption Requirements | p. 104 |
| D | Starting the Adoption Process | p. 104 |
| E | After the Petition Is Approved | p. 106 |
| F | Filing for a Visa | p. 107 |
| G | Automatic Citizenship for Adopted Orphans | p. 107 |
| 11 | The Diversity Visa Lottery | p. 109 |
| A | Who Qualifies for the DV Lottery | p. 111 |
| B | How to Apply for the DV Lottery | p. 112 |
| C | After You Win-The Green Card Application | p. 114 |
| D | How to Bring Your Spouse and Children | p. 116 |
| 12 | Your Brothers and Sisters as Immigrants | p. 119 |
| A | Who Counts as Your Brother or Sister | p. 120 |
| B | Quick View of the Application Process | p. 121 |
| C | Detailed Instructions for the Application Process | p. 122 |
| D | What Happens After Filing Form 1-130 | p. 123 |
| 13 | Refugees and Asylees | p. 125 |
| A | Who Qualifies | p. 127 |
| B | Who Is Barred From Qualifying | p. 129 |
| C | How to Apply for Refugee Status | p. 131 |
| D | How to Apply for Asylum | p. 132 |
| E | If Your Asylum Application Is Denied | p. 137 |
| F | Asylees Can Bring Overseas Spouses and Children to the United States | p. 138 |
| G | Getting a Green Card After Asylum Approval or Refugee Entry | p. 139 |
| H | Revocation of Asylee Status | p. 139 |
| I | Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | p. 140 |
| J | Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) | p. 142 |
| 14 | Military Veterans and Enlistees | p. 143 |
| A | Which Military Members Qualify to Apply for Citizenship Without a Green Card | p. 144 |
| B | Which Military Members Qualify for U.S. Permanent Residence | p. 145 |
| 15 | Cancellation of Removal: Do Ten Illegal Years Equal One Green Card? | p. 149 |
| A | Applying in Court Proceedings | p. 150 |
| B | Who Qualifies for Cancellation of Removal | p. 150 |
| C | Who Is Not Eligible for Cancellation | p. 151 |
| D | Preparing a Convincing Case | p. 151 |
| E | How to File | p. 154 |
| F | Approving Your Application | p. 155 |
| G | Additional Types of Cancellation of Removal | p. 155 |
| 16 | Adjustment of Status | p. 157 |
| A | Who Is Allowed to Use the Adjustment of Status Procedure | p. 158 |
| B | People Who Can't Adjust Status at All | p. 162 |
| C | How to File | p. 163 |
| D | After You Apply | p. 167 |
| E | Interview and Approval | p. 168 |
| 17 | Consular Processing | p. 173 |
| A | How Your Case Gets to the U.S. Consulate | p. 175 |
| B | Forms and Documents You'll Need to Provide | p. 177 |
| C | Attending Your Visa Interview | p. 179 |
| D | Approval of Your Immigrant Visa | p. 180 |
| E | Arriving in the United States | p. 180 |
| 18 | Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals | p. 181 |
| A | Who Are the DREAMers? | p. 182 |
| B | How to Renew DACA | p. 182 |
| 19 | U Visas for Crime Victims Assisting Law Enforcement | p. 187 |
| A | Who Is Eligible for a U Visa | p. 188 |
| B | How to Apply for a U Visa | p. 192 |
| C | Your Legal Status While U Visa Is Pending | p. 195 |
| D | Green Card Possibilities After U Visa Approval | p. 196 |
| 20 | Acquiring Citizenship Through U.S. Citizen Parents | p. 201 |
| A | Who Qualifies for Acquisition of U.S. Citizenship | p. 202 |
| B | Obtaining Proof of U.S. Citizenship | p. 205 |
| C | Dual Citizenship | p. 206 |
| 21 | Filling Out and Submitting Immigration Applications | p. 207 |
| A | Don't Give False Answers | p. 208 |
| B | Get the Latest Forms and Fee Amounts | p. 208 |
| C | Tips for Filling Out Forms | p. 209 |
| D | When Additional Proof Is Required | p. 210 |
| E | Submitting Photographs for Identification | p. 214 |
| F | Fingerprinting Requirements | p. 215 |
| G | Keep Your Own File | p. 215 |
| H | Tips for Filing Applications | p. 215 |
| 22 | Tracking Your Application Through the System | p. 219 |
| A | Understanding U.S. Government Culture | p. 220 |
| B | How to Track Your Application Online | p. 220 |
| C | What to Do When Things Go Wrong | p. 221 |
| D | Inquiring About Delays | p. 222 |
| E | Speeding Up Processing in Emergencies | p. 223 |
| F | Reporting Wrongdoing | p. 225 |
| 23 | Keeping, Renewing, and Replacing Your Green Card | p. 227 |
| A | Renewing or Replacing Your Green Card | p. 228 |
| B | When U.S. Immigration Authorities Can Take Away Your Card | p. 229 |
| C | Planning to Apply for U.S. Citizenship | p. 232 |
| 24 | How to Find and Work With a Lawyer | p. 233 |
| A | Where to Look for a Lawyer | p. 234 |
| B | Deciding on a Particular Lawyer | p. 235 |
| C | Paying the Lawyer | p. 236 |
| D | Managing the Lawyer | p. 237 |
| E | Firing a Lawyer | p. 238 |
| Appendix | |
| How to Access the Sample Filled-In Forms on the Nolo Website | p. 241 |
| List of Sample Immigration Forms Available on the Nolo Website | p. 242 |
| Index | p. 245 |
