| Your Immigration Companion | 1 |
A | Types of Green Cards We Cover | 2 |
B | How Much You Can Do Without a Lawyer | 2 |
C | Using This Book | 3 |
1 | All Ways to Get a Green Card | 5 |
A | Family-Based Relationships | 7 |
B | Employment-Based Relationships | 7 |
C | Special Immigrants | 9 |
D | Entrepreneur Immigrants | 9 |
E | Asylum and Refugee Status | 9 |
F | Diversity Visa Lottery | 10 |
G | Amnesties | 10 |
H | Private Bills | 10 |
2 | Short-Term Alternatives to a Green Card | 11 |
A | How Do Foreign Nationals Enter the United States? | 12 |
B | Types of Visas | 12 |
C | Tourists Who Can Visit Without a Visa | 15 |
D | The Importance of Staying Legal | 17 |
E | How to Extend a Visitor Visa | 17 |
F | Changing Your Reason for Staying | 18 |
G | What to Do If USCIS Denies Your Extension Application | 18 |
H | Tips on Filling Out Form I-539 | 19 |
3 | Will Inadmissibility Bar You From Getting a Green Card? | 21 |
A | What Is Inadmissibility? | 22 |
B | The Possibility of Waiving Inadmissibility | 22 |
C | Most Troublesome Grounds of Inadmissibility | 22 |
D | Reversing an Inadmissibility Finding | 32 |
4 | How Long You'll Have to Wait | 39 |
A | Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens: No Waiting for Eligibility | 41 |
B | Relatives in Preference Categories: Longer Waits | 41 |
C | Dealing With the Wait | 42 |
D | Can You Predict How Long You'll Wait? | 43 |
E | Revocation of a Petition or Application | 47 |
5 | Fiancé(e) Visas | 49 |
A | Who Qualifies for a Fiancé Visa | 50 |
B | Quick View of the Fiance Visa Application Process | 51 |
C | Detailed Instructions for the Fiance Visa Application Process | 52 |
D | How to Bring Your Children on a Fiancé Visa | 57 |
E | Marriage and After | 58 |
6 | Green Cards Through Marriage | 59 |
A | Who Qualifies for Marriage-Based Lawful Permanent Residence | 60 |
B | Special Rules in Court Proceedings | 61 |
C | Quick View of the Marriage-Based Green Card Application Process | 62 |
D | Detailed Instructions for the Marriage-Based Green Card Application Process | 64 |
E | Bringing Your Children | 70 |
F | If Your Marriage Is Less Than Two Years Old | 72 |
G | If You Marry Again | 74 |
H | Common Questions About Marriage and Immigration | 74 |
7 | Your Parents as Immigrants | 77 |
A | Who Qualifies to Petition for Parents | 78 |
B | Who Qualifies as Your Parent | 79 |
C | Quick View of the Application Process | 80 |
D | Detailed Instructions for the Application Process | 81 |
8 | Child Immigrants | 85 |
A | Who Qualifies | 86 |
B | Definition of "Child" | 87 |
C | Quick View of the Application Process | 91 |
D | Detailed Instructions for the Application Process | 91 |
E | Automatic Citizenship for Some Children | 93 |
9 | Orphan Immigrants in Non-Hague Convention Countries | 95 |
A | Who Qualifies as an Orphan Child | 97 |
B | Who Can Petition for an Orphan Child | 97 |
C | Preadoption Requirements | 98 |
D | Starting the Adoption Process | 98 |
E | After the Petition Is Approved | 100 |
F | Filing for an Immigrant Visa | 101 |
G | Automatic Citizenship for Adopted Orphans | 101 |
10 | The Diversity Visa Lottery | 103 |
A | Who Qualifies for the DV Lottery | 105 |
B | How to Apply for the DV Lottery | 106 |
C | After You Win-The Green Card Application | 108 |
D | How to Bring Your Spouse and Children | 110 |
11 | Your Brothers and Sisters as immigrants | 111 |
A | Who Counts as Your Brother or Sister | 112 |
B | Quick View of the Application Process | 113 |
C | Detailed Instructions for the Application Process | 114 |
D | What Happens After Filing Form I-130 | 115 |
12 | Refugees and Asylees | 117 |
A | Who Qualifies | 119 |
B | Who Is Barred From Qualifying | 121 |
C | How to Apply for Refugee Status | 123 |
D | How to Apply for Asylum | 124 |
E | If Your Asylum Application Is Denied | 129 |
F | Asylees Can Bring Overseas Spouses and Children to the United States | 129 |
G | Getting a Green Card After Asylum Approval or Refugee Entry | 130 |
H | Revocation of Asylee Status | 131 |
I | Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | 131 |
J | Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) | 134 |
13 | Military Veterans and Enlistees | 135 |
A | Which Military Members Qualify to Apply for Citizenship Without a Green Card | 136 |
B | Which Military Members Qualify for U.S. Permanent Residence | 136 |
14 | Cancellation of Removal: Do 10 Illegal Years Equal One Green Card? | 141 |
A | Applying in Immigration Court Proceedings | 142 |
B | Who Qualifies for Cancellation of Removal | 142 |
C | Who Isn't Eligible for Cancellation | 143 |
D | Preparing a Convincing Case | 143 |
E | How to File | 146 |
F | Approving Your Application | 147 |
G | Additional Types of Cancellation of Removal | 147 |
15 | Adjustment of Status | 149 |
A | Who Is Allowed to Use the Adjustment of Status Procedure | 150 |
B | People Who Can't Adjust Status at All | 154 |
C | How to File to Adjust Status | 155 |
D | After You Apply to Adjust | 159 |
E | Interview and Approval | 160 |
6 | Consular Processing for an Immigrant Visa | 165 |
A | How an Immigrant Visa Case Gets to the U.S. Consulate | 167 |
B | Forms and Documents You'll Need to Provide | 169 |
C | Attending Your Visa Interview. | 170 |
D | Approval of Your Immigrant Visa | 172 |
E | Arriving in the United States | 172 |
17 | Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals | 173 |
A | Who Are the DREAMers? | 174 |
B | How to Renew DACA | 174 |
18 | U Visas for Crime Victims Assisting Law Enforcement | 179 |
A | Who Is Eligible for a U Visa or Status | 180 |
B | How to Apply for a U Visa or Status | 184 |
C | Your Legal Status White U Visa Is Pending | 187 |
D | Green Card Possibilities After U Visa Approval | 188 |
19 | Acquiring Citizenship Through U.S. Citizen Parents | 193 |
A | Who Qualifies for Acquisition of U.S. Citizenship | 194 |
B | Obtaining Proof of U.S. Citizenship | 197 |
C | Dual Citizenship Between United States and Other Countries | 198 |
20 | Filling Out and Submitting Immigration Applications | 199 |
A | Don't Give False Answers | 200 |
B | Get the Latest Government-Issued Forms and Fee Amounts | 200 |
C | Tips for Filling Out Immigration Forms | 201 |
D | When Additional Proof Is Required | 202 |
E | Submitting Photographs for Identification | 206 |
F | Fingerprinting Requirements | 207 |
G | Keep Your Own File | 207 |
H | Tips for Filing Immigration Applications | 207 |
21 | Tracking Your Application Through the System | 211 |
A | Understanding U.S. Government Culture | 212 |
B | How to Track Your Application Online | 212 |
C | What to Do When Things Go Wrong | 213 |
D | Inquiring About Delays | 214 |
E | Speeding Up Processing in Emergencies | 215 |
F | Reporting Wrongdoing | 216 |
22 | Keeping, Renewing, and Replacing Your Green Card | 219 |
A | Renewing or Replacing Your Green Card | 220 |
B | When U.S. Immigration Authorities Can Take Away Your Card | 221 |
C | Planning to Apply for U.S. Citizenship | 224 |
23 | How to Find and Work With a Lawyer | 225 |
A | Where to Look for a Lawyer | 226 |
B | Deciding on a Particular Lawyer | 227 |
C | Paying the Lawyer | 228 |
D | Managing the Lawyer | 229 |
E | Firing a Lawyer | 230 |
| Appendix | |
| How to Access the Sample Filled-In Forms on the Nolo Website | 233 |
| List of Sample immigration Forms Available on the Nolo Website | 234 |