About Immigration Laws

There are several laws regarding immigration in the United States. The Immigration and Nationality Act put forth in 1952 was set to help regulate the country's population and who can be here and why. The Department of Homeland Security is the agency responsible for determining who is eligible for citizenship, visas, resident alien status and naturalization.

• U.S. Visa Requirements: It is a requirement that anyone traveling from their country to the United States must have a visa to travel. The visa application process requires that a form be filled out, a background check be performed and an interview be performed. When applying for a travel visa, the person's employment is checked, the reason for their travel, whether they have a valid passport and their financial status are all considerations in the process.


• U.S. Permanent Residency Requirements: There are several reasons that a person can be approved for permanent U.S. residency or a green card. Some of these possible reasons include relatives and employment. If a person is getting a green card for work, their employer must sponsor them. An immigrant can also apply for a green card for their spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21. Anyone that has a green card can permanently reside in the United States, legally work in the country and travel abroad for a certain amount of time. Permanent residents are also eligible for public assistance, something that someone visiting or with a visa is not eligible for.


• U.S. Citizenship Requirements: For any person attempting U.S. citizenship, a permanent residence within the United States for a continuous time of five years is required. Applicants must be able to read, write and understand English as well as be able to pass a citizenship test that includes information about the history of the United States, the government and understand and follow the tenants of the U.S. Constitution. To apply for citizenship, a person must also be 18 years or older unless they are getting their citizenship as a child through marriage.