Is It REALLY that hard to become a U>S> legal resident??
406365
I'm a LEGAL Permanent resident who came to the USA in 1998, and YES it is that difficult! In theory there are a number of ways to get residency: \n Family sponsorship - only immediate family members are eligible, such as Father, son, brother.\n Employer sponsorship - useless in practice because a)they don't want to bother with the paperwork, they have to show 6 months worth of advertisements and explain why they didn't/couldn't hire a US citizen b) they become liable (as sponsor) for refunding to the State any benefits etc that may get paid out should the Resident be out of work, injured etc.\n Asylum - only available if you can prove your life is at risk if you return home\n Start your own business and employ locals - not sure on the full details of this one...\n Marry a US citizen - the route most legal resident immigrants end up taking. I tried this but my wife complained I only married her to get residency, wouldn't sign the paperwork (she said she didn't have the required 3 years of income records to prove that you're not going to be living below the poverty line) and then bitched that I wasn't working - catch 22! In the end I got it through another and definately NOT recommended route - \n File as an abused spouse - no sponsor required, you need to show records, photos etc to prove the marriage was in good faith, a police report of an arrest for domestic violence against you, and show that return to your home country would cause hardship - in my case all the Pilot's Licences I'd studied and paid for in the US would be useless in UK and I had no money to get them changed to European licences!\n I hope this helps explain - all Americans I've spoken to about my experiences are amazed at just how difficult it is - the laws don't need tightening, just enforcing, and if they're unenforcable then it makes sense to reword them so that those who are here anyway can at least pay taxes and contribute fully to society! Tightening them will just have the opposite effect to that desired, ie MORE illegals!!
770424
Well it helps if you have a work visa but if you are married to a US citizen it takes a little while before they give you your resident card that allows you to work. Have you tried talking to INS? check out this site....\nhttp://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1847c9ee2f82b010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=1847c9ee2f82b010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD
1009883
I had a friend in the same situation ... and she had to prove financial eligibility ... her husband was from Scotland, and it all ended up with the two of them having to move there ... he had a degree like your husband, but nothing helped ... makes me see red, when you think about all the millions of people just clomping in over the southern border with their demands ....   I think it also depends to a large extent on where you will be interviewed ... seems the immigration officers can make a diffrence if they want to ....
1006717
It shouldn't be hard, you file an immigration form to Canada, you get your PR card, then you have to spend 3 years in canada and then you are eligeble to apply for canadian citizenship
105674
i am planing to apply for one my self , while doing it isnt as hard to do as you may thing my best peace of advice it to get an immagration laywer to fill it out because they will help you not to make a mistake that may cause a very long wait ( i have herd of some one waiting 4 years to clear up a mistake on theres ) if you go to the home land security site for the US u will find immagration is part of that now and you can learn what forms and fees you will have to give them , you will also need to be checked out by a doctor that is aproved by the immagration for shots and tests , you may be able to bring your file from your doctor with ya and clear up a lot of things , but try to make sure that you have done every thing on the medical list before you go to see the doctor if the doctor is state side because of the cost of the health care there , on the immagration web site you will find a list of low cost lawyers there that may help you for a low cost , here is the site http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm look at all the diffrent types of visas and make sure that you apply for the right one , and what ever you do dont try to skip the visa if they find you gilty of it you could be charged to 5 years in jail and up to $250000 as i was told by the border gards for the US
1016205
Millions have done it and from Mexico!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\n\nIt is not that hard-you must wait for citizenship--is that the part that is hard? Or keeping out of trouble? Or working or going to school full time? Or you must do paperwork? What is so hard?\n My Niece's Mother in Law did it in her 80s. If she can others can. You want a hankie for that sob story?
67799
I am sorry to say that not everyone who come to visit can get a US citizenship. There are requirement clearly stated in the website: www.uscis.gov \nThe key is to be here as a permanent resident for 5 years or three years if you married to a US citizen and then you can apply for a citizenship. To be a permanent resident doesn't come easy but if you exel in sports or science, you are sponsored by a company, or if you get married to a permanent resident or a US citizen you may have a chance to become a permamnent resident ( a process that can take up to two years).\n\nGood luck, it is certainly a great country.
858008
That depends on your location! A place like LA or New York can take a long time! Smaller towns not so long! I filed mine in Portland Oregon and it took  a little under a year and a half! This was together with my permanent residence. US citizens do not have any advantage over permanent resident applicants!!
1065550
It not only takes long, it's also impossible, unless you marry for papers and lie to the INS. US laws encourage FRAUD.\nThe other way is to win a Green Card Lottery, which happens to very few people like with any lottery.
1016295
There is no easy way to become a U S citizen. If you have a skill which is in high demand in the United States and are NOT in the U S illegally, you can apply for a Visa as a skilled worker. Then you can work hard and hope you will eventually be granted citizenship. Alternatively, you can try to get an emigration visa from your home country, but the quotas set by the United States are usually very small, and the number  of applicants very large. \nThe old loophole of marrying a U S citizen has largely been closed.
509205
let me tell you something, maybe this can clarify and also give you some information:\nThere is just few visas granted to each country every year, of course there is a lot of more people who want to come here but to reach that kind of visas is almost impossible.  I'm illegal, also I'm skilled worker, I have a lot of years of experience also in my specialty, I'm bilingual and I have been also on the school here.  My boss will be glad to support me with any help to get my green card but, I have to wait 5 more years and pay about $10,000.  The major problem is because you cannot do anything for yourself, is not like when you go to the DMV to pay your stickers or do a transfer, with immigration you have to hire an attorney and also have to wait for a very long process because is so many people doing the same.  I'm paying my taxes, I have my car insurance, I'm supporting my local fire department as a volunteer and also a search and rescue team. I mean, I'm doing my best here and I have no other choice like to continue on this way until something happen.  \nBefore to think negative against an illegal alien you must have to talk with few of us and understand few thing who this situation involves.  It is hard to be on the dark, but is even hard to do in the right way.  What if instead of a lot of volunteers doing bad things against illegals better go to immigration offices and offer them some help to speed up the process? couple years ago, one immigration employee sent to the trash a lot of applications just because his desk have to many jobs pending to do.  I'm also not sending any money back, and there is a lot of illegals like me who are doing a lot of good things to benefit this country.  This kind of debate is very hard since there is a lot of wrong information and wrong image about us, a lot of people just think on us like drug sellers, welfare collectors, restroom cleaners.  But we are more than that.  I agree, there is a lot of them who are doing bad things, but is like any community, if you pay attention on the movies, any movie with Young's involved also involves drugs and alcohol.  Go to Hollywood Blvd. at night and you'll see a lot of Americans using drugs and if you move to the south over sunset blvd. you can se prostitution in early hours on the street.  Is easy to point the finger to certain people in particular but when we have to take a look in our own people we also can discover about the same thing.\nWelfare collectors? just go to Alhambra and you will see a lot of Armenians collecting welfare.  Go to the South Central LA and there is a lot of drug dealers, but who lives in that area? black people!\nUnfortunately bad people exist in any community, not matter if is American, Latino, Black or European, you'll find whatever on the streets.  Now, think on this:\nThere is 2 cities:\n\n1.- X City, populated by 500 illegal immigrants and 40 Americans.  The jail have 99% of illegals, also most of the crimes are made by illegals.\n\n2.- Y City, populated by 500 Americans and 60 illegal immigrants.  Do you know who's the majority on the jail? who's doing overpopulation on the hospitals and who run the mafia? \n\nIs like simple math, more people of an specific classification could elevate the statistics who affect that specific classification.  And let's do worse.  Illegal immigrants are poor people, and almost all the patrons pay very low wages, they have to do miracles to survive. But few of them like me, can find the way to do it.  I'm running my own small business and very soon I'll have employees and I hope, in the near future I can have my green card, then I can go to visit my brother and sisters.  I have 12 years living here, I even don't remember how they look.\nI hope this can help you
107098
Are you a medical student? Are you a foreign grad attempting to get a residency in the United States? Have you taken all 3 Steps? I don't understand your question.
636218
Yes, you need both a visa and a work permit, and it is not easy to get them, it usually takes time, a lot of time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
799676
No.  But it may be easier to get permanent resident status.\n\nEdit:  AND what map said.
883438
That is definitely a problem. Why lie about marriage status for an H1B? No answer is better than another, and being married delays nothing. Now you have put any chance at residency in question.\n\nBe honest!
892845
Nice try, but no - a little bit of knowledge is a dangeous thing.  You cannot adjust status under the Visa Waiver Program.
633324
I takes a few major things:\n\n    * a period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States;\n    * residence in a particular USCIS District prior to filing;\n    * an ability to read, write, and speak English;\n    * a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government;\n    * good moral character;\n    * attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution; and,\n    * favorable disposition toward the United States. \n\nI became a citizen by means of my father.  The rules have changed I believe since I went through naturalization but I gained my citizenship by showing that my father resided in the US for a period of 7 years after he reached the age of 18.  This was easily done by procuring my father's college transcripts.  Apparently, it's a little easier now for children of Americans.  My father took the oath for me as I was under the age of 18 at the time but the only costs involved maybe amounted to $100.  I now have duel citizenship in Canada and the US.  If you do duel citizenship, you don't give one up when you're 18 btw. . .I'm a college graduate now and never have a received a call from the naturalization office telling me I had to give up any of my rights as a citizen of either country.  My mother is currently petitioning for citizenship and will be taking her test within the next few months.  The cost for hers is again, marginal at best but she's been here under a green card for a number of years and found it would be cheaper to get her citizenship than to continue to pay her greencard every 10 years.  For more information on the whole process you can visit:\n\nhttp://www.uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/index.htm