Q: How can I live legally in the United States?
A: In order to live legally in the United States, you need to have a Visa or a Green Card.
Q: What is a Green Card?
A: A Green Card is a document issued by the Federal Government that allows you live and work in the United States, and eventually become a U.S. citizen.
Q: How do I get a Visa or a Green Card?
A: As a general proposition, you can obtain a Visa or a Green Card through sponsorship by an employer, a family member, through investments in a U.S. business, or on humanitarian grounds.
Q: I came to the United States with a student Visa. Can I work?
A: Generally speaking, you cannot legally work with a student Visa, although some exceptions exist.
Q: I am an illegal immigrant, how can I get a Visa or a Green Card?
A: There are not many options for an illegal immigrant to obtain a valid immigration status. Immigrants who entered the United States with a valid Visa, but who have now overstayed that VISA can get a Green Card if they are sponsored by an immediate relative. For immigration purposes, spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents qualify as “immediate relatives.”
Q: Can I get a Green Card if I have been convicted of a crime?
A: It depends on the crime for which you were convicted. If you were convicted of a serious crime, you can get a Green Card only if you obtain a Waiver of Inadmissibility.
Q: I have a valid Visa, but now I want to change to another Visa category. Is that possible?
A: As a general rule, you can apply for a Change of Status as long as you had valid legal status at the time of the application.
Q: I got my Green Card through sponsorship from my spouse. The marriage is not working, and we are going to divorce. Can I keep my Green Card?
A: As a general rule, you will be able to keep your Green Card if you can prove that you entered into the marriage in good faith and not for the purpose of evading the U.S. immigration laws.
