The USA is a country that many dream to visit, and some of them even want to move there for permanent residence. In this article, we look at 10 ways to stay in the US.
1. Win the lottery
Suitable for: Anyone who has completed secondary education or vocational education that requires at least 2 years of study.
How long to receive: once a year, from early October to early November, anyone can fill out a form on the official website of the Electronic Diversity Visa. It takes about 10 minutes to fill out the questionnaire, and on the first Monday of May, the computer randomly selects 50,000 winners. If you’re unlucky, you can try again.
Difficulty level: simple.
Cost: free.
It’s important to know:
- you don’t need to know English;
- it is not worth paying to intermediaries, everything is only through the official website.
2. Apply for political asylum
Suitable for: those who are afraid to return to their homeland for a number of real or far-fetched reasons (political persecution, nationality or race, faith, persecution of business, sexual orientation, family violence).
How long to teach: you can ask immediately after entering, even at the airport; the result is expected from six months to a year, in difficult cases up to 3 years.
Difficulty: medium
Cost: from $ 4,500 to $ 7,500.
It’s important to know:
- a ban on visiting the homeland for 5 years (in violation of the law, many still travel through neighboring states with internal passports);
- during the registration of refugee status, you can legally work, a job request is submitted 150 days after applying for refugee status;
- there are indeed many fraudulent intermediaries on the market;
- a good lawyer is needed.
Procedure steps:
- filing an application and opening a case (case);
- an interview with an immigration officer;
- obtaining political asylum or transferring a case to an immigration court;
- if the court refuses, you can appeal to the federal court, the chances are very high;
- the chances of obtaining status depend on the level of evidence, the “harmfulness” of the immigration officer and judges.
3. Marry an American
Suitable for: everyone.
How long to receive: 6 months – 2 years.
Difficulty level: medium.
How much: from $ 1,500 to $ 10,000.
It’s important to know:
- a good lawyer is needed;
- a lot of paperwork;
- since 2013, marriage is considered not only a union between a man and a woman, but also between same-sex spouses, the procedure is the same. Such marriages give the right to enjoy immigration benefits to the full, but not in all states;
- the future husband / wife must earn at least $ 20 thousand per year. If the earnings are less, you need to look for a guarantor.
Cases:
Procedure steps for a foreign bride or groom:
- petition I-129F;
- US Consulate interview;
- K-1 visa (bride / groom);
- physical examination;
- social SSN number;
- marriage;
- temporary green card;
- green card;
- citizenship.
An I-129F petition for a K-1 (bride / groom) visa must be submitted personally by a US citizen through the official website of the US Department of Homeland Security. There are no quantitative quotas for this document, in contrast to the same work visas, which are issued in limited quantities. The term for consideration of a petition is from 4 months.
4. Go learn
Suitable for: everyone.
How long to receive: 1 to 3 months.
Difficulty level: easy.
How much it costs: from free, if received a grant, up to $ 60 thousand per year.
It is important to know:
– you will have to really study;
– a visa gives the right to stay in the country, but not a green card or citizenship;
– there are significant restrictions on opportunities work, the most realistic is to get an internship that is low (or in no way) paid;
It is impossible to get a green card for study, but for many it is a great way to legally temporarily stay in the United States for up to 8 years, make contacts and try to “figure it out on the spot.”
English schools are considered the most accessible and simple way get a student visa. Not all schools can issue such visas – authorization from the US Immigration and Naturalization Service is required.
5. Reunite with family.
Suitable for: For those with a family in the United States.
How long to receive: 1-15 years.
Difficulty level: medium to high.
How much: from $ 1,500 to $ 10,000.
Important to know:
- a good lawyer is needed;
- a lot of paperwork;
- there are 4 categories of relatives, each has its own queue, there are quotas.
More about categories
There are 4 categories depending on the closeness of kinship. The first one gets the green card faster than everyone else, the last one – the slower. Quotas often include unused visas of other categories.
Category 1 (F1)
Quota: 23,400 visas per year.
Waiting period: not less than 1 year, but not longer than 5 years.
Category 2 (F2)
Quota: 114,200 visas per year.
Waiting period: 1-4 years.
Category 3 (F3)
Quota: 23,400 visas per year.
Waiting period: about 9 years.
Category 4 (F4).
Quota: 65,000 visas per year.
The waiting period is 7-10 years.
You can check the status and timing of the application in the monthly Visa Bulletin.
Process – A U.S. citizen or permanent resident submits an immigration petition, Form I-130 to & United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (USCIS).
– Approval of the petition in USCIS.
– If the petition is approved, it is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC, National Visa Center).
– NVC requests a list of documents to be sent back to them.
– If this package of documents is approved, the NVC itself records the relative for an interview at the US consular department in his or her country of residence.
In the event that a relative is already in the United States, then the US citizen submits Form I-485 (Petition for Change of Status). In addition, you need to prove that the relative is wealthy – that is, it will not sit on the neck of American taxpayers. As a rule, such a certificate is Affidavit of Support – a document obliging a US citizen to provide financial assistance to his relative.
6. Get a job at work (H1B, H2B, L1 visas)
Suitable for: qualified workers, workers of religious organizations.
How long to receive: up to 6 months.
Difficulty level: easy.
How much it costs: free for the employee, $ 1,500-10,000 paid by the employer.
Important to know:
- work visa categories H1B, H2B, L1 gives the right to apply for a green card. This is usually done by corporate lawyers;
- there is an annual quota – 140 thousand immigrants can receive green cards for work categories;
- in theory, an employee, only having received a green card, can say goodbye to the employer that sponsored the move. However, the immigration service, upon learning of this, may suspect the person of fraud. If the employee leaves the sponsor due to circumstances beyond his control (for example, the company has closed), then there should be no problems;
- the requirement for the employer is more than 15% of employees who arrived in the United States on an H1B work visa.
7. Invest or start a joint business
EB-5 visa issued to foreign investors, with which you can get a green card, and then citizenship.
Suitable for: a foreigner who is ready to invest in the US economy from $ 500,000 to $ 1 million.
How long to receive: from six months or more.
Difficulty level: high.
Cost: $ 12,000-16,000 – lawyer services; $ 60,000 – all other fees;
Important to know:
According to Igor Mazur, attorney at by Law Office of Francois-Ihor Mazur, Esq the process is divided into several parts:
- Submission of a special petition, I-526 (processing time from 2 to 12 months);
- After its approval, the immigration process begins through the American consulate (2-3 months), or, if the investor is in the United States on another visa, the process of changing the status begins (about 4 months);
- If everything is approved, then the investor and his family members receive a residence permit for 2 years;
- Through 1-9 months, the investor and his family members apply for a permanent green card, if the investment is not withdrawn by the investor;
– the privileges also apply to family members of the investor (up to 10 people), including children under 21 who are not married;
– there are no requirements regarding education, experience, language;
– a green card is issued 2 years after obtaining an EB-5 visa, citizenship – after 5 years;
– you can live and do business anywhere in the USA;
– Investor and family members can receive education at prices for US citizens.
You must qualify as an “accredited investor ”, that is:
- own capital in the amount of more than $ 1 million (you can jointly with your spouse);
- have an income of more than $ 200 thousand per year (or $ 300 thousand if jointly with your spouse) within the last 2 years .
8. Join the US Army
Suitable for: Green card holders aged 17 to 42, who have no criminal record, but have secondary education and good physical fitness;
How long to receive: up to a year.
Difficulty level: difficult.
Cost: Free.
Important to know:
– no gender restrictions;
– you cannot immigrate through military service, but you can quickly obtain citizenship for those who have a green card;
– you can serve in reserve (including being a university student);
Read more
You can find the nearest recruiter on the official website of the US Army.
You will need to pass the test (Army Physical Fitness Test or APFT): push up, shake your abs and run 3.2 kilometers.
Next, you will have to demonstrate knowledge of English and mathematics – the exam is called ArmedForces Classification Test (AFCT). According to many recruits, the test is not difficult.
The next step is a comprehensive test ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery). It is aimed at identifying the level of knowledge and erudition and is used in order to send a recruit to the most suitable branch of the military.
The test consists of 200 questions in mathematics, language, mechanics, electronics and other disciplines. The passing score of the ASVAB test is not that high, but to get into the “tough” troops (for example, the Coast Guard or the Air Force), you need to score more points.
After successfully passing the tests, you can choose a military specialty and sign a contract for a period of 2 to 6 years.
9. Remain illegal and wait for amnesty
Suitable for: desperate offenders.
How long to receive: not known for sure.
Difficulty level: high.
How much: unclear.
Important to know:
– may be deported without the right of entry for a period of 3 to 10 years;
– you cannot work legally (and illegally – they pay less);
– you cannot get a driver’s license and open a bank account;
– it is impossible to go to court, police and for an official certificate.
Read more :
Seven out of ten Americans believe that the country should have an official method of legalization, but with the proviso that we are talking about young and skilled illegal immigrants.
In light of the tougher policy towards illegal immigrants after Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, this method has become much more complicated, and the threat of deportation is much higher.
However, deportation can be challenged if it is cited that the deportation will be a serious test for family members who are US citizens (for example, spouse, children, parents will lose their only breadwinner).
This is the “I – 601 waiver” petition, which allows an illegal to return to America in an already legal status.
The process is not easy, but it provides a real chance to start from scratch. If the person has not yet been deported, the difficulty lies in the fact that he must go through this procedure at the US consulate in his home country. That is, to leave the United States without a guarantee that he will be allowed back.
10. Become a witness or victim in a high-profile case
Suitable for: victims or witnesses of high-profile cases.
How long to receive: up to one year.
Difficulty level: high.
How much: $ 500-2500.
Important to know:
– on a U visa, you can stay in the States for up to 4 years;
– there will be a work permit;
– in 3 years you can get a green card;
– you can apply for state aid and benefits, family visas;
– there are quotas – 10 thousand people a year.
You can apply for a U-visa for both victims and witnesses, or people who have information that is important for the investigation.
The list of crimes is wide enough, it includes both grave crimes (such as kidnapping, slave trade and rape), and domestic violence, perjury and blackmail.
