…for U.S. citizenship. Many choose to do so. Full citizenship confers additional pluses, such as voting rights, eligibility for U.S. passports, and the chance to receive benefits from government programs like Medicare and Social Security. U.S. citizenship also comes with additional responsibilities, such as exclusive allegiance to the United States, following U.S. laws, and possible jury duty service. Applying for citizenship under these circumstances is called the naturalization process. A qualified foreign national must file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, for USCIS approval, among other things. Applicants should expect this process to take six months or longer. How Can Investors…
…U.S. citizenship. Before you can apply for U.S. citizenship, you must meet certain eligibility criteria. These include: Having been a permanent resident for at least five years. Having lived in the U.S. for at least 30 months of the last five years. Being able to read, write, and speak English. Having a basic understanding of U.S. history and government. Showing good moral character. Citizenship application process Once you’ve determined your eligibility, you can start the application process. This generally involves the following steps: Complete the Application for Naturalization (Form N-400). Submit the form, along with all required documents and fees….
…to become citizens of the United States. To be eligible, they must maintain their permanent resident status, which generally prohibits travel outside of the United States for more than six months of the year. Permanent residents must also pay all U.S. taxes they owe and abide by U.S. laws to be eligible to apply for citizenship. To file for U.S. citizenship, a green card holder must file Form N-400, alongside all supporting documentation, and pay the associated fees. Online applications are possible, though an in-person biometrics appointment may be required. The next step is an interview, a citizenship test (which…
Which visa category is best for foreign nationals and their families to immigrate to the United States? Types of U.S. Immigrant Visas United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)– a division of the Department of Homeland Security– issues several US immigrant visa types to foreign nationals who desire permanent resident status in the United States. The process and requirements are different for each. Immigrants granted lawful permanent resident status are issued Green Cards, allowing them to live, work, and study in the United States forever, unlike with a nonimmigrant visa. There are four main immigrant visa categories: Immediate relative visas…
…State Agencies ALABAMA Mr. Scott Stewart (staff level) Department of Economic and Community Affairs State of Alabama PO Box 5690, Room 4427 Montgomery, AL 36103-5690 Phone: (334) 353-3966 | Fax: (334) 242-5099 Email: scott.stewart@adeca.alabama.gov Internet: adeca.alabama.gov ALASKA Mr. Dan Robinson, Chief, Labor Research & Analysis Research and Analysis Section Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development 1111 W 8th Street, Room 301 PO Box 115501 Juneau, AK 99811-5501 Phone: (907) 465-4500 | Fax: (907) 523-9654 Email: dan.robinson@alaska.gov Internet: almis.labor.state.ak.us ARIZONA Mr. Kevin O’Shea, Vice President, International Trade Arizona Commerce Authority 118 N 7th Avenue, Suite 400 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 Phone:…
…a center of tourism and sugar, bananas, and citrus exports in Central America. GDP growth has fluctuated in recent years and was 0.8% in 2017. Belize has the third-highest per capita income in Central America, although there is a massive disparity between the extraordinarily rich and the extremely poor in the country. Trend of Belize Students Studying Abroad in the U.S. Out of its population of 405,000, it is estimated that approximately 400 Belizean students are studying abroad in the U.S. This implies that about 0.001% of the population of Belize is studying abroad in the U.S. The number of…
2020 was not a good year for participants of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. It was not a good year for most inhabitants of the planet, as public life began to shut down and people were confined to their homes indefinitely. With shutdowns, lockdowns, and border closures, those who had made an EB-5 investment and were in queue to finally receive U.S. permanent resident status suddenly found their new life in the United States unattainable, with U.S. embassies and consulates temporarily ceasing routine visa services. Domestically, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) closed its offices to in-person traffic in…
…receive more than 5,000 EB-5 visas in FY2020. Those estimates did, of course, assume a pandemic would not sweep the globe and shut down public life in all parts of the planet. In reality, only 1,000 Chinese EB-5 investors received visas before the U.S. consulate in China stopped offering visa interviews in February 2020. According to Oppenheim, the one-week advancement of the Chinese final action date in the July 2020 Visa Bulletin frees up around 400 Chinese domestic investors and 3,000 Chinese overseas investors to claim an EB-5 visa, but with the consulate closed, only the 400 domestic investors will…
…to obtain U.S. citizenship. After holding permanent resident status for at least five years (this period includes two years of conditional permanent residency), the investor and their family can submit Form N-400 and apply to become citizens of the United States. U.S. citizenship will enable the family to vote in the United States, travel abroad without restrictions, and even hold dual citizenship if their country of origin allows it. These are just some of the many advantages of participating in the EB-5 program. Of course, foreign nationals who want to begin the path to permanent resident status will need guidance…
…for an EB-2 visa, with India accounting for 90% of these applications, or 358,078. Additionally, there are 129,754 approved petitions for the EB-3 visa, 89% of which are from Indian applicants. By November 2023, the cut-off date for EB-2 visas for Indians is set for petitions filed before January 1, 2012. For EB-3 visas, the Indian cut-off date is May 1, 2012. This indicates that only applicants who submitted their I-140 petitions over ten years ago are currently eligible to receive their green cards. Given that nearly 400,000 approved Indian nationals are competing for one of the 2,800 EB-2 visas…
