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Coming to America: Insider Tips To Improve Your Immigration Journey By Joshua Teets, JD and Vincent Stevenson, CEO of Precision Enterprises, LLC

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Immigration Tips

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Page 1: Immigration Tips

Coming to America: Insider Tips To Improve Your Immigration Journey

By Joshua Teets, JD and Vincent Stevenson, CEO of Precision Enterprises, LLC

Page 2: Immigration Tips

This Slideshow is an excerpt takenfrom the Immigration Navigator: From Foreign Immigrant to American Citizen

Visit comingtoamerica.org to purchase this simplified roadmap towards American Citizenship.

Get Social With US!

Page 3: Immigration Tips

U.S. Immigration System is…

BROKEN!

Page 4: Immigration Tips

U.S. Immigration System Administrative Agencies Enforcement Agencies

Grant Benefits Carry Out Actions

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

• U.S. Department of State (DOS)

• U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Page 5: Immigration Tips

U.S. Immigration System Two Primary Components

Nonimmigrant Visas These are your options to visit & stay in the U.S. temporarily

Immigrant Green CardsThese are pathways to Permanent Residence, the green card that eventually leads to citizenship

Page 6: Immigration Tips

How Do You Go From “Foreign National” to “U.S. Citizen”?

Page 7: Immigration Tips

The First Step: Coming to America

1. Sponsor

Name:

Location:

Degree:

Visa Needed:

Kavitha K.

Mumbai

Biochemistry

H-1B

TIP: Generally, you must have a purpose for coming to the U.S., such as tourism, education, or work.

Nonimmigrant Visas

B Tourists

H-1B Professional Employment

LBusiness Executives & Managers

J-1Exchange Students & Medical Professionals

Page 8: Immigration Tips

The First Step: Coming to America

Stage 2

1. Sponsor

2. Visa Interview

Page 9: Immigration Tips

The First Step: Coming to America

Stage 2

1. Sponsor

2. Visa Interview

3. Travel & Inspection

H-1B

Page 10: Immigration Tips

Maintaining Status

Stage 2

1. Sponsor

2. Visa Interview

3. Travel & Inspection

4. Maintenance& Status

She should do everything that her visa permits:• Work for the university that

sponsors her• Travel• Study

She cannot:• Work for another employer • Stay beyond the time noted on

her visa; • Stay if she leaves her research

program for any reason

Page 11: Immigration Tips

Stage 5

Getting to Citizenship

Stage 2

1. Sponsor

2. Visa Interview

3. Travel & Inspection

4. Maintenance& Status

Sponsor for Permanent Residence• Employer• Marriage to U.S. Citizen• Not yet a Citizen• Process of Naturalization

5. Green Card

Page 12: Immigration Tips

Stage 6

Stage 5

Getting to Citizenship

Stage 2

1. Sponsor

2. Visa Interview

3. Travel & Inspection

4.Maintenance& Status

5. Green Card

6. Naturalization & Citizenship

• Interview• 5 Year Wait• U.S. Citizen Test• Oath

Page 13: Immigration Tips

Should You Hire an Immigration Attorney?

• Can be a very unfriendly and difficult experience

• How complex is your case?

Page 14: Immigration Tips

Essential That You Consultan Immigration Attorney if You Have:

1. Criminal convictions and/or criminal arrests2. Serious physical or psychological issues,

including past drug abuse3. Received any government public assistance4. Any encounter with any immigration

agencies 5. Denied a visa in the past 6. Violated any immigration laws;

overstayed your visa

Page 15: Immigration Tips

Essential That You Consultan Immigration Attorney if You Have:

1. Criminal convictions and/or criminal arrests2. Serious physical or psychological issues,

including past drug abuse3. Received any government public assistance4. Any encounter with any immigration

agencies 5. Denied a visa in the past 6. Violated any immigration laws;

overstayed your visa

Page 16: Immigration Tips

Advantage of Not Hiringan Immigration Attorney

COST:

$1,490.00 Petition

$3,500.00 Attorney Fees

Page 17: Immigration Tips

Insider TipsWhen Applying for an Immigration

Benefit

1 If you have a past criminal conviction, even a felony, it does not necessarily mean you can never immigrate to the United States - consult with an immigration attorney

Page 18: Immigration Tips

Insider TipsWhen Applying for an Immigration

Benefit

2 If you are facing a deadline to apply for an immigration benefit, but do not have all the supporting documents, go ahead and still file what you have to meet the deadline

Page 20: Immigration Tips

Important TipsWhen Filing for an Immigration

Application

1 Make sure that you are using the correct and current immigration form.

2 Read the instructions and follow them exactly.

3 Answer all the questions in the form and do not leave any sections blank. State “N/A” (Not Applicable).

Page 21: Immigration Tips

Important TipsWhen Filing for an Immigration

Application

4 If you do not know the information requested in the form, do not invent an answer.

5 Submit with the application all the required supporting documents. The instructions will state what is required.

6 Make sure to provide translations of the supporting documents where necessary.

Page 22: Immigration Tips

Important TipsWhen Filing for an Immigration

Application

7 Questions? Call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1 (800) 375-5283

8 Make sure to submit the correct filing fee and form of payment. Check with the Instructions of the Form.

9 Make sure to send the application packet to the correct location. Check with the Instructions of the Form.

Page 23: Immigration Tips

Important TipsWhen Filing for an Immigration

Application

Make a copy of the application and the supporting documents for your own files.

Send the application packet either via certified mail or a courtier service where you have a signed copy that someone at USCIS accepted the packet.

10

11

Page 24: Immigration Tips

Immigration Process

1. Providing inaccurate or incomplete answers in the immigration forms

2. Lying or Withholding the Truth

3. Submitting Incomplete Application Packets

4. Not Consulting an Immigration Attorney when there are Issues that May Affect your Case

5. Accepting the Word of Immigration or Consular Officers as Infallible

Page 25: Immigration Tips

Immigration Paperwork

1. Consult an attorney if you have any past criminal convictions, past criminal arrests, have serious health issues, have received any government public assistance, have had any encounter with any government agencies, have been denied a visa in the past, and/or have violated any immigration laws including if you have overstayed your visa.

DOs & DON’Ts

DO’s

Do’s & Don’ts

Page 26: Immigration Tips

Immigration Paperwork

2. Make sure you are using the right and current Form/s for the immigration benefit you are applying for.

3. Read the instructions for the Form before starting.4. When reading the instructions for the Form, take

notes of the supporting documents required to submit with the form, the fees to attach, the accepted forms of payment, and where to send the forms and documents.

DOs & DON’Ts

DO’s

Do’s & Don’ts

Page 27: Immigration Tips

Immigration Paperwork

5. Make sure to provide translations of the supporting documents where necessary. The translations will have to be done by a qualified translator.

6. If you are completing the forms in written form, make sure you print your answers so it is clear and legible.

DO’s

Do’s & Don’ts

Page 28: Immigration Tips

Immigration Paperwork

7. Answer all the questions in a complete, accurate, and truthful manner. If you are not sure of the answer, research the information first or if you are unable to get the information, state “unknown” or “unknown at this time” or “will provide the information during the interview” (if in fact there will be an interview).

DOs

Do’s & Don’ts

Page 29: Immigration Tips

Immigration Paperwork

8. If a question doesn’t apply to you, write in “N/A” (Not applicable).

9. Make sure you sign and date the application. The forms will be rejected and sent back to you without your signature.

DOs & DON’Ts

DO’s

Do’s & Don’ts

Page 30: Immigration Tips

Immigration Paperwork

10. If your application packet has many documents enclosed, either use a large paper clip or rubber band so that there is no possibility of losing any of the documents once the immigration agency receives it.

11. Make copies of all the forms and supporting documents sent for your own file. This includes a copy of the form of payment you send for the fees.

DOs & DON’Ts

DO’s

Do’s & Don’ts

Page 31: Immigration Tips

Immigration Paperwork

12. Send the application packet either by certified mail or overnight courier so there is evidence that the immigration agency has received the packet.

13. Make a special file for your immigration paperwork especially the notices you will be receiving about your case.

DOs & DON’Ts

DO’s

Do’s & Don’ts

Page 32: Immigration Tips

Immigration Paperwork

1. DO NOT send any immigration forms if you have any of the stated red flag issues stated above under Dos, #1

2. Never lie in any of the immigration forms submitted. These are legal forms which you will have to swear to under the penalty of perjury

3. Never give incomplete answers 4. Never leave an answer blank

DOs & DON’Ts

DON’Ts

Do’s & Don’ts

Page 33: Immigration Tips

Immigration Paperwork

5. Do not send your forms without supporting documents. This will delay your application process or at worst you may receive a denial.

6. Don’t forget to send the correct filing fee using the accepted forms of payment. NEVER send cash.

7. Do not send documents that are not translated into English by a qualified translator.

DON’Ts

Do’s & Don’ts

Page 34: Immigration Tips

Immigration Paperwork

8. Do not send original supporting documents like birth certificates, death certificates, divorce certificates, and passports, unless the instructions clearly request them.

9. Do not send any forms and supporting documents to the immigration agency without making copies for your own personal file. This includes a copy of the form of payment you used for the filing fees.

DOs & DON’Ts

DON’Ts

Do’s & Don’ts

Page 35: Immigration Tips

Immigration Paperwork

10. Never send the application packet using regular U.S. Postal regular mail. Evidence that the immigration agency received and signed for the document is proof that you sent them and that they received it. This is very important especially if there are deadlines for filing.

DOs & DON’Ts

DON’Ts

Do’s & Don’ts

Page 36: Immigration Tips

Practical Immigration Links For Updates on Laws and Policies

The National Immigration Forum

http://www.immigrationforum.org/

Page 37: Immigration Tips

Practical Immigration Links For Updates on Laws and Policies

The National Immigration Forum

http://www.immigrationforum.org/

This Forum was founded in 1982 to advocate for immigrants and highlight the important contributions immigration has had to the United States. They promote sound Federal immigration policies that address the economic and national security needs of the nation which creates solutions needed for all residents in the nation to prosper. The Forum identifies four priority concerns in their work: Immigration Reform and Workforce Needs, Integration and Citizenship, Borders and Interior Enforcement, State and Local Immigration Developments

Page 38: Immigration Tips

Practical Immigration Links For Updates on Laws and Policies

ILW.COM

http://www.ilw.com/

Page 39: Immigration Tips

Practical Immigration Links For Updates on Laws and Policies

ILW.COM

http://www.ilw.com/

ILW.COM is one of the leading immigration websites with over 50,000 pages of free information on immigration law. ILW.COM’s publication, Immigration Daily, is the only free daily newspaper on immigration law in the world. Although this site is often used by immigration law professionals, including immigration lawyers, many people whether immigrants or non-immigrants find this site very useful to keep up to date on immigration law and policies. In addition, this site has various blogs, articles, news items, and active discussion boards available. ILW.COM states that they are a “pro-American website that holds that immigration is a vital national interest of the United States.”

Page 40: Immigration Tips

Practical Immigration Links For Updates on Laws and Policies

ILRC (Immigration Legal Resource Center)

http://www.ilrc.org/

Page 41: Immigration Tips

Practical Immigration Links For Updates on Laws and Policies

ILRC (Immigration Legal Resource Center)

http://www.ilrc.org/

ILRC was founded in 1979 in San Francisco, California. It is a national non-profit resource center providing legal trainings, educational materials, and advocates for immigrant rights. The mission of ILRC is to work with and educate immigrants, community organizations, and the legal sector to continue to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people.” ILRC has staff attorneys that conduct seminars and webinars on topics that affect the immigrant community. Outside of services they provide to the immigration legal professionals, ILRC provides services such as seminars to the immigrant community in the areas of leadership training and knowing one’s rights. The ILRC website is a good link for any updates on current immigration law and policies and understanding how they affect the immigrant community.

Page 42: Immigration Tips

This Slideshow is an excerpt takenfrom the Immigration Navigator: From Foreign Immigrant to American Citizen

Visit comingtoamerica.org For the purchase of this comprehensive immigration e-book and multiple free bonuses!

Get Social With US!