A green card has many key advantages for immigrants who want better jobs, homes, and an education. Perhaps the biggest benefit is being able to live and stay within the U.S. Also, you have the option to apply for U.S. citizenship after you’re a permanent resident.

But how long does a green card last? And are there ways to keep it, and eventually becoming a U.S. citizen?

The first question is the easy one: a green card will last for 10 years before you have to reapply. This is an important step as you need to renew it with the U.S. government; otherwise, you can be denied reentry if you leave the country. If you’re late on applying for a green card, you should not wait to contact an immigration lawyer for help or filling out the necessary applications.

Since a green card lasts 10 years, that gives you plenty of time to consider U.S. citizenship. You have four options for U.S. Citizenship:
-Birth in the U. S.or its territories automatically grants you citizenship
-Birth to U.S. citizen parents also grants you citizenship
-Naturalization of your parents can earn you citizenship
-Finally, you can apply for naturalization yourself

Naturalization is the term used in immigration law when you are going from permanent resident to citizen. In most cases of naturalization by birth, you have little work to do in applying. You are automatically a U.S. citizen. In some cases, naturalization through your ancestors–if you’re grandparents were U.S. citizens, for example–is an option.

In order to become a U.S. citizen, the majority of immigrants need to first be permanent residents. That means applying for green cards. Green card holders have to follow U.S. laws in order to remain in the country.

How do you keep a green card?
You first must follow all U.S. laws. It doesn’t always have to be the major crime or felony that you break. Small things such as being caught with drugs in your possession can lead to losing your green card and being deported. Also, if you try to use fraud to get your green card, or helped someone else illegally get a green card, you can be deported.

Just because you get a green card does not mean you can live somewhere else and/or travel for extended periods at your leisure. A common mistake permanent residents make is going away to live in other countries for extended periods. If you leave the U.S. and intend to live in another country, you lose your green card and will have to reapply. Permanent residents must live within the U.S.

The best option is to file for U.S. citizenship so you need not worry about these. Once you earn U.S. citizenship, you must follow the laws but you cannot be deported, you can travel, and you will maintain your citizenship for your entire life. To do this, you can hire an immigration lawyer to first get a green card, if you don’t have one, and then to successfully file for U.S. citizenship.

Why become a U.S. citizen? There are numerous benefits for citizenship. This guide goes over the biggest advantages of going from a permanent resident to a U.S. citizen.

But first, what do these terms mean?

In a court of law, permanent resident status (having  a green card), grants you the right to live in the U.S. You can be deported for breaking laws, but in most cases you will be free to live here until you have to reapply after 10 years time. Once you get permanent resident status, you are then eligible to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. This is a permanent ruling you do not lose over time. There are cases where you can go from being a immigrant with no green card to a U.S. citizen, but in the great majority of cases appliers currently have a green card.

A U.S. citizen is someone who was born in this country, has been naturalized in other ways such as through marriage or through ancestry, and who has the most rights of any person in the  U.S. All jobs are technically open for you, you pay taxes and earn social security benefits and more.

Now that we’ve defined the terms, let’s go over 6 benefits of U.S. citizenship.

Maximum Rights Available
First, in broader terms a U.S. citizen has the most rights of any person living within the country, no matter your race, sex, origins, or political beliefs.  You have all the rights laid out in the constitution, protection by federal government, the opportunity to work permanent jobs, the option to serve in the armed forces, and many more advantages.

Sponsor Family
If you want to give the maximum rights available to those in your family, you can do so once you earn U.S. citizenship. In fact, the majority of naturalized U.S. citizens are sponsored through family or marriage. If you have, for example, a brother in Britain who wants to live here, he has the opportunity to be naturalized. If your husband is a resident of another country, once you marry him you he can be naturalized. This is a bigger benefit than it sounds: being a U.S. citizen has immense rewards especially  in terms of jobs.

Live in the U.S. Permanently
Instead of reapplying for your green card every ten years or worrying about traveling, you can live in the U.S. permanently. Optionally, you can have residences in other countries and maintain your citizenship with no fear of losing it.

You Can Never be Deported or Denied Entry
If you break U.S. laws and you have a green card, you can be deported. An example includes selling illegal drugs. However, once you become a U.S. citizen, you have rights under the constitution to stay within the country. Also, if you travel often, you can never be denied reentry into the U.S.

Social Security
Once you become a U.S. citizen and start paying taxes, it’s only natural to get something back from that. That includes social security benefits for when you retire or if you require disability benefits after an injury.

Right to Vote
As a permanent resident of the U.S., you have no right to vote. As a citizen, you can vote. This too may seem small, but it’s a dream for many.

Immigration law can often be complex, but with the advantages of living in the U.S., how the jobs and standard of life are so much better than many third world countries, it’s clear why so many seek to start a new life here.

What immigrants come for can vary. One subject on the minds of many who live in a dangerous country is how the U.S. can grant asylum. In other words, you escape your persecution in some form. The persecution can involve race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or your involvement in a social group.

There are differences between asylum and refugee status, which we’ll address immediately.

If you’re currently outside the U.S., perhaps in the country where the persecution is taking place, you can apply for refugee status. That means if you are being persecuted in an African country, for example, and you are there currently, you are eligible for refugee status. On the other hand, for asylum status you are already in the U.S. That often means you’ve often fled the country you were being persecuted in, and are currently staying in the U.S. to avoid persecution.

“Persecution” is where this gets tricky, and where a good immigration lawyer can help you immediately. The U.S. considers persecution in your resident country as:
・    The country you’re in imprisons and tortures political dissidents
・    The country fires on protestors
・    The country has committed and is commuting genocide
・    This country is not actively allowing a religious group to be involved in politics whatsoever

In many countries, some of these things are common. For example, firing on protestors is an unfortunate event that does occur often enough to be addressed by other countries like the U.S. Also, in many countries, your religious affiliation or race can be held against you; a Muslim or Catholic not being allowed to vote or serve in politics for example.

There ares still more examples of persecution recognized by the U.S. and many other countries. For example, persecution against woman — either in not being allowed to vote or even forced marriages — is sometimes factored in.

How do you know if you’re eligible for asylum or refuge status?
The laws do change as the world changes. While some of these forms of persecution deserve separate posts, the reality is you might not even know you’re being persecuted. If you’re unsure of your options, an experienced immigration lawyer can explain the asylum and refuge status to you. Whether you’re already in the U.S. or still home being persecuted, hiring a professional attorney who can answer all your questions is invaluable.

Getting a green card may seem like a dream to many immigrants wanting to live in the land of opportunity, but being naturalized, becoming a U.S. citizen, is truly where all the opportunities are.

Why become a U.S. citizen? There are more jobs and opportunities for people of all skills. Children have more opportunity for higher education. By paying taxes you become eligible for benefits when you retire. And even better, the best jobs in the world are in the U.S., and you must be a citizen to get the majority of them. It’s really no secret, with about 1 million immigrants coming into the country every year.

What do you need to do to be eligible for U.S. citizenship?
There are many requirements you can get by talking with a lawyer, but the basic ones are pretty simple. -You have lived in the U.S. legally for at least five years
-You have been present for at least half of those last five years
-You’ve been a resident of the state or district your filing in for at least three months
-You have not spent more than a year outside the U.S.
-Your primary home is in the U.S.
-You are 18 or older
-You can speak, read, and write in the English language
-You can swear you believe in the U.S. and will be loyal to this country
-You can pass a test on U.S. history and government
-You have good moral character

That may sound like a lot, and it is. The laws can be complex.

What if one of these immigration laws do not apply to you?
Some, such as being a permanent resident for five years, are written in stone. Others you can improve upon, such as how you handle tests on U.S. history and government, as well as mastering the English language.

How do you pass all these and successfully earn U.S. citizenship?
Hiring an immigration  lawyer has immense benefits if you want to be naturalized as a U.S citizen. A good immigration lawyer can walk you through all the documents you have to fill out, all the questions you have to answer, and all fees you have to pay. Becoming a U.S. citizen is a life changing event for many, and can be for you too.

How to Hire an Immigration Lawyer
If you’re interested in hiring an immigration lawyer, you must find one who can help with everything. By reading this blog, you are showing an interest in immigration law. Take that interest to hiring experts on immigration law. Ask for references from people you know with legal experience. Query several immigration lawyers and ask them how they can help. Also be sure to ask their workload, fees, and how much experience they have.

Becoming a U.S. Citizen
Naturalization happens to thousands every year, and most are a direct result of an understanding of immigration law. Now that you know you need an expert, start searching for the right immigration lawyer in your area.

California has historically been impacted a great deal by new permanent residents to the United States, and not just because of the Latin insurge of new residents and citizens.

For the past years, California has had the most immigrants of any state, with New York coming in at #2.

Just what is the impact of green cards on California? How many people immigrated to California in 2009? Does this impact jobs in any way? Does it help the economy to have new permanent residents? This guide takes a positive look at the impact of immigration on California.

How Many Immigrated to the U.S.?
About 1,030,000 new immigrants came into the U.S. in 2009. This is a small increase over 2008, which had about 1,007,000 new immigrants come. Of these, the majority were family sponsored new residents who gained green cards. The nation with the highest number of immigrants coming here is Mexico, following a common trend in the past decade. Of total immigrants, the majority were aged 25-34 according a Homeland Security study. This study also noted how Asian immigrants are rising, accounting for the majority of new permanent residents since 2007, and #2 came North  America.

How Many Immigrated to California?
About 227,000 immigrants came to California in 2009.  New York came in at 150,000 new immigrants, second to California.

How Do Immigrant Effect the U.S.?
What’s the impact of green cards on the country? It’s not cause for debate on this blog, but it’s worth considering how many new immigrants come with skills to our country.  Do immigrants take jobs away from other citizens? Actually, immigrants are afforded opportunities to become part of society. This includes in-state tuition for certain immigrants, eligibility to serve in the armed forces, and once working to contribute taxes. It’s also a dream for many who live in poorer communities elsewhere.

Impact of Green Cards on California
Since green cards have a positive effect and are big opportunities for the poor, it’s also important to bear in mind how many illegally live in the United States. The statistics prove that illegal immigration is a big problem. If you are aware of someone who has immigrated illegally, instead of reporting them, you can actively help them get green cards.

How to Get a Green Card in California
The best way for new immigrants to make an impact on the United States is by earning permanent residency status, getting an education, and joining the work force. Immigration law is a complicated subject for new immigrants, and immigration lawyers can help immigrants stay within the laws and get the most opportunities.

Ending Notes On U.S. Immigration
Historically, immigration has had both a positive and negative impact on the U.S. However, by staying within the laws, by earning green cards and later citizenship, new immigrants can make just as big an impact on society as any other citizen.

Why hire an immigration lawyer? You hire an immigration  lawyer because you want to be either a permanent resident of the United States or a U.S. citizen. Hiring an immigration lawyer sometimes can be tough because you have many options. The problem is, many immigration lawyers are not as schooled in handling immigrants and specific laws as others.

Immigration lawyers do however give you a better chance of getting a green card and successfully applying for U.S. citizenship .The possibilities are endless once you are 1)able to work in the United States and 2) can actually apply for benefits after working here.

The key is hiring an immigration lawyer with the experience, knowledge, and time to get the job done. How do you hire an immigration lawyer? You want one with experience, one who knows the laws, one who can educate you on the process, one who doesn’t overcharge, and one who has direct results–he or she gets green cards and earns U.S. citizenship for clients.

Here are the benefits of hiring a good immigration lawyer.

1) Immigration Lawyers Help with the Facts
There are many details, documents, and practices involved in getting a green card. The laws can be very complex. For example, if you wanted to work in the U.S., there are literally dozens of documents and laws you must be aware of,  and your immigration lawyer can help with precisely that. If you feel you may be a U.S. citizen already by birth, you can also get help. And if you want help on filing documentation for a green card or U.S. citizenship, a good immigration lawyer is your best option.

2) Immigration Lawyers Explain Your Options
A good immigration lawyer does more than help you fill out paperwork: they also help explain all your options. How can you be eligible for automatic citizenship? How can you get citizenship through marriage? How much does it cost to file for a green card? What laws must you be sure to follow once you get a green card? A good immigration lawyer can help with these questions and much more.

3) Immigration Lawyers Educate You on Permanent Resident Law
If you want to get a green card or have one currently, there are certain laws you  must abide by. It’s somewhat different than being a U.S. citizen, as you can be deported for breaking U.S. laws. If you are unsure of eligibility for permanent residency status, a good immigration lawyer can help.

4) Immigration Lawyers Help You Get a Job Legally
If you want to work in the U.S. and earn top salaries, you can. It does take some paperwork to do so. You and your employer can get help from an immigration lawyer.

5)A Good Immigration Lawyer Gives You the Opportunity for a Dream – U.S. Citizenship
The best benefit of hiring an immigration lawyer often starts with getting a green card, then ends in earning U.S. citizenship. If you are naturalized, you have the chance to live the American dream. You can work with  any employer you want, you will be eligible for social security benefits, and more.

A green card states you are a permanent resident of the United States, not a citizen, but with the opportunity to live and work in this country, and the opportunity for earning U.S. citizenship later on.

Getting a green card, usually through a family, spouse, or business, can be tough. Keeping your green card can be hard too. If you have a good immigration lawyer, these problems can go away. A talented immigration lawyer can walk you through getting and keeping a green card legally, and later give you the opportunity for you and your family to become U.S. citizens.

Why is a green card such a big deal? Let’s go over some major benefits those with a green card, permanent residency status, have in the United States.

You Can Leave the US. and Return with a  Green Card
If you have to leave often to visit family in another country, or if you have business outside the U.S. on a regular basis, a green card makes reentry simple. With a green card, you’ll have less chance of not being permitted to reenter the country. You still have to reenter legally, so be sure to show the USCIS your green card when you return. Also, do not break any major laws outside the country.

Green Card Length
A green card makes it so you need not worry about expiration. The actual “card” for permanent resident status lasts 10 years. Also, green card status itself is valid for your entire life. This too saves you time and worries of having to reapply: once you’re in, you will stay in provided you follow all laws.

Education Grants with a Green Card
With a green card, though you have less rights than U.S. citizens, there are many special benefits you can earn. You can apply for government financial aid. Also, if you wanted to go to a major college, all permanent residents of the United States pay less tuition to universities and colleges. The “in-state” tuition bonus is applied to your education, often saving you tens of thousands of dollars that many foreigners are forced to pay.

Green Cards and Jobs
You have the right to any job within the country. If you apply with a major automobile factory, for example, no matter the work involved, hours per week, and pay, you are eligible. Some companies hire only U.S. citizens, but many offer opportunities to talented permanent residents. So, it makes sense that you can go to college, get a good education, and apply to top jobs in your specialty.

Retirement in the U.S. and Green Cards
If you worked with a company for 10 or more years, you are then eligible for social security benefits. For example, you worked with an automobile company for 15 years; social security taxes were applied to your paycheck; that’s why you’re eligible.

Sponsoring Family for Green Cards
There are many other benefits of getting a green card, but one which may be close to your heart is  sponsoring a spouse or child for permanent resident status just like you. This is common in the U.S., and with the help of a good immigration lawyer, your family has a good chance of earning permanent resident status.

You can go through the immigration process all by yourself, right? In some cases, this may be true. If you are knowledgeable in law, have experience with English language, and have the time to study, you can sometimes do without an immigration lawyer.

The problem is you’ll have stacks of papers to fill out, you’ll eventually deal with legal professionals and if you make a mistake it might slow the process,  and by the end of the process you’ll have lost a lot of time you could have spent elsewhere. For students, business men and women, and those who have poor English skills, hiring an immigration lawyer is smart and worthwhile.

How much does an immigration lawyer cost? The best way to find out is to contact several professional immigration lawyers and ask basic rates. For the time involved and the benefits you get, it’s more than worth it.

So how do you hire an immigration lawyer? Let’s find out.

Get References From Your Immigration Lawyer
Before you start contacting immigration lawyers, you should ask family, friends, and colleagues what they suggest. If someone successfully immigrated to the U.S. and received a green card, or if they became a U.S. citizen, their immigration lawyer should be on your list. Also, if you’re proficient online–likely if you’re reading this–many top immigration lawyers have sites and blogs showcasing how they can help you.

Study American Immigration Lawyers Association to Hire a Lawyer
This association, the AILA, of professional immigration lawyers and attorneys can truly help you narrow down your list to the most experience. Some immigration lawyers are not a member of this association, but that does not always mean they’re poor lawyers. If you were recommended an immigration lawyer by a friend or found one online with a lot of success in helping immigrants, they should still be on your shortlist.

Interview Prospective Immigration Lawyers
The next step after recommendation and studying top sites and associations is to create a short list. This list helps narrow down the immigration lawyers and attorneys who you feel are good fits. You want a lawyer who can help you directly with your main goal. If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible for U.S. citizenship, or if you want a green card, you can hire one who specializes in those cases. If you or a loved one does not speak English, you might hire a lawyer with other language skills.

How Much Do They Charge?
Immigration law is a specialized industry with a lot of competition for your business. Be picky in hiring a lawyer of any kind no matter what country you are in. If you want to immigrate to the U.S., follow the above steps, and then start asking prices. Some lawyers will likely be out of your price range immediately. Just remember how valuable this process can be.

Hiring an Immigration Lawyer – The Final Step
If you have a “winner” for your immigration lawyer, be sure to check their credentials. You can check the background of any immigration lawyer at the local state bar.

Immigration lawyers make dreams a reality for individuals and families hoping to live in the United States, either as permanent residents via green cards, or becoming U.S. citizens via family. Immigration lawyers can help you in many ways.

How Immigration Lawyers Help Immigrants
1-They help reunite families
2-Deliver talent to businesses who need skilled workers
3-Protect people in danger who need to flee other countries
4-Give a second chance to poor individuals
5-Help immigrants become U.S. citizens via a mother, father, or spouse being naturalized

There are many other things good immigration lawyers can do. The problem is, many do not have the skills to handle unique cases, and every immigrant hoping to live in the U.S. is a unique, important case. Professionalism with immigration lawyers, unfortunately, isn’t the same with all lawyers. However, there are many talented immigration lawyers who can help you not only get a green card (nonresident status) or become naturalized U.S. citizens.

Why is immigration law difficult?
1-Immigration law has many more in depth standards, but not all immigration lawyers have mastered the legal process
2-The nature of the profession changes every year
3-Earning accredations and taking classes takes time and money

You should hire an immigration lawyer no matter your views or expertise on the subject. A good immigration lawyer will show professionalism, specialization in what you need, and be follow all U.S. immigration laws.

Professionalism for Immigration Lawyers
The good news is, all immigration lawyers in the U.S. are required to take legal education classes. Many immigration lawyers specialize in certain areas of the law. If an immigration lawyer does both of these, he or she can help you. These classes and laws ensure you will be within all laws in immigrating to the United States.

Specialization for Immigration Lawyers
You should hire an immigration lawyer who has experience in helping others get what you need. For example, if you want to move to the U.S. and live with a spouse, hiring an immigration lawyer is important for staying within all laws (you need to prove you love this person, for example). Also, if you intend to be a U.S. citizen, you need to understand this country, it’s laws for both immigrants and citizens, and the opportunities you have.

Laws for Immigration Lawyers
Immigration to the United States is a complex process, one with files of documentation and laws you have to submit and stay within. There is strong oversight for what you do when you immigrate here. For example, if you committed serious crimes, you can be deported and lose an opportunity to return to the U.S. This happens too often when immigrants don’t understand how U.S. laws work.

Hire a Professional Immigration Lawyer Today
Immigration lawyers truly make dreams a reality. If you don’t think you can afford one, you might be  surprised at how much a a professional in this field can actually save you in time and money. If you want this big chance, hire an experienced immigration lawyer today.

Immigration law experts are now noting a new way for immigrants to illegally get into the U.S.,through the student visa. The student visa has become a headline again with reports across the web and newspapers about how crime rings were being hired to take immigrant proficiency exams and classes for immigrants in need of student visas so they could stay in the U.S.

After 9/11, immigration authorities took clear action on stopping such occurrences. In fact, one of the Sept. 11 hijackers involved in the attacks used  a student visa to enter the U.S.

Rings involved in illegally obtaining U.S. student visas have been broken up in recent months across the country, including  Florida, California, and Georgia.

What exactly were they doing? These rings were operated to keep student visas for immigrants. The criminals would take tests, do immigration paperwork, attend classes in the immigrant’s name, write term papers, and guaranteed passing grades. This has been termed as a new illegal way to easily pass through checks and come into the United States.

It should be said, these rings were not involved in terrorism activities, at least early reports are stating that. But they are showing another flaw in how U.S. immigration laws are keeping certain immigrants out of the country.

What does this mean for U.S. immigrants today? Why use student visas to enter the country illegally?

Non-immigrant student visas are given to aspiring students hoping to study at an American academic institution, language training program, or a vocational school approved by the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). Actually being accepted into one of these schools is just the start. While getting a student visas is far from impossible, with new laws, and news items such the aforementioned, it’s tougher.

You can get two types of student visas–a visa for a college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, or a visa for a language training program. In some cases, you can also get a visa for pursuing nonacademic or vocational schools.

You need to be accepted. As a foreign national, you must show you’ve been accepted into a U.S. school or program of some kind.  In most cases, you must prove an ability to speak proper English. This is important as the classes will be taught in English, and does not concern actual nationality. Once you’ve proven you are eligible for education, you must prove you have the money to pay for the U.S. school.

A student visa is clearly one way to live in the United States. It’s one step closer to proving you can become a U.S. citizen. Be clear on all the laws involved in applying for a U.S. visa, never put yourself in a position to be deported from the country, and if you have questions contact an immigration lawyer for counsel.