Many people break immigration laws without considering the penalties. You need not make this mistake. Why? This blog guide gives you six reasons to be honest when you immigrate to the United States.

You May Be Deported
If you commit immigration fraud, for example, and lie on certain documents, first it’s often found out, and second you can be deported. Many believe you have to lie about certain points to actually live here. You may lie about your criminal history. You might decline to comment on your past. You may have some drug history. If you have changed your life, be honest about it, and you have a much better chance of doing things like getting a green card.

You May Lose the Chance to Be Here
If you ever want the chance to come to the U.S. legally, be honest when you immigrate and when you stay. If you lie on immigration documents,  you may lose the chance to ever immigrate to the U.S. again. Or you might be here and commit some form of immigration fraud, such as helping someone else come here illegally or lying in some way. This can lead to not only deportation but also never being allowed a green card again.

You Don’t Have To
You really don’t have to lie on immigration documents, nor break U.S. laws. Well, the fact it’s wrong is obvious, but on the other hand there is no point. If you’re honest, you stand a much better chance. If you simply explain any problem you might have had, and are honest about them, you look better. You might have a drug history. Instead of lying about the fact you had a drug problem, be honest, explain you got help, and that you are trying to move on. If you break laws while in the U.S., you stand to be deported. These are different than immigration laws, but just as important. Whatever the law you break is, by doing this you are risking your opportunity to live here.

You Can Live Here Longer
Instead of breaking immigration laws, follow them and be honest, because you will be able to stay in the U.S. much longer. You might get another green card renewal. You might find a dream job. You may start a family. You may even become a U.S. citizen, which gives you far more rights.

Your Family Gains Rights
Once you are in the U.S., if you have children born here, they will automatically become citizens. This is just like a normal citizen having a child and the child automatically being granted citizenship. This can change your whole family dynamic. Your child will have more more opportunities.

You Can Become Citizen
If you don’t break immigration laws, you stand to become a U.S. citizen. If you are a citizen, you can vote, serve in the armed forces, be eligible for certain benefits, and even work federal jobs. Citizenship is a dream for many, and the only way to achieve it is to avoid breaking U.S. immigration laws and to follow all other laws.

If you are considering immigrating to the U.S., there are some rules and laws to know. While there are dozens, we can’t get to them all in one guide. However, there are ways to find out more information. Some dislike the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service), but their site has a wealth of information. The problem for immigrants is that U.S. immigration laws can be so complex even some lawyers can get confused. With the main points in this blog guide, you can have a good start.

The Green Card
A green card allows you to live, study, work, and raise a family in the U.S. It does not give you all the rights of a U.S. citizen, but this is how you get started. A green card allows you to live in the U.S. as long as you break no laws. While citizens cannot be deported, green card holders can be. So if you break laws, such as committing a crime, you may be deported. This makes earning citizenship even more important.

Citizenship
Becoming a U.S. citizen is a crucial part of the process. After some time in the U.S., you can qualify to become a citizen. This allows you to avoid having to submit a new application every time your green card runs out. You are also in no danger of being deported, your children can and should become U.S. citizens if born on U.S. soil, and you can sponsor other family members to immigrate. You can also work federal jobs and serve in the armed forces.

The Nonimmigrant Visa
If you only plan to stay in the U.S. for a short period, such as to attend a school, you have the option of a temporary visa, also called a “nonimmigrant” visa. You can stay until your visa runs out. Many business people also use temporary visas. You can qualify easier, have less time to wait, and can likely be approved.

Don’t Lie
If you lie to the U.S. government, you will likely be deported. You may even be banned from the U.S. for some years if not permanently. While you may want to hide certain details of your past, such as a criminal record, it’s best to be upfront about any possible issues, explain them, and get legal help. For example, if you have a criminal record involving drugs, you may try to hide it, but it’s found out and your deported. On the other hand, if you are honest, explain how you’ve changed your life, and have proof you’re an honest person, you have a much better chance.

Being Kept Out
There are many reasons the USCIS may deny your application for a visa. You may have lied. Your criminal record may be too bad. You may have some dangerous disease. You may have filled out the application incorrectly. The government always has a right to deny you, especially if you have made some mistakes or are a danger to the country.

Get Legal Help
The final rule is more of a suggestion: get an immigration lawyer, especially if you are unsure about how this process works. An immigration lawyer is crucial in successfully immigrating to the U.S. He or she can advise you on how to get a green card. A lawyer may be able to help you earn citizenship. He or she can also help you with applications.

When you are immigrating, having questions is a reality. And there is nothing wrong with having numerous questions. This process need not be taxing on you mentally. You can immigrate, get a green card, even earn citizenship with the resources in this guide.

1-USCIS, http://www.uscis.gov
The USCIS online web resource should be your very first stop. There is a wealth of information to help you immigrate, from all the documents you might need, to guides on how to immigrate, to laws you must follow. The point of the site is to be a resource for more than just immigrants; it also helps people who are interested in helping immigrants, such as community based organizations, lawyers, educators, and researchers. The “How Do I” guides provided show the benefits of immigration in the first place, while the many documents posted allow you get to started fast, and you can even look into unique topics such as adopting from abroad.

2-A Lawyer
If you are ever unsure of how to get started with immigration – whether you are unsure what visa is right for you, if you are eligible for a green card, or how to become a U.S. citizen, an experienced immigration lawyer is invaluable. He or she can explain the laws. You might be eligible for a green card because of immediate family here. You may be eligible for citizenship if you have been in the U.S. for at least five years. You might be curious on what is allowed as a permanent resident in terms of travel, or you might be curious as to how an employer can sponsor you for a green card.

A lawyer is necessary for the majority of immigrants. If you truly want to get this done right, a lawyer can answer all your questions. How can you find a lawyer capable of helping? Your first stop may be online.

3-Study Online
Perhaps the best resource for immigration help beyond consulting with a lawyer is looking online, often beyond the USCIS site. You might find your lawyer online. You may find a useful blog like this one where you can find more information about immigrating. You might find an article on how to maintain your green card.

If you are going to hire an experienced lawyer – and you almost always should – it’s time to consider where you might look. Going online has many advantages. You can do so any time of the day, look over relevant experience, and contact multiple lawyers in a matter of hours.

There are many other resources for immigration help. You might try a book or find a magazine in a library. But if you are limited on time, the USCIS.gov site, other online resources, and an experienced lawyer can help you.

If you are immigrating to the United States, the journey is one more than worth it. You may come from a poor country, a country with little rights for its people, or a country where health care is not an option. You might want to raise your children in a new country, or to get a fresh opportunity for yourself to get an education. More than anything, you should avoid problems when immigrating to the U.S. This guide shows you how.

What if you travel here?
If you travel, it’s important to have proper documentation. In order to be allowed in the U.S., you must first get past border officials. To avoid delays, be ready to handle these border officials. Have nothing on your immigrant visa which might look suspect. Give officials no reason to turn you away. Be completely honest with them. If you are unsure of what to do when you get there, you might consult with a legal professional in your area. Border officials have the power to turn you away; this is not a complex process, but it can be difficult.

File Multiple Green Card Petitions
If you are applying for a green card, you might try to file multiple petitions. Say you have a brother and sister living in the U.S, who are both citizens; you can file petitions through both because they are immediate family. If one of your petitions is delayed, or if you make mistakes, you have another possible chance to get a green card.

Advantages of Citizenship
The problem with having a green card and being a permanent resident is that you are limited on traveling, limited on your rights, and in danger of being deported if you make mistakes. If you’ve been a permanent resident of the U.S. for 5 years, you have a right to apply for citizenship, or in three years if you obtained your green card through marriage. You will not have to reapply every 10 years, continue to pay lawyer fees to do so, nor have to face officials every time you leave the country for an extended period of time. In other words, citizenship cuts down on legal red tape, saving you time, money, and headaches.

Be On Time
If you want to avoid delays, mistakes, and fees, always be on time in reapplying for your green card. Again, it’s advantageous to apply for citizenship, but in the meantime never be late for meetings with the USCIS, always have your paperwork in early, and consult with a lawyer for legal issues.

Get a Lawyer
A lawyer can be invaluable in helping you through this process. It’s his or her job to help you navigate U.S. immigration laws. Your lawyer should be a professional, with a legal degree. You should be able to communicate well with him or her. And you should be able to afford his or her fee.

Dreams do happen, and often they involve a change of scenery. You might get a better education in the U.S., with that education get a better job, use that job to help raise your family, and live the dream many in other countries simply do not have. True, the United States is not paradise, but why do so many try immigrating here every year, even illegally? You and your family simply have more options. One option you should consider when deciding to immigrate is that of a legal help for immigrating. If you want the dream, you should hire an experienced immigration lawyer.

There are literally thousands of lawyers ready and capable to help you get started immigrating, though some will be more experienced than others. You want a lawyer who specializes in immigration law, and not an immigration consultant.

Why not hire an immigration “consultant”? Well, they rarely have a legal degree, often break laws, and often steal your money. You will see ads for consultants if you look online, or you may be referred to someone, if not find one by looking locally for legal help. The right kind of legal help comes from an experienced lawyer, someone with a legal degree.

Where do you look for experienced lawyers? It depends on where you are. Say you live in Mexico, have access to the internet, and want to immigrate to the U.S.  You can likely find an experienced immigration lawyer by looking online. They might have a site or blog like this one. They might have all their experience posted. And often they’ll be willing to consult with you for free the first time.

How much will you pay? Typically legal fees for immigration are on the low end. It depends on who you hire, but you likely cannot afford tens of thousands of dollars. Some lawyers may be willing to negotiate with you on fees. This is not to say you should hire the cheapest lawyer available, nor should you the most expensive. Find someone who is willing to spend time with you, can communicate well with you, and who you are able to afford.

How long will this take? Immigration is not an overnight process, and there is a backlog in immigration applications. In some situations, you can cut down on the immigration time process, such as being sponsored for a green card by immediate family, or by using the Immigration Lottery. In the Immigration Lottery citizens of smaller countries who send less immigrants to the U.S. are offered options every year, on a limited basis, to become permanent residents.

If you’re unsure of how to get started, that’s okay. You should consult with a legal professional, or begin studying the official U.S. Immigration reference at USCIS.gov and decide on what you want.

If you want to become a U.S. citizen, the most common path is to get a green card and become a permanent resident, and to legally stay in this country for 5 or more years. In other words, you get a green card, you follow U.S. laws, and you stay here for at least 5 years, upon which you will be eligible for citizenship. There is much more to it than that, so let’s get into the details, asking why and then how.

Why become a U.S. citizen?
You become a U.S. citizen likely for the rights you get, but do you really know all of them? You can vote, first and foremost. But also, only U.S. citizens are allowed to take federal jobs, which can often be very lucrative positions. U.S. citizens can directly sponsor other family, often cutting the time of the process down considerably. If you are a citizen, and you have child born in the U.S., they are automatically citizens, and usually even if they are born outside the border they will still be naturalized. You will also get a U.S. passport, protecting you and your rights abroad by having access to embassies. There are many more benefits – such as the fact you can be an elected official – but as you can see citizenship can change your life.

Are you eligible for naturalization?
There are many basic requirements for citizenship. First, you must be 18 or older. Second, you must have had your green card for at least 5 years prior to applying. You cannot have traveled too much, leaving the country for years at a time (the law says you must be here at least 30 months out of 5 years preceding applying). You must be able to read, write, and speak in English. You should also be a person of good character, have little legal record, and be willing to uphold the principles of the U.S. constitution.

Some of these laws may seem odd if not unfair. Why would you need to be able to read, write, and speak in English? Well, this is not intended to keep out foreigners. Laws are written in English, down to the stop signs on streets and the parking tickets you get in the city. If you cannot read English, you may not be able to understand our laws. If you cannot write and speak in English, the problems are the same: you will not be able to express yourself to many, to understand laws, and if need be, to defend yourself in court.

Do you have to apply via a green card?
For immigrants, the path from green card to citizenship usually takes 5 years, unless you marry a U.S. citizen, and stay here for 3 years, where you would be eligible for citizenship earlier if the marriage is valid.

What if you are denied?
Say you have a criminal past, and the USCIS denies your application. Or say they are unsure of certain points about your application, such as your ability to write English. If you are ever denied, you can always appeal. If you’re application is continued – different from denied – you still have an opportunity for citizenship. In any case, it’s time to consult with an experienced immigration lawyer. A lawyer is essential in getting a green card legally, proving your value to American society, and benefiting from citizenship.

If you are ever unsure of how the process works, hire an experienced lawyer.

Part of the process of becoming a naturalized United States citizen is demonstrating knowledge of your new country’s history and government. During your interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from a list of 100, and must get six correct to pass. Applicants 65 years old and up who have been living as a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years follow a “20 for 20″ rule: They are only required to study 20 of the 100 civics test questions, with a minimum of six correct required to pass. We’ll mark these with bold type. More information can be found in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services booklet M-638 (revised 12/09), called  ”Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test.”

Section B. System of Government (continued)

Q24.  Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

A.  All the people of a state

Members of the United States Senate are elected to serve six-year terms.  Each of the 50 states has two senators, totaling 100 in all.  In the years leading up to 1913 and the passage of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, senators were elected by the state legislatures. Now, state voters elect their senators directly.

Q25.  Why do some states have more representatives than other states?

A.  Because of the state’s population.

The Founding Fathers of the United States believed that, in the new country they were creating, the people should be represented fairly in the government. They felt that states with the largest populations should have the loudest voice in the House.  Currently, the state with the most representatives is California, with 53.  The states with the fewest representatives are Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.  These states have only one representative in the House.

Q26.  We elect a President for how many years?

A.  The President of the United States is elected for a four year term.

The Founding Fathers, wanting to break away from the British king, believed he had too much power over the people, and didn’t believe a ruler should hold power for a lifetime.  This is the main reason they decided the leader of the United States — the President — should have a limited term, and they felt four years was appropriate.  The President is the only leader in the United States that is elected by the entire country, through a system called the Electoral College.  When the Constitution was written, the Electoral College was set up to be a compromise between the idea of the President being elected by the Congress and the idea of the President being directly elected by the people.  The way a presidential election works is basically like this:  citizens vote for electors, who then vote for the President.  Each state has a certain number of electoral votes, which add up like points toward the final score needed to become elected President. Larger states have more electoral votes, and since 1964 there have been 538 in each presidential election.  To win the presidency, a candidate must receive 50% plus 1 of the electoral votes, for a total of 270.  President Obama won 365 electoral votes in 2008; his challenger, Senator John McCain, took 173.

Q27.  In what month do we vote for President?

A.  November

The U.S. Constitution did not originally set up a special day for national elections.  Once, states had their own election days for federal offices.  In 1845 Congress passed legislation that established the Tuesday after the first Monday in November as Election Day.  Why was November, in the fall, chosen over, say, July, in the summer?  The answer lies in the makeup of the United States in the mid-1800s.  Back then, the country was mostly rural, and many people made their living on a farm.  By November, farmers across the country had completed their harvests and had time for other things.  November was also before winter set in, making it easier for people to travel into the city or town nearby to cast their votes.  Tuesday was chosen because it gave people a full day to travel (Monday), after taking Sunday off to be with their families or to worship if they chose.

Q28.  Who is the President of the United States now?

A.  Barack Obama

President Obama was elected in 2008 as the 44th President.  Mr. Obama was the first African American president in U.S. history.  He was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961, and graduated from Columbia University in New York City.  President Obama graduated from Harvard Law school, and served as a U.S. Senator from the state of Illinois.

As President, Mr. Obama is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military, meaning he is in charge of the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and U.S. Coast Guard.  The President’s wife holds a special position called First Lady.  The First Lady has no political power, but she can be of great influence.  Mrs. Michelle Obama, for instance, has been a very strong advocate for education and the future role of women in society.  Recently, the First Lady launched the Let’s Move! campaign to bring together community leaders, teachers, doctors, nurses, moms and dads in a nationwide effort to tackle the challenge of childhood obesity.

President and Mrs. Obama have two children, daughters, Malia, 12, and Sasha, 9. Like their mother, the girls were born on the South Side of Chicago.

Part of the process of becoming a naturalized United States citizen is demonstrating knowledge of your new country’s history and government. During your interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from a list of 100, and must get six correct to pass. Applicants 65 years old and up who have been living as a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years follow a “20 for 20″ rule: They are only required to study 20 of the 100 civics test questions, with a minimum of six correct required to pass. We’ll mark these with bold type. More information can be found in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services booklet M-638 (revised 12/09), called  ”Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test.”

Section B. System of Government (continued)

Q21.  How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?

A.  435

The House of representatives is the largest chamber of the U.S. Congress.  Since 1912, it has had 435 voting members. With shifts in U.S. population, however, how they are distributed among the states has changed.  The Constitution requires that each state have at least one representative.  After that, the number of representatives depends on a state’s population.  The most populous state, California, has many more representatives than the least populated state, Wyoming, for example.  Every 10 years, the government conducts a census to determine the populations of the states and the country overall.  The results of this census, the most recent of which took place in 2010, determines how many representatives each state should have.  Although the number of representatives from each state could change due to population shifts, the overall number — 435 — remains the same.

You may have noticed the term voting representatives has been used a couple of times in this section.  What does that mean, exactly?  U.S. territories such as Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico, for example, or the District of Columbia, are represented in the House, but these representatives have no vote.

Q22.  We elect a U.S. representative for how many years?

A.  Two

If you live in a representative’s district, you are known as a constituent. Constituents of a congressional district vote for the people that go to Washington to represent them, where they serve a term of two years. Unlike the Senate, members of the House serve shorter terms, because as the Framers of the Constitution saw it, they should be in closer touch with the people they represent, and be closer to public opinion. Serving shorter terms, they thought, would keep House members more in touch with their constituents and more aware of the issues important to the people.  Like the senators, there is no limit on how long a representative can hold office. Unlike the Senate, however, where only a portion of them are up for election every two years, ALL members of the House are up for election every two years.

Q23.  Name your U.S. representative.

A.  This question will vary, of course, depending upon where you live. There are representatives in every state and territory in the United States.  Only representatives from the 50 states have a vote in proceedings.  House members that serve constituents in the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands may observe and take part in debates, but they are not voting members.  To find the names your representatives, go to this web site: www.house.gov and search for your location.

With all the political battles occurring in the U.S. and around the world, sometimes the important issues get lost in the middle. One key issue is that of immigrating to the U.S., which has numerous benefits for immigrants. If you immigrate you can get a better job, education, and health care. If you immigrate you can sponsor others in your family to also get green cards, can earn U.S. citizenship, and can have more rights such as voting.

But how do you this all this? How long will it take? Well, the first step is to do what you are doing right now: researching how to immigrate to the U.S. Second, you have to find out how you can immigrate, legally, and that requires a lawyer.

Before you get a green card, you need an experienced lawyer. That calls for some searches; do not rush this part of the process. Be picky, especially on a lawyer’s experience and price. You want someone who specializes in immigration law, who is a real immigration lawyer, and who you can afford.

The next step is to get a green card. A green card gets your foot in the proverbial door. It is you showing you want to live here, can follow all laws, and can be an important part of society. It’s also the first step in getting citizenship, where you have the most rights of any U.S. resident.

You have to reapply for your green card every 10 years, but you might apply for U.S. citizenship before that. If you feel this should be your home, if you do not break laws, and if you can prove your ability to understand U.S. laws, you have the opportunity to be naturalized.

Citizenship allows for you to pay taxes, paying taxes mean you are eligible for benefits like Medicaid and Social Security, and these all help your family.

Say, for example, you are immigrating from Mexico. You and your family have never had proper health care, jobs, education, or even rights. While the U.S. is not paradise, you do get more protections for health care, you can get better jobs than in Mexico, you can get a much better education for yourself and your children, and you can get many more rights.

This is quite similar to immigrating from other countries. The U.S. is not always better than the country you live in on every issue, but you stand to have more opportunities here.

If you want to get started, keep studying, find an experienced lawyer, and begin the process of applying for a green card. Make no mistake: immigration is not always easy. Often you have to wait, or find someone to sponsor you, and prove you are an honest person. Once you do that, you and your family can have a unique opportunity.

Part of the process of becoming a naturalized United States citizen is demonstrating knowledge of your new country’s history and government. During your interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from a list of 100, and must get six correct to pass. Applicants 65 years old and up who have been living as a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years follow a “20 for 20″ rule: They are only required to study 20 of the 100 civics test questions, with a minimum of six correct required to pass. We’ll mark these with bold type. More information can be found in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services booklet M-638 (revised 12/09), called  ”Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test.”

Section B. System of Government (continued)

Q16.  Who makes federal laws?

A.  Congress, the Senate and House of Representatives, and the U.S. (or national) legislature

Federal laws are made by the Congress (Senate and House), and they apply to all 50 states and all people in the United States. These are different than state laws, which only apply to residents of a particular state.  Members of the Senate or the House can propose a bill (the seed of a law) to address a need in the country, or to solve an issue. When Senators propose a bill, it gets sent to and voted on by a Senate committee, and bills brought forth in the House of Representatives are studied by a House committee.  These committees look at all aspects of the bill, and amend or change it as they feel is needed. Once the bill leaves the committee, it goes to the full House or Senate to be voted upon. Once approved by the members of the House and Senate, the bill (a Senate version and a House version) go to another committee called a conference committee. This committee has members from both houses of Congress, and they hammer out differences and come up with a final version of the bill. It’s then sent back to the full House and Senate to be voted upon again, and if it is approved by both sides, the bill becomes enrolled. An enrolled bill lands on the president’s desk, where it can be signed into federal law, provided the president approves it. If the president does not approve of the bill it can be vetoed, starting the process all over again under the Constitution’s system of governmental checks and balances.

Q17. What are two parts of the U.S. Congress?

A.  The Senate and the House of Representatives.

Congress is divided into two chambers in our bicameral legislature system, the upper chamber, the Senate, and the lower chamber, the House of Representatives.  They occupy the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.  The Senate sits on the north wing of the capitol building, while the House is located in the south wing.  Each chamber of Congress has unique powers.  For instance, only the Senate has the power to reject a treaty signed by the president or the president’s appointment to the Supreme Court.  The House has the sole power to introduce a bill that would require Americans to pay taxes.

Q18.  How many U.S. Senators are there?

A.  There are 100 Senators in the U.S. Congress, two from each state. All states have equal power in the Senate because each state has the same number of Senators. The population of the state doesn’t matter; the number is always two.  So, the state with the largest population — California has the same powers as the state with the smallest population — Wyoming.  The Framers of the Constitution planned it that way, that the senate would be the smallest chamber of Congress, in order to keep it orderly.  One of the Framers, James Madison, wrote in a document called Federalist Paper #63 the Senate should be a “temperate and respectable body of citizens” that does business in a “cool and deliberate” way.

Q19.  How long is the term of a U.S. Senator?

A.  Six years.

The Framers of the Constitution wanted the Senators to be able to conduct their work independent of public opinion and without worry about running for reelection before they could get anything done.  The Framers thought that a term three times as long as served by members of the House would give Senators this protection.  Their counterparts in the House serve terms of two years and are more subject to public opinion.  What this means is they have a shorter window to please the people before gearing up for their reelection campaigns.  Public opinion of which political party is in the most favor can change rapidly, so longer Senate terms can ride out the waves of public opinion, the Framers thought.

There is no limit set by the Constitution of how many terms a Senator may serve in office, and elections for the Senate are held in even-numbered years.  Every two years, one third of the Senate is up for election.

Q20.  Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?

A.  Obviously, the answer to this question will depend on which state you live in.  For a complete list of U.S. senators and the states they represent, go to www.senate.gov and search for your state.  This is a slightly trick question for people living in the District of Columbia or in one of the U.S. territories — there are no Senators from these!