Immigration Law

If your practice involves immigration, you’ve come to the right place. FindLaw’s collection of Immigration Law articles, part of the Corporate Counsel Center Law Library, contains a wealth of information covering key topics like the manner in which the United States federal government controls the flow of foreign nationals into our country to the nuances of obtaining legal status of persons born outside the U.S. If you need more information on distinctions between natural born citizens and foreign nationals seeking immigrant or nonimmigrant visas, click on the links below. Keep in mind: states have very little control over visa procedures or regulations, with the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution trumping nearly all attempted state or local legislation surrounding immigration. You will also find articles on H-1B visas and related immigration legislation as well as a useful guide on the steps to help your clients become legal U.S. citizens.

Law Library

Immigration Law Articles

Expatriation to Avoid Tax

I. A. In response to well-publicized expatriations of U.S. citizens as a tax avoidance technique, Congress added amendments to section 877 with the Health Reform Act (hereinafter HRA of 1996): 1. To presume a tax avoidance purpose for certain ...
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Extension Stay in the United States

Many individuals have difficulty understanding the difference between the validity of a visa, which is a stamp placed in a national passport or in a laisser-passer, and permission to remain in the United States. This page is designed to clarify the ...
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Family-Based Permanent Residency Categories

The following family-based preferences have been designated by Congress as groups eligible for permanent residence: Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are not subject to an annual numerical visa cap. They are defined as: (1) spouses of U.S ...
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Family Sponsored Preferences For Permanent Residence

IMMEDIATE RELATIVES Spouses, parents or children (under 21 years of age) of U.S. citizens FIRST PREFERENCE Unmarried sons and daughters (over 21 years of age) of U.S. citizens SECOND PREFERENCE Spouses and unmarried children (under 21 years of age) ...
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Food Stamp Policy on Immigrants (Now, And After 11/1/98)

The current (until November 1, 1998) food stamp policy on eligibility of immigrants is as follows: A non-citizen may be eligible for food stamps if he or she is otherwise eligible (meets all other eligibility requirements), and he/she: , a change in ...
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Frequently Asked Immigration Questions

1. Can my attorney's office call the INS Service Center regarding my case? Can my attorney get the INS to expedite my case? 2. I heard that if I contact my senator, they can get the INS to expedite my case; is this true? 3. How can I get my case ...
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Frequently Asked Questions: Visas

A: You can call the Visa Services Telephone Inquiries Branch. The number is (202) 663-1225. This contains recorded information for visa applicants. After listening to one message, there is an option to speak to an officer between 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 ...
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General Naturalization Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Refer to the section, Naturalized Citizen's Children under Waivers, Exceptions, and Special Cases for information on applicants who are less than 18 years old. An applicant must have been lawfully ...
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H-1B and Related Immigration Legislation

Legislation enacted in October 2000 expanded the annual H-1B quota to 195,000, doubled the H-1B user fee from $500 to $1000, and made other changes significant to employment-based immigration. The H-1B visa category is used to employ foreign ...
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H-1B Cap Update 4

Effective today, the H-1B cap of 115,000 visas for Fiscal Year 2000 has been reached. There are enough H-1B petitions pending at the INS Service Centers (45,000) to reach the cap, when added to those already approved this year (74,300). INS has ...
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