Immigrants to the U.S. often come to this country in search of greater freedoms than they enjoyed in their countries of origin. One essential freedom is the freedom to practice the religion of your choosing, which is an important part of personal expression that this country holds in high regard. Understanding these rights is crucial, as it will allow you to address issues in your community. Tolerance.org offers the following advice.
Immigrants increasingly fearful of using public benefits
A forthcoming change to the “public charge” rule may affect as many as 2 million people living in California, potentially impacting their ability to secure green cards if they are recipients of public assistance. Because of the proposed change, which could potentially take effect within a matter of weeks, many immigrants and immigrant families are becoming increasingly fearful of utilizing public assistance programs they have come to rely on.
What are the process priorities for refugees?
Refugees are people who face the fear of persecution in their home countries. In order to be considered, you must be referred to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). USRAP uses three categories of processing priorities when determining which refugees should be allowed to interview for entry into this country. The following guide explains the currently used priorities so incoming refugees can have a greater understanding of the overall process.
Annual limits only apply to certain types of family visas
If you are a natural-born citizen, a naturalized citizen or legal resident of the United States, you may apply to bring family members into the U.S.
How do I renew a green card?
A permanent citizen card, also known as a green card, shows that you have the proper authority to live and work in the United States. Green cards must be renewed once every ten years or you run the risk of serious issues, including deportation. To ensure you're properly documented while in this country, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offers the following advice.
Deportation and overwhelming emotions
When people are facing the threat of deportation, they may be working through a lot of different challenges. Their performance at work may suffer, or they may have already lost their job. Their family members may be having a hard time due to uncertainty and it can be difficult to plan for one's future. Moreover, preparing for court and dealing with various legal matters can be tough as well. For all of these reasons and many more, deportation can lead to overwhelming emotions including depression and unhealthy stress levels.
How can I adjust to life in the U.S.?
Along with the many practical legal considerations involved in immigrating to the U.S., immigrants must also adjust to American culture. This is often easier said than done in many cases, especially when considering the attitudes of many people hold these days regarding immigration. Brown University offers the following tips to new immigrants so they can ease into the transition and begin enjoying life in this country sooner rather than later.
