.jpg "A Look at How Immigration Is Handled in the U.S.")
Approximately 55% of these immigrants entered the country legally through family reunification or employment opportunities; just over 40% came into the country illegally.
What many people may not realize about immigration laws in this country, however, is how complex and difficult it can be for those who enter the country illegally to legalize their status if they wish to remain in the United States permanently.
What is the current process for entering America
The current process for entering America for immigrants is a lengthy and arduous one. To start, there are only six types of visas that allow immigrants to come to America: F1, H1B, J1, L1, O-2, and P-4.
A person may also be eligible for asylum status or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).
In order to obtain an immigrant visa, the applicant must have qualified relatives living in the United States or an employer willing to petition on their behalf.
In order to qualify as a relative, either you must be related by blood or marriage with someone who lives in America and has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (aka green card holder) OR you must have had your refugee status granted by the USCIS.
Who does this affect, and how many people does it affect
Immigration is a hot-button issue for many people, and it affects more than just people who are immigrating to America.
According to the Pew Research Center, in 2012 there were 11.3 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States, which is 3% of the population (1).
This means that every day, 3% of Americans are being affected by immigration policies either directly or indirectly through friends and family members. When looking at those numbers, it's clear that immigration affects an enormous amount of people on a daily basis - not just those moving here from another country.
In fact, when compared to other immigrant populations around the world, only about 15% of global migrants live outside their native countries and only about 10% come from developed nations like the US (2).
The percentage of immigrants in the US is much higher than anywhere else in the world because American policies have encouraged migration since colonial times.
What are the positives and negatives of current laws
The positives of the current system include making it relatively simple for immigrants who are already here to become citizens, as well as streamlining and expediting visas for those wanting to come here and start a new life.
The negatives of the current system are that there is no clear path for people who want to come legally, but don't have any family or other ties here, leading many to cross illegally into the country.
There is also a lack of visas for those with needed skills and professions, forcing employers to hire undocumented workers which only adds more complications to the process.
With so much uncertainty on how immigration will be handled going forward, now might be the time to explore options like Green Cards which can give you residency without having someone else petitioning on your behalf.
Possible solutions to fix current problems
The most glaring issue with our immigration system is that it's too restrictive, leading to long wait times and backlogs. The other major problem is that there is no clear pathway to citizenship for those who have been living here since they were young kids and are now adults, yet can't speak English or live a life without their family members by their side.
We need to make it easier for immigrants to come here legally, while also making sure they're learning English and preparing them for American culture through education programs. Immigrants should be able to become citizens when they turn 18 if they've graduated high school and completed some college credits.
Those already on the path to citizenship should be able to expedite this process based on years of service (e.g., military service).
For Details of Immigration Resources, Please Visit our website : dygreencard.com
.webp)
