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Preparing for and Questions Asked in a Green Card Interview

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The United States government requires that those who wish to become permanent residents of the United States of America to pass an initial interview at any of the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration, or USCIS, offices. It is important to properly prepare yourself for your green card interview, otherwise you could experience delay or denial of your citizenship. US Immigration Bonds and Insurance Services is here with a few resources to help you prepare for your green card interview in order to obtain your green card citizenship. Refer to the following list of tips and questions when preparing for your interview.

  • Dress formally and conservatively, as if you’re going to a job interview.
  • Arrive at least 15 minutes early to your interview.
  • Listen closely and carefully to the questions that the USCIS officer is asking you. They’re only given a short amount of time to conduct the green card interview.
  • Be prepared to answer questions about the U.S. system of government and history to prove that you have basic knowledge of the subject.

The most commonly asked questions are as follows:

Q: What is the supreme law of the land?
A: The Constitution

Q: What is an amendment?
A: A change/addition to the Constitution

Q: The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
A: We the People

Q: What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
A: The Bill of Rights

Q: How many amendments does the Constitution have?
A: 27

Q: Who is in charge of the executive branch?
A: The President

Q: How many U.S Senators are there?
A: 100

Q: We elect a President for how many years?
A: 4

Q: In what month do we vote for President?
A: November

Q: What is the name of our President of the United States currently?
A: Donald Trump

Q: What is the name of the Vice President of the United States currently?
A: Mike Pence

Q: Who was the Father of our Country
A: George Washington

Q: What is the capital of the United States?
A: Washington, D.C.

Q: When do we celebrate Independence Day?
A: July 4

There are hundreds of different questions your USCIS officer can ask you during your green card interview, so make sure you’re up to date with the latest study materials that you can find at the USCIS website. US Immigration Bonds and Insurance Services wish you the best in obtaining your green card citizenship here in the United States.

American DV-2020 Green Card Lottery Requirements

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The following statements are according to the United States Green Card Lottery entry program:

The annual Diversity Visa Lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery, is a US government program that makes 55,000 Permanent Resident cards available every year to persons from “underrepresented countries,” which have been less represented in employment and family-based preference categories in the U.S., and who meet two basic eligibility requirements. 2018’s Green Card Lottery Program is called DV-2020 (the year successful applicants may enter the United States of America on the green card they won) and is now open to all individuals worldwide who meet two basic entry requirements. The Program makes Permanent Resident Cards available to the winners, authorizing the winners and their families to live, study, and work in the United States as permanent residents. The Green Card Lottery program is a U.S. congressionally-mandated program for receiving a United States Permanent Resident Card, also popularly known as a USA Green Card citizenship.

If you meet the two following entry requirements, you are eligible to enter the USA Green Card lottery to obtain your green card citizenship:

You must be a native of one of the qualifying countries:

  • Bangladesh
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • China (mainland only)
  • Colombia
  • Dominican Republic
  • El Salvador
  • Haiti
  • India
  • Jamaica
  • Mexico
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • South Korea
  • United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)
  • Vietnam

Natives from all other countries may register and apply for their green card citizenship if they meet the second requirement, being:

Education or Work experience that qualifies for entry into the Green Card Lottery.

For a foreign citizen or national not born in the U.S. to qualify for the USA Diversity Visa Lottery, the applicant must be born in a qualifying country from the first requirement stated above, and must comply with one of the following two requirements:

  1. Applicant must have completed a U.S. High School education or foreign equivalent
  2. Applicant must have worked in one of these occupations for at least two years within the last five years of their green card citizenship.

US Immigration Bonds and Insurance Services agrees that the DV-2020 is the most generous immigrant visa program in the world. For many people who dream of living in the United States of America as a permanent resident, the American DV-2020 is a great opportunity to take the next step in achieving your goals. You must meet the rules and requirements stated above in order to be eligible for entry. Note that this year’s lottery is called the DV-2020, meaning that the successful applicants can enter the USA as a resident in January of 2020 after they’ve won their resident card in the lottery, submitted their immigration forms, and have taken a green card citizenship interview at the Embassy closest to where they reside.

Most Common Reasons Immigrants are Denied Citizenship

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Prior to filling out an Application for Naturalization, or form N-400, it’s important to make sure you have all the citizenship requirements to ensure you can become a citizen of the United States. As a U.S. citizen, you receive more government benefits, are protected from deportation, can claim the rights and responsibilities of native-born citizens, and more. However, what was once a four-page document has now grown to be 21 pages long. If you attempt to fill out form N-400 by yourself, it can deem quite complicated to fill out – which in consequence, may cause you to be denied of citizenship. US Immigration Bonds and Insurance shares a few of the most common reasons as to why those with a green card citizenship may be denied U.S. citizenship.

Failure to Register for Selective Service

If you are a male between the ages of 18 and 26 years old, you are required to register for Selective Service. In order to be eligible to become a citizen of the United States, those who hold a green card citizenship must be willing to support and defend their country and the Constitution. Registering for Selective Service adds your name to a list use in a national emergency. Many people are denied citizenship due because they fail to register.

Failure to Meet the Standards for Good Moral Character

Evidence of good moral character must be provided by those with a green card citizenship in order to take the next step. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, refers to the applicant’s conduct during the five years before applying for citizenship. To determine whether an applicant has GMC, the USCIS runs a criminal background check to see if they’ve lied during the naturalization process. Even innocent mistakes on your form can cause delay and a denied citizenship if they’re found to be untrue. The following issues are some which may cause denial:

  • Fraudulent green card history
  • Failure to pay taxes
  • Failure to pay child support
  • Criminal record
  • Lying on your citizenship application

Proficiency in English

To become a U.S. citizen, you must have some level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English. Only applicants over the age of 55 with 15 years as a lawful permanent resident can take a civics and history test with a translator. USCIS rules allow applicants a second chance on each of these tests 60-90 days after the initial testing, if needed. Applicants who don’t pass either, or both of these tests after their second try have to start over and file a new application.

US Immigration Bonds and Services knows that becoming an American citizen is not the easiest task. It’s important to keep the above reasons for citizenship denial in mind to avoid the possible pitfalls. We also suggest seeking expert guidance in taking the next step of your application process.

Travel Restrictions for Green Card Holders

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A legal permanent resident in the United States is someone who has received a green card to live in this country. Green card holders can travel out of the country, however there are come certain travel restrictions that everyone should be aware of before planning a trip. The duration and reasoning behind traveling out of the country plays a major role in these restrictions and US Immigration Bonds and Insurance shares with you everything you need to know about traveling out of the country as a legal permanent resident.

 

Officials are constantly looking out for LPR’s who have the intention of making another country their permanent home while also reaping the benefits of legal residence in the United States. While there is not an official set amount of time that a green card holder is limited to when traveling abroad, a duration that lasts longer than a year definitely points to suspicion. A USCIS official will search for information that proves this person does not intend on making the U.S. their permanent home and that is why we suggest you find the necessary proof of why you need to stay in another country longer than a year before you make the trip.

 

If you are required to leave for over a year, US Immigration Bonds recommends that you apply for a reentry permit before you leave the country. This will automatically help your chances when you try to re-enter the U.S. and you must provide reasoning for the intention of permanent residence. If you are in the process of applying for citizenship, any travel outside the country will be limited because you will need to establish continuous residency.

 

For more information on green card holders and the travel restrictions that are in place, contact US Immigration Bonds today!

 

 

Immigrants Guide for Divorce and Green Cards

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Life comes with many challenges and difficult experiences and divorce can be a hurdle that a lot of people have to go through. A divorce comes with a lot of heartache and the potential for financial strain and a divorce can even affect an immigrant’s status in this country. It’s important to understand exactly what can happen with divorce after a green card and US Immigration Bonds is here to explain the process and provide you with insight on how your permanent residence status will be affected after a divorce.

 

Steps in the Immigration Process

 

There are many factors that contribute when figuring out how your immigration status will be played out after a divorce such as how long the marriage lasted and how far along you were in the process for permanent residence.

 

Before Approval of a Green Card Application

 

If the divorce occurs at any point before being approved for a green card application, unfortunately the immigration process stops at this point. The eligibility of a green card is no longer valid during this time. If the divorce occurs before the interview process, this automatically dissolves the potential for a green card.

 

Approval for Conditional Residence

 

If you have been already approved for conditional residence and then file for divorce, you will face some issues with USCIS. At this stage of the process, you and your spouse will usually submit a joint petition for a USCIS Form I-751, however after a divorce you must submit this on your own and state multiple clear reasons why your marriage was legitimate in the first place. A divorce will force the individual to submit a waiver for the joint filing condition.

 

Naturalization Status

 

If you are at the point of applying for US citizenship and you get divorced, USCIS will most likely have the opportunity to dig into your entire immigration history. This process includes providing proof that your marriage was not fraudulent and only based off one spouse receiving a green card. If USCIS determines that the marriage was in fact fake, you can potentially face deportation.

 

US Immigration Bonds is here to help you through the immigration process and give you insight on divorce after a green card and the conditions that one may face. For more information and an in-depth guide to green cards and marriage, view our blog on Green Card & Marriage: Understanding the Process.

How to Deal with Culture Shock

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Picking up your entire life and moving to another country can be exciting as well as very overwhelming. The fear of the unknown is always in the back of someone’s mind and often, immigrants experience culture shock as a part of the relocation journey to their new home. Culture shock can be defined as a strong disorientation from your norm and past experiences and extreme unease felt in a foreign place.  It takes time for someone to experience and feel comfortable with new customs, values, and sometimes a new language. US Immigration Bonds and Insurance shares with you how to deal with culture shock and adjust to a new life filled with new experiences.

 

Symptoms of Culture Shock

 

Feeling homesick and lonely is normal during the initial stage of culture shock and you may feel too overwhelmed to open your mind to meeting new people and experiencing new things. If there is a language barrier, the beginning stages of culture shock can seem heightened and you may feel even more isolated. At extreme levels, you may even be depressed and feel that you will never “fit in”.

 

Actions to Take

 

We want to stress to you that this process of adjusting to your new life will take time and you must be patient when going through the transition. Utilizing the resources around you will help you adapt better. For example, you can take a language course to help you with the basic terms and you will be able to meet people who may be going through a similar journey as you. Get involved with a sport or hobby that you enjoy and it’s important to try new things. Staying positive throughout this process will allow you to expand your horizons and understand the new culture better. While you may have preconceived notions about your new culture from televisions shows or things you’ve heard from people, however you will never fully understand until you experience it for yourself.

 

Overcoming culture shock will take time, however if you follow the steps above, you are on your way to feeling excited about your new life in a new country.

 

 

 

 

 

What to do When a Family Member is Detained

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An immigrant family often faces the fear of a family member being detained by immigration officers and not knowing what could happen to their loved ones. It’s important to become aware of the immigration process so that you will be prepared if this were to happen to a family member. US Immigration Bonds and Insurance explains the process of immigration detention and what to do if your loved one is currently being detained. Our immediate assistance has helped so many people get released in the same day and we want to share with you the process of releasing individuals.

 

Don’t Panic. Here’s What to Do

 

The first thing you can do in this situation is to call and find out if your family member can be released on an immigration bond. An immigration bond is required to secure the release of an individual being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Precisely, an immigration bond is a surety bond and is a three-party contract between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the detained person, and the party posting the bond. A person will not be eligible for an immigration bond if certain criminal convictions are present.

 

You will need to know what type of bond your detained family member is eligible for and the amount the bond is fixed at. This is usually set by an ICE agent and/or immigration judge depending on the circumstances surrounding your loved one. Once your family member is removed from custody, there will be a removal case and trial that you will need to prepare for.

 

Contacting an immigration bondsman service like US Immigration Bonds and Insurance can help speed up the process of having your loved one released as soon as possible. For more information on how we can help, view our blog on How to Deal with an ICE Hold.

Hatch Bill Might Fix Broken Immigration System and Increase H1-B Visa

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Getting an H1-B Visa over the years has become more difficult. But the newly proposed “Hatch Bill” aims to change all of that. The bill promises to correct years of terrible immigration law and provide the opportunity for skilled workers to enter the U.S. while giving back the U.S. citizens and future generations.

This of course, also lowers the number of undocumented immigrants that stay after their visas expire. Less detainment and immigration bonds, more legal immigration.

It may sound to good to be true, but it just may be true.

How the Hatch Will Affect H1-B Visas

Most people, on both sides of the political aisle, consider the Hatch Bill a step in the right direction. Some say that this bill would finally fix some of the broken parts of immigration.

The Hatch Bill Would:

  • Increase the number of yearly awarded H1-B Visas from 85,000 to 195,000 allowing more skilled workers to come to the United States.
  • Allows Spouses to legally work in the U.S. as well.
  • Eliminate the “per country” caps of Green Cards which will reduce massive backlogs of qualified people entering the U.S.
  • Increases visa fees which will in turn go towards STEM education in the U.S. eventually meaning that future generations will find qualified candidates in the U.S.
  • Raises the minimum salary for H1-B dependent companies to $100,000 and also requires increases in salaries every 3 years to keep up with inflation.
  • Simplifies the process for employers to petition for H1-B Visa for workers.
  • Requires that companies who petition for H1-B Visas must first show they tried to find Americans for the same position.

Opposition to The Hatch Bill

No bill is ever without opposition.

Some are claiming that the Hatch Bill might hurt diversity in immigration. Because of the removal of country caps and increasing the number of H1-B Visas, some say that the U.S. will likely be flooded with Chinese and Indian immigrants because those countries have workers skilled in STEM jobs.

Ironically, immigrants are the ones opposed to the new changes under the Hatch Bill because it would be unfair to countries who are overlooked as possible candidates from other countries that cannot compete with Chinese and Indian skilled worker rates or individuals without STEM jobs.

For most foreigners, an H1-B Visa is a chance to come to the United States and work on things they would not have access to in their own countries.

Requirements & Restrictions for H1-B Visa – US Immigration

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The H1-B Visa is commonly known as the “work visa” to most foreigners around the world. It’s a non-immigration visa used by companies to recruit in-demand talent from outside the United States and allow them to live in the USA while working for a company in the USA.

Requirements for the H1-B Visa

Getting an H1-B Visa is as simple as meeting these requirements:

  1. Do you have a talent or skill that is in short supply?
  2. Is your occupation considered “specialty”?
  3. Does your occupation fall into any of these categories?
    1. Science
    2. Technology
    3. Engineering
    4. Arts
    5. Mathematics
  4. Do you at least have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent?
  5. Is there a company that is willing to “sponsor” you?

Restrictions with an H1-B Visa

  • You are restricted to maintain employment with you sponsoring employer.
  • Your H1-B Visa is employer specific. If you want to work for someone else, they must petition for an H1-B Visa.
  • Your spouse and children are not permitted to work in the United States.
  • You are not automatically converted to a permanent resident. If you want a Green Card, that’s an entirely different application and process, and carries entirely different restrictions.
  • Employment at Will: you or your employer may terminate your employment and thus revoke legitimate immigration status at any time.
  • You cannot extend your H1-B Visa for longer than 6 years.
  • You must live outside the U.S. for at least 1 year to become eligible for another 6-year H1-B Visa.

More Information About the RAISE Act | US Immigration Bonds

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The RAISE act was introduced into the house last year but has not been officially introduced into the Senate. The act still needs to pass in the Senate and House before it becomes law.

There’s no need to rush to find immigration bonds just yet. The RAISE Act is still a long way away from becoming law.

What People Think of the RAISE Act and Immigration.

Almost all Americans agree that illegal immigrants are not doing the country any favors. You’ll be surprised to find that most Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, believe we should let undocumented immigrants stay if they meet certain requirements [1].

The RAISE Act would deduce immigration [2].

What the RAISE Act Will Do

  • Remove the Green Card Lottery. (50,000 green cards awarded yearly)
  • Reduce Green Cards issues to refugees to a maximum of 50,000 per year.
  • Immigration visas issued to extended family to be scrutinized more.
  • Definition of minor changed from 21 to 18.
  • Parents of U.S. citizens who are 21 years or older get a visa.
  • Employment based immigration changed to a point system. (take the RAISE act point test here)

How the RAISE Act with Affect US Work Permits

Sources in the White House confirmed that the current version of the RAISE Act will no affect H1-B or L1 visas [3].

However, future work permit holders will find it difficult to enter the U.S. and most will have to meet higher standard to be issued a H1-B or L1 visa.

Similar Immigration Systems Around the World

The RAISE Act is modelled after similar systems that are found in Canada and Australia. Both countries use a point based system to determine if an immigration visa will be awarded.

 

References:

[1]: Pew Research – What Americans want to do about illegal immigration.

[2]: The Federalist – Everything You Need To Know About The RAISE Act Without Reading It.

[3]: WorkPermit.com – L1 visa will not be affected by Trump’s RAISE Act.

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