Canada and USA Embassy News

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Top Five Immigration Tips

To ensure that you are afforded all of the rights of residency or citizenship in USA, follow these immigration tips.

1. Plan for delays in application and renewal processes. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is constantly behind schedule. Some applications can take up to three years to process. If your green card or immigration visa has expired, the immigration authorities can arrest and even deport you - even if you have applied for renewal and are just awaiting your renewed green card or immigration visa.

2. Consider establishing citizenship in the USA. If you already have a green card, and are considering staying in the USA, file for U.S. citizenship as soon as the laws allow you. Most people can apply for citizenship five years after their green card is granted, or three years or less if they have a citizen-spouse or obtained their green card through marriage. Citizenship protects you against certain grounds for deportation, which you would be subject to with just a green card. Having citizenship also makes your close relatives more likely to secure a legal status in the USA. For more information, see the USCIS website.

3. Avoid summary removal. Summary removal refers to the power that border officials have to turn you away from entering the USA. You can avoid this by preparing yourself to convince border officials that you deserve an immigration visa. They have the power to turn you away if they think you are a security risk or if they believe you have lied in order to get your immigration visa. If you are only coming to the USA as a tourist, be sure not to pack anything that would imply you intend to stay, such as a wedding dress or job resume.

4. Notify USCIS of address changes. All immigrants who stay longer than thirty days must notify USCIS of any address changes. This notification must be given within ten days of your change of address. A separate notification must be given for each member of your family, including children. You can print, fill out, and mail Form AR-11, or go through USCIS's online change of address service. If you have any applications pending, do not forget to send written notice of your new address to each and every USCIS office that is handling your application.

5. File multiple immigration visa petitions. If you are applying for a green card or immigration visa through the petition of a family member, check if more than one of your family members is eligible to petition for you.

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