Dual Citizenship

A green card is a card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, that proves a person is a lawful permanent resident of the United States. A green card authorizes the person named on it to live and work anywhere in the U.S. Only people who are eligible for admission into the United States and have followed the appropriate channels can apply for lawful permanent residency.

USCIS is short for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It’s the government agency that oversees immigration into the United States. It approves and denies green cards, work permits, travel permits and naturalization, as well as some other types of immigration benefits.

Most green card applications are approved, but as many as 18 percent of them have been denied in recent years. If you receive an unfavorable immigration decision, such as the denial of a green card, you may be able to appeal your case or file a motion to have it reopened or reconsidered.

A lawful permanent resident is a person who legally resides in the United States without citizenship. LPRs are foreign nationals who are authorized to work or live anywhere in the U.S. or its territories, and who can sponsor some relatives to bring them to the United States. Lawful permanent residents can eventually apply for U.S. citizenship if they wish, but they do not have to do so.

A visa is an authorization from the United States government that allows a person to enter the U.S. legally. Visas are only valid for a specific amount of time, and every visa’s expiration timeframe is different. You can get an immigrant visa, which means you intend to immigrate to the U.S., or a nonimmigrant visa that indicates you’re only staying temporarily.

The Visa Bulletin is a document issued by the U.S. Department of State each month. It shows which green card applications can begin to move forward based on when they were originally filed. Only a certain number of green card applications can be issued in certain categories every year, which makes the Visa Bulletin necessary.

Biometrics are measurements of your identifying features. During a biometric screening for immigration purposes, a government official captures your fingerprints, takes your photo and gets a copy of your signature.

Many people must attend an immigration interview to obtain a visa or green card. If you do have to attend an interview, your attorney will let you know. You should receive a notice in the mail that advises you on where to go and when to show up for your interview.

In order to become a naturalized citizen of the United States, you must take and pass the citizenship test. The official administering the test will ask you 20 of 128 possible civics-related questions, and you must answer at least 12 of them correctly. You will also be evaluated on your ability to speak, read and write in English. If you don’t pass the test, you can be retested on the portion of the test you failed (English or civics) between 60 and 90 days from your initial interview.

The Public Charge Rule is a ruling from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that requires immigrants to be unlikely to become dependent on social services and public programs (such as financial aid from the government).