Immigration

The immigration debate in the United States is often a divisive issue. As a result, there are many common myths about immigration that circulate and reinforce each other. This can be a very confusing topic, and it is important to understand the truths behind these popular misconceptions.

Myth #1: Immigrants bring crime to America

In recent years, several prominent public figures have claimed that immigrants are “killers” or “rapists” and have incited fear of them in the U.S. This is an unfortunate misconception that needs to be dispelled, as immigrants are actually less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens.

Myth #2: The children of immigrants come from poverty and stay poor

This myth has a long history in American society, dating back to the days of slavery and colonialism. However, today’s scholars have found that this is not the case. In fact, the children of immigrants typically climb the economic ladder far faster than their parents.

Myth #3: Immigrants steal jobs from Americans

This belief stems from a nostalgic view of the past. For decades, the United States had an open immigration system, which allowed anyone who was able-bodied to enter the country without any documentation. These days, there are strict rules on who may enter and remain in the country legally. This includes applying for and obtaining legal status as an immigrant through the process of obtaining visas and permanent resident/green card status.

Myth #4: Immigrants come to the United States illegally

While this is true, it is important to note that not all undocumented immigrants are actually trying to break into the country illegally. Instead, most come to the country on visitor, student, or work visas that were approved through a rigorous process. These visas are issued by the United States government and allow individuals to travel to the United States for up to three months and then return home.

Myth #5: All immigrants are taking jobs away from Americans

This is another common misconception that can be dispelled. While the United States has a large population of unauthorized immigrants, they account for only 5 percent of the overall civilian workforce. Moreover, these unauthorized immigrants only take up jobs in the service, farming, and construction industries, which are not very demanding.

Myth #6: Terrorists are infiltrating the U.S. by coming across the Mexican border

This myth is a result of fear-mongering propaganda that has been pushed heavily by politicians and far-right nationalists like Marine Le Pen in France. This type of propaganda is especially effective because it can be a very emotional issue, and people who are scared and insecure will often feel the need to blame others for their problems.

Myth #7: All undocumented immigrants sneak across the Mexican border

This is not true, and many undocumented immigrants do overstay their visitor, student, or work visas. The number of unauthorized immigrants was at its lowest point in 2016 since 2004 when there were 10.7 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States. This represents a significant decline from the 12.2 million unauthorized immigrants in 2007.

The US is the land of opportunities, attracting many immigrants yearly. These immigrants visit the US for various reasons, such as education, employment, family reunification, or to start a new life. If they wish to get citizen ship or permission for immigration, they need a US visa. However, before being granted a visa, applicants must meet specific character requirements as part of the immigration and citizenship process.

Character visa requirements ensure that individuals entering the United States do not threaten the country’s safety and security. If an individual wish to become a US citizen or they are looking for other immigration purposes, they have to fulfill specific requirements to get a US Visa.

In this article, we have mentioned the requirements for visas. Please read it carefully to gain information on the same.

Criminal history check

It is a background check process, and one is also considered one of the critical requirements for a US visa. The US government conducts a thorough background check of all visa applicants to ensure they do not have a criminal history that could make them ineligible for entry into the country. In addition, the applicants must provide information on any previous arrests, convictions, or pending charges. It is a time-consuming process for applicants with a criminal history.

However, individuals with a criminal record are not automatically disqualified from obtaining a visa. The crime’s type and severity play an essential role in this. For example, individuals convicted of drug trafficking or terrorism are usually denied a visa. However, minor offenses such as traffic violations or misdemeanors may not prevent the grant of a visa for an applicant.

Immigration violations

Another essential character requirement to attain a US visa is Immigration violations. Individuals who have violated immigration laws in the past, such as overstaying their visas, may have difficulty obtaining a new visa or may be barred from entering the US altogether. However, suppose the individual can demonstrate that they have a compelling reason to return to the US, such as to reunite with family members or to attend a medical appointment. In that case, they may be granted a waiver.

Threat to national security or foreign policy concerns

The US government also assesses whether an applicant threatens national security or foreign policy interests. This includes assessing whether the individual has engaged in any activities that could threaten US security, such as supporting terrorist groups or engaging in espionage.

Applicants may also be denied a visa if they have engaged in activities that could harm US foreign policy interests. For example, individuals who have participated in human rights abuses or have been involved in the persecution of political dissidents may be denied a visa.

If the applicant clears the character requirement, they are eligible for a US visa, depending on their requirements.

The fundamental principle of the U.S. immigration system is to reunify families, protect the refugees, promote diversity, and admit skilled people who will provide value to the U.S. economy.

The Immigration and National Act (INA), the law that governs the immigration law of the U.S., provides 675,000 permanent immigrant visas per year. Additionally, the president and congress admit an annual number of refugees through the U.S. Refugee Admission program.

Also, a person can become a lawful permanent resident (LPR) by coming to the U.S. after obtaining a permanent visa. A person who obtains LPR can apply for all jobs and stay in the country even if they are unemployed. Along with this, the U.S. offers many visas for non-citizens temporarily. These non-immigrant visas can help students, tourists, and temporary workers to remain in the country for years.

You can also immigrate to the U.S. using the following immigration systems:

Family–Based Immigration

One of the principles of the U.S. immigration system is family unification. This immigration system allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to bring some of their family members to the county. If you are a U.S citizen, an unlimited number of visas are provided to immediate family members. But the prospective members must meet some eligibility criteria, and the petitioners must meet some financial requirements. The relative who can apply for a visa are:

• Spouse of a U.S. citizen.
• Unmarried children of U.S citizens who are under twenty-one years old.
• Parents of U.S. citizens who are above twenty-one years.

To control the number of immigrants who are arriving based on the family system, congress has established some laws. According to the rule, the number of family-based visas allocated through preference should be at least 226,000. And the numbers of visas given to immediate relatives exceed 250,000 every year. Thus, the number of family-based visas provided will be about 480,000.

To get admitted for a family-based migration system, the petitioner needs to establish the legitimacy of the relationship with the relative, meet the income requirement, and sign an affidavit stating that the sponsor will be finically responsible for the relative. The relative should also pass some criteria, including:

• Submit to a medical exam.
• Doing required vaccinations.
• Checking of criminal history.

Employee based Immigration

The United States offers various ways for people with skills to come to the country, including:

Temporary visa classifications

The temporary employment-based visa enables employers to hire people from foreign countries for particular jobs for a fixed period. The employees, who come under this visa, will have to work under the same employers mostly and cannot change their jobs. Currently, there are more than 20 types of visas that are available for temporary workers.

Permanent employment-based Immigration

The annual number of visas granted based on permanent employment-based Immigration is 140,000. This number includes the immigrants, along with their spouses and minor children. This means that the number of visas will be less than 140,000.

Do you want to immigrate or bring your family to the United States? If yes, then go through the immigration system of the country and see how you can navigate through the complex process.