U.S Immigration Guide
FAQ FOR IMMIGRANTS
Join efforts to assist Afghan scholars facing challenges and ensure their safety and education in Qatar.
1. What are the main categories of U.S. immigration?
The U.S. immigration system encompasses several primary categories:
Family-Based Immigration
Employment-Based Immigration
Diversity Visa Lottery
Asylum and Refugee Protection
Humanitarian Programs (e.g., TPS, Parole, U Visa, T Visa, VAWA)
Fiancé(e) Visas (K-1)
Adoption-Based Immigration
Military-Related Immigration
Each category has specific eligibility criteria and application procedures.
2. What is Family-Based Immigration?
Family-based immigration allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor eligible relatives for immigration to the U.S. It includes:
Immediate Relatives: Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens.
Family Preference Categories: Extended family members, subject to annual numerical limits.
🔗 USCIS: Family-Based Immigration
3. How does Employment-Based Immigration work?
Employment-based immigration is divided into five preference categories:
EB-1: Priority workers (e.g., individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors, multinational executives).
EB-2: Professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability.
EB-3: Skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers.
EB-4: Special immigrants (e.g., religious workers, certain international organization employees).
EB-5: Immigrant investors who invest in U.S. businesses creating jobs.
🔗 USCIS: Employment-Based Immigration
4. What is the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery?
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program offers up to 50,000 visas annually to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements.USCIS
🔗 USCIS: Diversity Visa Program
5. Who qualifies for Asylum or Refugee Status?
Individuals may apply for protection if they have suffered persecution or fear persecution due to:
Race
Religion
Nationality
Political opinion
Membership in a particular social groupUSCIS+2USCIS+2USCIS+2USCIS+17USCIS+17TravInsu+17USCIS+18USCIS+18Maps of World+18
🔗 USCIS: Refugees and Asylum
6. What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?
TPS is granted to nationals of certain countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. It allows individuals to live and work in the U.S. temporarily.
🔗 USCIS: Temporary Protected Status
7. What is Humanitarian Parole?
Humanitarian parole allows individuals to enter the U.S. temporarily for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. It does not provide a path to permanent residency.
🔗 USCIS: Humanitarian Parole
8. How does the K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa work?
The K-1 visa permits a U.S. citizen to bring their foreign fiancé(e) to the U.S. The couple must marry within 90 days of the fiancé(e)'s arrival.
🔗 USCIS: Fiancé(e) Visas
9. Can U.S. citizens adopt children from abroad?
Yes, through intercountry adoption processes governed by U.S. immigration law, U.S. citizens can adopt foreign-born children and bring them to the U.S.
🔗 USCIS: Immigration Through Adoption
10. Can non-citizens in the U.S. military get citizenship?
Non-citizens who serve honorably in the U.S. military may be eligible for expedited naturalization.
🔗 USCIS: Military
11. What are U Visas and T Visas?
U Visa: For victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement.
T Visa: For victims of human trafficking who assist law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of trafficking cases.
🔗 USCIS: U Nonimmigrant Status
🔗 USCIS: T Nonimmigrant Status
12. What is VAWA?
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) allows abused spouses, children, or parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to self-petition for legal status without the abuser's knowledge.
🔗 USCIS: Abused Spouses, Children, and Parents
13. What is DACA?
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to eligible individuals brought to the U.S. as children. It does not provide a direct path to citizenship.
🔗 USCIS: DACA
Q: What challenges are Afghan scholars in Qatar currently facing?
A: Afghan scholars evacuated to Qatar under U.S. protection face potential deportation if the American University of Afghanistan closes due to funding shortfalls. Many cannot return to Afghanistan due to Taliban persecution.
Q: What efforts are being made to support the Afghan scholars?
A: U.S. lawmakers and human rights groups are urging intervention, with the scholars’ future dependent on emergency funding and policy changes.
Q: What did the Supreme Court decide regarding Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act?
A: The Court ruled that Trump can invoke the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans on national security grounds, but such actions must undergo legal review first.
Q: What are the concerns about this decision?
A: Immigration advocates warn it sets a dangerous precedent, while Venezuelan communities brace for the policy's impact. The ruling reflects a balance between executive power and judicial oversight.
Q: What is the Trump administration's stance on CBP One temporary entry?
A: The administration plans to cancel temporary entry via CBP One, arguing the program encourages illegal entry and should end.
Q: What are the criticisms of this policy change?
A: Critics fear it will lead to mass detentions and deportations, particularly targeting vulnerable asylum seekers using legal channels. Legal challenges are anticipated.
Q: What controversy arose from a bakery raid in a Texas county?
A: ICE conducted a raid in a pro-Trump Texas county, detaining several undocumented workers, sparking debate over immigration enforcement and local economic reliance.
Q: How has the community reacted?
A: The community is divided, with some supporting law enforcement and others expressing humanitarian concerns, highlighting tensions between strict border control and economic dependence on immigrant labor.
✅ Family-Based Immigration; 🔗 https://www.uscis.gov/family
✅ Employment-Based Immigration (EB-1 to EB-5); 🔗 https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers
✅ National Interest Waiver (NIW - part of EB-2); 🔗 https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-second-preference-eb-2
✅ Diversity Visa Lottery (DV Program)
🔗 https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-eligibility/green-card-through-the-diversity-immigrant-visa-program
🔗 https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/diversity-visa-program-entry.html