Immigration has created and developed America to what it is today. Even today, United States accepts more legal immigrants as permanent residents than rest of the world out together, although, post 9/11, the there have been more and more amendments incorporated into the US immigration policy to make the laws more stringent. Visa applications are now subject to more exhaustive evaluation on grounds of present status and the background of the applicant on strict parameters.

US immigration laws on immigration include:

• Immigration Act (IMMACT) of 1990. It prioritizes family reunification and employment related immigration.

• Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA)

• Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA)

There is a clear-cut classification on the types of Visas being granted

• Immigrant (permanent)

• Non Immigrant (temporary)

Migrant visa (Green Card) It guarantees the permanent residency and can be availed by the different foreigners as

Employment based visas are granted to professionals who are the outstanding or possess advanced degrees, and researchers (EB1-2), the managers of the multinationals (EB3), certain skilled worker categories mentioned in “national interest and benefit” as defined by the department of Labor (EB3), certain Special class of migrants (EB4) and Immigrant Investors (EB- 5). Every year, the US Immigration department also issues 50000 green cards under lottery system.

The Family visa is granted on basis of Immediate relative (IR-1, IR-2, IR-3, IR-4 and IR-5), i.e., Family of the US citizen and Family preference (F1 to F4) for the people — ranging from married children to the immediate relatives. Non migrant Visa is temporary and granted for a single purpose visit, temporary employment and studies.

If you are visiting the US for a business purposes to that does not involve receiving salary or payment, you are eligible to apply for a B-1 Business Visa. If the trip is for pleasure, or for medical purpose, the B2 has to be applied for. You must apply for this visa well in advance of the intended travel as the US IMMIGRATION Department screens visa application comprehensively even while the applicant also has to prove that he/she will be back after the purpose of the visa is fulfilled.

Students need to apply for the F1 visa, which must accompany the acceptance of admission from the university or school recognized by Govt. of the US for applying for this Visa. Some employer sponsored visas are granted to temporary workers who intend to work on a temporary basis in the US (H-1B). It allows the US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations.

US IMMIGRATION now works in close coordination with the Homeland security.