Newsletters

Methods of Acquiring Citizenship - Naturalization - An Overview

Late in the 1700s, the United States Congress first enacted legislation allowing aliens to become U.S. citizens if they met certain requirements relating to U.S. residence, good moral character, and attachment to the U.S. Although the requirements for naturalization have been refined and certain exemptions have been made, the criteria for naturalization, at their core, are still designed to ensure three things: (1) loyalty to the U.S.; (2) attachment to the U.S. form of government; and (3) worthiness to become a U.S. citizen.

Controlling Alien Admission - Border Control/Admission - National Customer Service Center

The National Customer Service Center, accessible at (800) 375-5283, provides automated and live information to customers who want to learn about immigration services and benefits. The line may also be accessed in Spanish, and a TTY number is available, as well. Outside the United States, customers can call (785) 330-1048 to check the status of their cases. Only automated help is provided at this number.

Immigrants - Diversity Visa Program

Every year, the United States Department of State (DOS) holds a lottery in which random selection is used to provide immigrant visas to people who are natives of certain countries or whose parent was born in one of those countries. Immigrants selected in the diversity lottery are given the opportunity to apply for permanent residence in the U.S.

Grounds for Inadmissibility - Public Charge

Certain people are "inadmissible" for purposes of entry into the United States, either as an immigrant or as a visitor. There are many reasons why a person could be considered inadmissible to receive a visa and enter the United States, including that the person is or would become a "public charge."

Alien Rights - Legal Representation and Access to Courts

An alien's legal rights depend on whether or not the alien is within or outside of the United States' jurisdiction. In the United States, there is a federal law that provides that each person within the jurisdiction of the United States has equal access to the country's legal system. As long as an alien is on United States soil, he or she is a person within the United States' jurisdiction.