Immigration Tips

How to meet the U.S. government's financial sponsorship requirements The most common minimum annual income required to sponsor a spouse or family member for a green card is $21,775. This assumes that the sponsor — the U.S. citizen or current green card holder — is not in active military duty and is sponsoring only one […]

How to provide an accurate record of your current and previous jobs What employment history is required for a green card application? When you apply for a green card through marriage or a family member, the U.S. government will want to know where you’ve worked for the past five years. If you’re applying from abroad, […]

Detailed guides for each of the main pathways to a visa A person seeking a family-based green card can do so if they are a spouse, child, parent or sibling. A spouse seeking a marriage-based green card must generally follow one of four different pathways, based on where they live and whether their spouse is […]

Answers to frequently asked questions about green cards and the U.S. immigration system Green Card and Immigration Basics What is a green card? A “green card,” issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), provides proof of lawful permanent resident status, with authorization to live and work anywhere in the United States. Most green cards […]

Learn which USCIS immigration forms you need for your green card or U.S. citizenship application and how much they cost to file IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Trump administration on Nov. 8, 2019 proposed increasing the cost of applying for citizenship and a marriage-based green card. Under the new proposal, application fees for naturalization would increase by […]

How to properly digitize the documents required for your green card application It's no small task to prepare all the supporting documents for a family-based or a marriage-based green card. For the most part, the government requires copies rather than original documents, and you want to make sure that each copy is high-quality and easy […]

Definitions and correct spellings for common immigration terms A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Glossary A ADJUDICATE To make a decision or determination, usually related to a legal issue or dispute. When an immigration case […]

Providing a new certificate of marriage or alternative in your green card application Early in the marriage-based green card process, every couple must provide evidence of a valid marriage to the U.S. government. That evidence includes a photocopy of your marriage certificate — also known as a marriage contract or marriage license. You’re one step […]

Where to get a police certificate for your green card application What is a police certificate? A police certificate is a document that details any arrests for an individual — as well as the reasons for and outcomes of those arrests — while that person was living in a particular area. If you’re applying for […]

Providing a new birth certificate or alternative in your green card application Every family member applying for a family-based or marriage-based green card must provide a copy of each family member’s birth certificate to the U.S. government. If you already have it, great! You’re one step closer to success. But if you can’t locate your […]