Immigrants Come to the U.S. for Reasons Other Than Employment
Aug 18, 2012
Houston, TX (Law Firm Newswire) August 17, 2012 – The vast majority of immigrants come to the U.S. because of family or work. However, there are other reasons for immigration.
“In most cases, immigrants come to the U.S. because they have family here, they are attempting to get work, or they have a job to go to. However, there are other categories they may use to apply for a special visa: special considerations or humanitarian reasons,” explained Annie Banerjee, a Houston immigration lawyer.
To be able to use the refugee status, immigrants must have a reasonable fear of being persecuted in their country of origin, for being a member of a certain social group or for their religion, race, nationality and/or political beliefs. “Immigrants must also be able to show they have not taken up permanent residence in another country,” added Banerjee. Whether or not a person qualifies for a special visa is determined by the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. On acceptance and admission to the country, the applicant may apply for permanent residency and work legally.
In some instances, conditions in a person’s country of origin are too risky for them to return. If this is the case, they may be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. on a temporary basis. This status, referred to as temporary protected status (TPS), is only accorded to individuals from certain countries approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security. If an application for this status is approved, the person may enter the country and get work, but they may not apply for permanent residence.
TPS status immigrants may take advantage of the deferred departure program, designed for immigrants whose status has expired, but they are from a country for which the president has declared an extension. This means even if the immigrant is in the U.S. illegally, they may be able to qualify, cannot be deported until the extension runs out and cannot apply for permanent residency.
“Another category of people seeking visas to the U.S. are victims of crimes that are a violation of U.S. laws. These visas allow the police to investigate and prosecute crimes such as torture, human trafficking, sexual assault, female genital mutilation and other crimes. There are various visas for just about everyone, offered under a wide range of circumstances. To take advantage of any of these categories, speak to a competent immigration lawyer to find out what is required to apply for the necessary visa,” said Bannerjee.
Annie Banerjee is a Houston immigration lawyer specializing in helping people become United States citizens. The law offices assist in visas and other legal immigration requirements as well. To learn more, visit http://www.visatous.com.
Law Offices of Annie Banerjee
131 Brooks Street, Suite #300
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Phone: (281) 242-9139
