Avoid Illegal Immigration, Migrate Legally

Whatever your motive may be, stop and consider whether you really want to move to America illegally. The odds are that you will eventually be caught, and then you will be deported, jeopardizing any chance for future legal immigration. Alternatively, even if you are not caught, life as an illegal immigrant is not always easy, with restricted access to everything from housing to banking.

Once you have been arrested as an illegal immigrant, you will be sent to a detention center. There are ways to post bail and to achieve immigrant status, but there is no reason to choose this option when you can consider the alternatives. The easiest way of getting to America is to have a family member living in the country already. In this process your family member, who is a citizen or permanent resident, can file a petition for you to immigrate to the America. You need to be a very close family member of the person who files the petition. On the federal government’s end the beneficiaries of family based petitions have been classified into various categories and the category you fall into would determine how quickly you are able immigrate to America.

Now let’s examine the limitations imposed by federal laws with regards to who can file a petition. An American citizen aged 21 or above can file a petition for his or her spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters to immigrate to America.  If an America citizen files an application for his or her spouse or children who are under 21 years of age, these family members would be regarded as an immediate relative and the whole process can be completed in a very short period of time – as little as 6 months. This is because there is no limit to the number of Green Cards available for immediate relatives.

A permanent resident alien, most commonly known as a “green card holder” can petition for only two groups of people. He or she can petition for his or her spouse and children who are under or over 21 years of age, provided they are unmarried. A green card holder cannot file a petition for his or her married offspring. These petitions filed by a green card holder are classified under categories 2A & 2B. In category 2A, immediate relatives of a green card holder, his or her spouse and children less than 21 years of age are included. It normally takes four to five years before the process can be finished.

Unmarried children of a green card holder are classified in category 2B. It can take up to eight years for the completion of the entire process for them.

If you find that the above method is not for you, consult an immigration attorney, they will find a way for you. It may take some time, but with patience and perseverance, you will be able to live in America and partake of all of the benefits.