General Immigration Information

Last Updated: January 15, 2020.

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What does good moral character mean?

Congratulations on working toward becoming a citizen of the United States! In addition to meeting residency requirements as a legal permanent resident and other elements of the Form N-400 Application for Naturalization, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services must deem you a person of “good moral character” (or GMC) to be granted citizenship. According to the USCIS Policy Manual, good moral character means that a person’s conduct “measures up to the standards of average citizens of the community in which the applicant resides.”  The goal is to assure that only law-abiding, productive members of society receive the benefits and responsibilities of U.S. citizens.

How to become a United States Citizen

Rather than sit down to dinner with you to discuss your moral convictions, the USCIS has its own system, which mostly defined in the negative (like proving that you haven’t committed crimes and don't lie). Your good moral character is based on USCIS officers’ assessment of your personal legal record, your application for naturalization and your oral interview, according to laws that Congress has passed. This article answers some key questions about how GMC is determined.

What time period is good moral character based on?

5 years (or 3 years if you are applying under the special rules as a spouse of a U.S. citizen) immediately before filing for citizenship. This is the “statutory period.” It is the same as the number of years as you were required to live as a legal permanent resident with a green card before filing for citizenship. This is the time period that the USICS will thoroughly examine any immoral conduct that could threaten your citizenship application. However, the USICS has the freedom to examine activities during your entire life. The time between filing for naturalization until your oath of citizenship can also affect eligibility.

What doesn’t help to prove good moral character?

Past crimes and other negative activities can set up “bars” to your naturalization process. These bars can delay or permanently block naturalization, depending on the seriousness of the crime. Many of these have to do with “crimes of moral turpitude,” or crimes that demonstrate a lack of moral character. Some more serious ones are also grounds for deportation. Here are several to be aware of:

• Any crime against a person with intent to harm
• Fraudulent green card activity or false testimony for the purpose of obtaining an immigration benefit
• Violation of controlled substance (drug) laws
• Habitual drunkenness
• Gambling offenses
• Shoplifting or theft
• Prostitution
• Failing to pay court-ordered child support or alimony payments,
• Failing to complete any probation, parole, or suspended sentence before applying for naturalization.
• Smuggling aliens into the U.S.
• Not registering with the U.S. Selected Service System while between the ages of 18 and 25 if you are male.
• Two or more of any crimes for which 5 or more years were spent in jail
• Jail time of 180 days or more during the past 5 years

People who have been convicted of murder at any time cannot become U.S. citizens. The same goes for those convicted of another aggravated felony (including drug trafficking and armed bank robbery, as well as lesser crimes like bribery or counterfeiting) after November 29, 1990. These are permanent bars.

What does help to prove good moral character?

• Honesty. Tell the truth in your answers on the N-400 application and when asked any questions by USCIS personal, especially regarding your history with law enforcement. Be thorough in reporting even incidents like a simple traffic ticket. Failure to tell the truth can become a much more serious concern than the violation itself. Lying shows a lack of moral character.
• This is optional, but it may be useful to provide letters from people such as neighbors, church or other religious leaders, and employers who can vouch for your good moral character. Letters should positive examples of how you live your life and contribute to U.S. society.

Concerned about your GMC?

• Remember that you don’t need to be a saint to be considered “of good moral character.” Your moral character and personal standards likely exceed the necessary qualifications. If you don’t have criminal convictions, and are generally a law-abiding member of your neighborhood, it shouldn’t be too difficult to show good moral character. Just be sure to honest in all of your descriptions.
• If a minor crime or activity that may show a lack of good moral character applies to you, you may consider waiting until the statutory 5 years have gone by with a “clean” record before applying. You should also be prepared to prove solid employment and family and community involvement within those 5 years to show reformed character and conduct.
• Seek additional help from legal experts or attorneys before submitting your application for naturalization if you have more concerns.

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Are you an international student that just graduated and not sure what to do next?

Do you want to stay in the United States? If so, this article covers 3 options that may be available for you.

If you came to the United States with an F-1 student visa, you have 3 way to stay in the United States:

1. OPT - Optional Practical Training

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an option for F-1 Visa students who have recently graduated.

OPT is temporary employment authorization, and your employment must be related to your F-1 area of study. Students who are eligible may apply to receive up to one year of OPT employment authorization.

If your degree is in certain science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, you may apply for a two-year extension of your OPT.

2. Apply for a Non-Immigrant Work Visa

H-1B Specialty Occupations

The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows immigrants to temporarily work in high-skilled occupations. Immigrants applying for an H-1B visa are required to have specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher or its equivalent.

Most H-1B occupations are in fields such as science, engineering, and information technology.

E-1/E-2 Treaty Trader and Investor

The E-1 visa is a treaty trader visa, and it is for immigrants who come from countries that have a treaty of commerce with the United States. Applicants must have "substantial" trade in goods between the United States and their home country.

The E-2 visa is also for immigrants who are from countries that have a treaty of commerce with the United States. They must have invested, or are actively in the process of investing, a "substantial" amount of capital in a U.S. enterprise.

L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visa

The L-1 is another nonimmigrant visa, and it is for workers who are employed outside of the U.S. and are transferring to the U.S. This visa also allows a foreign company to send an executive or manager to the United States to establish a U.S. office.

While these visas will allow you to remain in the United States, they will not allow you to stay permanently. If you wish to stay in the U.S. longer, obtaining a Green Card may be necessary.

3. Apply for a Green Card

Adjustment of status is the process through which temporary immigrants in the United States (such as students, tourists, foreign employees, etc.) can become lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) without ever having to leave the U.S. (If you are outside of the United States, the only path to immigrate to the country is through consular processing).

The best options for obtaining a Green Card as an international student are through immediate family sponsorship, asylum status, the Green Card lottery, employment sponsorship, or select military service.

For more info about getting a green card, go to our Comprehensive Guide on How to Get a Green Card.

Photo Credits:

Billetto EditorialHelloquenceJuan Ramos

Last Updated: September, 2017.

The travel ban just got bigger.

President Trump added three new countries to the travel ban list: Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela.

"Making America Safe if my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet."
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017

Let’s rewind a bit and figure out why these new countries were added.

In March 2017, President Trump issued Executive Order 13780. The order initiated the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a review of 200 countries to determine which countries pose the largest security threat to the United States.

In July, the DHS review was completed, and then on September 24, 2017, President Trump announced indefinite travel restrictions on the three new countries: Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela. The five original countries remained on the list: Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia and Yemen. However, Sudan, an original member of the group, was removed.

The ACLU announced that it will challenge President Trump’s new travel ban. Originally, the Supreme Court was going to hear arguments regarding the legality of the travel ban on October 10. However, the Supreme Court announced that they are postponing hearing any arguments until both the government and those opposed, file new briefs addressing the new restrictions.

Critics have noted that this new ban doesn't seem to really address its anti-terrorism and public safety goals entirely, as countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, and Pakistan remain off the list.

In this article we'll break down this much-discussed presidential proclamation, section-by-section:

• Section 1: Establishes baseline requirements countries have to meet.
• Section 2: Lists suspended countries Section 3: Provides some exceptions and limitations.
• Section 4: Countries can get off the list.
• Section 5: DHS will report to the President.
• Section 6: Provides various rules for enforcement.
• Section 7: Ban starts on October 18.
• Section 8: Ban will continue even if one section is invalid.
• Section 9: Ban will not impede the executive agencies.

SECTION 1: Establishes baseline requirements for countries

From the get-go, the executive order states that the purpose of the reinvigorated travel ban is to protect United States citizens from terrorist attacks and public safety threats. In order to determine which country poses a terrorist or security threat, DHS assessed each country under the following categories:

• Identity-management information: the country in question will need to have thorough in-country security processes that ensure the integrity of documents. For example, Homeland Security will assess whether the country issues electronic passports and how the government detects fraudulent documents.
• National security and public-safety information: the country in question will need to inform the United States as to whether a citizen posses a security threat by providing the U.S. background information on the traveler.
• National security and public-safety risk assessment: the U.S. will conduct an overall assessment of whether a country is a terrorist or security threat.

After assessing the 200 countries using the above-mentioned criteria, 47 countries were deemed to be “inadequate” and “at-risk.” They were given 50 days to improve their security procedures by applying the security protocols above.

Following the 50-day trial period, countries which failed were placed on travel ban due to their “inadequate” traveling security protocols in place.

After the trial period, the Secretary of Homeland Security recommended a list of countries that require travel restrictions. Not all restrictions are created equal though. Some countries such as Iran will still permit student visas, but all nonimmigrants and immigrants will be barred entry from North Korea and Syria.

SECTION 2: Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, Somalia are suspended

Nationals from the following countries have restricted entry into the United States because they have not adequately addressed the security criteria listed in section 1. Highlights from the Executive Order detailing why certain countries were included are found below:

1. Chad
   • “Chad does not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information and fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion.”
2. Iran
   • “Iran regularly fails to cooperate with the United States Government in identifying security risks, fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion, is the source of significant terrorist threats, and fails to receive its nationals subject to final orders of removal from the United States.”
3. Libya
   • “Libya fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion and has been assessed to be not fully cooperative with respect to receiving its nationals subject to final orders of removal from the United States.”
4. North Korea
   • “North Korea does not cooperate with the United States Government in any respect and fails to satisfy all information-sharing requirements.”
5. Syria
   • “Syria has significant inadequacies in identity-management protocols, fails to share public-safety and terrorism information, and fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion.”
6. Venezuela
   • “Venezuela has adopted many of the baseline standards identified by the Secretary of Homeland Security and in section 1 of this proclamation, but its government is uncooperative in verifying whether its citizens pose national security or public-safety threats.”
7. Yemen
   • “The government of Yemen fails to satisfy critical identity-management requirements, does not share public-safety and terrorism-related information adequately, and fails to satisfy at least one key risk criterion.”
8. Somalia
   • “Somalia has significant identity-management deficiencies.  For example, while Somalia issues an electronic passport, the United States and many other countries do not recognize it. A persistent terrorist threat also emanates from Somalia's territory.”

SECTION 3: Provides some exceptions and limitations

The ban only applies to foreign nationals who:

• Live outside the United States
• Do not have a valid visa as per section 7
• Do not qualify for a visa as per section 6(d)

Exceptions to the ban include:

• Lawful resident of United States
• Documentation that is not a visa, such as a transportation letter
• Dual nationality
• Diplomatic passports
• Those with asylum

Waivers can be granted to those seeking entry on a case-by-case basis. For example, if the individual seeking entry can prove that she is not a security risk, has been issued visas previously for work or study, and if the person’s entry would be in the United State’s interest. Several more exceptions are listed under section 3(c).

SECTION 4: Countries can get off the list

Every 180 days, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, will reassess whether or not a country should remain on the banned list, using criteria from section 1. The restrictions placed on the country can be modified in various ways, whether that be by removing all restrictions or only maintaining limited restrictions on the country.

SECTION 5: DHS will report to the President

The Secretary of Homeland Security will send periodic reports and updates to the President on the United State’s procedures implemented for vetting foreign nationals, such as:

• The biometric and biographic data is the government collecting;
• The number of errors made in collecting this information;
• The procedures related to screening and vetting set forth by the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs.

SECTION 6: Provides various rules for enforcement

The ban will comply with applicable laws and regulations, working with both domestic and international organizations, “to ensure efficient, effective, and appropriate” implementation. This section also notes that foreign nationals who have a credible claim of fear or persecution will have an opportunity for entry. This section addresses a slew of miscellaneous enforcement measures such as:

• The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
• No immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before the applicable effective date under section 7 will be revoked.
• Any individual whose visa was marked revoked or marked canceled as a result of Executive Order 13769 of January 27, 2017 (Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States) will be permitted to have a traveling document.
• This proclamation shall not apply to an individual who has been granted asylum by the United States, to a refugee who has already been admitted to the United States, or to an individual granted withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture.

SECTION 7: Ban starts on October 18

On October 18, 2017, all foreign nationals from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela will have restricted entry into the United States.

SECTION 8: Ban will continue even if one section is invalid

This section essentially states that if any portion of the ban is held to be invalid, barring the invalid sections, the remainder of the ban will still remain in place.

SECTION 9: Ban will not impede the executive agencies

This proclamation will not be read in any way that impairs the function of the executive department or its agencies.

Key Takeaways

• Unlike the 120-day refugee ban, this travel restriction could remain indefinitely.
• Most of the countries included are primarily Muslim.
• This ban implements a more methodological framework explaining why certain foreign nationals are banned, more so than the previous travel ban.
• Countries will continuously be added or removed from the banned list depending on whether they improve their in-country security protocols.

Last Updated: Jan 15, 2020

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will Monitor Social Media in US Immigration Process

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will now be tapping into immigrants' social media beginning October 18th. If you've read the article on Trump's newest travel ban, you might find the date familiar. That's because October 18th is also the same day when the updated travel restrictions take place. This data-collection step will rope in everyone who is an immigrant, including green card holders and naturalized citizens. It doesn't stop there. DHS will also monitor communication from anyone with these individuals via social media.

Even though tapping into social media accounts has been in the discussions for a while, the DHS started to draft out a detailed plan after the mass shooting at San Bernardino, California. It aims to detect any hint of terroristic motive, primarily from groups such as the Islamic State, otherwise known as ISIS. As a response to this data collection policy, many privacy-advocacy groups voiced serious concern on the infringement of privacy. Some accused the measure as part of Trump administration's signature move on anti-immigration. Though the procedure has become comparatively draconian, the federal government was already asking immigrants and visitors to share their social media information for the four pilot screening program during the Obama administration. Through its evolution, DHS officials say this protocol listed specific items that the government will be collecting, which is more detailed than its predecessors, but privacy advocates are worried that the language regarding search results and conversations on social media still remain vague. We will walk you through the details, giving you the most recent update at your finger tips.

This implementation, DHS stated, will mark social media account information such as handles, alias, search results, and any other associated identification as official records. These collected data will become part of immigration files, also called Alien File. The department stated that the data will be collected from "publicly available information obtained from the internet, public records, public institutions, interviewees, and commercial data providers." However, it did not explain which commercial data providers are on the list. Department officials say this measure is not new because the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has already been collecting information on immigrants applying for visas and citizenships. Although the department won't be recording additional social media data from naturalized U.S. citizens, officials say they may still keep information on file from when those individuals applied for citizenship up until the time they applied for citizenship.

[caption id="attachment_2248" align="alignnone" width="766"]

Opponents of data collection and social media monitoring criticizes how these actions violate the Privacy Act of 1974. [/caption]

Mikayla Mallek

Since the 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino, lawmakers felt increasingly alert how terrorist groups are using social media to conspire with others. Tashfeen Malik, one of the two attackers, voiced strong support for jihad and carried conversations on social media but the posted comments were only available to a small group of friends. Since then, DHS has been under pressure to lay out a more detailed social media monitoring plan. It incorporated social media searches into the visa application, particularly on those who were applying for the fiancé visas. Then in 2016 the department included a new section in the travel form for visitors arriving in U.S. The addition asks for visa waivers to provide their social media handles used in the past five years. Recently, DHS proposed that it will start requesting persons coming from any one of the countries on the travel ban list to provide not only their social media accounts but also their passwords. These changes demonstrated an intensified vetting process since the Obama administration. Previously social media screening was only applied to Syrian refugees entering U.S. soil, particularly those flagged by match on the intelligence database or if an official found something of concern during the interview process. Opponents of data collection and social media monitoring criticizes how these actions violate the Privacy Act of 1974. They add that the federal government is slowly blurring the line that protects people's freedom of speech on the Internet.

Be More Aware of Your Online Presence

With each step of increasingly careful monitoring of social media, immigrants are growing weary of it being an infringement to their freedom of expression. One of Engadget's (an online publication about all things tech and then some) editor, Cherlynn Low, wrote about her struggle between authenticity and fear of being flagged for something she posed on Instagram. Another, Sam Sinai who has a Iran-U.S. dual citizen studying at Harvard University was questioned by the US Customs and Border Protection agents. They told him he was selected for extra screening and they asked him about his political beliefs. Sinai has experienced extra screenings before upon returning to U.S. from his visit to Iran, but what caught him off guard was the additional question regarding his political view. As he walked away, Sinai says he couldn't help but think why the extra question, and then it dawned on him. They checked him online. Sinai has published articles on Iran-U.S. relation and answered questions regarding Iran on the Internet. Since that experience, Sinai says now he has reasons to be more aware of his online presence.

Faiz Shakir, the national political director for the American Civil Liberties Union, calls this the "chilling effect". He says individuals of immigrant background will feel restricted regarding what they can and cannot say. In addition, those along his school of thoughts raised several other concerns such as lack of confirmation on the success of previous pilot program, no assurance against bots automatically including even the wrong targets, no clear way of predicting people's behavior, and its effectiveness questionable. DHS' spokeswoman Joanne Talbot told NPR that the department has been collecting social media data from immigrants since a policy adopted back in 2012. Talbot says the department is not using new method rather it's continuing to collect publicly-available information as it has been since 5 years ago. She also said the department is specifying the type of information collected in an effort to be more transparent.

The DHS took additional measure to demonstrate transparency such as publishing a report in February about the department's social media data collection and providing an online platform to anyone interested in voicing their opinions on the federal tracking of immigrants' social media.

Last Updated: December 2022.

The Form I-797 is a document the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses to communicate with applicants.

The most common reason we see form I-797s be sent to our customers is when USCIS is issuing them receipt notices for their application. USCIS will send applicants Form I-797 approximately 4-6 weeks after the applicant submits an application to them. The purpose of this form is to notify the applicant that USCIS has received the application and has started processing it.

Please Note: Make sure to keep a copy of all I-797 forms for your personal records. They can commonly be used as evidence for other USCIS forms you may fill out.

How to Read an I-797 Form? 

This is what an I-797 Form looks like: 

Here are some general areas to look for when reading your receipt notice: 

There are seven different I-797 forms and each serve a different purpose as outlined in this article: 

1. Form I-797, Notice of Action: Receipt Notice
2. Form I-797A, Notice of Action: Replacement for an I-94 Form 
3. Form I-797B, Notice of Action: Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker
4. Form I-797C, Notice of Action: Important Information
5. Form I-797D: Includes a Benefit Card
6. Form I-797E, Notice of Action: Request for Evidence
7. I-797F, Transportation Letter: Travel Permit

1. Form I-797, Notice of Action: Receipt Notice

This I-797 form is simply a receipt informing you that the application or petition has been received or approved. Note that this is just the receipt, not the official document. Therefore this document cannot be used to work or travel. 

However, the form is still very useful. It gives you information about your application, including your receipt number. Your receipt number is a 13-digit-long code you can use to track your case online. Simply use this USCIS Case Status Checker.

If you lose your receipt number, you can schedule an InfoPass appointment where you’ll meet with a USCIS officer who can provide you with information about your case. USCIS will require that you bring valid identification to the appointment. You may also request this information through USCIS’s live chat option, or call USCIS directly at 1(800) 375-5283. 

For many cases, USCIS also sends out a separate notice that will have instructions for setting up your Online USCIS Account.  

2. Form I-797A, Notice of Action: Replacement for an I-94 Form

Form I-797A Notice of action is sent as a replacement for the Form I-94 for applicants already in the U.S. This typically means that a change of status application has been approved and the immigrant is legally able to stay in the U.S. up until their new I-94 expiration date. The Form I-94 can be found at the bottom of Form I-797A and functions as the official document. The body of the document will provide additional guidelines. This form includes the date of admission, the class of admission, and the date to which they are admitted to stay.

Here is what an I-797A, with the replacement I-94 Form looks like. It includes an I-94 number, which is usually the same number as your original I-94, new VALID FROM and ADMIT UNTIL dates, and the new, or extended Class of Entry description. 

To find the new I-94 portion, you can check in the following spots of the form: 

Please note: If you have not filed for a change or extension of status within the U.S., you will need to obtain your I-94 directly through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. To increase efficiency, reduce operating costs, and streamline the admissions process, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has automated the I-94 Form. The paper document is only given in limited circumstances. If you need a copy of your Form I-94, you may request it here.

Please note: If you originally received a paper I-94 before the CBP automated them online, and it has since been lost, you may need to submit a Form I-102 with USCIS in order to receive a replacement. For more information on this, please see here. 

3. Form I-797B, Notice of Action: Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker

Form I-797B is issued when the applicant submits Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. The body of the document will include instructions. The bottom section will include important information for admission to the U.S. depending on the applicant’s circumstance, like all I-797 forms, this form will include details about your application. 

Please note: The I-797B Form is required for any Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications. 

4. Form I-797C, Notice of Action: Important Information

This is perhaps the most common I-797 form. It is very important that you read this document carefully as it usually tells you the next step in the application process. In addition to the regular information, the Form I-797C will inform the applicant of a rejection, transfer, re-opening, or scheduled/re-scheduled appointment.

Form I-797C is also the form that will come separately, at the same time or a few weeks after, the initial receipt notices that will include instructions for setting up your Online USCIS Account. For more information on this, please go to USCIS’s website here.

Typical appointments include a biometrics appointment or an interview with a USCIS officer. If you receive a Form I-797C, pay close attention to what it says. Ignoring or misreading the instructions can delay your case.

5. Form I-797D, Notice of Action: Includes a Benefit Card

The Form I-797D will generally include a benefit card. This could be a green card or another official document such as an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or Advance Parole. Like the regular I-797 form, you will not need to do anything with this form. However, it is still important to keep a copy for your personal records.

6. Form I-797E, Notice of Action: Request for Evidence

Many USCIS forms require additional evidence. This is called a Request for Evidence (RFE). If the USCIS does not receive all the required evidence in an application, they will send the form I-797E. In this form, they will explain the issues with the evidence already provided or simply state that no evidence was included.

If you receive this form, make sure to read it carefully! The Form I-797E will often include a time limit and specific instructions. If you never respond to a request for evidence, your application will most likely be denied.

When responding to a Request for Evidence: Only submit photocopies of official documents unless original documents are specifically requested because the USCIS will not return evidence to you and will most likely destroy it after the case is closed.

Click here for more information about responding to Requests for Evidence.

7. Form I-797F, Transportation Letter: Travel Permit

This is the only I-797 form that is not a “Notice of Action.” This document allows overseas applicants to travel. If you receive Form I-797F, simply follow the guidelines provided in the document as they are specific to your case type.

What to do if you lose an I-797 Form and want, or need, a replacement? 

If your I-797 has been lost or stolen, you will need to reach out directly to USCIS to help obtain your receipt number. To do so, you can schedule an appointment with them online here, or call them directly at 1-800-375-5283. 

Last Updated: March 11, 2021

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Human resources professionals must understand the hiring needs of their organization and how to recruit and retain qualified workers. For many companies, this means hiring foreign nationals. Recent headlines have focused on one of the most common types of work visas: H-1B. More than 460,000 H-1B visas — nonimmigrant visas for specialty occupations — were granted in 2013, the Economic Policy Institute reports. According to the 2017 Forbes survey, there was a 21% year-over-year increase of companies that said they would sponsor workers from overseas. This increasing work visa demand juxtaposed with tightening regulations on immigration has created a more intense environment for attracting and keeping foreign talent. It is more important than ever for companies to understand how to navigate the current immigration landscape in order to hire the best resources and help their companies maintain a competitive advantage.

This guide walks human resources professionals through how to successfully hire foreign nationals.

Step 1: Petition USCIS for a Nonimmigrant Visa

There are many different types of nonimmigrant visas. Some of the most common work visas are H-1B, TN, L-1A, L-1B, E-3, and O-1. This article will focus on H-1B.

What is the H-1B Visa?

The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant, employment-based visa that U.S. companies can use to hire employees in specialty fields that require theoretical or technical expertise, such as computer science, finance, math, engineering, health care and architecture. U.S. immigration law requires that the visa holder have a bachelor’s-level education or higher. If the applicant doesn't have at least bachelor’s degree, in some cases they may be able to show degree equivalence through work experience or other qualifications.

What is H-1B season?

Every year, the deadline for filing an H-1B is April 1, and the earliest possible date a foreign worker could start employment is October 1. H-1B "season" is the time of year leading up to the April 1 deadline when employers are preparing their H-1B visa petitions. Most companies start this process in January or early February.

What is the H-1B cap?

USCIS limits the number of H-1B visas that are granted each year. Current limits are as follows:

• Regular H-1B visas: 65,000.
• H-1B visas for people with a U.S. master's degree or higher: 20,000

If USCIS receives more than 65,000 regular petitions and 20,000 advanced degree petitions during the first five business days after April 1, they use a lottery system to randomly select petitions to be granted. If an employee’s petition is not selected, USCIS will notify you and return the filing fees.

Are there exemptions to the H-1B cap?

Yes, there are. The following types of employers are not subject to the annual H-1B visa petition limits:

• Colleges and Universities.
• Nonprofits that are part of or associated with a college or university (such as a hospital associated with a university).
• Nonprofit research organizations and governmental research organizations; and
• Employees whose H-1Bs have already been counted against the annual H-1B cap (includes employees transferring their H-1B from one employer to another, as well as those filing for an H-1B extension).

It should also be noted that 6,800 of the 65,000 H-1B visas are reserved for Chilean and Singaporean nationals (known as H-1B1 visas).

H-1B Visa Eligibility Requirements

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The position being offered must meet one of the following criteria:

• Bachelor's or higher degree or its equivalent is normally the minimum entry requirement for the position;
• The degree requirement for the job is common to the industry or the job is so complex.
• The employer normally requires a degree or its equivalent for the position; or
• The nature of the specific duties is so specialized and complex that the knowledge required to perform the duties is usually associated with the attainment of a bachelor’s or higher degree.

The person you wish to hire must also meet one of the following criteria:

• Completion of a U.S. bachelor's degree or higher required for the specific occupation from an accredited college or university.
• Completion of a foreign degree that is the equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in the specialty occupation (requires academic equivalency evaluation).
• Have an unrestricted state license, registration, or certification which authorizes the employee to fully practice the specialty occupation and be engaged in that specialty in the state of intended employment; or
• Completed education, training, or progressively responsible experience in the specialty that is equivalent to the completion of such a degree, and have recognition of expertise in the specialty through progressively responsible positions directly related to the specialty occupation.

Are there filing fees associated with the H-1B?

There are a number of filing fees that you, as the petitioning employer, are required to pay:

• Base filing fee: $460 (no exemptions)
• Fraud prevention and detection fee: $500 (no exemptions)
• Employer sponsorship fee: $1,500 for employers with more than 25 full-time employees; $750 for employers with fewer than 25 full-time employees. This fee may be waived under certain circumstances.
• Public Law 114-113 fee: $4,000. This fee is required if the employer has more than 50 employees AND more than 50 percent of employees are on H-1B or L-1 status. This fee may also be waived under certain circumstances.

How long is the H-1B Visa good for?

An H-1B visa is granted for three years and may be renewed for another three years, for a maximum of six years — minus any documented time spent outside of the U.S. This time may be “recaptured" and added to the end of the 6-year period.

The H-1B visa cannot be renewed at the end of the six-year period unless certain steps have been taken toward the filing of a permanent resident (green card) application.

Human Resources Checklist

1. Review the background of the potential hire to ensure they meet the specialty/degree requirements.
2. Review the recruitment and selection process to ensure the sponsorship criteria are met.
3. Review the rate of pay for the position, ensuring it is the prevailing wage for the position and geographical area.
4. Collect and submit the following (in duplicate):
   • The certified labor application from the Department of Labor (form ETA 9035)
   • Letter on company letterhead and signed by the company representative describing the nature of the U.S. job opportunity, including the job description.
   • Support letter confirming the job offer to the foreign worker and explaining the terms and conditions of the offered employment.
   • Form G-28, if an attorney or accredited representative is being used.
   • Form I-129, two copies with original signatures on both.
   • H-1B Supplement to Form I-129.
   • H-1B Data Collection pages.
   • Visa history (two originals)
   • Resume
   • Clear copy of unexpired passport
   • Clear copy of Form I-94
   • Clear copy of transcripts, diplomas, and degrees; if necessary, include a U.S. academic equivalency evaluation.
   • Required government filing fees.

Prepare to maintain a public access file

Finally, it is the employer's responsibility to maintain a public access file on each H-1B employee, and this file must be made available to the public upon request. Each file must contain:

• A signed copy of the certified labor condition application (LCA) from the Department of Labor.
• A statement of explanation outlining how the employer set the employee's salary.
• Documentation of the appropriate prevailing wage for the position and geographical area.
• Notice that the certified LCA has been posted at the company.

Note: Do not included the employee's personnel file in the public access file. The personnel file should be kept separately.

Step 2: Start Permanent Residency for Your Employee

Most companies start the permanent residency (green card) process for their employees after 6 – 12 months of employment. The permanent residency process is expensive, often costing between $10,000 and $20,000. However, because most nonimmigrant visas have strict time limits, companies that hire foreign talent can only keep those employees long term if they sponsor them for a green card.

For most professional employees, the first step in the permanent residency process is PERM Labor Certification. This step is very complex in terms of timing and requirements. The Department of Labor is very strict with PERM cases, and there are seemingly innumerable missteps that can result in a denial. Denials are very frustrating to employees who want their green cards as soon as possible and look very disapprovingly on any delay. Because PERM Labor Certification is so expensive, denials are also very costly to the company.

What does the PERM Labor Certification process look like?

The DOL is primarily looking for two things:

• Evidence that there are not enough qualified U.S. workers to fill the position being offered; and
• Hiring a foreign worker will not hurt the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.

As the employer, you'll be asked to prove:

• That you've performed an extensive and unsuccessful hiring search among U.S. workers. This includes notifying the U.S. workforce at your company; and
• That the salary you're offering either equals or exceeds the "prevailing wage" for the position in that geographical area.

How is "prevailing wage" determined?

The Department of Labor provides for the prevailing wage for each position sponsored under PERM Labor Certification. Most prevailing wages are determined through a request to the Office of Foreign Labor Certification. In some instances, employers may use a relevant salary survey to “challenge” the Department of Labor’s prevailing wage assessment and thereby secure a lower prevailing wage.

Is there a filing fee to apply for PERM Labor Certification?

There is no government filing fee for PERM Labor Certification, however, the mandatory recruitment includes two Sunday newspaper ads. These ads must be placed in a newspaper of general circulation in the geographic area where the position is located, and these ads can be very expensive – sometimes costing $2,000 - $3,000. Most companies also hire an attorney to complete this process, and the legal fees typically cost several thousand dollars.

What Comes Next?

PERM Labor Certification typically takes about 9 – 12 months from start to finish. The company must then file the Form I-140 and Form I-485 for the employee. Depending on several factors, including the employee’s country of origin, the rest of the permanent residency process can take anywhere from 1 – 12 years – sometimes longer. During that time, visa employees should maintain a nonimmigrant visa status until they are able to get an EAD work card as part of their I-485 process.

The purpose of the J-1 visa, also known as an Exchange Visitor visa, is to develop a global understanding through educational and cultural exchanges, especially in the arts, sciences, and education. All J-1 visa holders are expected to return to their home country to share their new experiences and knowledge. This program is not intended as a path for immigration, but it is a great path for foreigners who would like to have a long-term experience in the United States.

What is a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa?

A J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued by the United States to research scholars, professors and exchange visitors participating in programs that promote cultural exchange, especially to obtain medical or business training within the U.S. All applicants must meet eligibility criteria, English language requirements, and be sponsored either by a university, private sector or government program.

- Wikipedia

The J-1 classification is assigned to foreigners participating in an approved program for teaching, instructing or lecturing, studying, observing, conducting research, consulting, demonstrating special skills, receiving training, or receiving a graduate medical education or similar training.

Common examples of exchange visitors include, but are not limited to:

• Teachers
• Students
• Research assistants
• Government visitor
• Trainees
• Professors or scholars
• Specialists
• Nannies/Au pairs
• Camp counselors

Am I eligible for a J-1 visa?

Before you decide to apply for a J-1 visa, you should make sure that you are eligible. Sponsors will have specific eligibility criteria for their program. In addition to this, all exchange visitors must meet the language and insurance requirements, meaning that participants must be proficient in the English language and that participants and their accompanying family members must have medical insurance with a minimum benefit requirement. Your sponsor will provide you with pre-arrival information and a post-arrival orientation with program-specific information and any contractual obligations, in addition to monitoring your progress and well-being during your stay. You should contact them with questions about the English proficiency and insurance benefit levels required for your program.

Who Qualifies for the J1 Visa?

How much does it cost to apply for a J-1 visa?

In addition to meeting eligibility criteria, you are required to pay certain fees. You will need to pay the $160 nonimmigrant visa application processing fee, unless you are sponsored by the U.S. government in which case the fee is exempt. This fee needs to be paid before your interview, and you will need to provide a receipt showing the fee has been paid. The program sponsor should also tell you if you must pay a SEVIS I-901 fee to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but often the sponsor will pay the fee for you. If your sponsor pays the SEVIS, they will provide you with a receipt confirming payment. Be aware that there may be other fees for your program, such as an application processing fee.

How do I apply for an exchange visitor program?

Applying for any visa is a complicated task, but the process for a J-1 visa can be broken down into 3 basic steps.

1. Find a Sponsor

You first need to find a program and a sponsor. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) is responsible for the Exchange Visitor Program, and they approve public and private organizations to act as sponsors for exchange visitors. All approved options are on the designated sponsor list. First, decide on a program, and then research the listed sponsoring organization. Each sponsor will have a different application process so call their office or search their website for more information.

Remember that your sponsor is vital to your experience as an exchange visitor. They should provide you with the information necessary to successful complete your program and to smoothly transition to living in the U.S. Additionally, your sponsor also has the ability to terminate your participation with the approval of the DOS. Be smart when selecting a program and a sponsor to ensure your needs and goals align with their services.

2. Receive a DS-2019 Form

Once a sponsoring organization accepts your application, they will send you a Form DS-2019, also known as a Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. This form permits a prospective exchange visitor to schedule an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain a J-1 visa to enter the United States. The Form DS-2019 also provides a brief description of the exchange visitor’s program, including the start and end date, category of exchange, and an estimate of the cost of the exchange program.

You should work closely with your sponsoring organization who will help you through the application process. An official who is authorized to issue Form DS-2019 is known as a Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO). The RO or ARO in your sponsoring organization will explain what documents are needed from you in order for them to issue you a Form DS-2019.

3. U.S. Embassy or Consulate Application

After you have obtained a Form DS-2019, you may then apply for a J-1 visa through the U.S. Department of State at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

You will need to do 3 things to apply:

1. Complete the online J-1 Visa application (DS-160).
2. Print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
3. Pay the nonimmigrant visa application processing fee.
4. Gather required documents (list below).
5. Attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate (if you are age 14 through 79, with exceptions).

The waiting time for an interview appointment for applicants can vary, so submit your visa application as early as possible. Remember, though, that you may not enter the United States in J-1 status more than 30 days before your program begins.

During your visa interview, the officer will determine whether you qualify for the visa. You should also expect your fingerprints to be taken (ink-free). You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying by showing the required documentation. After your interview, your application may need further processing, and you will be informed by the officer if this is the case. When the visa is eventually approved, you will be informed how your passport with your visa will be returned to you. Be sure to plan ahead because you may not receive your visa right away.

Here is a list of required documents you need to bring to the interview:

• Your Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility) issued by your program sponsor.
• A valid passport (note: must be valid for at least six months beyond your program end date).
• A printed out Form DS-160 confirmation page.
• A receipt showing payment of the visa application fee (note: this fee in non-refundable)
• A 2×2 photograph that meets format requirements.
• Other supporting documents – check the specific embassy or consulate website

Note that all trainee or intern applicants also submit a Training/Internship Placement Plan, Form DS-7002.

For most detailed information on the application process, visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ exchange visitor visa website or the Department of State’s exchange visitor program website. For information on making a visa interview appointment, paying the application processing fee, and more, visit the U.S. embassy or consulate website where you will apply for your visa.

How long can I stay in the United States with a J-1 visa?

You are allowed to stay in the United States up to 30 days after your program end date. If you do not leave on time, you may be ineligible for visas in the future. Additionally, if your sponsor terminates your participation for just cause, you will be expected to depart the United States immediately. You will not be entitled to the post-completion 30-day period because you did not successfully complete your program.

If your visa expires during your program period and you do not plan to travel outside of the U.S., you do not need to renew the visa. If you travel outside of the United States when your visa is expired, you will have to apply for a new J-1 visa in your home country. Note that your sponsor is responsible for helping you with everything related to your J-1 program, including authorizing travel outside of the U.S. and ensuring that your J-1 non-immigrant documents are valid. Contact your sponsor if you are concerned about your visa.

Remember, your current J-1 visa is only applicable for your current program and sponsor. When you complete your program, you are expected to leave the United States. If you intend to pursue a 2nd J-1 exchange program (in a different category and with a different J-1 sponsor), you will need to apply for a new J-1 visa for the new program to re-enter the U.S. for the 2nd program.

Additionally, if any of the following describe your program, you are subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement, meaning you will be required to return to your home country for two years at the end of your exchange visitor program.

Two-year Home-country Physical Presence Requirement Conditions:

• Government-Funded Exchange Program.
• Graduate Medical Education or Training.
• Another Program of Specialized Knowledge or Skill

Note: There is a possibility of waiving this last requirement.

What is the duration and extension period for a J1 visa?

How do I extend or adjust my exchange visa program?

To extend your program, you must discuss it with your sponsoring organization. If your sponsor agrees to extend your program, they will send a new Form DS-2019 with the new end date and any other necessary information. The sponsoring organization will apply for your extension through the Department of State. Note that there is a nonrefundable fee of $367 which your sponsor may have you pay. Contact your sponsor if you would like to extend your program.

Can I change my status while on a J-1 visa?

While in the United States, you may decide that you would like to switch to a different visa status, such as a change from a J-1 visa to an F-1 visa. If you would like to change your J-1 nonimmigrant status to a different one, you will first need to work with your sponsoring organization and receive a new Form DS-2019 and submit that form with your Form I-539, Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status to the USCIS. There is a $370 filing fee with this application.

Is a J-1 Visa Holder Eligible to apply for a Green Card?

Can I work on a J-1 Visa?

Follow the guidelines in your program description. If your exchange visitor program is a work-program (research, teaching, etc.), work only under the terms of the specific program. In some situations, J-1 holders may work for non-sponsor employers if they meet eligibility requirements. Contact your sponsor with any work-related questions.

Can my family come with me?

Your spouse and any unmarried children under 21 years of age, regardless of nationality, are entitled to J-2 classification. Your family will apply for their J-2 visas while you are applying for your J-1 visa, and the process is very similar. Contact your sponsoring organization or the U.S. embassy or consulate at which you will apply for more information.

Sometimes, exchange programs will not allow family to accompany J-1 participants. If this is a concern for you, ask potential sponsors about this before you apply.

With regards to work, your spouse and children can be authorized to work in the United States. However, their income may not be used to support you. To apply for work authorization as a J-2 nonimmigrant, your spouse or child should file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Form I-765 will ask for your eligibility category; for J-2 participants it’s (c)(5).

Have any questions?

Post your questions to the J Visa section of the discussion board.

Or you can schedule a free consultation with an immigration attorney here.

As a foreigner, upon entering the United States you will receive the Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. This document, issued by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer, provides you basic information about your stay such as your arrival date, visa status, and the date you are required to leave the U.S.

There are now two formats in which you may receive your Form I-94 - paper and electronic - but as of April 30, 2013, most Arrival/Departure Records are created electronically. In this case, you will be given an annotated stamp in your passport instead of a paper form. If you are provided a paper Form I-94, a CBP officer attaches it to your passport and stamps your departure date on the form.

Although an electronic version cuts down on paper and drastically decreases the possibility of losing your document, it can be slightly more complicated to access, especially if it's your first time locating your record. Don't worry though - here's a guide on how to access your electronic Form I-94, along with a few useful tips and tricks.

How to Access Your Form I-94

To access your I-94 record, go to CBP's website. Once there, click on the Get Most Recent I-94 button. A page will then pop up requiring you to agree to the following terms before continuing: "By accessing this website, you understand and acknowledge that: You are declaring under penalty of perjury pursuant to 28 U.S. Code § 1746 that you: (1) are only seeking records about yourself, (2) are seeking records about someone for whom you are the legal guardian, or (3) you have the consent of the person whose records you are seeking. You are not authorized to access this website to retrieve records of another person unless you are the person's legal guardian or you have the person's consent." After consenting, you will see a page similar to the screen shot below. Enter the required information.

I-94 Website Travel Records for U.S. Visitors - U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[caption id="attachment_2080" align="aligncenter" width="800"]

I-94 Website Travel Records for U.S. Visitors - U.S. Customs and Border Protection[/caption]

Entering the data in the required fields, if done correctly, will allow you to access your electronic Form I-94. However, all information must be entered accurately; even one simple misspelling or formatting error will prevent you from accessing your record. If you're having trouble accessing your record, try the following troubleshooting tips.

Enter your name exactly as it is written on your passport. If this does not work, attempt to enter your name in a different format.

• Check your visa, airline ticket, boarding pass, or your submitted Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (if available) for any variations in the spelling of your name. If there are differences, try entering each one as they appear on these documents.
• In some countries, the first name may be written as the last name on the passport. If this is the case, try switching the order of your names.
• Your passport may include both your first and middle name, but your electronic Form I-94 may list these both as your first name. It's also possible that your middle name is not included in the electronic record. Pay attention to these details.
• If your name is hyphenated, and you cannot gain access to your electronic I-94 by entering your name as it appears, remove the hyphen and try again. Likewise, if you have two first or last names with a space between them, such as "Mary Anne," try entering them without a space as "Maryanne."
• Each name field has a 25-character limit. If your name exceeds 25 characters, try entering it without any spaces as far as it will allow you.

Check Your Passport

Consider multiple entry options for your passport number.

• If both letters and numbers appear in your passport number, try entering a space after the letter(s). For example, if your passport number appears as LR573892 on your passport, try entering it as LR 573892.
• If the date your passport was issued is part of the passport number, try removing these digits when you enter it in.
• If you have a Mexican passport, try entering your passport number without the first two digits. You can also try removing the last two digits.
• If the valid visa is in an expired passport, try entering the old passport number instead of the new one used for entry.
• Sometimes the passport booklet number differs from the number listed on your bio page. Try both.

If You Still Can't Access Your Form I-94

If you still cannot access your electronic Form I-94 after trying the above tips, the next step is to call or visit your local CBP deferred inspection office. Some offices can solve most problems over the phone, but others may require an in-person visit.

Updated: March 31, 2020.

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"Consular processing" is the term used when applying for an immigrant visa from outside the U.S. You will be working with both U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Homeland Security as you finish your green card application. If you live outside the U.S. at the time of filing, consular processing may be your only path for immigrating to the U.S.

We are happy to help you through any step of this process. Finishing the whole green card process can be stressful and overwhelming. Don't worry though, contact us and we will be with you every step of the way.

Step 1: Determine your eligibility to immigrate and submit a petition

To get started, you need to determine if you're eligible to apply for a green card. Use our Eligibility Quiz to find if you are eligible to become a permanent resident of the United States. The petition that you file will be determined by the type of eligibility -  most common petitions are the I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and the I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers. The petition at this point in the process will be sent to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Step 2: Await the decision on your immigrant petition

Once the appropriate person has filed the correct petition on your behalf, the next step is to wait for USCIS’s decision. If you are approved and you reside outside the United States: USCIS will send the approved petition to the Department of State’s National Visa Center. The petition will remain there until an immigrant visa number is available for you. For some cases, such as the spouse of a U.S. citizen, there are immigrant visa numbers immediately available.

Step 3: Submit with the National Visa Center

The National Visa Center (NVC) will notify you and your petitioner of three things:

• When they've received your visa petition
• When a visa is about to become available (if applicable)
• When and where to submit your immigrant visa processing fees and supporting documentation

The NVC will give you directions to set up an account where you can submit your fees and submit your application. This is also when you should file Form DS-260, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration. And in most cases, USCIS will also require the petitioner to file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. The affidavit is the petitioner's promise to support you financially if you cannot support yourself.

The NVC is also collecting information on Public Charge. Certain applicants may be asked to present or complete a Form DS-5540 at the visa interview. Immigrant visa applicants are encouraged to complete the DS-5540 in advance. The USCIS will review all paperwork and request any additional evidence needed. If they request more evidence this can lengthen your processing time. In order to avoid this, it is important to be thorough in your initial submission.

Step 4: Go to your interview

Once those things happen, the consular office will schedule your interview.

When an appointment becomes available, the NVC will send an interview letter with information on the medical exam and a list of the required documents for the interview. During your interview a consular official will review your case and decide if you are eligible for an immigrant visa.

In some consular offices, you may get approved at the interview itself; in other cases, you will be asked to return to pick up your paperwork if you've been granted a green card. It depends on the policy of your local office.

Step 5: Once your visa is granted

Once you are notified that your visa has been granted, you will be given a packet of information known as a "visa packet". DO NOT OPEN THIS PACKET.

You will now need to pay the USCIS immigrant fee. Unless you are among the exemptions below, this fee must be paid; you will not be granted a green card without paying it.

Step 6: When you arrive in the U.S.

When you arrive in the United States, give your Visa Packet to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at the port of entry. This officer will determine whether to admit you into the United States. If the officer admits you, you have been granted lawful permanent resident status and you may legally live and work in the United States. You should receive your green card within 45 days of your arrival.

Note: If the applicant does not enter within the six months allotted on the visa they may not be allowed into the country without further processing at the Consulate.

Welcome to America!

Last Updated: January 15, 2020.

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In polls, Americans and immigrants alike overwhelmingly cite economic opportunities as the number one reason people choose to immigrate to the United States (74%).  About half of Americans believe that once immigrants are here, their talents, experiences and hard work strengthen our nation and in particular improve food, music, and the arts while around a quarter of Americans say they have a friend or relative who has recently immigrated to the U.S.  While many can agree that immigrants have the potential to add economic, cultural, and social value to a place, some U.S. cities have gone as far as declare that immigrants are "imperative" to their continued growth and success.

It is no secret that both our nation's demographics and economic mainstays are changing.  More and more baby boomers continue to retire and less and less babies are being born, so it naturally follows that the native-born American workforce is shrinking.  Globalization has taken a toll on domestic manufacturing companies, something that American metropolitan areas have been tied to in the past.  Those deft enough to notice these changes and recognize their consequences are making plans to adapt and are turning to immigrants for the answer.

According to a report by the American Immigration Council, "Cities and regions looking to stem population decline and stimulate economic growth are seeking to attract immigrants and encourage immigrant entrepreneurship. Immigrants play an important role in establishing “main street” businesses (retail, accommodation and food services, and neighborhood services), which are important for generating neighborhood-level economic growth and revitalization.”  The numbers support this claim with immigrants making up about 13 percent of the country’s total population, 16 percent of the labor force, 18 percent of business owners, and a whopping 28 percent of “main street” business owners nationally.

After recognizing that immigrants run the majority of shops in the "Little Village", with the second highest business tax revenues in the city, Chicago, Illinois decided to embrace this entrepreneurial vibrancy with their "New Americans Plan".  With the tagline, "Chicago Welcomes the World", this plan espouses the goal of making Chicago the most immigrant-friendly city in the world. An advisory committee made up of 50 business, academic, civic, philanthropic, community and immigrant advocacy leaders meet regularly to develop immigrant-friendly strategies and ensure Chicago’s status as a "vibrant and welcoming international city". Initiatives from this committee range from the creation of a small business incubator and the promotion of tourism in immigrant neighborhoods to parent engagement centers and city employee cultural sensitivity training.  

Around the same time, Dayton, Ohio launched  the "Welcome Dayton" plan involving over 100 members of the community which states, “communities across America are at a crossroad: to welcome and integrate new residents and help them on a path to citizenship, or to allow old stereotypes, fears and misconceptions to hinder future success.”  In order to capitalize on the economic potential in its immigrant-dense neighborhoods, Dayton community leaders provide education to all potential entrepreneurs about the many local services that are available to help make their ideas a reality.

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In Nashville, Tennessee which is considered to be a relatively new immigrant destination, nonprofits and community-based organizations such as Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) and Conexión Américas have led the way in the promotion of immigrant entrepreneurship.  The city has focused on three inter-dependent areas of integration: social, economic, and civic. Nashville has even established the Mayor’s New Americans Advisory Council and the Mayor's Office of New Americans (MONA) with a goal to give "New Americans the tools they need to access economic and educational opportunities—to the benefit of all Nashvillians.”

A fourth and more recent example took place last year, when Salt Lake City Mayor Ben McAdams and Salt Lake City Chamber President Lane Beattie announced the "New Americans Task Force", aimed to welcome and encourage foreign-born entrepreneurs in the state of Utah. According to Mayor McAdams, "Welcoming people here is not only the compassionate thing to do for our community, but it also brings resiliency and vibrancy to our economy. We all know that our country, and especially our state, is growing rapidly. It turns out that much of that growth is due to a jump in the percentage of residents who were foreign-born. They are adding to our strong economy."  This bold move to reshape local business and government policy makes sense knowing that immigrants contributed $8 billion to Salt Lake County in 2014 alone.  

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The Queen of Alterations

One woman, who immigrated to Bountiful, Utah, just north of Salt Lake City, from the Philippines at age 32, felt welcomed and encouraged by her community to follow her dream and run a business as a seamstress.  

Ever since she was a little girl, Leilani Drumm loved to sew.  "As a kid, I would find paper and cut out a little dress.  I ended up getting a degree in accounting but all I really wanted to do was sew."   When Leilani followed her new husband to his military base in Utah, she held jobs at a variety of places, including the military base and later a factory and a department store.  When Leilani's husband sustained a back injury and was forced to change careers, money became very tight.  As Leilani put it, " At first I had nothing here - life was really hard."  Things changed when Leilani's friend, a recent immigrant from Japan, told her about the alteration business she'd started.  Leilani was confident in her skills because she knew she could do more than just small alterations, she was a dressmaker.  That friend went on to encourage Leilani in a conversation that she refers to as a stepping stone,  "She really helped me get out of my shell."  Shortly before her idea became a reality, Leilani found out that she was pregnant. "I call her my lucky baby. I got pregnant, then I got the business, and that was the start of everything!"  That was almost 19 years ago.  "Now my daughter is going to college and I am able to support her with my same business and it's such a blessing."

Leilani has largely felt comfortable and welcomed in her community.  The people, she says, are what she likes the best about living in America. "They're all just really nice.  If I ever have a problem here I know they will help me right away because they know me already."  That same kindness is what seems to be the key to her shop's success.  "To start a business, first of all, you need to be friendly! A lot of the people keep coming back and they tell me not to go anywhere - they like me a lot."  Leilani is not exaggerating, either. Many of her customers bring business from across county lines and some even travel from out of state.  In a business that mostly gains customers through word of mouth, connection is crucial.  Leilani feels it's important to try and relate to the challenges her customers are having.  "Most of my customers have troubles in their life and sometimes they're depressed about something. I tell them they can just come to my shop one day and we can talk about it.  Sometimes I will even take them to lunch.  I try to help them with their feelings.  I really do listen and I think that's the best way to be connected to people."  Policemen or veterans are especially welcome at Leilani's with a special rate. She also tries to give discounts in a situation where she can tell money is tight because she says she "understands their feelings".

Of course working with people all day isn't always easy. "I really like my job but it can be stressful with all the wedding dresses and before prom. There's always one customer out of a hundred each year that's really hard to deal with. But usually my customers are really thankful and seeing them really happy with the work I did, is payment enough. When I see my wedding dresses from start to finish, I really am so happy and proud that I can do that for people."  It's not just Leilani's personal skills that keep her customers returning, but the quality of her work.  Most of her competitors only do little alterations that don't last very long. "There's a cleaner near the post office and they even bring their work to me because they know I just want to do the job right!", she laughs and adds, "I don't think they know how to sew..."

Leilani's advice to new entrepreneurs is trite but true, "You have to work really hard. Just go, go, go, until you get what you want. Trust in yourself and in your abilities.  Don't think negative things, only positive things. Don't be afraid. The more you walk forward and do hard things, I think you can make it." Just listening to Leilani makes it clear that it doesn't hurt to love what you're doing, either. "As long as you are happy with what you are doing, you will be successful. If you're new here, follow your dream! Go forward. Find what's good for you and don't stop." Leilani is clearly speaking from experience of the past two decades being a labor of love as she concludes after a brief moment of reflection, "I think this is my dream."

A Legacy of Entrepreneurship

Hugo grew up on a little ranch in Matatenas Vallecillo, Nuevo León, Mexico, about an hour south of the Laredo Texas border.  As a nine year old, Hugo lost his father and had to drop out of school to help support his family and newly single mother.  As an eighteen year old, with very broken English and only a 2nd grade education, Hugo decided to immigrate to the United States.  Hugo went where the work was, which led him to Michigan, both North and South Dakota - pretty much every state where people were picking.  He eventually landed in Richgrove, California to pick grapes where he would meet and marry his Wasco-native wife, Mary.  

Hugo was a quick learner and a hard worker and soon became a foreman for local farm labor contractor, Bob Fortune. He was Bob's loyal employee for years and years, until one day, seemingly without warning, Hugo was let go. At the age of 47 with a mortgage and three young kids at home, Hugo knew he had to figure things out and fast.  Mary told her husband that he needed to start his own business and simply go to the farmers and tell them he would bring the crews from now on. Thinking they had no money and knowing the risks, Hugo was understandably very scared but his dear wife wasn't ready to give up. Unbeknownst to Hugo, she had secretly saved $10,000 for such a time as this. With the encouragement of his strong and loving partner, he approached each farmer individually and asked for their business. His reputation as a man with a tireless work ethic served him well and farmer after farmer agreed to pay him. It was never Hugo's dream to start his own business, but he felt like it was his only choice and he rose to the challenge. Night after night, Mary and Hugo would return from the fields to go over all the paperwork and make sure the numbers were right.  Hugo didn't know accounting but he was naturally good with numbers. Mary only had a 10th grade education. But together, they figured it out and eventually did well enough where they could hire bookkeepers to keep track of everything. They may not have known pricing strategies or cash flow statements but they knew exactly how many boxes of harvest per row it takes to fill a bin to the brim.  They may not have known business but they knew their business and that was enough. Enough to gross over $10 million a year and oversee up to 350 employees at any given time. Much like his teams in the vineyards, Hugo continued to meticulously prune and craft his business for over 36 years. At 83, Hugo passed away, having truly worked every day up until the very end of his life.

Mary is now retired but the business has stayed in the family, under the direction their son, Roel. For two people who never "meant" to be entrepreneurs, they have set quite the pattern for their three children, who have started and owned four different successful businesses at various points in time. One of their children, Victor, attributes this to the fact that "We're pretty independent people. A big part of it is probably that we don't like other people telling us what to do. We like the challenge of starting something from nothing and trying to grow it." A challenge that seems in many ways even more daunting for the previous generation. "I can't imagine going to another country and trying to start a new business while trying to take care of my family." Victor speaks honestly, clearly in awe of what his parents were able to achieve.  He continues, "My dad never talked to us about 'business'.  But what we've learned most from watching my parents is work ethic - how to spend your time wisely and earn a living.  They grew up so poor and when they saw that they could do better, they never wanted that to go away - they just wanted to work. And that's what they did." As an uneducated immigrant who struggled with English his entire life, Hugo often felt different from the community in which he lived and worked.  Although Victor never felt that same isolation, he noticed it in his father and saw how ownership of a business affected Hugo in more than just economic ways. "I think it took my dad quite a long time to adjust...It probably wasn't until he was successful in his business that he started to feel comfortable with who he was in America."

He noted yet another benefit was the great sense of love and unity between his parents. "Starting the business was tough on their marriage of course, but they got through it together and my mom always loved and supported my dad until the day he passed." In an attempt to summarize these impactful memories and experiences into a digestible moral of sorts, Victor repeats a similar theme to Leilani. "Anything you want in life, you can make it happen.  You just have to visualize it, and go after it.  I know a lot people worry about how they are going to pay the bills - that story was my dad.  But he found a way, he and my mom.  I think the most important part of this was my mom.  If it wasn’t for her telling him he could do it, he would have never done it.  I think that’s true in life, when you have a good partner, you can make anything happen."

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Individuals who are living in communities with immigrants are 36% more likely to feel positively about immigrants than those who say there are no immigrants living in their community.  This seems intuitive enough, doesn't it? Familiarity tends to increase understanding. When these immigrants are our neighbors, our friends, our brother-in-laws, our florists, we are more prone to recognize their strengths and celebrate their successes.  We are more prone to reap the benefits of diversity if they are nearby- if we are grabbing a delicious gyro on our commute home from work or if we are looking forward to the traditional dance and music shows at the Asian festival on the weekend.  Viewing the one million plus newcomers each year as a lump sum, as opposed to widely diverse individuals with widely diverse backgrounds, interests, and aptitudes, leads to both misunderstandings and misrepresentations of the situation at hand.  Perhaps the best way to change the perception of immigrants as burdens to that of important contributors is to remove the plural and let each person share their own story.