A person in California who is a legal resident but not yet a citizen can become one via the process of naturalization. In order to be naturalized, a person must meet certain requirements which have been established by Congress and are outlined in the Immigration and...
Can you seek asylum in California?
The federal government oversees immigration, including cases of asylum, in the US. You may be able to seek refuge in any state if you have a fear of persecution or torture. Credible fear interview When you tell ICE or US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that it's...
Fiance visas allow 90 days to get married
There are many different kinds of visas that allow non-citizens to enter California. For people who are engaged to marry, the K-1 visa, also called the "fiance visa," might be the one to use. A non-citizen who is engaged to marry a citizen of the U.S. can enter the...
Common immigration and naturalization forms and fees
The immigration process in California is complex and multifaceted. Immigrants have to cross several hurdles to become permanent residents and, eventually, citizens. The process is both complex and expensive. Anyone interested in going through the process needs to be...
School is in session, but the large number of internationals aren’t.
School is in session, but the large number of international students who filled seats in California universities' classrooms are not. Post a catastrophic world event and the immigration restrictions that ensued, international students have been less visible in...
How long after marrying a U.S. citizen do you become a citizen?
Immigrants that marry a U.S. citizen may have questions about their citizenship shortly after the honeymoon is over. Applying to become a citizen can be confusing at first, especially after discovering that your California marriage doesn't automatically qualify you to...
Do you know your immigration rights?
In a sea of misinformation, it is sometimes difficult to determine what rights you have as a documented or undocumented immigrant. The good news is that, irrespective of one's immigration status, everyone in California has some rights under the U.S. Constitution. If...
Ukrainian nationals: Visa processing options
With many people leaving Ukraine, this country is now an addition to the U.S. Homeless Nationalities List. This is a list of countries that do not offer standard consular services. Political representation may be tenuous, and visa applications cannot receive...
The most frequently requested immigration statistics
The nature of immigration to California and the rest of the U.S. has changed over the course of the past century. A number of patterns have emerged that have held true for decades, then slowly given way to new ones. The composition of the immigrant population has...
New Guidelines for Employment-Based Preference Visas
Are you currently living and working in California with a pending green card application? United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently introduced new recommendations for those seeking to transfer an application from one employment-based...