What Part of Legal Immigration Don't you Understand?

Reason magazine, October 2008 Issue What Part of Legal Immigration Don't You Understand? Mike Flymn and Shikha Dalmia Illustrated by Terry Colon Opponents of illegal immigration are UNITED STATES CITIZEN fond of telling foreigners to "get in line" Are you that Congratulations! You've After five After you file your naturalization found one of the easiest Total time to before coming to work in America. But what does that line actually look like, and how many years (or decades) does years (three if you're a spouse), a ways to become an American. There is no immigrate and become a citizen: relative's papers and endure six to 12 months of Yes parent, spouse, or minor child? BEST CASE: SIX annual cap on the number of spouses, green card holder is processing delays, you can take a language and civics test. Pass it, and you're a citizen. TO SEVEN YEARS it take to get through? Try it yourself! minor children, or parents of U.S. citizens who can eligible to become a enter, and they generally can receive green cards. citizen. Total time to Adult children No Wait time and siblings of U.S. depends on home immigrate and become a ם2 With a green card, Single adult children: six-to- 14-year wait. Siblings of U.S. citizens: you likely can 11-to-22-year wait. Married adult citizen: 12 TO citizens can apply for a country and marital USA children: seven- 28 YEARS become a citizen to-15-year wait. green card. status. after six years. If you're the child, are you a minor? O With a green card, LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT Are you the spouse or child of a Wait time Spouses and minor children of lawful depends on home you likely can become a citizen Total time to immigrate and become a permanent residents can apply. lawful Yes after six years. country. Wait time: five to seven citizen: 11 TO permanent resident? 13 YEARS Do you have family in the USA? years. Yes- Yes: Total time to No No No -- Are you single? immigrate and become a Sorr, you're out of +. luck. Wait time for a single adult child of a lawful permanent resident: nine to 14 years. Is your relative a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident? Wait time No citizen: 14 TO 20 ΥEARS Sorry, you don't qualify to apply. 4----: depends on home country. Are you skilled? Yes Do you have a college degree in a specialty occupation? Yes The wait time for a green card is typically six to 10 years. Yes After your green card, OK. Then you have a shot, if... ...you have a job offer. count on another five to Yes-- six years for citizenship. Is your employer willing to file the paperwork for a labor certification? And No Can you prove that you are a genius? How about a star athlete? Or an investor with $1 million? If an employer can't wait six to 10 years for you to start work... Congratulations! You have found Total time to conduct a new job search for your position? And pay up to $10,000 in legal and other fees? No Sorry, you're out of luck. the quickest way immigrate and become a citizen: to get a green card, taking 12 ...is he willing to apply for your temporary work visa (H-1B)? 11 TO 16 YEARS to 18 months. Yes * But you would have made it anywhere, Mr. Beckham. Sorry! There is virtually no process for unskilled immigrants without relations in the U.S. to apply for permanent legal residence. Only 10,000 green cards are allotted every year, and the wait time approaches infinity. (Those who receive H-2A or H-2B temporary visas for seasonal work cannot No Sorry, you're out of luck. Sorry, you're out of luck. Then you have a 50/50 chance of getting your H-1B, because these visas are capped at 85.000 per year, well below the total demand. They run out on the first day they become available. If you are lucky enough to get one, you can start working in the country and your employer can apply for your labor certification and green card. No Total time to With your green card you can become a citizen immigrate and become a citizen: SIX TO SEVEN YEARS in five to six years. transition to a green card.) (Flynn is director of government affairs and Dalmia is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation. This chart was developed by Reason Foundation in collaboration with tbe National Foundation for American Policy.) 32 reason | October 2008 reason October 2008| 33 Reason magazine, October 2008 Issue What Part of Legal Immigration Don't You Understand? Mike Flymn and Shikha Dalmia Illustrated by Terry Colon Opponents of illegal immigration are UNITED STATES CITIZEN fond of telling foreigners to "get in line" Are you that Congratulations! You've After five After you file your naturalization found one of the easiest Total time to before coming to work in America. But what does that line actually look like, and how many years (or decades) does years (three if you're a spouse), a ways to become an American. There is no immigrate and become a citizen: relative's papers and endure six to 12 months of Yes parent, spouse, or minor child? BEST CASE: SIX annual cap on the number of spouses, green card holder is processing delays, you can take a language and civics test. Pass it, and you're a citizen. TO SEVEN YEARS it take to get through? Try it yourself! minor children, or parents of U.S. citizens who can eligible to become a enter, and they generally can receive green cards. citizen. Total time to Adult children No Wait time and siblings of U.S. depends on home immigrate and become a 2022 With a green card, Single adult children: six-to- 14-year wait. Siblings of U.S. citizens: you likely can 11-to-22-year wait. Married adult citizen: 12 TO citizens can apply for a country and marital USA children: seven- 28 YEARS become a citizen to-15-year wait. green card. status. after six years. If you're the child, are you a minor? O With a green card, LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT Are you the spouse or child of a Wait time Spouses and minor children of lawful depends on home you likely can become a citizen Total time to immigrate and become a permanent residents can apply. lawful Yes after six years. country. Wait time: five to seven citizen: 11 TO permanent resident? 13 YEARS Do you have family in the USA? years. Yes- Yes: Total time to No No No -- Are you single? immigrate and become a Sorr, you're out of +. luck. Wait time for a single adult child of a lawful permanent resident: nine to 14 years. Is your relative a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident? Wait time No citizen: 14 TO 20 ΥEARS Sorry, you don't qualify to apply. 4----: depends on home country. Are you skilled? Yes Do you have a college degree in a specialty occupation? Yes The wait time for a green card is typically six to 10 years. Yes After your green card, OK. Then you have a shot, if... ...you have a job offer. count on another five to Yes-- six years for citizenship. Is your employer willing to file the paperwork for a labor certification? And No Can you prove that you are a genius? How about a star athlete? Or an investor with $1 million? If an employer can't wait six to 10 years for you to start work... Congratulations! You have found Total time to conduct a new job search for your position? And pay up to $10,000 in legal and other fees? No Sorry, you're out of luck. the quickest way immigrate and become a citizen: to get a green card, taking 12 ...is he willing to apply for your temporary work visa (H-1B)? 11 TO 16 YEARS to 18 months. Yes * But you would have made it anywhere, Mr. Beckham. Sorry! There is virtually no process for unskilled immigrants without relations in the U.S. to apply for permanent legal residence. Only 10,000 green cards are allotted every year, and the wait time approaches infinity. (Those who receive H-2A or H-2B temporary visas for seasonal work cannot No Sorry, you're out of luck. Sorry, you're out of luck. Then you have a 50/50 chance of getting your H-1B, because these visas are capped at 85.000 per year, well below the total demand. They run out on the first day they become available. If you are lucky enough to get one, you can start working in the country and your employer can apply for your labor certification and green card. No Total time to With your green card you can become a citizen immigrate and become a citizen: SIX TO SEVEN YEARS in five to six years. transition to a green card.) (Flynn is director of government affairs and Dalmia is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation. This chart was developed by Reason Foundation in collaboration with tbe National Foundation for American Policy.) 32 reason | October 2008 reason October 2008| 33 Reason magazine, October 2008 Issue What Part of Legal Immigration Don't You Understand? Mike Flymn and Shikha Dalmia Illustrated by Terry Colon Opponents of illegal immigration are UNITED STATES CITIZEN fond of telling foreigners to "get in line" Are you that Congratulations! You've After five After you file your naturalization found one of the easiest Total time to before coming to work in America. But what does that line actually look like, and how many years (or decades) does years (three if you're a spouse), a ways to become an American. There is no immigrate and become a citizen: relative's papers and endure six to 12 months of Yes parent, spouse, or minor child? BEST CASE: SIX annual cap on the number of spouses, green card holder is processing delays, you can take a language and civics test. Pass it, and you're a citizen. TO SEVEN YEARS it take to get through? Try it yourself! minor children, or parents of U.S. citizens who can eligible to become a enter, and they generally can receive green cards. citizen. Total time to Adult children No Wait time and siblings of U.S. depends on home immigrate and become a 2022 With a green card, Single adult children: six-to- 14-year wait. Siblings of U.S. citizens: you likely can 11-to-22-year wait. Married adult citizen: 12 TO citizens can apply for a country and marital USA children: seven- 28 YEARS become a citizen to-15-year wait. green card. status. after six years. If you're the child, are you a minor? O With a green card, LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT Are you the spouse or child of a Wait time Spouses and minor children of lawful depends on home you likely can become a citizen Total time to immigrate and become a permanent residents can apply. lawful Yes after six years. country. Wait time: five to seven citizen: 11 TO permanent resident? 13 YEARS Do you have family in the USA? years. Yes- Yes: Total time to No No No -- Are you single? immigrate and become a Sorr, you're out of +. luck. Wait time for a single adult child of a lawful permanent resident: nine to 14 years. Is your relative a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident? Wait time No citizen: 14 TO 20 ΥEARS Sorry, you don't qualify to apply. 4----: depends on home country. Are you skilled? Yes Do you have a college degree in a specialty occupation? Yes The wait time for a green card is typically six to 10 years. Yes After your green card, OK. Then you have a shot, if... ...you have a job offer. count on another five to Yes-- six years for citizenship. Is your employer willing to file the paperwork for a labor certification? And No Can you prove that you are a genius? How about a star athlete? Or an investor with $1 million? If an employer can't wait six to 10 years for you to start work... Congratulations! You have found Total time to conduct a new job search for your position? And pay up to $10,000 in legal and other fees? No Sorry, you're out of luck. the quickest way immigrate and become a citizen: to get a green card, taking 12 ...is he willing to apply for your temporary work visa (H-1B)? 11 TO 16 YEARS to 18 months. Yes * But you would have made it anywhere, Mr. Beckham. Sorry! There is virtually no process for unskilled immigrants without relations in the U.S. to apply for permanent legal residence. Only 10,000 green cards are allotted every year, and the wait time approaches infinity. (Those who receive H-2A or H-2B temporary visas for seasonal work cannot No Sorry, you're out of luck. Sorry, you're out of luck. Then you have a 50/50 chance of getting your H-1B, because these visas are capped at 85.000 per year, well below the total demand. They run out on the first day they become available. If you are lucky enough to get one, you can start working in the country and your employer can apply for your labor certification and green card. No Total time to With your green card you can become a citizen immigrate and become a citizen: SIX TO SEVEN YEARS in five to six years. transition to a green card.) (Flynn is director of government affairs and Dalmia is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation. This chart was developed by Reason Foundation in collaboration with tbe National Foundation for American Policy.) 32 reason | October 2008 reason October 2008| 33 Reason magazine, October 2008 Issue What Part of Legal Immigration Don't You Understand? Mike Flymn and Shikha Dalmia Illustrated by Terry Colon Opponents of illegal immigration are UNITED STATES CITIZEN fond of telling foreigners to "get in line" Are you that Congratulations! You've After five After you file your naturalization found one of the easiest Total time to before coming to work in America. But what does that line actually look like, and how many years (or decades) does years (three if you're a spouse), a ways to become an American. There is no immigrate and become a citizen: relative's papers and endure six to 12 months of Yes parent, spouse, or minor child? BEST CASE: SIX annual cap on the number of spouses, green card holder is processing delays, you can take a language and civics test. Pass it, and you're a citizen. TO SEVEN YEARS it take to get through? Try it yourself! minor children, or parents of U.S. citizens who can eligible to become a enter, and they generally can receive green cards. citizen. Total time to Adult children No Wait time and siblings of U.S. depends on home immigrate and become a 2022 With a green card, Single adult children: six-to- 14-year wait. Siblings of U.S. citizens: you likely can 11-to-22-year wait. Married adult citizen: 12 TO citizens can apply for a country and marital USA children: seven- 28 YEARS become a citizen to-15-year wait. green card. status. after six years. If you're the child, are you a minor? O With a green card, LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT Are you the spouse or child of a Wait time Spouses and minor children of lawful depends on home you likely can become a citizen Total time to immigrate and become a permanent residents can apply. lawful Yes after six years. country. Wait time: five to seven citizen: 11 TO permanent resident? 13 YEARS Do you have family in the USA? years. Yes- Yes: Total time to No No No -- Are you single? immigrate and become a Sorr, you're out of +. luck. Wait time for a single adult child of a lawful permanent resident: nine to 14 years. Is your relative a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident? Wait time No citizen: 14 TO 20 ΥEARS Sorry, you don't qualify to apply. 4----: depends on home country. Are you skilled? Yes Do you have a college degree in a specialty occupation? Yes The wait time for a green card is typically six to 10 years. Yes After your green card, OK. Then you have a shot, if... ...you have a job offer. count on another five to Yes-- six years for citizenship. Is your employer willing to file the paperwork for a labor certification? And No Can you prove that you are a genius? How about a star athlete? Or an investor with $1 million? If an employer can't wait six to 10 years for you to start work... Congratulations! You have found Total time to conduct a new job search for your position? And pay up to $10,000 in legal and other fees? No Sorry, you're out of luck. the quickest way immigrate and become a citizen: to get a green card, taking 12 ...is he willing to apply for your temporary work visa (H-1B)? 11 TO 16 YEARS to 18 months. Yes * But you would have made it anywhere, Mr. Beckham. Sorry! There is virtually no process for unskilled immigrants without relations in the U.S. to apply for permanent legal residence. Only 10,000 green cards are allotted every year, and the wait time approaches infinity. (Those who receive H-2A or H-2B temporary visas for seasonal work cannot No Sorry, you're out of luck. Sorry, you're out of luck. Then you have a 50/50 chance of getting your H-1B, because these visas are capped at 85.000 per year, well below the total demand. They run out on the first day they become available. If you are lucky enough to get one, you can start working in the country and your employer can apply for your labor certification and green card. No Total time to With your green card you can become a citizen immigrate and become a citizen: SIX TO SEVEN YEARS in five to six years. transition to a green card.) (Flynn is director of government affairs and Dalmia is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation. This chart was developed by Reason Foundation in collaboration with tbe National Foundation for American Policy.) 32 reason | October 2008 reason October 2008| 33 Reason magazine, October 2008 Issue What Part of Legal Immigration Don't You Understand? Mike Flymn and Shikha Dalmia Illustrated by Terry Colon Opponents of illegal immigration are UNITED STATES CITIZEN fond of telling foreigners to "get in line" Are you that Congratulations! You've After five After you file your naturalization found one of the easiest Total time to before coming to work in America. But what does that line actually look like, and how many years (or decades) does years (three if you're a spouse), a ways to become an American. There is no immigrate and become a citizen: relative's papers and endure six to 12 months of Yes parent, spouse, or minor child? BEST CASE: SIX annual cap on the number of spouses, green card holder is processing delays, you can take a language and civics test. Pass it, and you're a citizen. TO SEVEN YEARS it take to get through? Try it yourself! minor children, or parents of U.S. citizens who can eligible to become a enter, and they generally can receive green cards. citizen. Total time to Adult children No Wait time and siblings of U.S. depends on home immigrate and become a 2022 With a green card, Single adult children: six-to- 14-year wait. Siblings of U.S. citizens: you likely can 11-to-22-year wait. Married adult citizen: 12 TO citizens can apply for a country and marital USA children: seven- 28 YEARS become a citizen to-15-year wait. green card. status. after six years. If you're the child, are you a minor? O With a green card, LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT Are you the spouse or child of a Wait time Spouses and minor children of lawful depends on home you likely can become a citizen Total time to immigrate and become a permanent residents can apply. lawful Yes after six years. country. Wait time: five to seven citizen: 11 TO permanent resident? 13 YEARS Do you have family in the USA? years. Yes- Yes: Total time to No No No -- Are you single? immigrate and become a Sorr, you're out of +. luck. Wait time for a single adult child of a lawful permanent resident: nine to 14 years. Is your relative a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident? Wait time No citizen: 14 TO 20 ΥEARS Sorry, you don't qualify to apply. 4----: depends on home country. Are you skilled? Yes Do you have a college degree in a specialty occupation? Yes The wait time for a green card is typically six to 10 years. Yes After your green card, OK. Then you have a shot, if... ...you have a job offer. count on another five to Yes-- six years for citizenship. Is your employer willing to file the paperwork for a labor certification? And No Can you prove that you are a genius? How about a star athlete? Or an investor with $1 million? If an employer can't wait six to 10 years for you to start work... Congratulations! You have found Total time to conduct a new job search for your position? And pay up to $10,000 in legal and other fees? No Sorry, you're out of luck. the quickest way immigrate and become a citizen: to get a green card, taking 12 ...is he willing to apply for your temporary work visa (H-1B)? 11 TO 16 YEARS to 18 months. Yes * But you would have made it anywhere, Mr. Beckham. Sorry! There is virtually no process for unskilled immigrants without relations in the U.S. to apply for permanent legal residence. Only 10,000 green cards are allotted every year, and the wait time approaches infinity. (Those who receive H-2A or H-2B temporary visas for seasonal work cannot No Sorry, you're out of luck. Sorry, you're out of luck. Then you have a 50/50 chance of getting your H-1B, because these visas are capped at 85.000 per year, well below the total demand. They run out on the first day they become available. If you are lucky enough to get one, you can start working in the country and your employer can apply for your labor certification and green card. No Total time to With your green card you can become a citizen immigrate and become a citizen: SIX TO SEVEN YEARS in five to six years. transition to a green card.) (Flynn is director of government affairs and Dalmia is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation. This chart was developed by Reason Foundation in collaboration with tbe National Foundation for American Policy.) 32 reason | October 2008 reason October 2008| 33 Reason magazine, October 2008 Issue What Part of Legal Immigration Don't You Understand? Mike Flymn and Shikha Dalmia Illustrated by Terry Colon Opponents of illegal immigration are UNITED STATES CITIZEN fond of telling foreigners to "get in line" Are you that Congratulations! You've After five After you file your naturalization found one of the easiest Total time to before coming to work in America. But what does that line actually look like, and how many years (or decades) does years (three if you're a spouse), a ways to become an American. There is no immigrate and become a citizen: relative's papers and endure six to 12 months of Yes parent, spouse, or minor child? BEST CASE: SIX annual cap on the number of spouses, green card holder is processing delays, you can take a language and civics test. Pass it, and you're a citizen. TO SEVEN YEARS it take to get through? Try it yourself! minor children, or parents of U.S. citizens who can eligible to become a enter, and they generally can receive green cards. citizen. Total time to Adult children No Wait time and siblings of U.S. depends on home immigrate and become a 2022 With a green card, Single adult children: six-to- 14-year wait. Siblings of U.S. citizens: you likely can 11-to-22-year wait. Married adult citizen: 12 TO citizens can apply for a country and marital USA children: seven- 28 YEARS become a citizen to-15-year wait. green card. status. after six years. If you're the child, are you a minor? O With a green card, LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT Are you the spouse or child of a Wait time Spouses and minor children of lawful depends on home you likely can become a citizen Total time to immigrate and become a permanent residents can apply. lawful Yes after six years. country. Wait time: five to seven citizen: 11 TO permanent resident? 13 YEARS Do you have family in the USA? years. Yes- Yes: Total time to No No No -- Are you single? immigrate and become a Sorr, you're out of +. luck. Wait time for a single adult child of a lawful permanent resident: nine to 14 years. Is your relative a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident? Wait time No citizen: 14 TO 20 ΥEARS Sorry, you don't qualify to apply. 4----: depends on home country. Are you skilled? Yes Do you have a college degree in a specialty occupation? Yes The wait time for a green card is typically six to 10 years. Yes After your green card, OK. Then you have a shot, if... ...you have a job offer. count on another five to Yes-- six years for citizenship. Is your employer willing to file the paperwork for a labor certification? And No Can you prove that you are a genius? How about a star athlete? Or an investor with $1 million? If an employer can't wait six to 10 years for you to start work... Congratulations! You have found Total time to conduct a new job search for your position? And pay up to $10,000 in legal and other fees? No Sorry, you're out of luck. the quickest way immigrate and become a citizen: to get a green card, taking 12 ...is he willing to apply for your temporary work visa (H-1B)? 11 TO 16 YEARS to 18 months. Yes * But you would have made it anywhere, Mr. Beckham. Sorry! There is virtually no process for unskilled immigrants without relations in the U.S. to apply for permanent legal residence. Only 10,000 green cards are allotted every year, and the wait time approaches infinity. (Those who receive H-2A or H-2B temporary visas for seasonal work cannot No Sorry, you're out of luck. Sorry, you're out of luck. Then you have a 50/50 chance of getting your H-1B, because these visas are capped at 85.000 per year, well below the total demand. They run out on the first day they become available. If you are lucky enough to get one, you can start working in the country and your employer can apply for your labor certification and green card. No Total time to With your green card you can become a citizen immigrate and become a citizen: SIX TO SEVEN YEARS in five to six years. transition to a green card.) (Flynn is director of government affairs and Dalmia is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation. This chart was developed by Reason Foundation in collaboration with tbe National Foundation for American Policy.) 32 reason | October 2008 reason October 2008| 33