Questions tagged [usa]
Questions regarding emigrating from, immigrating to and living in the United States of America
140
questions
18
votes
4
answers
115k
views
How to renew a US driver's license when living abroad
My driver's license expired last autumn (September 2013). I hadn't used the license/driven anywhere in several years at the time that it expired, but now I'm thinking of using it again for short ...
- 323
40
votes
8
answers
40k
views
How to build credit history in the USA?
What are the ways in which a new immigrant can begin building credit history in the United States of America ?
- 1,400
13
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Are H4 visa holders allowed to do remote intellectual work?
I know that immigrants to the United States holding a H4 visa are not allowed to work. But there is a grey area that I could never find a satisfactory answer to: what if a H4 holder works remotely, ...
- 648
1
vote
0
answers
249
views
Requirements for B1 and L1b visa
I am an employee of a British company, an IT consultancy that trains and hires software developers to employ them as contractors for their clients.
I am resident in the UK but I have an Italian ...
- 385
7
votes
2
answers
297
views
Working in USA, for a USA company, temporary without a green card?
I'm Italian (sadly), and I'm planning to find a job in USA and move there. I'd love to do it before the end of September, and I'm trying to understand how visa and green card work and what are the ...
- 185
7
votes
6
answers
71k
views
How do I renew a USA drivers license if I am as US citizen living abroad with no state address (last address Texas)
I have looked at the government websites (state.tx.us/DriverLicense/nonmilitaryrenewal.htm) and seen the requirements but as a US citizen who has passed their drivers test, why is there no standard US ...
- 71
3
votes
1
answer
82
views
Citizenship limitations for E2 visa
The company I currently work for is British and I'm resident in the UK but I have an Italian passport. My company wants to bring me to their office in the US with an E2 visa but they believe that they ...
- 385
1
vote
2
answers
365
views
Approximately how long does one have to wait for the naturalization interview after submitting the N-400 Application for Naturalization Form?
The estimates I read regarding long one has to wait for the naturalization interview after submitting the N-400 Application for Naturalization Form (mirror) vary from 4 months to 14 months:
Souce
...
- 2,543
15
votes
3
answers
5k
views
What is the cheapest way to send large amounts of money from EU to US?
There is a similar question regarding "small amounts of cash", but at some point I might need to transfer more than 50K€ to the US. I am looking for the cheapest (less commissions, better exchange ...
- 523
9
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Travelling to US before H1B visa application starts
I am going to be going through the H1B Visa application process, for the next valid date (April 2015). I have heard that it is not advisable to travel to the US for holidays before the visa is ...
- 93
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Entering the US with car using J-visa
I am a Mexican J1-visa holder (PhD student) that studies in the US. I have been checking my options on buying a car to use in Northern California and it seems that the cheapest –– by a big margin –– ...
- 63
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
As a French PhD student in the US, what can I do to get the US citizenship as quickly as possible?
I (French citizen) started a PhD in computer science in the US one year and a half ago: what can I do to get the US citizenship as quickly as possible?
- 2,543
4
votes
2
answers
885
views
Requirements to move with US (Non-EU) spouse over to Germany as an EU citizen?
I'm a UK Citizen living in the USA. What would the requirements be to move with my US Citizen spouse to Germany? And is it possible or would I have to move over first then move there.
- 647
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
I-130 approved (I-797 received): Why do we have to file I-824 (and do we)?
My wife (US citizen) submitted I-130 online in Dec for me (currently living and working in Canada). Today we received I-797 that the I130 petition is approved. YAY!
According to everything I had read ...
- 295
3
votes
2
answers
310
views
What's the approx. processing time of online FOIA requests for entry/exit to prepare for N400 (Application for Naturalization)? Days, weeks, months?
https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1730?language=en_US (mirror) mentions:
It is common for individuals to submit a FOIA request to receive travel history records when applying for U.S. ...
- 2,543
2
votes
1
answer
206
views
As a green card holder, is it okay to have an international trip every 3 months, each approximately 1 week?
I have a significant other living outside the US and I want to visit them every 3 or 4 months. Currently, I am a permanent resident of the US. Is it okay if I travel abroad every 3 or 4 months and ...
- 139
1
vote
1
answer
102
views
Is it possible to eventually convert an L-1B visa to a Green Card?
I've received an offer from a corporation that is known for moving people to their American offices by employing them in Canada for 1 year, after which they're eligible for an L-1B visa in the US. The ...
- 2,364
42
votes
5
answers
12k
views
Can I lose my US citizenship for accepting employment with a foreign government?
In my US passport, there's a section entitled "Important Information" located just before the visa pages. Item number 13 deals with circumstances in which one might lose their US citizenship (emphasis ...
- 1,653
16
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Under what circumstances must a US citizen forfeit their citizenship when obtaining a new one?
For some reason I have been under the impression that US law prohibits US citizens from retaining their citizenship if they ever obtain a new citizenship. Is this always, sometimes, or never true? ...
- 2,117
7
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Not having to surrender a German drivers license when getting a US license
From what I learned, I can get a Pennsylvania driver’s license without further tests (besides) vision, given that I have a German license, due to a reciprocal agreement between Pennsylvania and ...
- 265
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What shall one do after receiving a green card?
What shall one do after receiving a green card?
- 2,543
6
votes
2
answers
473
views
Does derivation of US citizenship through parents' naturalization cause loss of German citizenship?
This question is about eligibility for German/US dual citizenship when a minor acquires US citizenship at the time that his parents naturalize.
Suppose a child is born outside of the United States to ...
- 193
6
votes
1
answer
110
views
VISA renewal vs Status renewal for US Visas
I am working in USA with H1B visa. I have a question about renewals.
What is the difference between visarenewal and Status renewal? How it impacts visa holder?
- 579
5
votes
2
answers
131
views
Diplomatic Family in USA - J1 visa problem?
My parents are Indian diplomats (on A-1 Visa) in the US, posted for 3 years fixed term. I'm an Indian university student in Canada looking to get a J1 for a software engineer internship in the US at a ...
5
votes
1
answer
5k
views
How can international student stay permanently in USA upon graduation?
What can a graduate student do in order to have a chance to stay permanently in USA upon finishing studies ?
5
votes
1
answer
286
views
I have received the green card: what should I keep track of to be prepared to apply for naturalization in five years?
I have received the green card: what should I keep track of to be prepared to apply for naturalization in five years?
For example, one needs to be able to provide the accurate travel history of the ...
- 2,543
5
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Do I need to be employed at the moment of AOS interview for my employment-based EB1?
I just received a notice from USCIS for my employment-based EB1b green card interview, set for mid-April. I already left my previous job, and am currently unemployed, searching for another job.
...
- 299
5
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Living in the US on an F2 visa and working remotely for a Canadian company
I'm aware I can't work in the US on a F2 visa. However, would it be possible to be employed by a Canadian company to work remotely from the US?
- 153
5
votes
1
answer
193
views
Taxes and Health Insurance (US -> UK, paid by US Govt)
I have a bit of a complication to my move to the UK. I am moving to the UK for a couple of years from the US. I am being paid by the US Government. I have a couple of questions about how this works.
...
- 359
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How to help my mother in law migrate - no lawyer wanted!
I asked here: https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/253625/site-to-ask-about-visas-immigration-asylum-seeking and was recommended to ask here on this site.
Basically me and my wife are both US ...
- 537
4
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Renewing J-1 and J-2 visas
I'm a French citizen living in the USA, with my wife and our two children (who are French as well).
I have a J1 Visa (Research Scholar) expiring the 30th of September 2016. My employer offered to ...
- 283
3
votes
0
answers
196
views
Am I entitled to benefit from the Egypt-US tax treaty?
I applied to the tax treaty between the US and Egypt under article 22 for the years 2012 and 2013.
This is because I find the following conditions apply:
I was a resident in Egypt before I came to ...
3
votes
1
answer
86
views
OPT ended Feb 2020. Left USA in September 2020 after 150 days of SEVIS completed due to covid restrictions and expensive flight
I found that From 2020, international students do not begin accruing unlawful presence until an immigration judge finds a status violation in an immigration proceeding, or an immigration officer finds ...
- 61
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
H1B Transfer Before Oct 1st
Right now on STEM OPT, valid till 10/28/2016, applied for further 7 months extension
Working full time for Company A, applied for H1B, not picked
Company B also applied for H1B, which GOT PICKED
Now ...
2
votes
1
answer
228
views
Staying outside the US between 6 and 12 months while keeping US employment & US home: will it disrupt the continuity of residence for naturalization?
I read on 8 C.F.R. 316.5(c)(1)(i), echoed by https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-3:
(c) Disruption of continuity of residence -
(1) Absence from the United States -
(i) For ...
- 2,543
1
vote
1
answer
799
views
Applying for US H4 visa when I have a valid B1 visa
I have a valid B1 visa. My spouse is holding an H1 visa and I would like to go as a dependent [H4]. If I apply for an H4 now will it invalidate my B1 visa?
- 133
0
votes
1
answer
101
views
When concurrent filing, can an I-485 be filed online and if so do you do it from the same USCIS account used to file the I-130?
I am a US Citizen. I have an account with USCIS that I used to file the I-130 for my marriage to my wife. Do I file the I-485 (Green Card application / Permanent Resident) on my USCIS account to do ...
- 453
0
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How does one count the 3-month requirement to apply for naturalization in a US district/state?
To be eligible to apply for US naturalization in a US district/state, one must have lived/resided for 3 months in that district. I'm confused on how one counts the 3-month requirement to apply for ...
- 2,543
0
votes
1
answer
85
views
How many days does the 30-month presence requirement for the US naturalization (N-400 form) represent?
I read on the U.S. Naturalization Requirements Information (mirror):
An applicant for naturalization must [...] show that [they] have been physically present in the United States for 30 months.
How ...
- 2,543
60
votes
10
answers
113k
views
How to match EU income to US salary?
I'm a software engineer in Europe, and my firm is about to offer me a position in the US to bring up a team (In San Francisco or New York, it's still not decided yet)…
Looking at the job market in ...
- 973
22
votes
6
answers
59k
views
How to lease a car in the USA just after relocation?
Usually leasing requires you to have a credit history in US and establishing it takes at least a year. What options you have to lease the car without credit history in US but having employment here (...
- 321
18
votes
4
answers
711
views
What is a credit history and why should I care?
I just read a question on having credit history in the UK. The credit-history phenomenon has puzzled me for some time. Similar to people considering it a good thing to have many credit cards.
What ...
- 2,309
14
votes
3
answers
11k
views
Do you need to pay US taxes if you are a US citizen by birth, who was never in the USA?
It is known, that the USA not only taxes their residents, but their citizens as well. But what happens if someone is a US citizen at birth, who never lived in the USA? Do they also need to pay taxes? ...
- 7,544
13
votes
6
answers
556
views
How to send small amounts of money from EU to US?
Context: Settling small amount of personal debts to people in the US from the EU
When Paypal isn't available, in what ways can small amount of cash (<~$100) be sent from the EU to the US, with ...
- 677
13
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How do I register to vote as a non-resident American citizen?
Can I register to vote in the United States if I turned 18 in a foreign country and have no intention of returning in the near future?
If so, in what state would I be registering, and what's the ...
- 231
13
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Are USCIS visa "lotteries" in fact lotteries?
There are two processes by USCIS that are commonly referred to as "lotteries":
Diversity Visa Program (popularly know as "greencard lottery")
H-1B "lottery" (in case of applications' number exceeding ...
- 2,258
12
votes
1
answer
10k
views
My foreign bank is requesting I fill out a W-9
I am a U.S citizen who has been living in Argentina for the last 3 years. I am a legal permanent resident here and I work for an Argentine company, get paid in Argentine pesos and pay Argentine taxes. ...
- 123
12
votes
1
answer
339
views
How to change employers on a H-1B visa in the United States
For a person in the US under an H-1B visa - if this person needs to change jobs:
What's the procedure that needs to be followed since the H-1 is sponsored by the employer?
Can the visa and stay be ...
- 5,378
11
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How can a minor foreign-born child of a US citizen parent and non-US citizen parent get US citizenship if the US citizen parent refuses?
Zork, 12, was born in a foreign country to a US citizen parent and a non-US citizen parent. At the time of Zork's birth, the US citizen parent had (and currently has) all the requirements to pass US ...
- 371
10
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What can be done when a country doesn't have Birth Certificates?
I asked this earlier:
How to help my mother in law migrate - no lawyer wanted!
Thanks to many it has led me to at least print the form and understand the requirements. It appears based on the USCIS ...
- 537