The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced its plans to impose a significant increase in the fee to file the application for U.S. citizenship (Form N-400) to take effect on July 30, 2007. Currently, the fee is $400, but it will increase to $675, an increase of 69%.

Adjustment of status and consular processing are two ways to request permanent resident status in the United States. Each option has its postives and negatives, and you should make sure you're aware of the differences before making your decision.

To obtain permanent resident status in the United States, you may opt for consular processing (where you apply for an immigrant visa through the Department of State and must attend an interview at a U.S. Consulate in your country of residence abroad) or adjustment of status (where you remain in the United States and file an application with USCIS). Each has its own set of pros and cons that you should be familar with before choosing which option is right for you. For more information, take a look at: A Comparison of Consular Processing vs. Adjustment of Status and How Consular Processing Works.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced its plans to impose a significant increase in the fee to file the application for U.S. citizenship (Form N-400). Currently, the fee is $400, and estimates for the proposed increase range from a hike to $600 or even $1,000. The agency anticipates that the new fee could go into effect as early as April 2007.

Five years after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, U.S. colleges and universities are fighting to reverse what some consider an alarming decline in foreign student enrollment. Despite a tightening of visa regulations in the months immediately following the attacks, foreign student enrollment actually increased in 2001, in part because of students who already had applied or enrolled, but since then numbers have steadily declined.

Extraordinary ability is a level of expertise that places the applicant among "the small percentage of individuals who have risen to the very top of their field of endeavor". Generally, this means that the applicant must demonstrate that he/she is among the top 5% of experts within their field. This immigrant category is not subject to a labor certification requirement prior to filing for the adjustment of status. According to the Immigration and Nationality Act ("INA") §203(b)(1)(A) a person with extraordinary ability is someone who:

An executive or a manager who meets the legal requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act ("INA") §203(b)(1)(C) can immigrate to the U.S. expeditiously, without having to file a labor certification. In other words, neither the beneficiary nor his employer needs to prove a lack of qualified U.S. workers to the State Workforce Agency or the Department of Labor before the beneficiary is permitted to file his/her adjustment of status application for permanent residency in the U.S.

Lawful permanent residence is an "immigrant" status (not a U.S. citizenship). This status entitles the applicant to live and work in the United States permanently. Obtaining permanent residence through employment sponsorship involves going through the following three phases:

Jobs in the U.S. high-technology industry continue to grow and, at the same time, there continues to be a shortage of qualified American citizens and permanent residents to fill these tech and engineering jobs. Filling the gap provides an opportunity for foreign nationals who may qualify for the H-1B visa program. The fiscal year 2007 annual cap on H-1B admissions was already reached earlier in the year, however, H-1B visas for FY2008 will become available on October 1, 2007 and applications can be submitted as early as April 1, 2007.

Reuniting and keeping families together has traditionally been Congress' foremost consideration in the promulgation of U.S. immigration laws. The information found in this article will help you to identify all the lawful forms of relief available to foreigners based on their family relationship to citizens or to permanent residents of the United States.