Since ancient Babylon 4,000 years ago, civilizations worldwide have celebrated the start of every year with New Year’s festivities. Historians believe that the Babylonians celebrated the New Year in late March with the beginning of the spring season. Today, most New Year’s celebrations begin on December 31, the last day of the Gregorian calendar. Common… Read More
Technology-based companies in the United States have continuously relied upon highly-skilled noncitizens to fill key technical roles. For example, among the most popular employers for H-1B visas, tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta, increased their employee count during the COVID-19 pandemic as consumers spent more time online. However, despite the expectation for continued… Read More
In March of 2021, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas stated that the US was on pace “to encounter more individuals on the southwest border than we have in the last 20 years.” The detentions and arrests of undocumented immigrants in 2021 along the southern US border reached an all-time high of 1.9 million, with… Read More
The Biden Administration has proposed an ID program for undocumented individuals arriving in the United States through Mexico’s borders. The program is part of an effort to modernize the documentation process for noncitizens, which hasn’t been updated since President Obama’s 2015 Presidential Memorandum, “Modernizing and Streamlining the US Immigrant Visa System for the 21st Century,” … Read More
Due to the competitive job market in the United States, some new Americans may seek a job in a field that’s different from the one they had in their native country. Making a career change in a new country can be challenging but it can also introduce you to new people and new languages that… Read More
Deportation and removal proceedings occur when the US government orders a person to leave the country. According to the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, approximately 186,000 individuals were deported in 2020, a 30 percent decrease from 2019. About 92% of removals were individuals convicted of a crime or pending criminal charges. The most… Read More
As a green card holder in the United States, you are now a lawful permanent resident (LPR). LPRs are granted many benefits not available to other visa holders, such as permission to live permanently in the United States, accept employment without special restrictions, own property, and receive financial assistance at public universities and colleges. However,… Read More
A public charge occurs when a noncitizen receives public benefits that may prevent them from becoming a lawful permanent resident. The definition of which public benefits have changed over the years, with the newest iteration taking effect by the end of 2022. This update is just one of the many ways the Biden administration is… Read More
Mastering the English language will open many doors for newcomers to the United States. It will provide a better sense of your new home, including the culture, the people, and your future as a new American. Proficiency in English also makes everyday activities like using public transportation, reading signs, shopping, and eating at restaurants much… Read More
The US Constitution mandates that a census be taken every ten years to count all people—both citizens and noncitizens—living in the United States. This count helps to ensure fair political representation and plays a vital role in many areas of public life. The US Census is a questionnaire that can be filled out online, over… Read More