Kentucky Immigration Law Blog

No matter how long you have been a permanent resident of the United States, you may still be nervous about the naturalization process ahead of you. After all, you may be a poor judge of your own grasp of the English language, and studying for the civics test can be intimidating. No matter what situation you are in, facing an interview of any kind can be overwhelming, and your citizenship interview is no exception.

However, before you even get to the interview, you have to pass the background investigation. This step in the process confirms for the U.S. government that you are not a threat to its citizens. Before receiving approval for an interview, you must submit three critical pieces of information to the FBI so they can research your history.

Immigration policies have long been a point of debate in America. Many disagree over what rights immigrants should have in the nation, and when they should be eligible for permanent residency -- if at all. Meanwhile, countless Kentucky  families have been torn apart and forced back to native countries. The dangers of some of these countries were the sole reason why many families fled in the first place. What are America's current immigration laws, and what are common obstacles of the process?  

The Foundation for Economic Education is quick to criticize the nation's immigration policies, warning its audience that the line for green cards is outrageously long. Ironically enough, FEE argues that there is no line to begin with; America's policies are so complex that many are left in the dark. A big factor that plays a role in tight laws is that of visas. FEE explains that, on rare occasions, an employer may petition for an employee's green card, but only if the limit on visas has not been exhausted.

One of the proudest moments of your life may have been when you were able to sponsor your parent who applied for a permanent resident card. Receiving a green card provided many opportunities for your loved one, and you played an important role in making that happen.

Years have passed, and your parent has become a comfortable member of your Kentucky community. You may have suggested numerous times that he or she apply for citizenship, but the answer was always the same. Your loved one felt incapable of meeting the requirements for success in the naturalization process. You may be pleased to know that the government is willing to make accommodations and exceptions for certain requirements that are part of the naturalization process.

Those seeking asylum in Louisville and throughout the rest of the U.S. may be doing so for a number of different reasons. Listed among these is likely to escape discrimination they may have been experiencing in their countries of origin due to their ethnicity, religious beliefs or other reasons. They may certainly not expect to encounter it here. If they do, the hope is that they are able to rise above it and continue on their path to seeking permanent residency (if that is their ambition). 

The opportunities to grow and progress are among those things refugees covet. Such growth is on full display in the case of a refugee from Zambia. The teen, who currently lives in Maine, has an asylum application pending and has been issued a Social Security number. He certainly appears to also have taken full advantage of the chances afforded to him after it was announced that he had won a statewide poetry competition. State-level winners of this competition are supposed to then be able to compete at the national competition in Washington, D.C. However, the teen has reportedly been barred entry because he is not an American citizen. A lawsuit has since been filed by the local school board against the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation in an attempt to allow him to participate.