There’s been no shortage of news on immigration law recently. But rather than get into politics, let’s talk about the facts.
First, how many people are emigrants (those leaving a country) and immigrants (those moving into a new country)?
The answer? Well, a lot of us. 
According to The New York Times, nearly 190 million people, (roughly 3% of the world’s population), lived outside their country of birth in 2005. Check out this incredibly cool interactive graphic at the Times website. It tracks the flow of migration, how different countries stack up in terms of their share of total migrants, and the flow of money sent home by migrants.
Second, if you are someone who is hoping to come to the United States legally, what are your options?
There are a variety of ways to gain lawful immigration status, and if you are seeking advice on these questions, we’d love to get you in touch with one of our immigration law attorneys here in Pittsburgh. Here are two basic options in terms of visas:
K-1 Visa (Fiance Visa)
A Fiancee Visa (also known as a K1 Visa) is a travel document that allows a foreign Fiancee of a U.S. Citizen to enter the United States for the sole purpose of getting married. Fiancee Visas are generally considered the quickest vehicle to legally bring a foreign fiancée to the U.S. with the intentions of marriage and immigration.
Employment Based Labor Certification and Green Card – The PERM Process
A permanent labor certification issued by the Department of Labor (DOL) allows an employer to hire a foreign worker to work permanently in the United States. In most instances, before the U.S. employer can submit an immigration petition to the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services the employer must obtain an approved labor certification request from the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA). The DOL must certify to the USCIS that there are no qualified U.S. workers able, willing, qualified and available to accept the job at the prevailing wage for that occupation in the area of intended employment and that employment of the foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.
Please visit our Pittsburgh Immigration Law website to get more information about the immigration process.
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