Undocumented immigrants contribute billions of dollars per year to Social Security funds, reports the New American Economy, a bipartisan research and advocacy immigration organization. If all undocumented immigrants were removed from the US, there would a tremendous negative impact, both short and long term, on Social Security, explains Monique Morrissey, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington D.C.-based think tank. Undocumented immigrants’ contributions to Social Security are especially beneficial since undocumented individuals are not able to later receive benefits. Though Morrissey argues that these contributions are “not good” given that they are made by some of the most vulnerable people in society who are not themselves able to benefit, Abigail Zapote, the executive director of the D.C.-based nonprofit Latinos for Secure Retirement, notes: “The government, the IRS, will never say no to your tax dollars.”
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For many people, the Green Card is the ultimate symbol of accomplishment. After years of waiting through backlogs or dreaming of coming to America, the card is the proof of success. Holding the Green Card in their hands, they can breathe a sigh of relief that all their hard work paid off.
Because the Green Card is held in such high regard many clients understandably want to discuss how they can get one. But another equally important part of that conversation has to include the possible negative consequences of obtaining a Green Card. Despite the appeal of a Green Card, for some people it may not be the best choice.
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As an immigration lawyer, I am very fortunate to work every day with people from all over the world and from vastly different backgrounds. I do this while representing people in removal proceedings, in deferred action applications, and all manner of work visa petitions. For a clear majority of these people, there is one ultimate goal: US citizenship. For many, acquiring US citizenship is a lifelong and closely-held ambition, emotionally bound up with the process of leaving their home country and establishing a life here in the US. For others, it is a matter of convenience—allowing them the freedom to remain outside the US for extended periods of time without worrying about being found to abandon their permanent resident (Green Card) status, or to petition for family members from abroad to immigrate to the United States.
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So your nonimmigrant visa was approved (congratulations!) and you have arrived in the US. Now what? In our experience, many foreign nationals have numerous practical questions as they settle into their new lives in the US—from what they need to sign a lease on an apartment to opening a bank account to getting a driver’s license and more. While we do not intend for this post to give any legal advice (or financial or tax advice, for that matter), we hope to provide general insights to some common questions.
What should I do first?
After entering the US, foreign nationals should print the online version of their I-94 information as soon as possible and make sure that their name, the classification they were admitted in, and all other information is correct. Foreign nationals should also save the printed I-94 in a safe place. The I-94 is important because it specifies the exact amount of time a foreign national is allowed to stay in the US and may differ from the visa stamp. The I-94 is also necessary to gain certain benefits, such as getting a US Social Security number. Foreign nationals should print, check, and save their I-94 information after each time they enter the US.
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