The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was formerly known as the subsidiary firm of the Department of Justice, but is now part of the Department of Homeland Security. The INS grants student visa, tourist visa or any extended stay visas for foreign born citizens who wish to extend their stay in the United States.

After the 9/11 attacks on the United States, the Immigration and Naturalization Services were made strict on strengthening the national security and tightening the antiterrorism. All the guidelines of this agency were made very stringent for issuance of visa and even on the general criteria for prolonged entry in United States.

INS also holds the responsibility of detention and questioning the suspected visa holders might be connected to terrorist organisation. The detention period can be of any reasonable length of time that might be required to check or gather the information required to scrutinise the suspect. INS is also powered by Mobilization Against Terrorism Act (MATA) thus it holds the power to deport or file a case against any foreign person that may be connected to any terrorism or such organisations. INS also holds the right to cancel the visa or green card of the suspect found in connection to any terrorist group.

INS works to cut down the number of people who entered United States through its Border Patrol. INS is also responsible for searching out the illegal foreigners and to deport them back to their nation. It also imposes stiff criminal penalties for the agents who exploit illegal aliens.

Thus INS works as a stringent security organisation that keeps an eye on each and every foreign born person who enters the United States and also keeps track on their activities.

A Green card permits an alien to reside and take employment in USA. It is an Identification card, serves as a proof that card holder is a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) and has been legally granted immigration benefits.

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is an agency formerly responsible to issue Green cards. It mainly focused on protecting and enforcing the laws of naturalization, the process by which a foreign-born person becomes a citizen.

During a re-organization process, INS was absorbed into and replaced by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) which was further renamed as US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which still retains the responsibility for issuing green cards.

To apply a Green Card one must have a Visa that can be an Immigrant for permanent stay or Non Immigrant for temporary stay. Non Immigrant visa can be a Business Visa, Student Visa, Exchange Visa or can be a Tourist Visa as well.

The duration of the stay depends entirely on the purpose of visit. A business visa also known as B1/B2 Visa is allotted to those who are visiting US for Business Purpose, to attend short term training for short span of time, to visit to his relatives or for any medical treatment

There is another category of Business visa called as EB1/EB2 Visa allotted to priority workers including outstanding professors, researchers, International managers and executives. An EB1 petition does not require a Labor Certification.

To process it forward, an individual or employer must file a Form I-140 (a Petition for Alien Worker) with the USCIS Regional Service Center that has jurisdiction over the place where the individual will work.

Once the I-140 immigrant visa petition is approved, the alien and his/her spouse and children under 21 years of age may apply for their immigrant visas either through adjustment of status in the United States or through consular processing which an applicant can take at US consulate overseas.

Other type of Visa includes Students Visa which is allotted to students going US for studies. This visa is valid only for the span of course duration or 5 years whichever less is. Apart from these Visas there are some other categories like Tourist Visa, Transit Visa that are allotted as per the duration of stay.

There is a separate category of Visa also known as Exchange Visa or F-1 visa which is much highlighted these days for the exchange programs run by colleges and schools wherein students from foreign countries visit US to interact with their students and to understand their education pattern.

Apart from the above process one can also get a Green Card through a Green card Lottery organised by state department that provides Green Card to 50,000 winners randomly selected from all the qualified entries.

—————————————————————————————————–