Skip to Main Content

Immigration and Citizenship Resources

Based on a guide originally created by Brian Bess at the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library in Alabama. Used with permission of Brian Bess.

About Immi

 

About Immi
Immi helps immigrants in the U.S. understand their legal options. Our online screening tool, legal information, and referrals to nonprofit legal services organizations are always free to use. Immi was created by the Immigration Advocates Network and Pro Bono Net, two nonprofit organizations dedicated to increasing access to justice for low-income immigrants.
 
How to Use Immi
 
New to immi?
  • Start by completing the online interview to understand your immigration options. This should take you between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on your answers. At the end, you will receive personalized results that explain your immigration options, as well as why you might qualify and potential risks.
  • After you have completed the online interview, you can access your results by sending them to your email or mobile phone.
  • Learn about U.S. immigration law by visiting the immi Learning Center. If you have a question about a specific immigration term, you can also search our glossary.
  • Find Legal Help. Our network of over 1,000 nonprofits can assist you for free or at a low cost. Type in your zip code to find an organization near you. Tip: You can print your immi results to bring to your first meeting with a legal advocate.
  • Has your situation or the law changed? Take the immi Interview again.
From https://www.immi.org/Info/About; accessed September 19, 2017.
 

About U.S. Immigration Law

What are immigration laws?

Our immigration laws say:

  • Who has legal immigration status in the U.S.
  • Who is allowed to live and work here, and
  • Who can become a U.S. citizen.

What do immigration laws do?

Immigration laws have many goals. Some are to:

  • Keep families together
  • Bring skilled workers to the U.S.
  • Protect people from danger

Some laws allow people to stay for a limited time. Other laws allow people to qualify for permanent legal status. The U.S. government may change the laws at any time.

How can I immigrate legally?

Immigration laws are complicated, and the rules are hard to understand. Your personal history and experiences will affect your chances of getting legal status. Our immigrant stories explain how other immigrants may qualify for legal status.

Many people apply to stay in the U.S. if they:

  • Have family members who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents;
  • Have special job skills and an employer who can "sponsor" them;
  • Come from a country that is at war or suffering from a natural disaster;
  • Are children whose parents cannot take good care of them;
  • Were harmed or threatened in their country for political, religious, social or other reasons;
  • Are the victim of a crime and are helping the police;
  • Were abused by a spouse or parent who is a U.S. citizen or legal resident; or
  • Came to the U.S. as children or have children who are citizens or legal residents.

These are just some common ways an immigrant might qualify to stay in the U.S. If you want legal status, you must apply. Some applications take a long time or are very hard to get. Unfortunately, some people will not qualify for legal status.

From https://www.immi.org/Info/LearnAboutImmigration; accessed September 19, 2017.

To learn more about any of these immigration options, visit our Learning Center.

Immi - Understand Your Options

Do you qualify to stay in the U.S.?

Find the path that's right for you. Answer some simple questions to get started.
 
Click on 'Start Now' button to learn about the interview process.
 

For Legal Advocates

If you are a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that provides legal services, please contact us about joining our partner network: info@immi.org

Glossary

Use this glossary to find a definition or explanation for a term related to immigration. Start by searching for the term or clicking on the letter your word begins with. You may also view all terms.

From https://www.immi.org/home/Prescreening; accessed September 19, 2017.

IMMI - Find Legal Help

Search for Legal Help
 
immi works with legal aid organizations across the U.S. to connect immigrants to legal help. Enter your address or zip code to see a list of organizations in your area.
 
Enter your zip code or address in search area and click 'Search' button for results.
 

For Legal Advocates

If you are a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that provides legal services, please contact us about joining our partner network: info@immi.org.

From https://www.immi.org/info/FindLegalHelp; accessed September 21, 2017.

 

IMMI - Learning Center

Learning Center

The immi learning center is your resource for learning about U.S. immigration and how to stay in the U.S. legally. Browse the glossary for basic terms and concepts. Or read more detail about common ways to stay in the U.S. below.
 
Browse by:
 
  • Know Your Rights
  • Asylum
  • Family Based
  • Naturalization
  • Other Family Options
  • SIJS
  • T Visa
  • TPS&DED
  • U Visa
  • VAWA

 Know Your Rights


Get updated information on topics such as the following:

  • DACA Update
  • How to Be Prepared for a Raid or Arrest
  • How to Get Good Legal Help
  • How to Help Someone in Detention
  • Immigration Court and Removal Proceedings
  • Immigration Enforcement
  • Plan for the Future
  • Watch out for Immigration Scams

 

From https://www.immi.org/info/LearningCenter; accessed September 25, 2017.