Importance of Legal Documentation
Immigrants must carry valid documentation (e.g., visas, green cards) to prove their legal status in the U.S.
What to Carry
Always keep a copy of your visa, passport, or green card. Avoid carrying the originals to reduce the risk of losing them
Renewals
Be proactive about renewing visas or work permits to avoid apses in legal status.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
A program allowing eligible undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to obtain work authorization and protection from deportation
Eligibility
Must have arrived before age 16 and meet education or military service requirements
Renewal
DACA must be renewed every two years
Legal Documents for Immigrants in California
Passport
government-issued document from your home country that serves as proof of your citizenship and identity
Importance:
required for international travel
needed for most visa applications and to apply for a driver’s license of state ID
How to Obtain:
Apply through your country’s embassy or consulate in the U.S.
Visa
A visa is an official document issued by the U.S. government that allows you to enter and stay in the country for a specific purpose and duration.
Types of Visas:
Non-Immigrant Visas
Immigrant Visas:
I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
The I-94 is issued to individuals when they enter the U.S. It shows the date you entered, the type of visa you used, and how long you are allowed to stay.
How to Obtain:
You can retrieve your I-94 online at U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s website
Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
The EAD, also known as a “work permit,” allows certain immigrants to work legally in the U.S.
Who Needs It:
Asylum seekers, DACA recipients, certain visa holders awaiting green cards.
How to Apply:
Fill out and submit the I-765 form to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Documents Needed:
Proof of current immigration status, a copy of your passport, and photographs
Fees:
Typically $410, but fee waivers may be available for low-income applicants.
Visa
What is a Visa?
A visa is a government-issued document that allows an individual to enter, stay, or work in the U.S. legally. Visas can be broadly categorized into non-immigrant (temporary) and immigrant (permanent) visas.
Non-Immigrant Visa
B-1/B-2 Tourist and Business Visitor Visas
(Non-Immigrant Visa)
These are short-term visits (tourism, business meetings). They DO NOT allow employment.
Application Process: Apply at a U.S. embassy/consulate, provide supporting documents, attend an interview
Validity: up to 10 years, with a stay of 6 months per visit
H-1B Work Visa (Non-Immigrant Visa)
For skilled workers in specialty occupations.
Requirements: A job offer from a U.S. employer, a bachelors’s degree or equivalent
Limitations: Annual cap on visas; lottery-based selection process
F-1 Student Visas
(Non-Immigrant Visa)
For students enrolled in academic programs.
Requirements: acceptance into a U.S. school, proof of finances, SEVIS fee payment
Duration: Length of the program + optional practical training.
General Information
U.S. Embassy/Consulates in California (Tourist and Business Visitor Visas): Consulate General in Los Angeles: Located at 12424 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1170, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Documents Required (Tourist and Business Visitor Visas): Passport, DS-160 form, Photo, Proof of funds, Proof of ties to your home country
SEVIS fee payment (Student Visas): a payment required by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System to support the Student and Exchange Visitor Program
Universities in California (like UCLA, UC Berkeley) have international student offices to guide F-1 and J-1 (Non-Immigrant Student Visa) visa holders.
Immigrant Visa (Green Cards)
Family-Based Green Card
For immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Categories: Spouse, children, parents, and siblings
Processing Time: varies based on category and priority date
Asylum and Refugee Status
For individuals fleeing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group.
Application Process: Apply within one year of arrival for asylum
Benefits: Eligibility for a green card after 1 year
California-Specific Notes
Numerous non-profit organizations in California offer free or low-cost legal assistance for green card applications, such as the Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWC) and CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights).
Employment-Based Green Cards
For skilled workers, professionals, and investors.
EB-1: For extraordinary ability individuals, executives
EB-2: For advanced degree holders
EB-5: For investors who invest $1M ($800K in targeted areas) in a U.S. business creating 10+ jobs
How to Apply For a Green Card:
Filing a Petition: A family member or employer must file a petition on behalf of the immigrant (Form I-130 for family, Form I-140 for employment)
Adjustment of Status: If the immigrant is already in the U.S., they can file Form I-485 to adjust their status to permanent resident without leaving the country
Green Card Interview: USCIS may require an interview to confirm eligibility
Approval: Once approved, the immigrant r
U.S. Citizenship Documents
Certificate of Naturalization
This document is issued to immigrants who become U.S. citizens through the naturalization Process.
How to Apply for Naturalization:
File Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) with USCIS
Attend a biometrics appointment and interview, pass the citizenship test, and take the Oath of Allegiance
U.S. Passport
Once you become a U.S. citizen, you can apply for a U.S. passport. This serves as proof of citizenship that allows international travel.
How to Apply:
Submit form DS-11 at a passport acceptance facility (usually a post office or government building).
How to Apply for Citizenship:
File Form N-400 (application for Naturalization) with USCIS
Meet the residency requirement (5 years as a green card holder, or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen).
Pass the English and Civics tests.
Attend a naturalization interview and take the Oath of Allegiance
Benefits of Citizenship:
Right to vote, eligibility for federal jobs, and protection from deportation.
Social Security Number (SSN)
A social security number (SSN) is essential for working in the U.S., paying taxes, and accessing certain government services
Who Can Apply:
U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and non-immigrants with work authorization
some visa holders (like H-1B or F-1 students on OPT) are eligible to apply
Note
California has many Social Security offices, especially in major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where immigrants can apply in person.
Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
A social security number (SSN) is essential for working in the U.S., paying taxes, and accessing certain government services
Why It’s Important
Filing taxes is required by law, and an ITIN allows immigrants to fulfill this obligation
It can also be used to open a bank account or apply for certain state services
How to Apply:
Complete Form W-7 (application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number).
Submit it along with a federal tax return and proof of identity (such as a passport) to the IRS.
Once processed, the IRS issues the ITIN by mail