Accomplished writer and University of Houston professor Chitra Divakaruni wows with her stories of immigration, the South Asian experience, and women’s experiences.
Her books and her life point to the importance of foreign-born families unifying in the United States to have better lives and togetherness. Divakaruni was born in Calcutta, India and moved to Dayton, Ohio to be near her brother. She also pursued a master’s degree at Wright State University in Dayton and excelled in the doctorate program at the University of California, Berkeley.
Divakaruni’s life story mimics the pattern of other successful immigrants to the United States. It sometimes starts out with a brother moving to America, or a wife, or grandparents making the transition first. With U.S. immigration and green card laws, only a certain number of visas are allotted to countries around the world, and set categories define which relatives can come over immediately or must wait based on the preference system.
When one relative is already in the U.S. as a legal permanent resident or citizen, they will sponsor their relative and prove they have enough income or assets to support the immigrant as well as accept legal responsibility for them. The sponsor will need to show IRS tax returns, W2s, or 1099 forms to verify there are enough funds to not make the immigrant co-dependent on the state. It is highly recommended to have an experienced immigration attorney to go over the most appropriate type of visa and documents needed, file the I-130 petition and questionnaires correctly, and have the affidavits of support in place for the citizenship and immigration services office, also known as the USCIS.
The immigrant visa process can be complex and tedious, so individuals can benefit greatly by competent legal counsel. The USCIS mandates specific vaccinations, interviews, and sometimes requires DNA testing. Immigration attorneys can ensure that a client’s or family’s paperwork is filled out thoroughly to prevent delays as much as possible. Also, an immigration attorney will help a client make a good impression and presentation at the interview and testing.
Each year, the USCIS sets the number of visas given through set visa preferences. Some of the categories fill up fast, and some individuals and families can end up waiting quite a while to know their immigration status. The following preferences are set for this fiscal year:
Family First Preference – 23,400 visas to unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their minor children
Family Second Preference – 114,200 visas to spouses, minor children, and unmarried sons and daughters (age 21 and over) of permanent residents
Family Third Preference – 23,400 visas to married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, their spouses and minor children
Family Fourth Preference – 65,000 visas to brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and minor children, provided the U.S. citizens are at least 21 years of age.
In Texas, Houston immigration attorney Annie Banerjee has successfully helped individuals, families, and employers for more than 10 years with their immigration matters. As an immigrant, Annie knows firsthand the diligence, respect, and hard work it takes to become a green card holder and U.S. citizen. She is very active in the legal profession and the community as a member of the Texas and American Bar Associations, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Indian Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston, and co-founder of the Indian American Lawyers of Houston.
A. Banerjee is a Houston immigration lawyer in Texas. Before selecting an immigration lawyer in Houston Texas, contact the Law Offices of Annie Banerjee by visiting their information filled web site at http://www.visatous.com.
