Immigration to the USA: why is the world striving for the land of opportunities?

Immigration to the United States: America as a Country of Immigrants

Immigration to the USA: America is a country that opens its doors to migrants. In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the number of people leaving their countries to start a new life across the ocean. As of today, the United States ranks among the top countries in the world in terms of the number of people who have chosen immigration, with immigrants making up over 15% of the country's population, which translates to approximately 50.6 million people. In comparison, Germany has about 15.7 million immigrants, Saudi Arabia has around 13.4 million, and Russia has a figure of 11.6 million.

Reasons for immigration

The main reasons that drive people to immigrate to America are the desire to improve their lives and increase their standard of living. It is one of the most economically powerful countries in the world, with a gross domestic product of an impressive $20.8 trillion as of 2020. America offers excellent conditions for doing business, as demonstrated by its high ranking in the World Bank's ease of doing business index, where the U.S. ranked sixth.

The process of doing business

The process of starting a business in the United States is characterized by speed and simplicity: you can register your company in just thirty minutes online. Additionally, the country offers attractive lending conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises, which increases interest in commercial activities.

Decrease in immigration applications

However, in 2020, there was a sharp decline in the number of applications for immigration and non-immigration visas — more than twice as many, while the number of people who obtained citizenship decreased by 25%. This data was released by Second Wind, a company that deals with investment and immigration issues.

Experts' expectations

Many experts are confident that these changes are temporary. The decline in the number of new visa applications sharply contrasts with the increased number of cases pending review from previous years.

• The most in-demand are immigration visas.that are based on family relationships:
• Spouses
• Parents
• Children under the age of 21
• Brothers and sisters of the citizens of the United States
• Spouses and children of green card holders

Non-immigrant visas

As for non-immigrant visas, the highest number of applications in 2020 were for tourist and business visas in the B1/B2 categories.

Factors influencing immigration

Two key elements that have influenced the reduction of immigration processes and the adjustment of policies in this area, according to experts, are the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in the political leadership of the United States.

• In March 2020, many consulates were closed or switched to remote work, which significantly limited the ability to submit visa applications.
• Only a small number of diplomats could consider the new statements over the year.

Change of power and immigration policy

The second important change is the arrival of the new administration under President Joe Biden. Varvara Latyntseva, the commercial director of Second Wind, emphasizes that the change in power has led to a shift in immigration policy. In particular, President Biden has proposed a new bill regarding immigration issues, which is awaiting consideration in Congress.

Prospects for the legalization of migrants in the USA

This article discusses the possibilities of legalizing approximately 11 million migrants who are in the United States illegally. Currently, a bill addressing this issue is under discussion. Notably, some directives introduced during Donald Trump's presidency have been revoked.

Cancelled measures

The following measures are no longer in effect:

• The decree has been revoked.which could serve as a basis for denying green card applications for immigrants receiving social benefits both in America and abroad (the so-called "public charge" principle).
• The decree has been canceled.which linked the processing of the H-1B work visa to the immigrant's income levels.
• The block has been removed.for entry for citizens from a number of Muslim countries.

Family ties and deportation

In addition, the actions of the regulatory act that led to the separation of families whose children illegally found themselves in the United States, as well as those concerning deportation and the construction of a wall on the border with Mexico, have been temporarily suspended.

Immigration flows to the USA

When it comes to immigration flows to America, the highest number of migrants comes from CIS countries such as Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. Citizens from other post-Soviet states are also trying to move to the U.S., but their numbers are significantly lower.

Statistics on obtaining citizenship

In 2020, there was a decrease in the number of Russians, Ukrainians, and Kazakhs who obtained American citizenship. Although Russians still rank among the leaders in the overall immigration flow of 2020, which totaled 613,700 people, their share barely exceeded 1%.

The process known as naturalization is available to foreign citizens who have lived in America for at least five years or have been married to a U.S. citizen for at least three years.

Dynamics of naturalization

Over the past ten years, Ukraine has consistently ranked first among CIS countries in the number of people who have become U.S. citizens. Since 2011, 77,900 Ukrainians have gone through the naturalization process.

Immigration visas to the USA

Immigration visas to the United States provide a chance to obtain a green card and also open the path to acquiring citizenship. The choice of a specific type of visa depends on the professional experience of each individual candidate, as well as the reasons they seek to come to America.

Green card lottery

One of the most common methods for obtaining a visa is participating in the well-known green card lottery, also referred to as the lottery.diversity visa lotteryThis government lottery takes place annually and provides the opportunity to win a green card valid for ten years. Each year, the limit on the number of visas issued through this lottery is50,000.

Information about the lottery

More detailed information about the lottery, including application submission instructions, can be found on the official website of the U.S. Department of State. Participation in this drawing is completely free and is conducted through official resources. In 2020, Russia and Ukraine were among the countries that actively participated in this program, ranking high in the number of visas issued. Nepal was the leader with...2037issued visas, followed by countries such asAlbania (1289visa) andEgypt (1277visa).

Other ways to obtain visas

In addition to participating in the lottery, there are other grounds for obtaining immigration visas for citizens of the mentioned countries. This may include:

• reunion with family,
• labor activity,
• investments in the American economy.

For example, there are special immigration visas for close relatives, separate visas for other family members, as well as visas intended for workers and investors.

Visa issuance statistics

If we look at the visa issuance statistics, according to the lottery data for 2021, the number of visas issued by country is as follows:

• Kazakhstan— 11014 visas,
• Russia— 59962 visas,
• Ukraine— 106112 visas.

It should be noted that the information about visas issued through the lottery does not include green cards that were obtained in the United States through a change of status.

Immigrant stories

Many people share their stories about moving to the USA, talking about how they started a new life in America. For example, a Ukrainian swimming coach shared his determination to move to the USA at the age of50 yearsand the experience of my real estate investments.

Changes in the visa application process

CApril 1, 2021There have been changes in the procedure for obtaining American visas for Russian citizens. The consulate in Yekaterinburg has stopped providing visa services, and the consulate in Vladivostok has also temporarily suspended its operations. Currently, Russians can only submit their documents in Moscow, and appointments are available only online.

Restrictions on obtaining tourist visas

Currently, the opportunities to obtain tourist visas in most countries are severely limited. In Europe and the United Arab Emirates, visa appointments are only opening at the end of this year or even next year. Therefore, searching for and obtaining a visa requires more careful preparation and planning on the part of applicants.

Conclusion

In conclusion, immigration to the United States remains an important topic for many people seeking a better future. Over the past few decades, the United States has attracted millions of migrants due to its economic opportunities, high standard of living, and competitive business environment.

Nevertheless, recent changes in immigration policy, driven by the pandemic and the political situation in the country, have led to significant changes in the number of visas issued and the naturalization processes.

Analysis of the current situation

As the author of this article, I understand that the current situation is the result of many factors, including:

• temporary challenges related to the pandemic;
• systemic changes in the approach to migration.

We observe that despite the difficulties,interest in the USAAs a country of immigrants, it does not fade away. In the future, it is important to monitor the developments related to immigration and how new political initiatives may change the existing order.

Immigration processes

It is also worth noting that immigration processes are complex and multi-layered, requiring constant attention and adaptation. I hope that we will soon see improvements in this area, allowing many people to realize their dream of living and working in the USA.

We must not forget that behind every immigrant lies their own story, hopes, and aspirations. Perhaps soon we will see a return to normal immigration rates and, as a result, more favorable conditions for all those wishing to become part of American society.