Although there are immigration lawyers who practice immigration law in Arizona, and every other state, immigration law itself is uniquely federal in nature. The immigration laws passed by the federal government determine whether an individual is an alien, what
rights, duties, and obligations aliens present in the
United States have, and how aliens can gain residence or citizenship in the
United States. Immigration laws also govern the mechanisms by which aliens can
become naturalized citizens.
In a nutshell, the immigration laws of the United States determine who may enter, how long they may stay, and when they must leave.
The United States Congress has complete authority over immigration, with individual States afforded extremely limited legislative authority regarding immigration. By controlling the visa process, the federal government works to implement its immigration policies. There are two types of visas, immigrant and non-immigrant. Non-immigrant visas are typically granted to tourists, temporary workers, and short-term business visitors. Some non-immigrant visas allow their holders to work in the United States, and most of these are only available to a limited number of individuals each year. Immigrant visas permit their holders to stay and work in the United States permanently, and eventually apply for citizenship. Congress limits the total quantity of immigrant visas as well as imposing per-county caps on the number of immigrant visas issued each year.
Regardless of your situation, an experienced Arizona immigration lawyer can help design the immigration solution to best serve you.
