How to Get a Green Card: Legal Ways to Stay in the U.S.A [Paperback]

Loida Nicolas Lewis (Author), Len T. Madlansacay (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0873378989 | ISBN-13: 978-0873378987 | Publication Date: January 2003 | Edition: 5th

Recent changes to immigration law have made it harder than ever to get a green card. Even worse, a single mistake in the process can ruin one's chances for good.

Consequently, it is essential that people who want to live and work in the United States -- and businesses that wish to hire them -- understand all the requirements before filling out the application.

Fortunately, there's help. Thoroughly revised to reflect the latest laws, How to Get a Green Card clearly explains the quickest, easiest way to get a green card through:

*parents, siblings and adult children
*spouses and fiancées
*employers
*green card lotteries
*political asylum or refugee status
*and much more

How to Get a Green Card also provides a list of more than 400 immigration groups that help with paperwork and offer counseling and legal referrals.

Written by former INS attorney Loida Nicolas Lewis and immigration specialist Len T. Madlansacay, the book is filled with advice on how to work with the INS, prepare and present all the right documents, and avoid being taken by surprise.

The book includes the latest forms, with completed samples and step-by-step instructions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book provides a nuts-and-bolts guide on obtaining a green card to work and live in the USA -- Ft. Worth Morning Star-Telegram, Orange County Register

Though many how-to books on the subject have been published, none have come with better credentials than this up-to-date guide. -- The Irish Herald

…a light in the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s Bureaucratic tunnel…highly recommended. -- Library Journal

About the Author

Loida Lewis is a former INS attorney with over 15 years experience handling U.S. immigration matters. Co-author of How to Get a Green Card, she is licensed to practice law in both New York and the Philippines.

Len T. Madlansacay has been an immigration and research specialist for 15 years. Co-author of How to Get a Green Card, he is currently president of ManAsia, Inc., a New York personnel agency specializing in recruiting foreign personnel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Nolo; 5th edition (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873378989
• ISBN-13: 978-0873378987
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,683,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars broad but not deep, August 8, 2000

By 

Logginz (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Get a Green Card: Legal Ways to Stay in the U.S.A. (3rd ed) (Paperback)

This is another book I wish I had flipped through before purchasing. There are MANY paths to a green card, they are complicated and subtle and only a couple of them will apply to a given individual. This book tries to cover them all in 350 odd pages, about a THIRD of which are photocopies of INS forms. This implies, of course, that depth of treatment is very light. If you have a question of any sophistication, you won't find the answer here. In my case I had a set of questions about the EAD (employment authorization document) and what exactly it permits, and was greeted by ONE paragraph which didn't even describe what it really is. On the important decision of Adjustment Of Status vs. Consular Processing I got no intelligent help. It leaned towards the AOS route without even mentioning that this could take you *3 years* to get through. (BTW, I found much more information on these topics online.)

I can't figure out who this book is for. If it's for someone with an immigration attorney wanting an overview of the process, then I don't get why it has so many photocopied forms. If it's for do-it-yourselfers, the shallow treatment will at best give you a false sense of security that you know what's going on. If it's for an immigration professional, then the coverage of all cases might be nice, but again the shallowness will make it nearly useless. I do know that if you're taking an employment-based route to immigration, this book will be of little help.

I bought this book because of a great experience with another Nolo press book. This one has been almost useless to me.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Shallow book with no real information, February 16, 2006

By 

mbiscoito (AL, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How To Get A Green Card: Legal Ways to Stay in the U.S.A. (Paperback)

I am lawyer from Brazil, and wanted to get real information about the green card application process (without having to go through the dry explanation in the INS website) and was completely disapointed and upset when I received this book. It does not cover anything in depth, and wastes a lot of time talking about temporary visas, fiance visas (I thougt it was supposed to explain about greencards!), special greencards for amerasians (which is not a very common situation)...
As for what I was really interested in, which was the green card application process for work-related reasons, there is a small, incomplete paragraph and a suggestion that I find an attorney!!!!
Waste of money, useless -- if you want to get a green card, either find another book, check the INS website, or hire a lawyer, this book will not help at all.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shows your options and helps to make decisions, September 6, 2002

By 

Lenny (Midwest, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Get a Green Card: Legal Ways to Stay in the U.S.A., 4th Ed (Paperback)

I believe this book may be of interest to many readers.
First of all, it explains how visitors from abroad can legally prolong their stay in the USA. It's possible to apply for an extension of one's visitor's status without leaving the USA. And this book guides well through this procedure.
Secondly, those who are interested in applying for a green card, should find the most suitable category if they want to succeed. The book describes qualifications and outlines the application process for each of them.
Many people don't know that they may be inadmissible for one or another reason even if they otherwise meet all the green card applicant requirements. Someone already in the US, and still may not be allowed to proceed if he or she falls into one of the inadmissible categories - as a violator of immigration rules in the past or for health reasons, for example. Some people find this out only after passing a medical exam. But you may want to learn about the regulations in advance. The book covers this issue in detail, including who and how can apply for a waiver of inadmissibility.
Another sensitive chapter is on cancellation of deportation. How and in what cases this may be done...
Also, you'll find some important information on how and who is eligible to claim status as a refugee or political asylee.
In all, I think the book is pretty informative and filled with practical advice. It's also easy to read and understand.