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How Do I Know If My Immigration Problem Involves The Department Of State, Uscis, Or The Department Of Labor?

The answer depends on whether the problem involves a visa, a petition requesting permission to enter the United States, or labor certification.If the problem involves a visa, it probably involves the Department of State, which is the only federal agency than can issue a visa. There are two types of visas:

Nonimmigrant Visa: a multicolored stamp placed in the passport, allowing the bearer to enter the United States temporarily for a specific purpose, identifies this visa.
Immigrant Visa: not stamped in a passport, but is a packet of documents surrendered to an immigration officer at the port of entry. The packet includes an approved petition filed by an individual, a business or an organization (such as a religious group) seeking to sponsor an immigrant's entry into this country.

If the problem involves a petition requesting permission to enter the United States as an immigrant, or under certain circumstances, as a nonimmigrant, such as for employment or as a fiancé, the situation involves USCIS.

If the problem involves labor certification, it involves the Department of Labor.

Other Citizenship and Naturalization FAQs

Q: Who Has Citizenship By Birth?
A: Persons who are born in the United States are citizens at birth unless they are born to foreign diplomats. A person who is born abroad to TWO US citizens is a US … More
Q: Who Is An Alien For Purposes Of United States Immigration?
A: An alien is any individual who is not a citizen or a national of the U.S. Within the category of alien are several distinctions: Legal alien: one who is … More
Q: How Do I Become A Naturalized Citizen?
A: If you are not a US citizen by birth or did not acquire citizenship automatically after birth, you may still be eligible to become a citizen through the normal … More
Q: What Is An Immigration Visa?
A: Immigrant and nonimmigrant are the two types of visas. The granting or denying of visas helps achieve the goals of immigration laws. Nonimmigrant visas are … More
Q: How Long Does It Take To Become Naturalized?
A: The time it takes to be naturalized varies from one local USCIS Service Center to another. More
Q: Who Determines Whether Or Not My Request(S) For Entry Into The U.S. Will Be Granted?
A: The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the agency responsible for approving immigrant entry into the U.S. USCIS is a bureau … More
Q: Where Can I Be Fingerprinted?
A: After the USCIS has received your application, the USCIS will notify you of the location where you should get fingerprinted. More
Q: Should I Hire A Lawyer?
A: Yes, whether you are filing forms because you were a child born abroad to one or two parents who are U.S. citizens, filing for natural or adopted children born abroad, … More
Q: How Do Most People Become U.S. Citizens?
A: One way in which citizenship may be achieved is by birth in the U.S., or birth to parents who are U.S. citizens. If neither of these situations applies, one may … More
Q: What Is A Green Card?
A: A green card is, technically, a United States Permanent Resident Card. This card serves as identification for one who is a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the … More

Immigration Sub-categories

Diversity Visa Program (Green Card Lottery)
Filing for Permanent Residency
Immigration Decision Appeals
Port-of-Entry

Seeking Asylum in the USA
Studying in the USA
Temporary Protected Status
Visiting the USA - Visas