# Immigration

> US immigration: nonimmigrant visas, green cards, employment authorization, naturalization, and process timelines — grounded exclusively in the USCIS Policy Manual, 8 CFR, the INA (8 USC), the DOS Foreign Affairs Manual, and the Visa Bulletin.

License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · Source: MIND (m-i-n-d.ai)
Hub: https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/immigration

- [Adjustment of status vs consular processing: what are the differences and who is eligible for each?](https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/immigration/adjustment-of-status-vs-consular-processing): Adjustment of status is the process for eligible individuals physically present in the United States to apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the country, while consular processing is the alternative pathway for those outside the United States to obtain an immigrant visa through a U.S. — as of 2026-08-20
- [Can you travel while your green card application is pending? Advance parole rules](https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/immigration/advance-parole-travel-pending-green-card): For applications pending on or after August 13, 2026, traveling on an Advance Parole Document (Form I-512L) after accruing more than 180 days of unlawful presence triggers the 3- or 10-year inadmissibility bar under INA § 212(a)(9)(B)(i). — as of 2026-08-20
- [Work authorization (EAD): who qualifies, what are the categories, and when should you renew?](https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/immigration/employment-authorization-document-ead): As of USCIS policy (August 2026), an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is available to noncitizens who file Form I-765 under a qualifying eligibility category. — as of 2026-08-20
- [Family-based green cards: what are the categories, and who can petition for whom?](https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/immigration/family-based-green-card-categories): As of July 2025, family-based green cards fall into two main groups: immediate relatives of U.S. — as of 2026-08-20
- [H-1B visa: who is eligible, and how do the registration and lottery process work?](https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/immigration/h1b-eligibility-registration-lottery): H-1B visa eligibility requires a job that qualifies as a specialty occupation—generally needing a U.S. — as of 2026-08-20
- [How do you read the Visa Bulletin? Priority dates, chargeability, and cutoff charts explained](https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/immigration/how-to-read-visa-bulletin): The Visa Bulletin, published monthly by the U.S. — as of 2026-08-20
- [What are the naturalization requirements? Continuous residence, physical presence, and good moral character](https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/immigration/naturalization-requirements): Naturalization requires three main requirements: continuous residence, physical presence, and good moral character. — as of 2026-08-20
- [O-1 visa and EB-1 green card: what do the extraordinary-ability standards actually require?](https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/immigration/o1-eb1-extraordinary-ability-standards): Under current USCIS policy, both the O-1 visa and EB-1 green card require proof of extraordinary ability, defined as being among a small percentage at the very top of one's field through sustained national or international acclaim. — as of 2026-08-20