What is the difference between an immigrant and non-immigrant visa in regards to obtaining permanent resident status?

In the State of Washington, an immigrant visa is the most common way for a foreign national to become a permanent resident. An immigrant visa is a visa that is granted to a foreign national through the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that allows the foreign national to enter the U.S. and become a permanent resident within a specific time period. In contrast, a non-immigrant visa is a visa that is granted to a foreign national to temporarily reside in the U.S. for a specific period of time, such as for work or study purposes. Unlike an immigrant visa, a non-immigrant visa does not allow for permanent residency in the U.S. and it has a much shorter duration of stay compared to an immigrant visa. Additionally, a non-immigrant visa usually requires the foreign national to have a sponsor, such as an employer or family member, who will be financially responsible for them during their stay. In regards to marriage, a foreign national in Washington who marries a U.S. citizen or permanent resident may be eligible to obtain an immigrant visa. If the marriage is less than two years old, the foreign national must apply for an Adjustment of Status and must also be approved for a waiver. However, if the marriage is two years old or older, the foreign national may be eligible to apply for an immigrant visa without having to go through the Adjustment of Status process. On the other hand, if the foreign national is married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident but does not wish to obtain permanent resident status, they may be eligible to apply for a non-immigrant visa to temporarily stay in the U.S.

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En Washington, la diferencia entre una visa de inmigrante y una visa de no inmigrante con respecto a obtener el estatus de residente permanente se trata principalmente de la intención del inmigrante. Con una visa de inmigrante (también conocida como visa de residencia permanente), el inmigrante tiene la intención de vivir permanentemente en Estados Unidos. Esta visa es la única forma de obtener el estatus de residente permanente. La visa de no inmigrante, por otro lado, se otorga a aquellos que ingresan temporalmente a Estados Unidos y tienen la intención de regresar a su país de origen. La visa de no inmigrante no está diseñada para obtener el estatus de residente permanente, aunque algunos inmigrantes pueden ser elegibles para la residencia permanente a través de una visa de no inmigrante. Por ejemplo, un inmigrante que entra a Estados Unidos con una visa de no inmigrante pero que luego se casa con un ciudadano estadounidense puede ser elegible para una green card de residencia permanente.

What is the difference between an immigrant and non-immigrant visa in regards to obtaining permanent resident status?

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