ELI5: What's the process to get into U.S from Mexico legally (immigrate)?

It depends. The US will offer x amount of work visas every year for jobs where there are a shortage of American workers (it could be working on farms or being a doctor), student visas and travel visas (you don't need a visa to visit the US if you are Mexican) After you get your foot in the door you are only allowed to stay for until your visa expires. After that you are supposed to return. If you want to legally stay, you have to apply for permanent resident status (which means you are not a citizen, but are legally entitled to stay permanently [a green card]). This can by done a few ways. First, you can apply based on family ties, if you marry an American you can apply, if you are unmarried but are the offspring of an US citizen, etc. If you posses extraordinary capabilities or training, if it is of the national interest or if you belong to a group that is being persecuted and your country's government does not have control of the situation, or are a refugee you can apply for refugee status. If you belong to the last group the state department will investigate your case and grant or deny you asylum; all require an interview with US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Employers can also petition the government to grant x amount of visas to do x job because these jobs require workers to be in the US for extended periods of time and there are not enough people in the US that can do it. All this does is not grant you citizenship, it grants you the right to live in the US, you do not serve on jury duty, there are certain benefits you are not eligible for but you are fully protected by the constitution (even if you are here illegally). Generally, if you have no special skills then you will not be granted a green card.

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