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Senior Immigrant Health Insurance plans are long term plans designed to the special health needs of new immigrants (Green Card holders sponsored by family members) to the US and potential immigrants (H4 & F2 visa holders). Senior Immigrant Health Insurance plans cover medical expenses resulting from sudden illness or injuries during their period of coverage

Immigration matters are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. These services were formerly provided by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

If you are a citizen of a foreign country, you will typically require a visa to enter the United States. A visa allows you to travel to the United States as far as the port of entry (airport or land border crossing) and ask the immigration officer to allow you to enter the country. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter the United States. He or she decides how long you can stay for any particular visit.

There are two categories of U.S. visas:

1. Immigrant
   
2. Non-immigrant
   

USA Immigration Visas

1. Unlimited Immigrants (those who may obtain permanent residence status without numerical limitation)
   
2. Limited Immigrants (those subject to an annual limitation)
   The latter category is further divided into
   1. Family-sponsored
      
   2. Employment-based
      
   3. Diversity immigrants
      

I. Unlimited Immigrants

• Immediate Relatives: The spouse, widow(er) and minor unmarried children of a United States citizen, and the parents of a United States citizen who is 21 or older.
• Returning Residents: Previous U.S. lawful permanent residents who are returning to the U.S. after a stay of more than one year abroad.

II. Limited Immigrants

1. USA Family-Based Immigration Visas

   
   Preference relatives may receive all of the visas not used by Immediate Relatives, but no less than 226,000 visas per year. Family-based preference categories (with minimum limits in parentheses) include:
   1. First Preference: Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and children if any. (23,400)
      
   2. Second Preference: Spouses, children, and unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent resident aliens. (114,200)
      
   3. Third Preference: Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children. (23,400)
      
   4. Fourth Preference: Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children, provided the U.S. citizens are over 20. (65,000)

2. USA Employment-Based Immigration Visas

   
   A total minimum of 140,000 immigrant visas yearly are available for this category which is divided into five preference groups (percent of yearly limit):
   1. Priority Workers: Persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; outstanding professors and researchers; and certain multinational executives and managers (28.6%).
      
   2. Members of the Professions: Professionals holding advanced degrees, and persons of exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, and business (28.6%).
      
   3. Professionals, Skilled and Unskilled Workers: Professionals holding baccalaureate degrees, skilled workers with at least two years experience, and other workers whose skills are in short supply in the United States (28.6%).
      
   4. Special Immigrants: Certain religious workers, ministers of religion, certain international organization employees and their immediate family members, and qualified, recommended current and former U.S. Government employees. (7.1%).
      
   5. Investors: Persons who create employment for at least ten unrelated persons by investing capital in a new commercial enterprise in the United States. The minimum capital required is between $500,000 and $1,000,000, depending on the employment rate in the geographic area (7.1%).

3. USA Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery (USA Green Card Lottery)

   
   The Diversity Lottery makes available a maximum of 55,000 immigrant visa numbers annually to persons selected at random from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. There is a separate registration for each year's visas. Information on registration for the lottery is announced each year by the State Department.

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