The recent strikes of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma here in the U.S. demonstrate the great amount of devastation that major weather events can cause. When such weather events strike in other countries, individuals from those countries may seek ways to escape the devastation left in the storm’s wake. Some might desire to get their life off to a fresh start in another country, such as the United States.
A recent study found that it is common for there to be an increase in migration to the U.S. following a hurricane striking other countries.
When a person is seeking to live in the U.S. following a storm hitting their home country, many things could impact what routes they might have available for coming to America. Among these is whether they have any relatives living here. Having certain relatives who are U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents could provide a person with an avenue for pursuing a family-based green card.
The study found that boosts in migration to the U.S. following a hurricane strike were particularly big for countries in which there were already a good number of their former residents living in the United States. The study also found that green cards were one of main immigration methods used by individuals migrating to the U.S. from countries hit by hurricanes. These findings point to family-sponsored immigration being a major factor in post-hurricane immigration to America.
Whatever has led to a person from another country wanting to seek out a new life for themselves in the U.S. through family immigration, it can be important for them and their family to understand what the process of pursuing family-sponsored immigration involves. Not having the right information when going through this process could lead to a person inadvertently falling into mistakes that could threaten their immigration goals. Immigration attorneys can provide guidance on family immigration matters.
Source: Phys.org, “Hurricanes drive immigration to the U.S.—helped by green cards,” Morgan Sherburne, Sept. 12, 2017