The Hierarchy of Waiting for Lawful Permanent Residence

Why do some individuals seeking employment-based immigrant visas in the U.S. wait longer than others? How does waiting period relate to racial, educational, and socioeconomic disparities? By examining the accessibility of immigrant visas by country of origin, immigrant visa category, and socioeconomic status, Dr. Dromgold-Sermen will illustrate the ways in which legislation and inequitable administrative policies in U.S. immigrant visa processing become mechanisms of waiting.

Dr. Michelle S. Dromgold-Sermen is Assistant Director of the Institute for Immigration Research (IIR). Her areas of expertise include U.S. immigration law and policy, legality and membership, refugee resettlement, and global migration management. In her current research, she analyzes online immigration forum posts to examine the consequences of uncertain policymaking and waiting for visa-holders in the United States who are navigating the adjustment of status process to become legal permanent residents.