What does immigration law govern?

Immigration law primarily governs the requirements for entering the United States. This area of law outlines the processes and legal criteria that individuals must meet to obtain permission to enter the country, whether for temporary visits, work, education, or permanent residency. The regulations include visa classifications, admission procedures, and eligibility related to various circumstances, such as family relationships or employment opportunities.

While immigration law also encompasses aspects of obtaining citizenship, which deals with the path to permanent residency leading to naturalization, it fundamentally focuses on the entry criteria into the country. Additionally, although there are various international travel regulations and criminal laws that may impact non-citizens, these topics are not the central focus of immigration law. Instead, immigration law is primarily concerned with the specifics of admission and conditions that allow individuals to be lawfully present in the U.S.