🇺🇸 About the United States & the U.S. Immigration Journey

A Vijay Krishna guide to how the United States developed, how its government works, how immigration agencies fit together, the political system, states and time zones.

🇺🇸 America: From Founding to Today

1600s–1700s — Colonies and independence: European settlements developed into thirteen British colonies. The American Revolution led to the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

1787–1791 — Constitution: The Constitution created the federal government, separation of powers and a system of checks and balances. The Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution in 1791.

1800s — Expansion and conflict: The nation expanded westward. Slavery and sectional conflict culminated in the Civil War (1861–1865), followed by Reconstruction.

Late 1800s–early 1900s — Industrialization and immigration: Rapid industrial growth and large immigration waves helped transform American cities and the economy. Federal immigration laws developed significantly during this period.

1914–1945 — World wars: The United States became a major global power through World War I and especially World War II.

1945–1991 — Cold War: The U.S. and Soviet Union competed militarily, economically and politically. The U.S. became a central institution in the post-war international system.

1991–2001 — Post-Cold-War era: The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Globalization and technology accelerated.

2001–present — Security, technology and modern immigration: After September 11, 2001, national-security policy changed significantly. The U.S. has continued to evolve through technology, demographic change, economic shifts, immigration debates and changing administrations.

🏛️ How the U.S. Government Works

Executive Branch

Led by the President. It carries out federal laws and manages executive departments and agencies. The Vice President is part of the executive branch.

Legislative Branch

Congress makes federal laws. It has two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Congress also controls federal appropriations and performs oversight.

Judicial Branch

Federal courts interpret federal law and the Constitution. The Supreme Court is the highest federal court.

Checks & Balances

The branches have different powers that limit one another. For example, Congress passes legislation, the President may sign or veto it, and courts can review laws and executive actions for constitutionality.

🗳️ Political Parties

Republican Party

One of the two major U.S. political parties. Its modern coalition includes a range of positions on taxes, regulation, national security, immigration, social policy and federalism.

Democratic Party

The other major U.S. political party. Its coalition includes a range of positions on healthcare, labor, social programs, climate, immigration and federal policy.

Other parties & independents

Libertarian, Green and other parties participate in elections, while independent candidates also run. U.S. elections are not legally limited to two parties, although Republicans and Democrats dominate federal elections.

Party platforms and officeholders can change from election to election. A party label does not mean every elected official holds every position associated with that party.

👤 Current Federal Leadership Snapshot

President

Donald J. Trump — 45th and 47th President.

Vice President

JD Vance — Vice President of the United States.

Department of Homeland Security

Kristi Noem — Secretary of Homeland Security. DHS oversees USCIS, CBP and ICE.

Department of Labor

Keith Sonderling — Secretary of Labor, confirmed September 30, 2026.

Department of Justice

Pamela Bondi — Attorney General.

USCIS

Joseph B. Edlow — USCIS Director.

Leadership can change. This page reflects the federal leadership identified from official government sources available in October 2026.

🛂 The Main Immigration Agencies

DHS — Department of Homeland Security

DHS is the cabinet department containing major immigration components including USCIS, CBP and ICE.

USCIS — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCIS adjudicates immigration benefit requests such as petitions, adjustment of status, employment authorization and naturalization.

CBP — Customs and Border Protection

CBP handles border inspection and admission-related functions and provides the I-94 arrival/departure record system.

ICE — Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ICE performs immigration enforcement and investigations within the United States and has other homeland-security responsibilities.

DOL — Department of Labor

DOL protects U.S. workers and administers labor programs relevant to immigration, including Labor Condition Applications and permanent labor certification. DOL certification does not itself grant a visa.

DOJ — Department of Justice / EOIR

EOIR, within DOJ, adjudicates immigration court cases and appeals through immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Department of State

Consular officers issue visas abroad and administer the immigrant and nonimmigrant visa process. Visa issuance is distinct from USCIS benefit adjudication inside the U.S.

🧭 A Simple Immigration Journey

1. Choose a legal pathway

Family, employment, study, visitor, humanitarian, investor, diversity or another qualifying category.

2. Petition / application

Depending on the pathway, a petition or application may be filed with USCIS, while some visa applications are handled through the Department of State.

3. Labor certification when required

Some employment-based cases involve DOL processes such as prevailing wage and PERM before the immigration petition.

4. USCIS / consular processing

USCIS may adjudicate the petition or adjustment application; applicants outside the U.S. may proceed through NVC and a U.S. embassy/consulate.

5. Visa or status

A visa generally permits travel to a U.S. port of entry for inspection; admission and authorized stay are determined under U.S. immigration law.

6. Long-term options

Eligible immigrants may eventually pursue permanent residence and, if eligible, naturalization.

🕰️ U.S. Time Zones

Zone	Common states/areas	UTC standard time	UTC daylight time
Eastern (ET)	New York, Florida, Georgia, Washington, D.C. and others	UTC−5	UTC−4
Central (CT)	Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Tennessee and others	UTC−6	UTC−5
Mountain (MT)	Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and parts of other states	UTC−7	UTC−6
Pacific (PT)	California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada	UTC−8	UTC−7
Alaska (AKT)	Most of Alaska	UTC−9	UTC−8
Hawaii-Aleutian (HST/HDT)	Hawaii and parts of the Aleutian Islands	UTC−10	UTC−9 where DST is observed

Most of the U.S. observes daylight saving time, but Hawaii and most of Arizona do not. U.S. territories also use additional time zones.

🗺️ The 50 States

Northeast

Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New York · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · Vermont

Midwest

Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Nebraska · North Dakota · Ohio · South Dakota · Wisconsin

South

Alabama · Arkansas · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Mississippi · North Carolina · Oklahoma · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Virginia · West Virginia · Washington, D.C. is a federal district, not a state.

West

Alaska · Arizona · California · Colorado · Hawaii · Idaho · Montana · Nevada · New Mexico · Oregon · Utah · Washington · Wyoming

📜 Presidents of the United States

The White House's Presidential Walk of Fame lists 47 presidential inscriptions from George Washington through Donald J. Trump, reflecting the fact that Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms and Donald Trump is the 45th and 47th President.

1. George Washington — 1789–1797

2. John Adams — 1797–1801

3. Thomas Jefferson — 1801–1809

4. James Madison — 1809–1817

5. James Monroe — 1817–1825

6. John Quincy Adams — 1825–1829

7. Andrew Jackson — 1829–1837

8. Martin Van Buren — 1837–1841

9. William Henry Harrison — 1841

10. John Tyler — 1841–1845

11. James K. Polk — 1845–1849

12. Zachary Taylor — 1849–1850

13. Millard Fillmore — 1850–1853

14. Franklin Pierce — 1853–1857

15. James Buchanan — 1857–1861

16. Abraham Lincoln — 1861–1865

17. Andrew Johnson — 1865–1869

18. Ulysses S. Grant — 1869–1877

19. Rutherford B. Hayes — 1877–1881

20. James A. Garfield — 1881

21. Chester A. Arthur — 1881–1885

22. Grover Cleveland — 1885–1889

23. Benjamin Harrison — 1889–1893

24. Grover Cleveland — 1893–1897

25. William McKinley — 1897–1901

26. Theodore Roosevelt — 1901–1909

27. William Howard Taft — 1909–1913

28. Woodrow Wilson — 1913–1921

29. Warren G. Harding — 1921–1923

30. Calvin Coolidge — 1923–1929

31. Herbert Hoover — 1929–1933

32. Franklin D. Roosevelt — 1933–1945

33. Harry S. Truman — 1945–1953

34. Dwight D. Eisenhower — 1953–1961

35. John F. Kennedy — 1961–1963

36. Lyndon B. Johnson — 1963–1969

37. Richard Nixon — 1969–1974

38. Gerald Ford — 1974–1977

39. Jimmy Carter — 1977–1981

40. Ronald Reagan — 1981–1989

41. George H. W. Bush — 1989–1993

42. Bill Clinton — 1993–2001

43. George W. Bush — 2001–2009

44. Barack Obama — 2009–2017

45. Donald J. Trump — 2017–2021

46. Joe Biden — 2021–2025

47. Donald J. Trump — 2025–present

🔎 Useful Official Sources

USCISDOLDOJ/EOIRDepartment of StateDHSCBP

USCIS · DOL · DOJ/EOIR · Department of State · White House