History of Entry in the USA – ESTAForm.org

Informational Facts about the US History

Immigration in the USA
how-to-immigrate-in-the-usa
WAVES OF IMMIGRATION

The US has experienced waves of immigration since the first settlements from Europe in around 1600, with the first English colony settling in Jamestown, Virginia starting what is known as New England. Not long afterwards, African slaves began to be imported into the US then in the 19th century the colonial era of immigration began. The 20th century saw a huge influx of immigrants into the US.

PAST AND CURRENT RESTRICTIONS

In 1876 certain states introduced immigration laws following the Civil War. It wasn’t until 1921 that a quota system was put into place by Congress with Border Patrol being established in 1924. In the 60s the immigration policy shifted towards bringing more skilled workers to the US and uniting immigrants with their families. 1986 saw the IRCA (Immigration Reform and Control Act) passed to provide amnesty to aliens which led to a rise in illegal aliens. Following Trump’s appointment, there have been many changes to make immigration policies stricter.

how-to-immigrate-in-the-usa
how-to-immigrate-in-the-usa
MELTING-POT SOCIETY

The US has a diverse society in terms of religion, race and culture which is often referred to as a melting pot society. The concept basically means that the country is a blend of all these different influences.

DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE USA

According to the 2010 Census, the population is split into the following age groups: Under 18 (24%), 18-44 (36.5%), 45-64 (26.4%) and 65+ (13%). English is the primary language (78.2%) and Spanish is the second most popular. There are six main races: White, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander and people with two or more races.

Data & Numbers
how-to-immigrate-in-the-usa
how-to-immigrate-in-the-usa
POPULATION IN HISTORY

The population in the US is the third highest in the world with approximately 330 million people and represents 4.25% of the total world population. The 20th century witnessed a massive growth in population from 76 million in 1900 to 281 million in 2000. After 2000, the yearly growth rate began to fall from over 1% down to 0.59% in 2020.

COLONISATION

Colonisation attempts started in the 16th century, with Jamestown being the first English colony set up in 1607. The Colonial era ran from 1607 through to 1765, where colonisation programs from England, Spain, France and the Netherlands led to establishment of many colonies across the US, as settlers brought skills such as farming to the country.

how-to-immigrate-in-the-usa
how-to-immigrate-in-the-usa
RACE & ETHNICITY

There are six main races: White, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander and people with two or more races. The Census also categorizes into Hispanic or Latino, or Not Hispanic or Latino as ethnicities in the US. Just under 20% of the US population is Hispanic or Latino Americans.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

Arrival and departure records are kept by the Customs and Border Protection of people who are not US citizens or are not lawful permanent residents. This is done through the Form I-94, although travellers within the Visa Waiver Program do not need to complete the Form I-94.

Data & Numbers
how-to-immigrate-in-the-usa
how-to-immigrate-in-the-usa
BORDER CROSSING

The US shares land borders with both Canada and Mexico and in 1924 Congress established the US Border Patrol to secure the borders between inspection stations to prevent illegal crossings. The Mexican border office was in El Paso, whilst the Canadian border office was set up in Detroit. The borders are now securely monitored and the relevant authorization documentation is requested by Border Patrol agents before allowing entry into the US.

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Written by Abisola Fikayomi

Abisola is an accomplished writer interested in US Travel, immigration, passports and visas. She’s passionate about exploring new places and cultures and willing to share her experiences, expertize and findings with others. That is her primary drive for specialising in this industry.