Zofunikira pakukhala nzika zaku America kwa okalamba . Kutengera pa wazaka zoposa 55 , chofunikira ndikuti zaka zosakwana 15 zakukhalako panthawi yofunsira kukhala nzika .
Ngakhale ndizotheka kuti musapereke mayeso a Chingerezi, ndi chofunika pezani ndikupambana mayeso maphunziro azachikhalidwe .
Kukhala Nzika ya U.S. ., Onse omwe adzafunsidwe kuti akhale okhazikika ayenera kukwaniritsa zofunikira izi (pokhapokha atakhala oyenera kukhululukidwa kapena kutsatira malinga ndi ntchito yawo yankhondo yaku U.S.):
- Khalani azaka zosachepera zofunika
- Mumakhala mosalekeza komanso mwathupi ku United States ngati chofikira chobiriwira kwa zaka zingapo.
- Khazikitsani malo okhala ku boma kapena US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) komwe akufuna kukalembetsa
- Khalani ndi makhalidwe abwino
- Khalani odziwa Chingerezi choyambirira komanso cholankhulidwa ndikuwonetsa chidziwitso cha mbiri yaku United States ndi boma.
- Lonjezani kukhulupirika ku United States
Kupatula Kwa okalamba:
Lamuloli limapatsa mwayi anthu okhala zaka 55 omwe ali ndi zaka zosachepera 15 zokhalitsa pamayeso achingerezi.
Okhazikika kwazaka 50 kapena kupitilira apo omwe adakhala zaka zosachepera 20 nawonso alibe mwayi.
M'magawo otsatirawa, tikambirana izi mwatsatanetsatane.
Muyenera kukhala osachepera zaka 18 kuti mulembetse zachilengedwe, kuti Zochepa chani pangani kutengera nthawi yankhondo yankhondo, mwina akhoza kukhala wazaka zilizonse. Kuwongolera kwathu kuti tikhale nzika zodziwika bwino kuli ndi zambiri pazoyenerera komanso kusapatsidwa mwayi.
Kupitilira ndi kupezeka kwakuthupi
Muyenera kuti mwakhala mukukhala ku United States mosasunthika ndi makhadi obiriwira kwa zaka zosachepera zisanu (kapena zaka zitatu ngati mwakwatirana ndi nzika yaku U.S.). Zikutanthauza zonse ayi Munapanga maulendo aliwonse kunja kwa United States omwe amakhala miyezi isanu ndi umodzi kapena kupitilira apo pazaka 3-5 zomwe muyenera kukhala ndi khadi yobiriwira (kuphatikiza nthawi yowonjezera pamene USCIS ikugwiritsa ntchito nzika zaku US). Mwanjira ina, mukuloledwa kuchoka ku United States, onetsetsani kuti mukubwerera mkati mwa miyezi isanu ndi umodzi nthawi iliyonse.
CHOFUNIKA: Mukachoka ku United States kwa miyezi yopitilira isanu ndi umodzi ngati chiphaso chobiliwira, a USCIS adzaganiza kuti mwasiya kukhala ku United States ndikukana pempho lanu lokhala nzika zaku United States.
Pali njira zothetsera malingaliro amenewo ngakhale mutatengaulendo wautali kudziko lina. Mpata wopambana, komabe, zimatengera zinthu zingapo:
- Munakhala nthawi yayitali bwanji kunja kwa United States
- Zinali zomveka bwanji chifukwa chake chosabwerera msanga
- Kuzindikira kwa woyang'anira USCIS kuwunika momwe mukufunsira (oyang'anira atha kukana pempholi pazifukwa zina, ngakhale mutapita kumayiko ena)
Omwe amafunsira kudzisankhira kutengera nthawi inayake kapena mtundu wanji wankhondo sayenera kukwaniritsa zofunikira zakupezeka pano. Chonde onani tchati choyenerachi kuti mudziwe nthawi yomwe mamembala ena ogwira ntchito yankhondo angalembetse ntchito zovomerezeka.
Mutha kutumiza fomu yofunsira kudzipereka mukangotha masiku 90 kale kuti nditsiriza kudikirira zaka zitatu kapena zisanu zofunika. Wotsogolera wathu kuFomu N-400 ili ndi zambiri.
NGATI MUNAKHALA PANSI KUYAMBIRA KWA 181 KUFIKIRA 364 MASIKU
Pofuna kupewa kukhala nzika, muyenera kutsimikizira woyang'anira USCIS kuti awunikenso pempho lanu kuti simunafune kusiya nyumba yanu ku United States nthawi yonse yomwe munali kunja (kwa miyezi yopitilira isanu ndi umodzi koma chaka chimodzi)
Kuti mukwaniritse izi, muyenera kupereka umboni kuti mumalumikizana kwambiri ndi United States. Umboni uwu ungawonetse, mwachitsanzo, kuti:
- Anasunga ntchito yako ku United States ndipo sanafunefune ntchito kunja
- Khalani ndi abale anu omwe adatsalira ku United States.
- Anali nyumba yanu ku United States
- Analembetsa ana ake pasukulu yaku US.
NGATI MUNAKHALA PANSI KWA MASIKU 365 KAPENA ZAMBIRI
Ngati mutakhala kunja kwa chaka chimodzi kapena kuposerapo, USCIS idzangoganiza kuti mwasiya nyumba yanu ku United States. Pempho lanu lokhala nzika zaku U.S. lidzaletsedwa, ndipo muyenera kudikirira musanayankhe:
- Ngati mudayenera kudikirira zaka zisanu kuti mulembetse kukhala nzika, muyenera kudikirira osachepera Zaka zinayi ndi tsiku limodzi pobwerera kuchokera kuulendo wanu wakunja kukalembanso.
- Ngati munayenera kudikirira zaka zitatu kuti mulembetse nzika (monga wokwatirana ndi nzika yaku U.S.), muyenera kudikirira osachepera zaka ziwiri ndi tsiku limodzi pobwerera kuchokera kuulendo wanu wakunja kukalembanso.
MMENE TINGAPEWERE KUSINTHA KUKHALABE KOPITIRIRA
Pofuna kupewa kuganiza kuti mwasiya kukhala nzika zosakhalitsa, ndikofunikira kusamala kale kuchoka ku United States.
Nazi zomwe mungachite:
1. Lemberani chilolezo chobwereranso. Ngati mukufuna kukakhala kunja osachepera Chaka chimodzi, ndikofunikira kufunsira chilolezo chobwereranso (pogwiritsa ntchito Fomu I-131 , yotchedwa Travel Document Application) kale achoke ku United States.
CHOFUNIKA: Fomu I-131 imagwiritsidwa ntchito popempha chilolezo chobwereranso ndi chilolezo choyendera. Koma zilolezo ziwirizi, pomwe zonsezi cholinga chake ndi kulola wapaulendo kuti alowenso ku United States pobwerera kuchokera kudziko lina, ayi ali izo yemweyo: chilolezo cholowanso chimaperekedwa the Mitu zamakono za khadi yobiriwira, pomwe chilolezo chapaulendo chimaperekedwa kwa ofunsira khadi yobiriwira.
Muyenera kupereka ma biometric mukadali ku United States, koma mutha kupempha kuti mutenge chilolezo chanu chobwereranso ku kazembe wa United States kapena kazembe m'dziko lomwe mukukonzekera kukachezera (kapena pemphani kuti mukonzekere mwachangu ngati mukuyenda chifukwa chadzidzidzi) . Chilolezo chobwereranso chili chovomerezeka kwa zaka ziwiri ndipo sichingakwezeke, chifukwa chake muyenera kubwerera zaka ziwirizo zisanathe. Kupanda kutero, simudzaloledwa kulowa mu United States.
2. Pemphani kuti nyumba yanu isungidwe kosatha. Mudzaloledwa kukhalabe okhalitsa ngati mukuyenera kukhala kunja kwa chaka chimodzi kapena kupitilira apo chifukwa cha ntchito yanu, koma iyenera kukhala ntchito inayake yovomerezedwa ndi boma la US (USCIS idalemba mitundu ya ntchito omwe akuyenerera). Kuti mufunse kusungidwa kwanyumba yanu, muyenera kutumiza Fomu N-470 (yotchedwa Application for Preserve Residency for Naturalization Purpose) ku USCIS - kuphatikiza pakupempha chilolezo chobwereranso (onani pamwambapa).
3. Lemberani visa yakunyumba yobwerera. Ngati simunayembekezere kufunika kokhala kudziko lina chaka chimodzi kapena kupitilira apo chifukwa cha zinthu zosayembekezereka, monga zachipatala, chifukwa chake ayi afunsira chilolezo cholowanso kale Choka ku United States, ndiye ndikofunikira kufunsira a Visa wobwerera . Muyenera kulumikizana ndi Kazembe wa US kapena kazembe Wambiri pafupi ( osachepera miyezi itatu kale Konzekerani kubwerera ku United States) ndikutsatira malangizo awo potsatira momwe mungagwiritsire ntchito. Njirayi imaphatikizapo kumaliza kumaliza Fomu DS-117 (yomwe imadziwika kuti Pempho Loti Muzindikire Kukhala Kwawo) komanso kuyankhulana ndi kazembe, yemwe angawone ngati mungalandire visa yokhalanso kwawo malinga ndi umboni womwe mumapereka.
Kusonyeza kupezeka kwakuthupi
Kuti mulembetse nzika zaku U.S., muyenera kuti mudakhala ku United States osachepera theka zaka zisanu (makamaka, Masiku 913 , kapena pafupifupi zaka 2.5) kapena osachepera theka zaka zitatu (makamaka, Masiku 548 , kapena kupitirira zaka 1.5) ngati mwakwatirana ndi nzika yaku U.S. Ngakhale mukuloledwa kutenga maulendo angapo kunja kwa United States podikirira zaka 3-5, ndikofunikira kulingalira zofunikira pakukhalabe kuti muwonetsetse kuti mumakwanilitsanso kupezeka kwanu. Chofunikira.
CHOFUNIKA: Mukamapita kudziko lina, USCIS idzawerengera masiku omwe mudzachokere ndikubwerera ku United States ngati masiku omwe mudaliko ku United States. Mwanjira ina, ngati mutachoka pa Januware 1 ndikubwerera pa Julayi 1, masiku onsewa adzawerengedwa ngati masiku omwe mudaliko ku United States.
Iwo omwe amafunsira kudzisankhira potengera nthawi inayake kapena mtundu wankhondo ayi ayenera kukwaniritsa zofunikira zakupezeka kwakuthupi. Chonde onani tchati chovomerezekachi kuti mudziwe kuti mamembala ena a ntchito ayenera kuti amakhala nthawi yayitali bwanji ku United States asanalembe zovomerezeka.
Kunyumba
Izi ndizosiyana ndizofunikira kukhalapo komanso zakuthupi zomwe zili pamwambapa.
Kuti mukwaniritse zofunikira zakukhalamo, muyenera kuti mwakhala mukukhala ku boma kapena USCIS chigawo komwe mukufuna kukalembetsa nzika zanu nthawi imeneyi osachepera miyezi itatu nthawi yomweyo Kufunsira kudzisankhira. (Onani chitsogozo chathu chatsatanetsatane pazopatula izi malinga ndi ntchito yankhondo.)
Mkhalidwe umaphatikizaponso zotsatirazi:
- Chigawo cha columbia
- Puerto Rico
- Guam
- Zilumba za Virgin za ku United States
- Commonwealth ya Zilumba za Northern Mariana
Chigawo cha USCIS chimatanthawuza malo omwe a USCIS kumunda ofesi ku makamaka, yotsimikizika ndi zip code yanu. Adilesi yomwe mumapereka pakufunsira kwanu kwachilengedwe iyenera kukhala komwe mudakhazikikako (ndiye kuti, komwe mudalembetsa kuti muvote, kulipira misonkho, kapena kupeza chiphaso cha boma kapena laisensi yoyendetsa, mwachitsanzo), koma pali zina. Mwachitsanzo, ngati ndinu wophunzira ndipo mumadalira makolo anu kapena omwe akukusungirani ndalama, mutha kulembetsa ku sukulu komwe mumapita kusukulu kapena kwanu. (Kupatula zina, onani Buku la USCIS Policy ).
ZINTHU ZOFUNIKA KUZIKUMBUKIRA:
- Ngati mungasunthire mukasungitsa Fomu N-400 (yotchedwa Application for Naturalization), muyenera kudziwitsa USCIS adilesi yanu yatsopano pasanathe masiku 10 mutasamukira kunyumba kwanu kuti atumize fayilo yanu yovomerezeka kuofesi.
- USCIS iwona malo omwe mukukhalamo ngati malo omwe mumanena kuti ndi adilesi yanu pa Fomu N-400 yanu, ngakhale mutasankha kulembetsa masiku 90 pasadakhale.
Makhalidwe abwino
Makhalidwe abwino amafotokozedwanso ndi USCIS ngati chikhalidwe chomwe chimakwaniritsa miyezo ya nzika wamba. Makamaka, zikutanthauza kuti:
- Kodi ayi dziperekeni mitundu ina ya milandu - monga kupha, kutchova juga mosaloledwa, kapena kubera boma la United States pazifukwa zosamukira - munthawi yomwe imayamba zaka zitatu kapena zisanu musanapemphe chilolezo chololeza kutha ndipo ikatha pamene lumbiro lakukhulupirika lachitika. . kale za nthawiyo ndikufanizitsa ndi mawonekedwe ake apano: ndiye kuti, ngati chikhalidwe chanu chasintha kapena ayi.
- Ayi the Ndinanamizira wapolisi wa USCIS panthawi yomwe anali kufunsa mafunso.
Boma limasankha ngati wopemphayo angakwaniritse izi malinga ndi milandu. Palinso zosiyana kwa ena omwe amapempha usilikali.
Luso la Chingerezi komanso kuzindikira kwa anthu
Monga gawo lazinthu zachilengedwe, muyenera kuyesa magawo awiri:
- Chiyeso cha Chingerezi chomwe chimayesa luso lanu lowerenga, kulemba ndi kuyankhula.
- Kuyesa kwachikhalidwe komwe kumayesa kudziwa kwanu mbiri yaku US ndi boma.
Gawo la Chingerezi limaphatikiza kuyankhulana kwachilengedwe ndi mayeso owerenga ndi kulemba. Mudzafunsidwa za mayankho enieni omwe mudapereka pa ufulu wanu wokhala nzika, ndipo mudzafunsidwa kuti mulembe ndikuwerenga ziganizo zosavuta zomwe woyang'anira USCIS wanena.
Ponena za gawo la anthu wamba, muyenera kuphunzira mafunso 20 kapena 100, kutengera msinkhu wanu komanso kuti mwakhala ndi cholemba chobiriwira nthawi yayitali bwanji.
Zolemba zaboma komanso zankhondo
Muyenera kukhala ofunitsitsa kugwira ntchito yankhondo yaku U.S. Selective Service System ndi pulogalamu yaboma yomwe imasonkhanitsa ndikusunga zidziwitso kwa anthu omwe atha kulowa usilikali polemba.
Ndani ayenera kulembetsa ndi Selective Service?
Amunawo omwe amakhala ku United States (kapena adalandira khadi yawo yobiriwira) azaka zapakati pa 18 ndi 26 ayenera kulembetsa ndi Selective Service System . Kulembetsa nthawi zambiri kumayenera kumalizidwa pasanathe masiku 30 kuchokera tsiku lobadwa lanu la 18, koma pasanathe tsiku lanu lobadwa la 26.
Who ayi Kodi mukuyenera kulembetsa ndi Selective Service?
Amunawo ayi akuyenera kulembetsa ku Selective Service ngati:
- Ali okalamba kuposa zaka 26
- Kodi ayi amakhala ku United States azaka zapakati pa 18 ndi 26
- Adakhala ku United States azaka zapakati pa 18 ndi 26, koma movomerezeka kupatula chokhala ndi makhadi obiriwira nthawi yonseyi
- Adabadwa pambuyo pa Marichi 29, 1957 komanso asanafike Disembala 31, 1959 (ntchito yosankha inali yosagwira ntchito ngati amuna obadwa mzaka izi atha kukhala zaka 18)
Ndingalembetse bwanji komanso liti ndi Selective Service ngati sindinatero?
Ngati simunakwanitse zaka 26 ndikukhalabe sindikudziwa mwalembetsa ku Selective Service, ndikofunikira kulembetsa musanapemphe kuti mukhazikitsidwe. Kupanda kutero, pempho lanu lokhala nzika zaku US lidzaletsedwa.
Pali njira zingapo zolembetsera ndi Selective Service:
- Ku positi ofesi yakwanuko
- Pobweza khadi yolembetsa ya Selective Service yomwe mudalandira
- Pa intaneti
Mutha kutsimikizira kulembetsa kwanu ku mzere kapena poyimbira (847) 688-6888. Mukalembetsa, Selective Service idzakutumizirani khadi lodziwitsa kuti likhale umboni wa kulembetsa kwanu.
CHOFUNIKA: USCIS iyenera kuti idatumiza zidziwitso zanu ku Selective Service kuti zizijambulitsa mutapempha khadi yobiriwira. Koma nthawi zina USCIS kapena Selective Service siyimaliza kulembetsa. Kuti muwone ngati ndi choncho, kapena ngati simukudziwa ngati mwalembetsa kale, mutha funsani kalata yodziwitsa za udindo wanu Selective Service, yomwe ingawonetse ngati mwalembetsa, komanso ngati amafunikira kuti alembetse kapena sanayenere kulembetsa.
Bwanji ngati simutero Ine Kodi ndidalembetsa ndi Selective Service pomwe ndimayenera?
Ngati simunalembetse ku Selective Service tsiku lanu lobadwa lisanakwane 26, simudzatha kulembetsa. Momwe muyenera kupitilira zimadalira zaka zanu mukamafunsira zachilengedwe:
NGATI MUNGAGWIRITSE NTCHITO PAKATI PA ZAKA ZA 26 NDI 31
Chomwe mungasankhe pankhaniyi ndikutsimikizira USCIS kuti:
- Iwo sanafunikire kulembetsa
- Sanaloledwe kulembetsa
- Sindinadziwe kuti mukuyenera kulembetsa
- Wolembetsa, koma USCIS kapena Selective Service ayi anamaliza kulembetsa kwa inu
Ndikadapanda kutero wokakamizidwa kulembetsa kapena anali opanda kulembetsa, muyenera funsani kalata yodziwitsa za udindo wanu kupita ku Selective Service, komwe kukuwonetsa chimodzi mwazinthu ziwirizi, ndikutumiza ku USCIS.
Inde Sanadziwe kuti mumayenera kulembetsa, muyenera kutumiza izi ku USCIS (kuwonjezera pa kalata yodziwitsa za udindo wanu):
- Afidaviti yanu yovomerezeka yochokera kwa inu, yofotokozera mwatsatanetsatane kuti simukudziwa kuti muyenera kulembetsa (mwachitsanzo, ngati sukulu yanu yasekondale sinakuuzeni kuti mudzayenera kuchita izi patsiku lanu lobadwa la 18th kapena chifukwa ndimaganiza kuti ndinu nzika zaku US zokha zomwe muyenera kulembetsa)
- Maumboni anu enieni ochokera kwa ena omwe amakudziwani ndipo atha kuthandizira zomwe mukunenazo
Ngati simunalembetse mwadala (ngakhale mudapemphedwa kutero), mwina chifukwa chakana kapena kunyalanyaza udindowu, USCIS ikhoza kukana pempho lanu lokhala nzika, koma amathanso kuganizira zaka zanu panthawi yofunsira:
- Ngati muli ndi zaka zapakati pa 26 ndi 31, USCIS ikupatsirani mwayi wowonetsa kuti simunayenera kulembetsa kapena kukhululukidwa (onani pamwambapa) musanasankhe kuvomereza kapena kukana pempho lanu.
- Ngati mwakwanitsa zaka 31 (kapena 29, ngati mwakwatirana ndi nzika yaku US), ndiye kuti sizingakhale kanthu (onani pansipa), koma kukana kwanu kapena kunyalanyaza udindowu kumawerengedwa kuti ndi kupanda ulemu.
NGATI MUDZAGWIRITSA NTCHITO MUTATHA 31 (KAPENA 29, NGATI MULI OKWANIRA NDI UNITED STATES CITIZEN)
USCIS ikhoza kunyalanyaza kuti sichitero ndikudziwa Munalembetsa ku Selective Service (ngakhale munafunsidwa), ndipo mwina simungafunike kuti mupereke zolemba (onani pamwambapa).
Apanso, muyenera kulembetsa ndi Selective Service ngati simunakwanitse zaka 26 pazaka zitatu kapena zisanu zomwe mukudikirira musanapemphe kuti mukhazikitsidwe. Koma ngati muli ndi zaka zopitilira 26, USCIS iwonanso zina, kuphatikiza zaka zingati zomwe mwawonetsa kukhala ndi makhalidwe abwino.
Ngati mwawonetsa chikhalidwe chabwino pazaka zisanu zofunika (kapena zaka zitatu ngati mwakwatirana ndi nzika yaku U.S.) musanapemphe mwayi wokhala nzika, USCIS ikhoza kunyalanyaza kulephera kwanu kulembetsa ndi Selective Service. Ichi ndichifukwa chake ena ofuna kulembetsa amafikira kudikirira Fomu N-400 mpaka atakwanitsa zaka 31 (kapena 29, ngati akwatiwa ndi nzika yaku U.S.), poganiza kuti adikiranso zaka zisanu (kapena zitatu) ndipo akwaniritsa zina zonse zachilengedwe zofunikira.
Kukhulupirika ku United States
Kuti mukhale nzika yaku US, muyenera kuwonetsa kutsatira malamulo aku United States. Zomwe zili mkati zimangotanthauza kuti mumakhulupirira, mukuchirikiza, ndipo ndinu ofunitsitsa kutsatira mfundo za Constitution ya United States povomera demokalase ndikulonjeza kumvera lamuloli.
Mukuwonetsa bwanji izi? Mukakhala nawo pamwambo wolumbira pagulu, pomwe inu ndi ena omwe adzafunsidwe kuti mukhazikitsidwe mobwerezabwereza mukulumbira Oath of Allegiance, gawo lomaliza lazinthu zachilengedwe.
Pamwambowu, mudzafunsidwa kuti muwonetsetse izi:
- Mukutenga lumbiro la kudzipereka mwakufuna kwanu.
- Mukupereka kukhulupirika kwanu kwathunthu ku United States posiya kukhulupirika kwanu kumayiko ena onse omwe mumati ndi nzika zadziko.
- Mumavomereza maudindo onse okhala nzika zaku U.S., kuphatikiza usitikali ndi ntchito zaboma ngati kuli kofunikira, ndipo mulibe cholinga cholephera kukwaniritsa ntchitoyi.
Muyenera kumaliza gawo lomaliza musanakhale nzika yaku US.
Chodzikanira:
Zomwe zili patsamba lino zimachokera kumagwero odalirika omwe atchulidwa pano. Amapangidwa kuti azitsogoleredwa ndipo amasinthidwa pafupipafupi momwe angathere. Redargentina sakupereka upangiri wazamalamulo, kapena chilichonse cha zida zathu sichiyenera kutengedwa ngati upangiri wazamalamulo.
Gwero ndiumwini: Gwero lazidziwitso ndi eni ake aumwini ndi awa:
- Dipatimenti Yachigawo ya United States - URL: www.utsa.state.gov
Wowonera / wogwiritsa ntchito tsambali akuyenera kugwiritsa ntchito zomwe zatchulidwazi ngati chitsogozo, ndipo ayenera kulumikizana ndi omwe ali pamwambapa kapena oimira boma la wogwiritsa ntchitoyo kuti adziwe zambiri zamasiku ano.
Zamkatimu
- Kupatula okalamba:
- Kupitilira ndi kupezeka kwakuthupi
- NGATI MUNAKHALA PANSI KUYAMBIRA KWA 181 KUFIKIRA 364 MASIKU
- NGATI MUNAKHALA PANSI KWA MASIKU 365 KAPENA ZAMBIRI
- MMENE TINGAPEWERE KUSINTHA KUKHALABE KOPITIRIRA
- Kusonyeza kupezeka kwakuthupi
- Kunyumba
- Makhalidwe abwino
- Luso la Chingerezi komanso kuzindikira kwa anthu
- Zolemba zaboma komanso zankhondo
- Ndani ayenera kulembetsa ndi Selective Service?
- Ndani safunika kulembetsa ndi Selective Service?
- Ndingalembetse bwanji komanso liti ndi Selective Service ngati sindinatero?
- Bwanji ngati sindinalembetse ku Selective Service pomwe ndimayenera kutero?
- NGATI MUNGAGWIRITSE NTCHITO PAKATI PA ZAKA ZA 26 NDI 31
- NGATI MUDZAGWIRITSA NTCHITO MUTATHA 31 (KAPENA 29, NGATI MULI OKWANIRA NDI UNITED STATES CITIZEN)
- Kukhulupirika ku United States