6 Best Visa and Immigration Status Drama Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 21, 2026

The fight to legally belong in a new country is precarious and bureaucratic. The Terminal has a traveler stranded in an airport after his passport is invalidated, A Better Life has an undocumented gardener’s stolen truck sending him and his son on a desperate journey, and The Proposal has an executive forcing her assistant into a fake engagement to avoid deportation. Under the Same Moon, In America and Green Card round out the six.

The Terminal (2004)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A traveller is stranded indefinitely in an airport terminal after his home country dissolves mid-flight.

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 2h 08m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Better Life (2011)

TMDB ★ 7.2

An undocumented gardener in Los Angeles struggles to give his teenage son a better future while facing deportation.

Directed by Chris Weitz · 1h 38m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Proposal (2009)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A domineering executive forces her assistant into a fake engagement to avoid deportation, with complications.

Directed by Anne Fletcher · 1h 48m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Under the Same Moon (2007)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A young boy crosses the border alone to reunite with the undocumented mother working in America.

Directed by Patricia Riggen · 1h 46m

Where to watch

Stream: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

In America (2003)

TMDB ★ 7.1

An Irish immigrant family starts a new life in a rundown New York apartment building while grieving a death.

Directed by Jim Sheridan · 1h 45m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Green Card (1990)

TMDB ★ 6.1

A Frenchman and an American woman enter a marriage of convenience for a green card and an apartment.

Directed by Peter Weir · 1h 48m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Visa and Immigration Status Drama Movies

The Terminal (2004)

A Better Life (2011)

The Proposal (2009)

Under the Same Moon (2007)

In America (2003)

Green Card (1990)

You might also like

6 Best Immigrant Family New Life in America Movies

6 Best Airport Movies

Sandra Bullock – 10 Best Movies

Gérard Depardieu – 10 Best Movies

Ryan Reynolds – 10 Best Movies

15 Best Movies for When You Can't Decide What to Watch