Immigration

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  • PERM: FAQ on Timely Responses

    Joel Stewart on PERM Labor Certification
    Js
    13 Feb 2012 | 10:25 am
    The DOL issued an FAQ entitled, "What should an employer do if it is unable to provide documentation in response to a decision or a request for information in a timely manner, i.e., prior to an established deadline, particularly in extenuating circumstances where the deadline is immediate?" In this situation, the employer should request an extension in writing. The CO may grant an extension where the employer provides a legitimate reason for the request. For many years, prior to PERM, DÖL played a cat and mouse game with Employers, often maintaining that extensions would not be permitted,…

  • Experts Discuss Audit, Reconsideration and Appeal Options

    Joel Stewart on PERM Labor Certification
    Js
    2 May 2012 | 7:52 am
    On Thursday, May 3, the ILW telephonic panel will discuss important issues regarding audits, reconsideration and appeals of CO decisions. The all-start case includes Edwin Rubin, Professor Emeritus of the Employment Based Immigration Bar, Lorna Burgess, whose knowledge of PERM regulations and BALCA decisions is incomparable and a legend among her colleagues, and Christina LaBrie, PERM specialist and savant from the halls of the Fragomen ultimate immigration experience to create the best panel yet on the subject of post-decision options -- audits, reconsideration and appeals. The program…

  • DS-160 TIPS

    Chris Musillo on Nurse and Allied Health Immigration
    ChrisMusillo
    3 May 2012 | 1:44 pm
    by Chris Musillo A nonimmigrant visa (or temporary visa) is any visa that is not an immigrant visa (green card). Typical nonimmigrant visas include the H-1B, B-1/B-2, L-1, and F-1. If you click on the links, you will find details of each of these visa types. For foreign nationals who are overseas, the process calls for a filing by the immigration attorney here in the US with the USCIS. Once approved, the USCIS issues an I-797, Notice of Action (Approval Notice). The chosen Consulate or Embassy is then notified of the approval and the Beneficiary makes an application with the...

  • USCIS Initiative: “Entrepreneurs in Residence”

    VISANOW
    VISANOW
    20 Apr 2012 | 4:36 pm
    Our current immigration laws are specifically tailored to suit the traditional business model. However, with the increasing advancements in technology, the face of a “traditional” business looks much different than it did twenty, even ten years ago. Non-traditional businesses are … Continue reading →

  • H-1B Season at VISANOW!

    VISANOW
    VISANOW
    17 Apr 2012 | 10:27 am
    Our April blog would not complete without an update on the H-1B cap for fiscal 2013. The period leading up to the opening of the cap is the busiest time of the year for VISANOW’s legal department, and we know … Continue reading →
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    ICE Breaking News

  • ICE deports Mexican national wanted for murder

    16 May 2012 | 12:45 pm
    Sergio Arturo Moreno-Perez, a Mexican national wanted for fleeing a homicide charge in his native country, was deported Tuesday by officers with ICE's Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO).

  • 2 Mexican nationals indicted for alien harboring

    16 May 2012 | 11:58 am
    A Mexican couple was indicted Tuesday for conspiring to harbor aliens and alien harboring. Authorities discovered more than 100 undocumented aliens in three separate buildings on the property. One building was chain-locked and several undocumented aliens who were locked inside the building were treated for injuries.

  • Jury convicts foreign child sex offender of re-entering the US after deportation

    16 May 2012 | 11:54 am
    Following a two-day jury trial, Nicasio Roman, a Mexican national with a prior conviction for a child sex offense, has been found guilty on felony charges of re-entering the United States following deportation.

  • Investigators seize multiple weapons in bust of Bay Area heroin trafficking ring

    16 May 2012 | 11:50 am
    Twelve suspects were taken into custody Tuesday in the culmination of a long-term probe dubbed "Operation Middle Man" targeting a Bay Area-based heroin trafficking ring by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the California Department of Justice-led South Bay Metro Task Force.

  • Central Texas man sentenced to more than 12 years for drug trafficking

    15 May 2012 | 3:27 pm
    Mercedes Perez, a former reserve officer for the Nueces County Constables Office, was sentenced Monday to 151 months for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, as well as possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin. Perez was found to have cocaine and heroin in his car at a U.S.- Mexico border crossing.
 
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    About.com Immigration Issues

  • U.S. Border Patrol Changes Tactics To Deal With Illegal Immigration

    9 May 2012 | 7:50 pm
    The U.S. Border Patrol is rolling out a new strategy for dealing with illegal immigration and trafficking. With the number of people entering the United States illegally from Mexico falling to a 40-year low, the agency is changing tactics to a more targeted and calculated approach. Instead of dispatching legions of Border Patrol agents to guard the traditional corridors for illegal entry, the new strategy is to rely more on intelligence and "risk-based" assessments....Read Full Post

  • Still Waiting on Mitt Romney's Immigration Policy Positions

    9 May 2012 | 7:45 pm
    It's hard to imagine that someone who's been coveting the presidency for the last decade doesn't have a position on an issue as basic as immigration, but apparently that's where we find Mitt Romney....Read Full Post

  • Arrests of Teen Migrants Soaring Along the U.S.-Mexico Border

    9 May 2012 | 6:56 pm
    While illegal migration across the U.S.-Mexico border has fallen dramatically in recent years, government officials say there has also been an alarming increase in the number of unaccompanied minors trying to cross into the United States....Read Full Post

  • Obama Tells Hispanics He Wants DREAM Act and Reform Laws

    7 May 2012 | 2:13 am
    President Obama celebrated Cinco de Mayo early last week when he entertained supporters of the DREAM Act at the White House. He told them he is committed to passing legislation that will give the children of undocumented immigrants the chance to get on with their lives here. Obama also reiterated that comprehensive immigration reform would be a priority in a second term....Read Full Post

  • Entrants Can Check Results of Diversity Visa Green Card Lottery

    2 May 2012 | 8:45 am
    The U.S. State Department is allowing entrants to the 2013 Diversity Visa green card lottery to begin checking their status online. The entrant status check is open from May 1, 2012 until Sept. 30, 2013. Those who have entered the lottery are reminded to keep their confirmation numbers, since the government might select more DV 2013 applicants beginning on Oct. 1....Read Full Post
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    All Kolken & Kolken News and Blogs

  • New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) Assails Romney's Immigration Views

    16 May 2012 | 7:30 am
    "New Mexico Gov. Susana Martínez, mentioned on occasion as a possible running mate for presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, is mincing no words in voicing her opinion of his immigration views. In an interview with Newsweek, Martínez was unusually outspoken on immigration, in particular about Romney?s support of enforcement policies that would make undocumented immigrants so miserable that they will opt for self-deportation. ??Self-deport?? What the heck does that mean?? she was quoted as saying in the story, which described her as snapping her answer. ?I have no doubt Hispanics…

  • McCain: Romney knows self-deportation is not 'the entire answer'

    15 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    "Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) made an appeal to Hispanic voters Monday, saying that that Mitt Romney would address "the need for immigration reform" and that the presumptive GOP presidential nominee did not think self-deportation was "the entire answer to the issue." ?He is solidly in favor of immigration reform,? said McCain about Romney, in an interview with Fox News Latino. ?He knows that there are 12 million people who are in this country illegally. He knows you have to address it. He has also stated, recently, and I?m happy to say, that we have to address it in a humane fashion.?" Click…

  • McCain: Romney knows "Self-Deportation" is not 'the entire answer'

    15 May 2012 | 7:30 am
    Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) believes that Mitt Romney is ?solidly in favor of immigration reform,? and that Romney is aware that "self-deportation" is not the entire answer. McCain stated the following: ?[Romney] knows that there are 12 million people who are in this country illegally. He knows you have to address it. He has also stated, recently, and I?m happy to say, that we have to address it in a humane fashion.? Hopefully, whoever wins this election will address the issue more humanely than what we have seen during the last 3.5 years. I'm not holding my breath. Watch the latest video at…

  • The Flawed Case Against Immigration

    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    "A nationwide survey found that immigrants account for 55 percent fewer health care expenditures per person than native-born Americans. Even their children had 74 percent lower health care expenses. The authors conclude that their study "refutes the assumption that immigrants represent a disproportionate financial burden on the U.S. health care system" (American Journal of Public Health, 2005). Another major study of 12 major U.S. cities investigated the specific question of emergency department (ED) use and concluded that "noncitizens had much lower levels of ED use than citizens did (about…

  • Obama's Broken 2008 Immigration Promises Create Dilemma For Democrats

    14 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    "To many supporters of immigration reform, Obama has been a major disappointment. As a presidential candidate for his first term, Obama said he would enact immigration reform his first year in office and prevent parents from being separated from their children by deportation. Immigration reform hasn't happened. And deportation hasn't stopped. Obama is set to deport more people in one term than Republican predecessor George W. Bush did in two." Click here for more of this US immigration news update.
 
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    Greg Siskind on Immigration Law and Policy

  • House Trying to Exclude Immigrants from Violence Against Women Act

    Greg Siskind
    16 May 2012 | 12:19 pm
    Despite being on the books for nearly two decades and there being little evidence of any abuse of visa categories designed to help immigrant victims of violence, the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives is seeking to strip out provisions in VAWA relating to immigrants despite the fact that the Senate has already voted to keep that section in the law.The White House is threatening to veto the bill if those protections are taken out. From the LA Times: Republicans in Congress are proposing to strip away existing protections for immigrants who are the victims of domestic violence.

  • Romney Still Deciding His Immigration Position

    Greg Siskind
    15 May 2012 | 11:09 pm
    Having no convictions can be such a challenge. You can't just have immigration positions that reflect your values when you have no values unless you count winning at all costs. The problem is making people believe your new positions are genuine. And no matter what positions Romney takes now, we remember.

  • House Passes Bill Barring White House from Suing States Over Immigration

    Greg Siskind
    14 May 2012 | 4:01 pm
    It will go nowhere in the Senate and would obviously be vetoed, but it's one more reminder of how Congress has completely abdicated its role in immigration law. States wouldn't be legislating in immigration if Congress was actually passing the necessary reform bills.

  • Kobach's Home State Rejects Tuition Law Repeal

    Greg Siskind
    14 May 2012 | 11:53 am
    Good for them. Kansas' House has rejected a bill that would force illegally present immigrants to pay non-resident tuition at state universities even if they otherwise meet the state's residency requirements.

  • Senators Urge DHS To Delay Deportation of Same Sex Spouses

    Greg Siskind
    14 May 2012 | 11:48 am
    The White House is no longer defending the Defense of Marriage Act in the courts. The President and Vice President have come out in support of legalizing same sex marriage. Yet the Department of Homeland Security is still deporting same sex spouses as if nothing has changed. One way the President can offer very tangible proof that his actions support his rhetoric is to just end deportation proceedings in these cases. 17 Senators (16 Democrats and an independent) sent a letter to Secretary Napolitano this past week urging them to stop the deportations. I would also add that if DHS...
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    Chris Musillo on Nurse and Allied Health Immigration

  • H-1B CAP COUNT: 36,700

    ChrisMusillo
    15 May 2012 | 2:04 pm
    The H-1B cap count has passed the halfway mark. 36,700 H-1B cap-subject petitions have been received as of May, 11, which is the most recent USCIS update. MU currently is projecting that the H-1B cap of 65,000 will be reached around June 10. MU clients are encouraged to initiate their H-1B Petitions by May 25 in order to insure that their H-1B cap-subject petitions are received at the USCIS before the deadline. Employees that need a "cap-subject" H-1B include: * International students working on an EAD card under an OPT or CPT program after having attended a U.S. school *...

  • JUNE 2012 VISA BULLETIN

    ChrisMusillo
    14 May 2012 | 9:02 am
    by Chris Musillo The Department of State has just released the June 2012 Visa Bulletin. The Department of State finally made the India and China EB-2 categories unavailable (indicated by a "U", in the chart below), as has been expected for some time. It is expected that these categories will progress to 2010 once the new fiscal year begins in October 2012. Chinese and Indian EB-2 petitions are still accepted for I-485 filing through May 31. June 2012 Visa Bulletin All Other Countries China India Phillippines EB-2 Current U U Current EB-3 08JUN06 08AUG05 15SEP02 22MAY06 Read the full…

  • DEMAND FOR NURSES RISING IN US

    ChrisMusillo
    10 May 2012 | 8:59 am
    by Chris Musillo Nursing demand in the US has been negligible in the last few years. Fewer nurses have been retiring and facilities’ nursing needs have been stagnate. As a result facilities’ demand for nurses has been flat since the start of the recession. A recent survey says that it appears that this dormant period for nursing needs is over. As demand for nurses rises, medical practices are paying more to hire them, UBM Medical’s Physician’s Practice 2012 Staff Salary Survey suggests. Nurses and nurse managers saw average salary increases of 4 percent and 12 percent. Registered…

  • H-1B CAP COUNT: 32,500

    ChrisMusillo
    7 May 2012 | 3:23 pm
    by Chris Musillo The USCIS has just updated the H-1B Cap Count. The latest H-1B usage numbers are listed in the chart below. MU Law is also listing its estimated dates when the H-1B cap will be reached for each category. We will regularly update the projection. H-1B Cap Count Cap Type Available Received Updated MU Projection Regular 65,000 32,500 5/4/2012 6/1/2012 US Masters 20,000 13,700 5/4/2012 5/20/2012 . Many healthcare professions ordinarily qualify for H-1B status, includingPhysical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Therapists, and some Registered Nursing positions.

  • DS-160 TIPS

    ChrisMusillo
    3 May 2012 | 1:44 pm
    by Chris Musillo A nonimmigrant visa (or temporary visa) is any visa that is not an immigrant visa (green card). Typical nonimmigrant visas include the H-1B, B-1/B-2, L-1, and F-1. If you click on the links, you will find details of each of these visa types. For foreign nationals who are overseas, the process calls for a filing by the immigration attorney here in the US with the USCIS. Once approved, the USCIS issues an I-797, Notice of Action (Approval Notice). The chosen Consulate or Embassy is then notified of the approval and the Beneficiary makes an application with the...
 
 
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    Joel Stewart on PERM Labor Certification

  • PERM: Filing I-140 Petitions Electronically

    Js
    9 May 2012 | 4:34 pm
    I have heard it said that if you file an I-140 electronically, you have to file the supporting documentation in seven days, yet there does not appear to be any basis for this. The regulations are silent on this. The only doctrine controlling I-140 filings is the set of instructions on the USCIS internet page. The current version does not state how many days the petitioner has to send in the supporting documentation. Most employers have been waiting for an RFE requesting documents, although I have advised that prudent petitioners should file the supporting documentation by mail within 30…

  • Experts Discuss Audit, Reconsideration and Appeal Options

    Js
    2 May 2012 | 7:52 am
    On Thursday, May 3, the ILW telephonic panel will discuss important issues regarding audits, reconsideration and appeals of CO decisions. The all-start case includes Edwin Rubin, Professor Emeritus of the Employment Based Immigration Bar, Lorna Burgess, whose knowledge of PERM regulations and BALCA decisions is incomparable and a legend among her colleagues, and Christina LaBrie, PERM specialist and savant from the halls of the Fragomen ultimate immigration experience to create the best panel yet on the subject of post-decision options -- audits, reconsideration and appeals. The program…

  • PERM Telephone Workshops

    Js
    20 Mar 2012 | 8:44 am
    We're kicking off a new season of PERM workshops this week. Ths idea is to bring PERM up to date in 2012. Many changes have been made in the regulations, operating instructions (FAQ's and Stakeholder Meetings), and BALCA has issued a plethora of decisions since 2005 when PERM was introduced as the law of the land. The first telephone conference is this Thursday, March 22nd. Michael Piston and Nathan Waxman will join me to discuss some very interesting and important issues, including utilizing 2nd preference applications with PERM and/or with Schedule A (including nurses, physical therapists,…

  • PERM: Lawyers and Para-Legals

    Js
    21 Feb 2012 | 8:59 am
    In case you haven't noticed, the O*Net has been readjusted and the position of paralegal has been down-graded to a Job Zone 3, requiring only two years of preparation time (including education, training and experience) and only a two-year associate degree. As such, it will be difficult to obtain H-1B visas for specialty occupations for paralegals, as these positions no longer require a bachelor's degree. It will also be difficult to obtain 2nd preference employment based immigrant status for paralegals, since the second preference normally requires a bachelor's degree plus five years of…

  • PERM: FAQ on Timely Responses

    Js
    13 Feb 2012 | 10:25 am
    The DOL issued an FAQ entitled, "What should an employer do if it is unable to provide documentation in response to a decision or a request for information in a timely manner, i.e., prior to an established deadline, particularly in extenuating circumstances where the deadline is immediate?" In this situation, the employer should request an extension in writing. The CO may grant an extension where the employer provides a legitimate reason for the request. For many years, prior to PERM, DÖL played a cat and mouse game with Employers, often maintaining that extensions would not be permitted,…
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    Angelo Paparelli on Dysfunctional Government

  • Instruct Us Again on the Immigration Rules

    Webmaster ILW.COM
    8 May 2012 | 8:42 am
    With the 2012 presidential campaign in full throb, candidates Obama and Romney are embracing "the vision thing" -- that nemesis of the first President Bush whose reelection effort reportedly failed because he did not "frame his positions on individual issues in a compelling and unified manner." The two de facto nominees paint a starkly different picture of where each would take America and of government's role in getting us there. Surprisingly, however, on one point they agree: The cumulative burden of federal regulations is simply overwhelming. For his part, President…

  • When Possible, Treat Immigrants As Criminal Defendants, Not As Criminals

    Webmaster ILW.COM
    1 May 2012 | 10:44 am
    An essay in today's New York Times, "Unexceptionalism: A Primer," by the novelist, E. L. Doctorow, describes in four "phases" how America can take steps to become unexceptional, that is, "indistinguishable from the impoverished, traditionally undemocratic, brutal or catatonic countries in the world." Phase one begins with Bush v. Gore, a ruling that "ignore[s] the first sacrament of a democracy and suspend[s] the counting of ballots in a presidential election." Phase four ends with a naked power grab: If you're a justice of the Supreme Court, decide…

  • Immigration-Agency Lawbreaking Revealed: USCIS's EB-5 "Tenant-Occupancy" Scandal

    Webmaster ILW.COM
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    [Bloggers Note: This post is authored jointly by Brandon Meyer and Angelo A. Paparelli] Some scandals raise eyebrows; others cause real economic harm. The one we're about to reveal -- known as "tenant occupancy" -- does both. It makes the GSA's Las Vegas cavorting pale in comparison. (Immigration lawyer alert: For those with prurient interests [you know who you are], "tenant occupancy" is not legalese for the recently reported transactions involving the oldest profession as allegedly occurred with the Secret Service at the Hotel Caribe in Cartagena, Columbia.) Readers of…

  • Immigration Protectionism Costs America Billions

    Webmaster ILW.COM
    16 Apr 2012 | 11:13 am
    I worry a lot about the future facing America's young adults. Saddled with Dickensian levels of college and grad-school debt, largely unable to find opportunities in their preferred careers, our young fear that they'll be relegated to work in low-paid, dead-end jobs. They and their parents are rightly concerned that the middle class is disappearing, the gulf between the ultra-rich and the poor is growing, and citizens coming of age today may never achieve the American Dream of economic progress. The country's political, labor and business leaders seem to think the solution lies in restoring…

  • Pre-Election Bipartisanship -- Except on Immigration, Where Sen. Grassley Stubbornly Obstructs

    Webmaster ILW.COM
    10 Apr 2012 | 8:54 am
    At President Obama’s signing ceremony for the JOBS Act last week, White House guests slapped high fives with bipartisan glee. They came to the Rose Garden to help “Jumpstart Our Business Startups,” as the new law’s title optimistically promises to do. With pen in hand, the President joined in the merriment, observing that it’s not about blather but action: One of the great things about America is that we are a nation of doers -- not just talkers, but doers. We think big. We take risks. And we believe that anyone with a solid plan and a willingness to work...
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    Carl Shusterman's Immigration Update

  • The Child Status Prevention Act?

    Carl Shusterman
    14 May 2012 | 11:48 am
    On June 19, the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit en banc (11 Judges) will hear oral arguments in a case which challenges the BIA’s interpretation of the “automatic conversion” clause of the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) in Matter of Wang. We have discussed the legal arguments in this matter on numerous occasions. However, from the standpoint of policy, the question remains how long a person would have to wait to immigrate to the U.S. if the courts were to defer to Matter of Wang. On May 11, three amicus (friend of the court) briefs were...

  • The Government Declares War on Employers

    Carl Shusterman
    4 May 2012 | 7:37 pm
    Government I-9 audits are spreading like the plague. These silent raids have increased from virtually zero under the previous administration to over 7,500 under President Obama. The number of employers arrested by ICE for criminal immigration violations so far this year is over 100 and we are only in May. The amount of administrative fines levied against employers in 2012 is quickly approaching $5,000,000. In the words of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), these I-9 audits "are going to decimate our farms and farm-dependent jobs". And it isn't just farms. Who does our gardening, takes care of…

  • 9th Circuit Grants Petition for Rehearing En Banc

    Carl Shusterman
    21 Apr 2012 | 10:24 pm
    On April 20, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit granted our Petition for a Rehearing En Banc in De Osorio v. Napolitano. The issue in this case is whether a child who is a derivative beneficiary of a visa petition who ages-out before his priority date becomes current may retain the priority date of the original petition and automatically convert to the family-based 2B category. In most cases, this allows the child to immigrate to the U.S. together with his parents. The government maintains that the child is not entitled to any credit for all of...

  • MAY VISA BULLETIN BRINGS BAD NEWS

    Webmaster ILW.COM
    9 Apr 2012 | 8:37 am
    There is little good news, but a lot of bad news, in the May 2012 Visa Bulletin. The worldwide family categories all advance modestly, from 3 to 5 weeks. For persons born in Mexico and the Philippines, many of the categories fail to advance at all. The worldwide EB-3 category moves forward 3 weeks while the other worldwide employment categories remain current. The big news is that the EB-2 category for persons born in mainland China and India, retrogresses 3 years back to August 15, 2007, and that no relief can be expected until the new fiscal year begins on...

  • April 2012 Visa Bulletin

    Carl Shusterman
    10 Mar 2012 | 12:34 pm
    On March 9, the State Department released the April 2012 Visa Bulletin. The worldwide family-based categories advanced between 4 and 10 weeks when the while the employment-based (EB) categories barely budged. For the worldwide family-based categories, the 1st preference category (unmarried adult sons and daughters of US citizens) advanced 8 weeks, the 2A preference (spouses and children of lawful permanent residents) moved forward 10 weeks, the 2B category (unmarried adult sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents) advanced 8 weeks, the 3rd preference category (married sons and…
 
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    Matthew Kolken on Deportation And Removal

  • McCain: Romney knows "Self-Deportation" is not 'the entire answer'

    Matthew Kolken
    15 May 2012 | 7:46 am
    Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) believes that Mitt Romney is “solidly in favor of immigration reform,” and that Romney is aware that "self-deportation" is not the entire answer. McCain stated the following: “[Romney] knows that there are 12 million people who are in this country illegally. He knows you have to address it. He has also stated, recently, and I’m happy to say, that we have to address it in a humane fashion.” Hopefully, whoever wins this election will address the issue more humanely than what we have seen during the last 3.5 years. I'm not holding my breath. Watch the...

  • Obama Administration Set to Deport Mother of Teenage United States Citizen

    Matthew Kolken
    14 May 2012 | 8:59 am
    Fifteen-year-old United States citizen Fredi Reyes is making a desperate plea to his community to help stop the Obama administration from deporting his mother. Orfilia Reyes unsuccessfully applied for asylum from Guatemala after a family member had been assassinated. Unlike many others, she came to the United States legally with a visitor's visa. Fredi describes the ordeal: "I find myself overwhelmed. Not only do I have to worry about school, homework, worrying what other people think about me, I also have to deal with this." Should the Administration deport his mother Fredi faces the very…

  • Alabama State Senate Delays Vote on Amending Immigration Law

    Matthew Kolken
    11 May 2012 | 11:22 am
    The Alabama State Senate has delayed a planned vote to amend the State’s immigration law known as HB 56. A vote was planned for this week. Apparently the sponsors of the Bill are divided over provisions that deal with business transactions. At issue are provision that provide civil penalties to business owners that knowingly hire undocumented immigrants. As the law currently stands there are automatic statutory penalties, which include the suspension of business licenses and the imposition of probationary periods. I'll keep you posted as soon as more information becomes available. Click…

  • Deportation Actions Against Criminal Aliens Decreasing

    Matthew Kolken
    10 May 2012 | 8:37 am
    Syracuse University's TRAC Immigration reports that the Obama administration is instituting fewer deportation proceedings against individuals with criminal grounds of removal. Here is what they found: During the most recent quarter (January - March 2012), ICE sought to deport a total of 5,450 individuals on criminal grounds. While this number is preliminary and is likely to increase once late reports are in, it represents a drastic decrease compared with 10,732 individuals against whom ICE sought deportation orders just two years ago (during the period January - March 2010). They also…

  • Alabama Senate Rejects Attempt to Repeal State Immigration Law

    Matthew Kolken
    10 May 2012 | 8:34 am
    As of the writing of this blog there has been no vote on Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, and Rep. Micky Hammon, R-Decatur proposed changes to Alabama's immigration law HB 56. Yesterday, Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton proposed to repeal the law entirely. This attempt failed by a vote of 20 to 14. As soon as I know more I'll post an update.
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    Immigration Daily Blog

  • Letters of the Week: May 14 - May 18

    Webmaster ILW.COM
    14 May 2012 | 10:06 am
    Please email your letters to editor@ilw.com or post them directly as "Comment" below.

  • May 11- Move At Twitter Speed

    Webmaster ILW.COM
    11 May 2012 | 1:05 pm
    Comment: Move At Twitter Speed - Being part of a fast-paced generation, where time is essential and something is happening every second, can be difficult to keep up with. There's a place with millions of people where you can receive the latest events, news, have direct access to media members, public officials, attorneys, law firms, and other internet users who want to communicate with you. This place is Twitter; its users see their popularity increase with each mention and new follower. By using 140 character messages, hash tags, retweets and direct messages you'll be able to connect with…

  • May 9 - EB5 App is here

    Webmaster ILW.COM
    9 May 2012 | 3:00 pm
    Comment: EB5 App Is Here - ILW.COM is pleased to announce the launch of the EB-5 iPhone App in Apple's iTunes store. The EB-5 App is a convenient way of remaining on the top of EB-5 news all the time, for immigration law professionals, regional centers and immigrants interested in EB-5 issues. The App brings you the latest news from USCIS, scholarly articles by distinguished practitioners, latest news headlines from Google, a list of regional centers, EB-5 events and books, and even Chinese language headlines on EB-5 issues. We encourage all those interested in the EB-5 field to download…

  • May 7 - On AILA Elections

    Webmaster ILW.COM
    7 May 2012 | 1:17 pm
    Comment: On AILA Elections We have received an inquiry from a candidate running for an elected position at AILA asking if we endorse candidates for AILA elections. As this question is important as a bar governance matter, we here respond to it in a public fashion. In our publishing history of over 12 years, we have never endorsed candidates for AILA elections. We invite materials from all candidates in all contested AILA national elections and publish all the submissions we receive. Additionally, we publish such letters to the editor that we receive from members of the bar commenting on…

  • Letters of the Week: May 7 - May 11

    Webmaster ILW.COM
    7 May 2012 | 8:51 am
    Please email your letters to editor@ilw.com or post them directly as "Comment" below.
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    The Telegraph : News

  • Congress considers threats from airport employees

    16 May 2012 | 1:06 pm
    WASHINGTON (AP) — Commercial air travel is at risk from terrorists who quietly get jobs at airports so that they can attack from within sensitive areas, a senior Homeland Security Department official told lawmakers Wednesday. There has never been...

  • Man gets 40 years in Alton killing

    16 May 2012 | 11:49 am
    EDWARDSVILLE — An Alton man was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years in prison for a 2011 homicide. Ray T. Slack was sentenced in the killing of Robert Garrett, 77, of Alton, whose body was found outside his home March 16, 2011. A Madison County jury...

  • Somebody swipes angel from Nature Institute site

    By DENNIS GRUBAUGH
    16 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    GODFREY - An angel that mysteriously disappeared from The Nature Institute over the weekend has authorities wondering about the devilish intention of the people responsible. The 3-foot-tall metal statue has stood guard at the end of South Levis Lane...

  • School bus driver charged in crash

    16 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    LITCHFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The driver of a school bus carrying 33 sixth-graders that slammed into a tractor-trailer Monday on Interstate 55 near Litchfield was charged Tuesday with failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident. An Illinois State Police...

  • PHOTOS: Goshen Olympics

    16 May 2012 | 10:25 am
    Kindergartners from Goshen Elementary School in Edwardsville tumble off the end of a water slide Tuesday during the Goshen Olympics held for students at the school. Most of the games had a water-based theme, including the scooter races, conducted...
 
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    Feet in 2 Worlds · Immigration news · Immigration reform · Immigrant communities

  • Podcast: Rethinking NY’s Ethnic and Community Media at Voices of New York

    Feet in Two Worlds
    15 May 2012 | 1:29 pm
    Fi2W executive producer John Rudolph interviews Indrani Sen, the new editor of Voices of NY , an online publication housed at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism that showcases ethnic and community journalism in New York City. Sen is a former staff reporter at Newsday, and her work has been featured in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor and Saveur. Prior to taking the reins at Voices of NY, she was the editor of the hyperlocal news blog The Local. In this podcast episode, Sen talks about her vision for Voices of NY and what kind of…

  • Von Diaz on Latino USA: The Struggle of Lesbians in Cuba

    Von Diaz
    14 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    OREMI. (Photo: Von Diaz) In the first few years after the Cuban revolution in 1959, the government wanted to wipe out homosexuality. The Cuban state targeted homosexuals and defined them as dangerous, antisocial counterrevolutionaries. In summer 2011 reporter Von Diaz traveled to Cuba to do an oral history project with lesbians who lived through the early years of the Revolution. She found that lesbians who remained in Cuba were thrust into the shadows, but they found ways to maintain their identity, even as they risked being jailed or socially marginalized. Listen to the story reporter Von…

  • De Leon Commentary: ‘Estamos Unidos’ President Obama Woos En Español

    Erwin de Leon
    11 May 2012 | 2:33 pm
    A message to Latinos from President Obama. “La familia es bien importante a Presidente Obama,” Lynnette Acosta tells the family she is visiting. That is why the president fought hard for the overhaul of the health care system – because he cares for usted. Acosta is speaking to this family at their dining room table, but her voice will be heard by thousands of Latino voters in Florida, Nevada and Colorado.  She is a volunteer spokesperson in a new series of Spanish-language television ads the Obama re-election campaign launched Tuesday.   Obama and Romney are expected to have a tight…

  • Young Filmmakers from Conflict-Ridden Countries Tell Stories of Love and Sports

    Cristina DC Pastor
    11 May 2012 | 8:53 am
    A group of young international filmmakers whose work is being developed with the organization Films Without Borders. (Photo: Jocelyn Gonzales) What’s your film about? I asked Ahlam Darwish, 17, from Jerusalem, while waiting for her film to screen at the Curious Pictures studio in Manhattan. “It’s about a very talented, young girl who plays the piano, but what many do not know is that she is about to go blind,” Darwish replied excitedly. Who is this girl? “Me,” she replied before erupting into giggles. Darwish, an upbeat Arab-Israeli with a smiling face, is one of 10 teens who…

  • NHL Playoffs: The Hockey Myth, Joel Ward and My Immigrant Identity

    Sehreen Noor Ali
    9 May 2012 | 12:23 pm
    Joel Ward of the Washington Capitals. (Photo: Clydeorama/flickr) After three periods of heart-wrenching, nail-biting hockey, Washington Capitals player Joel Ward shot the series-winning goal against the Boston Bruins and resuscitated me from my own sudden-death overtime. I grabbed my phone to start the tele-celebrations with my brother in Kenya and my dad in Malaysia. For my family, hockey is rooted in our days in Canada, but we take it wherever we go. In 1969, my dad became the first in his family to immigrate to Toronto. He quickly became an enthusiastic fan of a national sport that…
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    Ashwin Sharma's US Immigration Blog

  • Information on Consulates' use of 221(g) refusals

    Ashwin Sharma
    1 May 2012 | 9:59 am
    Section 221(g) of the INA allows consular officers to issue a temporary refusal of a visa petition in cases where an otherwise eligible visa applicant is missing a specific document, or in case where a consular officer concludes that additional security clearance measures are warranted. Consular officers utilize 221(g) to allow applicants the opportunity to supplement their applications to overcome a visa denial.  Once the deficiency is satisfied, or the concern resolved, 221(g) refusal is “overcome” and the visa may be issued.  In practice, the following are some situations…

  • US Supreme Court's transcript of Arizona v. United States (SB 1070)

    Ashwin Sharma
    30 Apr 2012 | 12:05 pm
    The U.S. Supreme Court has released an initial transcript of Arizona v. United States on the subject of four provisions within Arizona's controversial SB 1070 that had been blocked in 2010 by a federal judge.  A decision is expected in JuneRead Transcript

  • DOS indicates no changes in student visa policy or adjudication with regards to Indian students

    Ashwin Sharma
    26 Apr 2012 | 10:35 am
    Despite some educational initiatives carried out recently between India and the U.S., State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland indicated this week that there will be no changes in student visa policy or adjudication with regards to Indian students.

  • Frequently Asked Questions about ICE Policy Directive Number 11061.1, Facilitating the Return to the United States of Certain Lawfully Removed Aliens

    Ashwin Sharma
    26 Apr 2012 | 10:26 am
    via ice.govI was ordered removed, and am scheduled to be removed soon. How will this affect my appeal of my case, which is pending before the U.S. circuit court of appeals? As explained in ICE Policy Directive Number 11061.1, Facilitating the Return to the United States of Certain Lawfully Removed Aliens, an alien who appeals his or her final order of removal to a federal circuit court of appeals may continue to litigate his or her case after being removed from the United States. Your removal will not affect your right to continue to pursue your case before the court. Although you may be…

  • Supreme Court debate: is Arizona's Immigration law Constitutional?

    Ashwin Sharma
    25 Apr 2012 | 5:01 pm
    I participated in an online debate today over the legal issues surrounding Arizona SB 1070. PolicyMic will be hosting the discussion with several legal scholars and think-tank scholars on how the Supreme Court should decide the case.Continue to debate
 
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    Immigration Impact

  • New Border Patrol Strategy Changes Rhetoric More than Substance

    Walter Ewing
    15 May 2012 | 3:50 pm
    The U.S. Border Patrol’s newly released strategic plan is a decidedly mixed bag when it comes to border security—just like the Border Patrol’s last strategic plan, released in 2004. On the plus side, both documents advocate an intelligence-driven, risk-based approach to border security which focuses on the greatest security threats. Both plans also call for disruption of the smuggling networks which bring unauthorized immigrants, drugs, and other contraband into the United States. On the down side, each plan embraces the simplistic “prevention through deterrence” mentality in which…

  • Immigrants without Legal Representation Not Benefitting from Prosecutorial Discretion

    Joan Friedland
    14 May 2012 | 1:51 pm
    After ICE Director John Morton issued a memo last June outlining how and when ICE officials should exercise prosecutorial discretion in immigration cases, many were optimistic that the memo’s implementation would relieve backlogs and help the agency focus on higher priority immigration cases. Months later, however, folks are finding that one large group of people has limited access to this review process—immigrants without legal representation. In fact, nearly half of all immigrants in removal proceedings  appeared without legal representation in 2011, also known as “pro se.” While…

  • House Judiciary Committee Sends Wrong Mother’s Day Message with Amendments to VAWA

    Mary Giovagnoli
    11 May 2012 | 12:22 pm
    The House Judiciary Committee sent the wrong kind of Mother’s Day message to women this week, proposing to roll back protections for victims of violence that have been in place even before the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was first passed in 1994. While the proposed amendments were discouraging in their own right, the fact they were targeted at immigrant women is an even sadder commentary on just how much some members of Congress will use any legislation as a vehicle for attacking and undermining the immigration system. In this case, the vehicle was a bill providing for reauthorization…

  • Obama Administration Files Suit Against Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio

    Ben Winograd
    10 May 2012 | 1:26 pm
    Earlier today, the Department of Justice filed suit against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County (AZ) Sheriff’s Office alleging a pattern and practice of discriminatory behavior against Latinos. According to the complaint, officers under Arpaio’s command targeted Latino drivers during traffic stops and neighborhood sweeps, and used ethnic slurs against Latino inmates with limited English proficiency in county jails. The suit, which was filed in federal court in Arizona, comes five months after the Department’s Civil Rights Division issued a report based on an extensive…

  • Justice Department Says Alabama Immigration Law Disrupts Access to Public Education

    Wendy Sefsaf
    10 May 2012 | 9:54 am
    While eyes remain fixed on the Alabama legislature’s effort to revise their immigration enforcement law, HB 56, the U.S. Department of Justice informed state officials in a letter last week that the state’s immigration law has resulted in significantly higher absence rates among Latino students. According to the letter, more than 13 percent of Latino schoolchildren in Alabama withdrew from classes between the start of the school year and February 2012. While the Department’s investigation is still ongoing, the letter said Alabama could lose federal funding and face additional litigation…
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    Front page feed

  • Libertarian for Open Borders

    James R. Edwards Jr.
    16 May 2012 | 10:47 am
    Sometimes you just have to let those who disagree with you on an issue like immigration argue themselves to extremes. That's what a recent piece in the Huffington Post does. This item by an open-borders libertarian tries to justify amnesty. He embraces amnesty. He seems to view America as nothing more than a "market", a body economic, a place where a bunch of disparate people happen to live near one another. You have to read the essay for yourself to get the full thrust of its surreal, utopian flavor. But let me make one observation.

  • Media Memes and the GOP's Immigration Stance in the 2012 Election: Dammed if You Do, Dammed if You Don't

    Stanley Renshon
    16 May 2012 | 8:44 am
    There is no area more suffused with conventional "conventional wisdom" than the role of immigration in the 2012 presidential election. Did you know that Hispanic voters are a "large and growing electoral bloc"? That's right, "The number of Hispanics eligible to vote increased from 16 million in 2004 to 19.5 million in 2008." NOTE: Repeat as often as necessary to ensure that you don't have to deal with the actual decline of Hispanic voting.

  • Another Bit of (Hidden) Good Immigration News from the Government

    David North
    15 May 2012 | 7:01 am
    Every so often the administration does something useful in the immigration field, but it never stresses the fact. Last month, I reported how it had changed a government form (I-797C) in a highly useful way to prevent fraud, but USCIS described it as a money-saving operation.

  • Media Memes and the GOP's Immigration Stance in the 2012 Election: Narratives and Conventional Wisdom

    Stanley Renshon
    15 May 2012 | 5:47 am
    As everyone who has followed politics at all in the last decade knows, the media's biggest buzzword for any political story is "narrative". Borrowed from cognitive psychology, that term literally means an assemblage of items (not necessarily facts) that are designed to convey a preferred impression. In the news media and political campaigns it is simply a storyline assembled for a purpose.

  • The Clichéd Sentimentality of Jon Meacham on PBS

    Jerry Kammer
    14 May 2012 | 3:09 pm
    When PBS asks someone like Jon Meacham — contributing editor to Time magazine, former editor of Newsweek, television pundit, and author of a Pulitzer-prize winning biography of Andrew Jackson — to write an essay on immigration, the result is likely to be a measure of elite media thinking on the topic. And so it was with Meacham's commentary at the end of last Friday's "Need to Know" program. It was a call to welcome the world. It was also devoid of any recognition of how unconstrained immigration policy has become since passage of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act.
 
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    VISANOW

  • UK Immigration Rules Revised – Again!

    VISANOW
    10 May 2012 | 10:38 am
    by Dominic Hewitt, Global Immigration Manager Changes to the UK immigration rules have become an annual event. The government has made no secret of its pledge to reduce net immigration figures down to the ‘tens of thousands’ over the next … Continue reading →

  • Economic Growth and Immigration

    VISANOW
    1 May 2012 | 1:35 pm
    When I think of the great entrepreneurial center of the United States for the last decade, my mind goes immediately to Silicon Valley.  Essential to growth are new ideas and new companies paving the way forward and teaching us how … Continue reading →

  • USCIS Initiative: “Entrepreneurs in Residence”

    VISANOW
    20 Apr 2012 | 4:36 pm
    Our current immigration laws are specifically tailored to suit the traditional business model. However, with the increasing advancements in technology, the face of a “traditional” business looks much different than it did twenty, even ten years ago. Non-traditional businesses are … Continue reading →

  • H-1B Season at VISANOW!

    VISANOW
    17 Apr 2012 | 10:27 am
    Our April blog would not complete without an update on the H-1B cap for fiscal 2013. The period leading up to the opening of the cap is the busiest time of the year for VISANOW’s legal department, and we know … Continue reading →

  • Did You Know? FY2013 H-1Bs are going fast – apply soon!

    VISANOW
    13 Apr 2012 | 1:27 pm
    Get your new H-1B petitions filed quickly! As many of you may know, the annual cap on the H-1B category of visa opened on April 2, 2012. As of April 9th, 2012, the USCIS reports that petitions for cap-subject H-1Bs … Continue reading →
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    The Asylumist

  • Albanian Informant and His Family Granted Asylum – Finally

    Jason Dzubow
    14 May 2012 | 5:22 am
                        A decade ago, Edmond Demiraj agreed to testify against an Albanian mobster charged with human smuggling.  He claimed that, in exchange for his testimony, federal prosecutors promised to keep him and his family safe.  The mobster, Bill Bedini, fled the country before his trial, and so the federal government had no need for Mr. Demiraj’s testimony.  He was deported to Albania. The Fifth Circuit decision means that if JR gets shot, the Ewings don't get asylum. In…

  • Congress Considers Waiving the One-Year Asylum Deadline for Indonesian Christians

    Jason Dzubow
    9 May 2012 | 5:25 am
                        Note to policy advocates: If you want Congress to pass a law helping immigrants, try to frame the law in a way that sticks it to the Muslims.  That is exactly what has been happening with a proposed bill (HR 3590) to help Indonesian Christians who were persecuted by Muslims in the late 1990′s.  The bill would allow Indonesians who filed for asylum between 1997 and 2002, and whose cases were denied solely because they missed the one-year filing deadline, to reopen…

  • Seeking Asylum at the U.S. Embassy in China

    Jason Dzubow
    7 May 2012 | 8:04 am
                        When Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng escaped house arrest and fled to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on April 22, it touched off an international crisis.  A high-level visit to China by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner was upstaged by the incident, which remains unresolved. You known you're a dissident when you've been Shepard Fairey-ized. In some ways, when a prominent political activist seeks shelter at a foreign embassy, it…

  • Beautiful People Seeking Asylum

    Jason Dzubow
    3 May 2012 | 5:25 am
                        Two Cuban actors who star in an award winning movie, Una Noche, have defected and will be seeking political asylum in the United States.  Coincidentally, the movie tells the story of three Cuban teenagers who try to escape Cuba on a raft in order to start a new life in America.  America's newest asylum seekers are also some of its most glamorous. Una Noche was a low budget film directed by Lucy Mulloy, a 32-year-old Brit who shot the movie in Havana.  She says that…

  • Victory Is Fleeting, But Losing Lasts Forever

    Jason Dzubow
    26 Apr 2012 | 5:26 am
                        It feels good to win an asylum case, particularly a case where the client faces a real danger in the home country, or where winning seemed unlikely.  But one thing I’ve noticed about winning – that good feeling doesn’t last long. The typical scene at my office after an asylum win. It’s better for court cases, when you are actually present to hear the decision.  Since you’re not in the office, the win can be savored for a while; at least until…
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    The ImmigrationDirect Blog

  • Steady Count of Illegal Immigrants in the US

    Immigration Direct
    9 May 2012 | 6:27 am
    Illegal immigration has always been an unresolved issue in the US, in spite of it occupying prime spot in every politician’s agenda. Per the estimates of the DHS, there are 11.5 million illegal immigrants (as of January 2011) in the country! There seems to be no significant change in this number when compared to the same in the year 2010. States playing host to illegal immigrants Interesting fact in this research, by the DHS, was that, illegal immigrants were reported in large numbers from states that relied primarily on tourism and agriculture. These were the states where job opportunities…

  • Arizona’s Immigration Laws Under Fire

    Immigration Direct
    2 May 2012 | 6:09 am
    When the Supreme Court’s hearing on Arizona’s SB 1070 comes up, the illegal immigration from Mexico would have fallen further. The argument regarding unauthorized entry has brought down issues like overall migrant population, rebound of international students in higher education and legal citizenship. With the Courts expecting to rule this measure in June, it would require law enforcement officers to check on those who are suspected of being illegal in the U.S. and also arrest those they believe would be eligible for deportation. An Arizona Sheriff Larry Dever who recently…

  • Economic Downturn Forces Mexican Immigrants to Return to Mexico

    Immigration Direct
    25 Apr 2012 | 7:00 am
    With the U.S. economy in doldrums, a recent study by the Pew Hispanic Center states that Mexican immigration to the United States has come down drastically. It is widely believed that the undocumented workers from Mexico find it hard to get jobs in the United States due to the downturn. They have also begun to leave the United States and return to Mexico. The Mexican-born population in the United States is close to 12 million and more than half of them are living illegally here. The latest study also confirms that the Mexicans entering the United States now is almost equal to the number of…

  • USCIS Updates for the Month of March 2012

    Immigration Direct
    18 Apr 2012 | 7:17 am
    Temporary Extension of Accommodation for Sheepherders Under the H-2A Visa Program, US employers can bring in foreign nationals to fill up temporary agricultural jobs in the United States. These non-immigrant workers can stay only up to a maximum period of three years in the United States while on this job. As per this extension, H-2A sheepherders, who have reached their 3 year limit, will have to depart the country by Aug 6, 2012 and remain outside for at least 3 months before they can apply again. Citizenship and Integration Grant Opportunity USCIS announced a competitive grant opportunity…

  • USCIS Updates for the Month of February 2012

    Immigration Direct
    2 Mar 2012 | 5:07 am
    E-Verify Self-Check The E-Verify self-check service is now available nationally. USCIS announced that this free online service, “is available in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.” E-Verify is a result of efforts between the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. This service allows people to check their own employment eligibility status. It also guides them on how they can keep their DHS and SSA records updated. The service was launched in March 2011 and this…
 
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    immigration-news

  • Student Activists Inform Public of DREAM Act

    15 May 2012 | 9:37 am
    Several activists are traveling across the country and encouraging others to support the DREAM Act legislation. The legislation, also known as the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, is meant to grant U.S. citizenship to undocumented children who attend college or serve in the U.S. military after they graduate from a U.S. high school. There has been wide support of the bill among immigrant activists, undocumented immigrants as well as government officials, however, the support has not warranted the bill to pass through Congress. The DREAM Act was passed by the House in 2010,…

  • Immigrant Receives Help From Senator, Family Receives U.S. Citizenship

    15 May 2012 | 9:34 am
      Jamil Patkik, a Pakistani immigrant, was injured while working as a combat translator for the United States Army in Afghanistan was recently reunited wtih his wife and children in Queens, New York, according to the New York Daily News. Patkik applied to have his family join him in the United States after he was paralyzed from the waist down in a violent 2010 Black Hawk chopper crash in Zabul, Afghanistan. Patkik was one of three survivors. The process of getting his family here legally has been a long and difficult one. After applying for his family, Patkik was told his family's…

  • New York Next State To Join Secure Communities

    14 May 2012 | 4:25 am
    A controversial program will soon be activated throughout New York State. Governor Deval Patrick decided that the state will soon be a part of the Secure Communities program starting May 15, The Herald News reported. The fingerprint sharing program was initially meant to weed out dangerous criminals that were living in America without U.S. citizenship, however, as time goes one, some immigrant activists argue the program is unfair and discriminatory. Although the program was only created in 2008, it is already in effect in 48 additional states. Law enforcement officials from three counties in…

  • Immigrants Awarded For Business Efforts

    14 May 2012 | 4:11 am
    Three entrepreneurs were awarded for their business efforts at The Immigrant Learning Center's Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Dinner on May 9. The Massachusetts-based business leaders were honored by the non-profit for their exceptional contributions to their communities. The trio joined 21 other nominees, thousands of fellow entrepreneurs, respected community members and ILC leaders. Larry Dossantos, a native of Cape Verde, founded 912 Auto Center in Dorchester, Massachusetts 27 years ago. He was awarded the Outstanding Neighborhood Business award for not only serving the community, but…

  • Federal Court Turns Down Gun Possession Appeal

    11 May 2012 | 11:09 am
    A Wyoming man is challenging his arrest for possessing firearms after a Colorado Federal Court of Appeals turned down his appeal on May 7. Emmanuel Huitron-Guizar, who was sentenced to 18-months in prison after police found  a 12-gauge shotgun, a rifle as well as a semiautomatic pistol while searching his home. According to The Associated Press, Huitron-Guizar was taken to the Natrona County Detention Center in Wyoming and was held by immigration authorities after his arrest. Huitron-Guizar, 24, moved to the United States when he was three and has been living in Wyoming ever since.
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    ImmigrationDirect

  • Tips for a Safe Travel Abroad

    14 May 2012 | 5:55 am
    The most important thing that one should have while planning a travel out of the United States is a US Passport. Without this any kind of travel will be totally impossible. However, becoming a United States passport holder is not an easy task and one should first become a US citizen, in order to apply [...]

  • Extension of Visa for Sheepherders

    30 Apr 2012 | 7:16 am
    Recently the extension of visa for sheepherders became a national issue. H-2A is the visa that is given to foreigners to fill up gaps in the agricultural scenario of the United States. Those getting jobs as sheepherders are generally given a temporary job in the US. This is a non-immigrant visa and the person getting [...]

  • Getting a Student Visa

    23 Apr 2012 | 7:14 am
    With several colleges in the United States offering scholarships, students from all over the world dream of a college education in the United States. Though admissions are tough and the number of colleges offering full scholarships are few, the race to study in the United States has only increased. The USCIS has issued guidelines for [...]

  • A Battle to Repeal the Bill

    11 Apr 2012 | 5:15 am
    Undocumented immigrants are a frightened lot, thanks to the Alabama H-56 bill. The bill that was recently amended will allow more powers to the government officials and the police in making inquiries or arrests. Rights groups are already asking the Democrats to table a better bill and amend the law. Some Hispanics rued the fear [...]

  • Visas For Religious Workers

    10 Apr 2012 | 12:01 am
    There are separate visas for religious workers. Since there are several religions and every religion has different needs for religious workers, there is a visa category exclusively for them. The R-1 visa as it is known is given to members of religious organizations that have a genuine background of doing religious work. It is also [...]
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    Live and Work In The U.S.

  • How To Obtain A Family Based Green Card?

    2 May 2012 | 11:42 am
    It is the general policy of the USCIS to design the immigration processes in such a way so that it will be easy for any category of immigrants to realize their dream. The common dream of these immigrant classes is that of living and working in the US, for which they should first get a green card. As mentioned earlier, United States Citizenship and Immigration Serviceshas laid out so many pathways for an immigrant to become a green card holder. All that an applicant needs to do is ensure that he/she is eligible for it and then choose the most appropriate route for getting it.Pathways to…

  • When To E-file My Green Card Renewal?

    16 Jan 2012 | 12:30 pm
    Green card is the ticket to getting a comfortable job and to reside peacefully in the US. It gives a sense of secure feeling to the individuals as they have the most important legal rights granted to them. The easiest way of getting a green card is by marrying a US citizen, as the citizens have the right to sponsor their immediate relatives. Getting a green card is very important and at the same time, keeping it fully updated and valid is also important. This is where the green card renewal comes to play. Why Green Card Renewal? USCIS has instructed all the Green card holders to have their…

  • Apply Green Card

    27 Dec 2011 | 3:49 am
    Embed This Video:<p><iframe width="360" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QflV5sjkkXg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/>Video By <a href="http://www.immigrationdirect.com/">Immigration</a></p>

  • Instructions for Completing Form I-90

    2 Nov 2011 | 11:45 am
    Why Should a Lawful Permanent Resident File Form I-90? Green card holders can apply for a Green Card renewal by filing Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, so as to keep their Green Card updated. Form I-90 must also be filed with the USCIS in order to request for a replacement of a Green Card. Things to be noted while completing Form I-90 Under the section for entering the applicant’s name, the name entered should match exactly with the name listed on the Green Card, unless otherwise the Green Card contains an error or if there has been a formal name change of the…

  • Immigration Scams - Immigration Direct

    25 Aug 2011 | 3:10 pm
    CONSUMER ALERT - FALSE CLAIMS OF USCIS ACCREDITATION Evaluating immigration services is as important as when evaluating any purchase of business-related services. It is always in your best interest to understand the terms and conditions you will be agreeing to in relation to the services you will be receiving. There are immigration companies out there that will not provide the services as they describe. These companies are immigration scams. The information provided here is intended to help you: (i) make the right choice when you require help with your immigration application or petition;…
 
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    ImmLegal News & Information

  • UPDATE: H-1B Quota as of 04/27/12

    Ramchand &amp; Raval, P.C.
    8 May 2012 | 1:05 am
    As of April 27, 2012 there have been approximately 29200 H-1B cap-subject petitions that were receipted. USCIS has receipted 12300 H-1B petitions for those beneficiaries with advanced degrees.

  • UPDATE: H-1B Quota As Of 04/20/2012

    Ramchand &amp; Raval, P.C.
    25 Apr 2012 | 12:48 am
    As of April 20, 2012 there have been approximately 25000 H-1B cap-subject petitions that were receipted. USCIS has receipted 10900 H-1B petitions for those beneficiaries  with advanced degrees.

  • UPDATE: H-1B Quota as of 04/13/12

    Ramchand &amp; Raval, P.C.
    20 Apr 2012 | 9:31 am
    As of April 13, 2012 there have been approximately 20600 H-1B cap-subject petitions that were receipted. USCIS has receipted 9700 H-1B petitions for those beneficiaries  with advanced degrees.

  • UPDATE: H-1B Quota as of 04/09/12

    Ramchand &amp; Raval, P.C.
    10 Apr 2012 | 10:54 am
    As of April 9, 2012 there have been approximately 17400 H-1B cap-subject petitions that were receipted. USCIS has receipted 8200 H-1B petitions for those beneficiaries  with advanced degrees.

  • UPDATES: BALCA's Recent PERM Advertisement Findings

    Ramchand &amp; Raval, P.C.
    4 Apr 2012 | 2:00 am
    The following three matters establish one clear principle when filing PERMs and advertising: Maintain Consistency! Too many employers are inconsistent when filing ETA 9089. Central question seems to be whether qualified applicants would apply for the position had they been specifically apprised of the job opportunity (otherwise stated, would individuals still apply if they read the wording of the advertisement as the employer stated in the ETA 9089 versus the actual wording the employer used.) This concept is very important for the practioner to grasp as it focuses on the intent behind…
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    Immigration Nation

  • Ohio County Wants To Reach Out For EB-5s

    Immigration Nation
    15 May 2012 | 2:36 pm
    From the IrontonTribune.com: County development leaders hope to apply for the EB-5 in June with the goal that the classification be applicable to a number of counties in the southeastern part of the state. Filed under: Immigrant Tagged: EB-5

  • Auction Off The Work Permits!

    Immigration Nation
    15 May 2012 | 1:49 pm
    From the MercuryNews.com:  Immigration permit auction touted as reform that would aid economy. Each auctioned permit would be tied to a temporary visa. Visa-holders would be free to move from one job to another, making it harder for hiring companies to exploit them. Those who remain employed could later apply for permanent residency. Work permit bids would start at a minimum $7,000 for high-skilled workers and $1,000 for lower-skilled seasonal jobs. Higher demand for workers could push employers’ bid prices higher, compelling Congress to make more visas available. Filed under:…

  • The US Immigration System: Potential Benefits of Reform

    Immigration Nation
    15 May 2012 | 10:30 am
    From The Brookings Institution: Immigrants have strengthened America throughout its history. But the current system is broken. It does not fulfill its humanitarian purpose of reuniting families, and it is illequipped to help the United States navigate the global economy of the twenty-first century. The current system has been cobbled together through a series of haphazard and unrelated policies. If the United States is to remain competitive, our policymaking must rise above contentious political fights and build an immigration system that once again serves the needs of American families and…

  • Immigration Animation!

    Immigration Nation
    15 May 2012 | 8:18 am
    Not fully accurate, but still amusing. Filed under: Immigrant Tagged: Levity

  • Border Agents Dispute Claim That Illegal Immigrant Tide Is Slowing

    Immigration Nation
    14 May 2012 | 7:50 pm
    From The Washington Examiner: An ICE official who spoke on background said, “The guys in my office were laughing when we heard the Pew report and when we see DHS flat-out lie. We are in a constant battle with higher-ups to do our job. The problem is if we did it right, the numbers wouldn’t add up” — that is, they wouldn’t support the administration’s desire to keep the immigration issue off voters’ minds in 2012, he said. Filed under: Immigrant Tagged: CBP, ICE
 
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    PanCanadian Immigration Law Group

  • Why You Should Move to Canada

    Gianpaolo Panusa
    15 May 2012 | 4:11 pm
    I typically post blogs on immigration rules and processes but today I’m going to take a step back and discuss the advantages of moving to Canada. Generally speaking, people choose to emigrate from their home country seeking a better life and better opportunities for themselves and their families. Migration could be permanent, or temporary in order to earn money to support family members back home. Skilled migrants do have choices but I believe that no country offers what Canada does. Economic Stability Look no further than Europe or the financial meltdown in the US to see the…

  • Downsides of the new immigration policies for Canada

    Gianpaolo Panusa
    9 May 2012 | 5:16 pm
    Unless you’ve been living off the grid, you know that we are in the midst of the most dramatic changes to our immigration system that we have seen in many years, perhaps ever. However, there are some concerning changes coming and I wonder if they have all been well thought out, as the consequences may be much different that expected in the years to come. Proficiency in English will be front and center as part of the new immigration rules.  At first blush, it seems like a reasonable approach to ensure that immigrants can speak the native language when they arrive.  However, a high…

  • Canadian immigration lawyer or consultant?

    Gianpaolo Panusa
    2 May 2012 | 11:55 am
    As with many things in life, you can attempt to do it yourself or hire a professional to assist you. Immigrating to Canada is no different – you can attempt the process yourself or hire a representative. Even though the CIC website makes it appear relatively easy to apply for temporary or permanent residence, the reality is quite different. For example, did you know that CIC only provides the most basic list of required supporting evidence?  It is often the case that the list provided by CIC is woefully insufficient.  Often times, affidavits and other documents are absolutely required…

  • A New and Improved Immigration System is Coming

    Gianpaolo Panusa
    26 Apr 2012 | 11:21 am
    As many of you know through previous posts, the Federal government is cancelling all skilled worker applications filed prior to February 27, 2008. There will be exceptions for those application on which a Visa Officer has made an assessment, although it is still unclear at which point such applications would have made it through to processing and which ones will be returned to the applicant with a refund. I agree with many of my colleagues that such a measure is draconian, leaving 280,000 applicants to start the arduous application process again. Even worse, many of these applicants will no…

  • Video Tutorial: Schedule 8 Canadian Experience Class

    Gianpaolo Panusa
    22 Apr 2012 | 10:47 pm
    This video will address some of the more complicated areas of this form.  You should always complete the application forms using the Citizenship and Canada form guides – this video should be used only as a suppliment to that guide. Video Tutorial: Schedule 8 Canadian Experience Class is from PanCanadian Immigration Law
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