May
31
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has released a statement warning the general public of any people or organizations who claim to assist immigrants in applying for the ‘Z’ Visa.
The ‘Z’ Visa, or Strive Act, is at present a comprehensive immigration reform bill and not a law.
The USCIS press release is as follows:
USCIS Advises Public Regarding Immigration Fraud and Proposed Immigration Reform Legislation
This notice is to inform the public that although the U.S. Senate is debating and considering immigration legislation (S.1348), that bill has NOT passed into law. Legislation must be passed by both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and signed by the President, before it becomes law. Information about the legislative process is available from the Library of Congress (http://thomas.loc.gov/).
If immigration reform legislation does become law, U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will advise the public on how to proceed. Until then, individuals should be cautious of any persons, organizations or businesses claiming to assist in applying for benefits under the immigration reform legislation.
May
30
Memorial Day: Soldiers in Afghanistan Become US Citizens
Filed Under Immigration News | Leave a Comment
A group of 19 US soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan took the Oath of Allegiance on Memorial Day (29MAY07), completing the process of becoming official US citizens.
The 19 active-duty service men and women took the Oath on Bagram Airfield as part of a naturalization ceremony. US ambassador to Afghanistan William Wood delivered the keynote address and gave the soldiers their certificates of citizenship.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer-in-charge Pamela Hutchings led the soldiers in the Oath of Allegiance while commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division and Combined Joint Task Force-82 Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez assisted Ambassador Wood with the citizenship certificates.
Maj. Gen. Rodriguez says, “Today is a day for celebration as we welcome our brothers and sisters in arms as they take their places as members of the greatest democracy on the earth. There is no better way for us to recognize the sacrifices they are making here than to grant them the right to call themselves Americans. They join over 20,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who, since 2002, have taken the oath of citizenship during the war on terror and become a citizen of the nation they have risked their lives to defend. We want to say to every one of you; we are proud of the job you are doing here. We are proud that you chose to become a citizen of the United States of America. We are proud to be your leaders.” Read more
May
29
The United States Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS) has outlined a final fee schedule for the ‘Z’ visa. The press release is as follows:
USCIS Sets Final Fee Schedule to Build an Immigration Service for the 21st Century
Public comments prompt reduction in fees for some families applying for adjustment of status, expands fee waiver and exemption eligibility, permits one free extension of approved orphan petitions
WASHINGTON— Following a comprehensive review of more than 3,900 public comments, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today a final fee structure that includes benefits for some families with children and also expands the availability of fee waivers and exemptions.
The rule, scheduled to be published in tomorrow’s Federal Register, sets fees for the processing of immigration benefit applications and petitions and includes some substantive revisions from the proposal published in February of this year while providing necessary funding for the agency to continue strengthening the security and integrity of the immigration system, improving customer service, and modernizing business operations for the 21st century. Read more
May
25
White House Explains ‘Z’ Visa
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The White House has released a fact sheet responding to key myths related to the ‘Z’ Visa / Strive Act in an effort to inform the public on the new bill.
The full article is as follows:
Fact sheet In Focus: Immigration
1. MYTH: Ending the current green card backlog would result in 900,000 new residents per year on top of current numbers.
* FACT: The current proposal aims to end the green card backlog in eight years. However, this does not mean that 3.5 to 4 million people over the current number will be admitted into the country. The backlog will be cleared in two ways:
1. 240,000 green cards are being shifted from other priorities within the existing green card pool. This is important – it does not represent an increase in the number of green cards given, it is simply a reallocation of green cards that are authorized for issuance within the current system.
2. Separately, the number of green cards will be temporarily increased by 200,000 for each of the eight years after the enactment of the bill. This is an increase, but it does not mean 200,000 applicants plus their spouses and children. It is 200,000 new people total. Read more
May
24
Ask Chris: Same Sex Partnerships and US Work Visas
Filed Under Ask Chris, L-1 Visa | Leave a Comment
Q: My company is sending me to the US to work. Is it possible for my partner (who is of the same sex) to accompany me?
A: With regards to same sex relationships, or Civil Partnerships as they are known in the UK, US immigration unfortunately does not recognize these. In your case whilst you may be able to qualify for an L1-A or L1B visa (check with your company which they have in mind as they a radically different in quality) your partner would need to qualify in his own right.
I’m not sure how much advice and support you require at this stage since it’s not clear how likely it is that you’ll get the position, how senior it is, how soon they want you to relocate with or without your partner and who would be paying for the immigration. Answers to these questions would be really helpful so I can advise you better. You partner could always start off as a student and then work his way up the immigration ladder or could buy a business and qualify for immigration that way.
May
24
Ask Chris: Retiring in the US
Filed Under Ask Chris, E-2 Visa | Leave a Comment
Q: My husband and I want to retire in the US. Is there a type of visa we need for this?
A: With regards to retirees US immigration is difficult - this is because US authorities believe that without immediate family to support them, ultimately these aliens will become burdens on the state. For most Brits this of course is not true, but US immigration does not discriminate by countries in this regard. The only way retirees are able to relocate to the US would be if they bought a business here that required very little supervision and already employed a few people.
By supervising their own business they could qualify for an E2 visa that would be renewed every two years indefinitely as long as the business kept going. This for the most part is the only way to achieve close to your goal.
May
23
Americans Demand Security Before Immigration Reform
Filed Under Citizenship, Immigration News | Leave a Comment
According to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted earlier this month (MAY07), Americans want strict enforcement of existing immigration laws and more border security before any immigration reforms take effect.
The poll shows that 56 per cent of US adults favored an “enforcement-only” approach to immigration reform with no path to citizenship for illegal aliens - however, many other opinion polls show support for immigration and citizenship opportunities for aliens.
What the majority of the poll results have in common is the emphasis that American citizens place on security. 42 per cent of people polled in the Rasmussen Reports supported a path to citizenship for aliens while 44 per cent opposed it.
President of Rasmussen Reports Scott Rasmussen says, “Enforcement of existing laws is the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 priority for immigration reform among Americans. That’s what voters think immigration reform means.” Read more
May
22
Senators Reach Bipartisan Agreement on the Z Visa Comprehensive Immigration Reform
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A new statement from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has outlined details of the controversial comprehensive immigration reform bill, also known as the Strive Act or the Z Visa.
The statement is as follows:
Administration Officials and A Bipartisan Group of Senators Reached Agreement on Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation. The proposal includes:
* Putting Border Security And Enforcement First: Border security and worksite-enforcement benchmarks must be met before other elements of the proposal are implemented.
* Providing Tools For Employers To Verify The Eligibility Of The Workers They Hire: Employers will be required to verify the work eligibility of all employees using an employment eligibility verification system, while all workers will be required to present stronger and more verifiable identification documents. Tough new anti-fraud measures will be implemented and stiff penalties imposed on employers who break the law. Read more
May
21
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has sent a letter to US Senate leaders in support of the comprehensive immigration reform bill, aka the Strive Act or the Z Visa. The Governor is urging Congress to pass the comprehensive immigration reform bill within the year (07).
The letter reads as follows:
The Honorable Harry Reid
United States Senate
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
United States Senate
Minority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Majority Leader Reid and Senator McConnell,
I am writing to urge Congress to act this year to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
We must find a permanent solution to our broken immigration system, and I believe that this is our chance to restore America’s status as both a country of immigrants and a nation of laws. Read more
May
18
Z Visa Faces Tough Opposition
Filed Under Immigration News, Z Visa | Leave a Comment
The ‘Z’ visa, part of the upcoming Strive Act, is already facing tough opposition by anti-immigration groups who are accusing the act of being nothing more than an amnesty for those who have broken the law by living and working illegally in the US.
A coalition of Republicans and Democrats unveiled the comprehensive immigration reform on Thursday (17MAY07) to a chorus of criticism from both the left and right elements of the political spectrum.
Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) says, “This is far from over,” adding that the new bill is, “amnesty, amnesty and amnesty.”
Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada expressed “serious concerns about some aspects of this proposal, including the structure of the temporary worker program and undue limitations on family immigration.” Read more