March 08 2010
USCIS to Accept H-1B Petitions for Fiscal Year 2011 Beginning April 1, 2010
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2011 cap on April 1, 2010. Cases will be considered accepted on the date that USCIS takes possession of a properly filed petition with the correct fee; not the date that the petition is postmarked. [...]
March 02 2010
USCIS Revises Filing Instructions for Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced an addition to the recently posted filing instructions for the Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, Form I-824. The revised instructions include a note in the Where to File section, to clarify that applicants who are filing Form I-824 concurrently with another form, should mail their applications according to the filing instructions on the other form. [...]
March 01 2010
Special Citizenship Ceremony at Historic Justice Department Building
IntroductionOn March 1, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) welcomed 50 new citizens at a special citizenship ceremony at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justices Great Hall. U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Tom Perez delivered keynote remarks, and USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas will administer the Oath of Allegiance.Each year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants choose to become American citizens by taking the Oath of Allegiance at naturalization ceremonies across the United States and overseas. [...]
March 01 2010
USCIS Welcomes 50 New Citizens at Historic Justice Department Building
WASHINGTONU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) hosted a special citizenship ceremony today at the historic Great Hall of the Department of Justice (DOJ). U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Tom Perez delivered the keynote remarks as he welcomed 50 new citizens from 24 different countries. USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas administered the Oath of Allegiance at the event. [...]
February 27 2010
A New Civil Rights Movement: Undocumented Students for Immigration Reform
This week is the beginning of a monthly campaign advocating for the Dream Act organized by undocumented students across the country through the United We Dream Coalition, a national umbrella organization of undocumented student activist groups. According to Nancy, the media relations coordinator for Dream Team LA, the Los Angeles area undocumented student coalition, "Part of the reason for these events is to stress the urgency of the Dream Act. A lot of times people are sympathetic to undocumented students and our issues, but they really don't see the urgency and the reason why we need the Dream Act to pass this year, now, as soon as possible." [...]
February 25 2010
Revised Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and Revised Filing Locations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that it has posted a revised Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Form I-485. In addition to a revised form, there are new filing locations. The changes are part of an overall effort to transition the intake of USCIS benefit forms from Service Centers to Lockbox facilities. Centralizing form and fee intake allows USCIS to provide the public more efficient and effective initial processing of applications and fees. [...]
February 25 2010
Fiscal Year 2010 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today the availability of two different grants designed to help prepare lawful permanent residents (LPRs) for citizenship and advance integration in the United States. This years program will make nearly $7 million available for citizenship education in communities across the country. [...]
February 25 2010
Revised Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, and Revised Filing Locations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that it has posted a revised Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360). The new form is dated 12/30/09, and due to the changes, no previous versions of the form will be accepted 30 days after publication. In addition to the revised form, there are changes to filing locations. The changes are part of an overall effort to transition the intake of benefit request forms from USCIS Service Centers to Lockbox facilities. Centralizing form and fee intake allows USCIS to provide more efficient and effective initial processing of applications and fees. [...]
February 25 2010
USCIS Announces Citizenship and Integration Grant Opportunities
WASHINGTONU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today the availability of two different grants totaling $7 million designed to promote citizenship education and immigrant integration in communities across the country.Each aspiring citizen represents a personal story of sacrifice and triumph, said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. This funding will increase opportunities for English language instruction, promote the rights and responsibilities that define our nation, and provide much-needed support for individuals on the path to citizenship. [...]
February 23 2010
Change of Filing Location for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced revised filing instructions and addresses for applicants filing an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765). The change of filing location is part of an overall effort to transition the intake of some benefit forms from Service Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities. Centralizing form and fee intake allows USCIS to provide the public more efficient and effective initial processing of applications and fees. [...]
March 01 2010
The Dream that Keeps on Marching for America
The man handed us several crumpled $20 bills. "I would like to donate $200 to help a household worker or a day laborer go to Washington and speak for us," he said, turning to walk away. He was referring to the rally planned for March 21 in Washington, DC, for the purpose of raising awareness about the need to fix our nation's broken immigration system. We asked to get his name and nationality but he chose to remain anonymous: "Like many of us, without a name or country of origin, but ever present," was his response. [...]
Source:www.huffingtonpost.com
February 25 2010
Startup Visa Act of 2010 a Bright Idea or Immigration Nightmare?
Startup Visa Act of 2010 a Bright Idea or Immigration Nightmare? Senators John Kerry and Richard Luger have created a bi-partisan effort to create a bill that would allow immigrant entrepreneurs an opportunity to gain US residency through the Startup Visa Act of 2010. Of course, any immigration reform is controversial as there are many people who feel strong about securing our borders and not letting anyone else in. On the other hand there are those who are all for reform as long as everyone is held to the same standards. [...]
Source:cnmnewsnetwork.com
February 27 2010
U.S. 'surge' targets illegal immigrants who have criminal records
The nation's top immigration cop said Friday that the Obama administration is stepping up enforcement against immigrants who commit crimes and will move aggressively against employers who hire unauthorized labor. [...]
Source:www.dallasnews.com
February 27 2010
IMMIGRATION: Report: Fewer illegal immigrants coming to California
The Golden State appears to have lost some of its luster among illegal immigrants because of its sluggish economy and high cost of living, analysts say.California still has the largest number of illegal immigrants of any state, but its share of the nation's illegal immigrant population dropped from 30 percent in 2000 to 24 percent in 2009, according to a report recently released by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Immigration Statistics. [...]
Source:www.nctimes.com
February 05 2010
New Study Confirms Positive Impact of Immigration on Wages of Native-Born Workers
Washington D.C. - The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) yesterday released a new study, Immigration and Wages, which confirms what many other economists have found: "that immigration has a small but positive impact on the wages of native-born workers overall."This report comes on the heels of other economic reports, from across the ideological spectrum, that explain how comprehensive immigration reform will lift the wages of U.S. workers, increase tax revenue and boost consumer purchasing power. [...]
Source:causaoregon.blogspot.com
January 12 2010
Death in Detention: Immigrant detainees have the same right to care as you do
With upwards of 12 million undocumented U.S. residents, illegal immigration remains a mammoth problem. Bush administration reforms foundered amid resistance from the presidents own Republican Party and a coalition of nativists, business interests and regional activists. Thorny issues include amnesty, easing the path to citizenship, homeland security, employer exploitation and fairness to those going the legal route. [...]
Source:blog.syracuse.com
December 02 2009
Domestic violence victim granted asylum in US
SAN FRANCISCO After suffering 10 years of horrific abuse at the hands of her husband, Rody Alvarado fled her native Guatemala in 1995 and applied for asylum in the U.S.Last week, in a one-page decision, an immigration judge finally granted her request. It was the culmination of a long personal odyssey for Alvarado and of a thorny legal case that inflamed passions on both sides of the immigration debate.The Obama administration now says it is crafting regulations to allow entry by other victims of domestic violence who feel they have no choice but to flee their homelands to protect themselves. [...]
Source:www.google.com/hostednews/ap/
December 07 2009
Immigrants get citizenship lesson
WATERLOO - For many immigrants living in the U.S., citizenship remains coveted but improbable.It costs too much, it takes too much time to process - common reasons for those who remain permanent residents instead of becoming citizens, said Carlos Arzu, executive director of El Centro Latinoamericano. [...]
Source:www.wcfcourier.com
December 07 2009
Immigration meetings show citizenship test takes careful study
The path to naturalization can be a maze of confusing paperwork, capped by a test in English and U.S. civics. [...]
Source:www.ajc.com
December 06 2009
Culinary coercion and hate mail, all thanks to illegal immigration
There are a lot of cliches in this business. Even after all these years, theres one old chestnut I never use: Nothing surprises me.Im surprised almost every day by something people say and do.But I was absolutely jolted this week by the outpouring of hate from readers taking exception to our Dec. 1 editorial about the so-called virtual fence being built along the Mexican border.Apparently the editors who run this worthless fishwrapper havent a clue as to what border-hopping scumbags cost taxpayers on an ongoing basis," wrote BajaRat on our website. "Get a clue... Americans dont want their country being overrun by these loathsome parasites. Build the wall and deport em all. [...]
Source:www.aurorasentinel.com
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