Immigration Resources
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by lauraj on Mar.09, 2010, under EB 5 Visa, Green Card
For immigrants seeking to enter and live permanently in the U.S., the EB 5 visa is available to those who have the means to invest in a new business that creates 10 full time jobs or an existing business that is troubled. There are 10,000 EB 5 visas available each year with 3,000 set aside for investment in regional centers.
by lauraj on Mar.04, 2010, under EB 5 Visa, Green Card, Law and Policy
Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Luger (R-IN) introduce a new bill in the Senate that would make obtaining the EB5 investment visa easier by loosening the requirements already in place. The EB 5 investor visa program is an excellent opportunity for foreign nationals to obtain permanent residency and a US Green Card through a qualifying financial investment in the United States.
by lauraj on Dec.16, 2009, under EB 5 Visa, Law and Policy
The EB 5 investor visa program is an excellent opportunity for foreign nationals to obtain permanent residency and a US Green Card through a qualifying financial investment in the United States. In order to be eligible, foreign individuals are required to invest a minimum of $500,000 in certain qualified investments or Regional Centers in the United States. Qualifying Regional Centers are designated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) department and are essentially any economic program, private or public, that promotes economic growth, productivity, creates at least 10 jobs and increases the domestic capital investment.
by lauraj on Dec.14, 2009, under Law and Policy, criminal immigration
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency arrests 300 in California over a three day sweep.
According to ICE, the nearly 300 arrested had a serious criminal record or criminally violent background. One third of those arrested have already been deported and the remainder are awaiting deportation processing. ICE defends its position on continued sweeps in the illegal immigrant community in an ongoing effort to improve public safety. However, skeptics question the validity that these sweeps are only targeting illegal criminals and not the entire illegal immigrant community.
by lauraj on Nov.01, 2009, under Green Card
The Green Card lottery registration is happening now for 2011!
For those that are interested in participating in the DV-2011 Diversity Visa lottery, online registration is taking place October 2, 2009 (at noon, Eastern Standard Time) until Monday, November 30, 2009 (noon, EST). If you are interested in applying for the 2011 Green Card lottery, applicants must use Form DS-5501, which is an Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form, available online only during this registration period.
by lauraj on Sep.29, 2009, under Law and Policy, U Visa
What is a U visa?
A lesser known visa, the U non-immigrant visa, was established for illegal immigrants who are victims of crimes. While living illegally here in the U.S., these victims must have endured mental or physical abuse and be willing to help law enforcement and government officials investigate and prosecute the abuser. The U non-immigrant visa was established in 2000 but put on hold until 2007. It was created to persuade illegal immigrants living in the U.S. to report violent crimes. Most criminal activity against illegal aliens in the U.S. goes unreported and undocumented due to the threat of deportation if the victim comes forward.
by lauraj on Sep.11, 2009, under Deportation
Even as a victim of a crime or traffic violation, an immigrant can be arrested, detained and possibly deported when law enforcement is involved.
The fastest way to inform the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) of your illegal immigrant status or your past/present violation of the immigration laws is to interact with police, prosecutors or jail personnel without proper legal representation.
by lauraj on Aug.25, 2009, under Students
Defining the two visas available to non-immigrants that wish to study in the U.S.
Studying in the United States can be a once in a lifetime opportunity for foreigners. However, since 9/11, student visas have undergone policy and procedure changes in hopes of tightening U.S. security. In order for the application to run smoothly, it is important to understand the process. In the U.S., there are two different non-immigrant visas available. Non-immigrants who wish to pursue academic studies or language courses should apply for the F1 visa. Non-immigrants that wish to pursue vocational studies, such as at trade schools, should apply for the M visa. Although there are two different visa categories, both applicants must meet the same criteria.
by lauraj on Aug.18, 2009, under Deportation, Global Entry
Global Entry, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency’s biometric screening initiative, expands to 13 new airports.
Through Global Entry, travelers that are pre-approved and considered low-risk are able to expedite their customs process when arriving in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano explains, “Global Entry expedites the customs and security process for trusted air travelers while helping DHS ensure the safety of all airline passengers. Expanding this vital program allows us to improve customer service at airports and concentrate our resources on higher-risk travelers.”
by lauraj on Aug.01, 2009, under Asylum, Deportation, Law and Policy
What is asylum and who qualifies?
Asylum was created for those individuals already residing in the U.S. who need protection from persecution in their home country due to their race, religion, nationality or political views. The asylum program also applies to individuals that are seeking asylum at a port of entry to the United States who can prove that they have just cause. Asylum is applicable to any individual regardless of their home country or their immigration status. Even if an immigrant has entered the U.S. illegally, they are still eligible to apply for asylum and present their case. The asylum process can be complex and time consuming; therefore, it is essential to have an immigration attorney that is experienced and knowledgeable with asylum policies and procedures.