Visa Processing in India (November 2010)
U.S. visa applications in India may now be made in any of the visa facilities located all across India i.e. U.S. Consulates or Embassyregardless of where the applicant resides. According to the U.S. Embassy this change would make the visa application process more convenient.
ImmigrationFee Increase(October 2010)
Immigration fee schedule is facing an upward revision. USCIS revised fee schedule takes effect from the coming 23rd November, 2010. There is no increase for the naturalization application while thepetition filing fee for U.S. citizen's fiance(e) is reduced.
F-1 Students from Haiti:relaxed ruleson fullcourseof study and EAD (September 2010)
The HaitianF1 studentsenrolled in the SEVP approved colleges and present in United States on 1/12/10 could qualify for reduced course load and could also obtain extended periods of Employment Authorization upon proof of extreme hardship if the hardship is caused by theinfamous earthquake. The specialreliefsuspends the standard regulatory requirementuntil 7/22/11 andis limited to only those studentsfulfilling the above mentioned conditional criteria.
H1B and L1 fee revision (September 2010)
Governement raised the filing fee for H1B petition by $2000 and for L1s by $2,250. Theraised fee remains in effect from August 14, 2010 through Sep. 30, 2014 and applies to employers hiring 50 or moreemployees in U.S with more than 50% work force cmprising of H1 or L1 workers.
U.S. sues State of Arizona (August 2010)
The department of Justice filed an action against the State of Arizona in Federal Court to stopthe Statefrom enforcing its newly passed "show meyour immigration papers" law.(Posted 7/14/10)
Federal Court granted injunction blocking some of the provisions from taking effect although the rest of the law took effect in July. The Court turned down the State of Arizona's request to expedite hearing on the case.
Refugees lose SSIbenefits ( August 2010)
Some of the Refugees to U.S., vicitms of persecution and torture would lose Suplemental Security Income starting October 1st. The benefit is allowed for a maximum period of seven years within which these immigrants should seek naturalization.
The benefit wasextended in 2008 for an additionaltwo year period which comes to an end now. As a result some of the elderly and disabled refugees andAsylees maylose the SSI benefits at a time when they need it most.
Temporary Protected Satus for Haiti earthquake relief extended (July 2010)
Applications could now be made until January 2011.
Immigration benefits to Guatemalans (June 2010)
In the wake of the storm Agatha, Guatemalans would be eligible to apply for change or extension of non immigrant status (even beyond the end of authorization), parole or advance parole among other immigration benefits. Lawful Permanent Residents without documents could also seek assistance if stranded.
Arizona goes tough on Immigrantion (April 2010)
Arizona makes it a crime to be present in the State illegally. Its police officers have authority to determine immigration status if they suspect that someone is violating this law and may be sued for failure to act upon the complaint received from citizens. (posted 4/26/10)
The state houses pass a very tough immigrationBill that now goes to the Governor to be finalized as law.A Veto by the Governor, which is highly unlikely,only can stop it from becoming the law now. If the Bill is signed into Law it makes a crime to be in Arizona without an immigration document. The law enforcement could determine the immigration status of the person. It is highly likely that racial profiling would form a basis for questioning leading to arrests.Read more . . .
State enforcement of immigration law(March 2010)
Northern District Court of Texas strikesa City Ordinance attempting o regulate residential lease to undocumented foreign nationals in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.
U Visa (March 2010)
Department of labor through its Wage and Hour Division would soon start certifying the cases for the victims of qualifying crimes who could apply for U visa on that basis.
Puerto Rico
Birth cetificates issued prior to July 1 2010 would no longer be valid.The measure is to prevent fraudulent identity.
Immigrationresponse to Disater in Haiti(January 2010)
The U.S. government halts removal of deportee to Haiti becaause of the disaster. There is no word on when removal to Haiti would resume but it is reported that the Immigration & CustomsEnforcement (ICE) is closely monitoring the situation.
The Secretary of State, was asked in her television interviewwhether Haiti would be designated the Temporary Proteceted Status because of disaster. She quickly stated that the President has a teamworking on it but quickly focused attention to the rescue efforts as the main focus at the moment. American Immigration Lawyers Association supports grant of TPS to Haiti and has requested the government that Haiti be designated for Temporary Proteceted Status.
