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CBP Releases Joint Report On Entry/Exit Information Systems With Canada
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) today released a joint report on Phase I of the Entry/Exit proof of concept, a commitment of the Beyond the Border Action Plan, which outlines progress made to establish a coordinated Entry/Exit information system and further enhance security along our shared border. ( Phase I of the Entry/Exit ) ( Beyond the Border Action Plan )
Rajiv's Interview with Voice of America - US Green Card Lottery Under Threat
Immigration.com
Immigration Law
Green Card
http://www.voanews.com/content/green-card-lottery-immigration-reform-us…
WASHINGTON — The popular Green Card Lottery program could be eliminated if the U.S. Congress passes the current version of the bipartisan immigration reform plan. The lottery was set up as a way to give anyone a chance at the "American dream." But the new plan will focus instead on adding more highly-educated workers in science, technology, engineering and math.
Two years ago Rafiq-ul-Islam won a U.S. permanent resident visa through the Green Card Lottery and came to the United States from Bangladesh -- with little more than the clothing he owned and a dream of a better life in America.
“I apply for [and] came [to] America. I want to change my luck. If I can change my luck I can support my family, everything, all will be changed, everything like, that’s why I applied,” he said.
The late Senator Edward Kennedy came up with the idea for a visa lottery system in the 1990s -- as a way to give opportunity to European and other countries with low immigration quotas. The lottery program -- officially known as the diversity visa -- is relatively small, granting about 50,000 visas compared to the more than one million new green cards issued each year.
The lucky winners like ul-Islam must pass a background check, but need only a high school degree or work experience to qualify. Immigration attorney Rajiv Khanna says the diversity visa has come to symbolize core American values.
“But United States is blessed and perhaps cursed with that unique vision we have, that we are as a nation, a citizen of the world community. And we have to accommodate certain things in good conscience and good faith rather than as a matter of self-interest,” Khanna said.
But under the proposed immigration reform plan being considered by the U.S. Congress, the diversity visa faces elimination. Instead, the plan would expand opportunities for professionals like Bhushan Parekh who hold advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math. Parekh’s H-1B professional visa was sponsored by a major U.S. company.
“Because I had done the engineering in India, the 4-year degree, and I’d also worked in India for a year after. During the interview process it was very apparent to them that I had the management skills they were looking for,” Parekh said.
Some members of Congress oppose eliminating the diversity visa -- saying the U.S. should give some opportunity to the world's poor and disadvantaged. But, in these hard economic times, Khanna says fairness is no longer the priority.
“So diversity by itself is no longer the virtue that we seek in our current immigration system as proposed. What we seek instead is, ‘What can you do for us?,’” Khanna said.
Khanna says while U.S. businesses are lobbying for more professional visas, the poor from developing countries have no such powerful sponsors.
Rajiv's Interview with Voice of America
media/green-card-lottery/rajivs-interview-voice-america-us-green-card-lottery-under-threat
Immigration Law
Guestbook Entry for Shweta, United States
Guestbook Entry for MVB, United States
Guestbook Entry for Subhash Mann, United States
CBP Working to Improve Arrivals for International Travelers
Washington - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is easing the international arrivals process with new technology and procedures, alleviating travelers of paperwork and time spent waiting in line.
Guestbook Entry for Shoaib Mastoor, United States
I-94 Web Application Video
The I-94 Web Application has been designed to provide travelers with the I-94 number that is assigned by Customs and Border Protectio or CBP - upon entrance to the United States. The I-94 number may be used for verification with other government agencies. Foreign travelers entering the UnitedStates at air or sea ports of entry will be able to access their electronic Form I-94 by visiting www.cbp.gov/I94
To learn more about this Web Application please visit the link below.
DOS Publishes Notice On Visa Documentation Of Immigrants Under INA
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 101 (Friday, May 24, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31398-31399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12453]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
22 CFR Part 42
RIN 1400-AD39
[Public Notice 8332]
EB-2-NIW–Physician in MUA
We represented a physician working for a healthcare network within several counties of a Medically Underserved Area (MUA). Initially, we submitted the required documents, but the tricky issue was the division of the physician’s service over several counties. The approval in this case required that we work closely with officials from the State Health Department to provide proper documentation and verification of the full-time nature of the job, albeit across several areas and proof of physician shortage within each area.
Green Card
Interview in Tampa
So, we had our interview in Tampa. We waited for about an hour and begin to get worried when people arriving after us started to get called in. Eventually after waiting for an hour we were called. the officer was nice and courteous. He asked for our ID's then a few questions about how and when we came about living on this planet. Then he
Green Card
GC Interview Seattle DO
The interview took place @ 11:45 a.m. but we had been there for over an hour. There were at least another 50 couples waiting and as some couples left new couples would arrive, so the room had about 100 people waiting at all times.
Green Card
Interview Experience at San Jose
The questions I had - I am very grateful.
Now to the story about my interview experience today: My appointment was at 1:30PM but we arrived there at 1:05PM and we were called in like 5minutes later. The officer was very nice and he started off by making small talk about how deep my voice was when I answered him. This was as we walked down the hallway towards his office.
Green Card
My interview experience
Hey guys just wanted to share my experience with everyone.I arrived 45 minutes early,didn't get called in until 30 minutes after my scheduled time.Anyway the officer was very polite,which put my wife and myself at ease,we were not nervous,just extremely anxious and ready to get it over with.First thing that was asked for was our id's(dl's) and my wife's proof of citizenship,next we swore to tell the truth.After that we were asked together where do we live,how many people live with us,how long have we lived there.Next came the infamous No questions and of course I answered no to all.A
Green Card
Got approved today.....sharing our experience
Guys,
We got approved at the LA DO office this morning and wanted share our experience.
Our appt was scheduled for 9:35 am and we got in the waiting room at 9am. Submitted the appt letter to a lady and waited for our names to be called. I would say 8 out of 10 pple had their lawyers with them. I used my lawyer to file the paperwork but saw no point bringing him for the interview paying $650 extra. However, we consulted with the lawyer last week to prep for the interview.
Green Card
Hey all my FNU friends
I Just got license today... that too without birth certificate...
It happened like this...
I was trying for license in different DMVs... last week went to a DMV near to my house.. there they dont have facility for written test, vision test etc..
But they processed my application. The lady at the counter was nice enough and didnt mind my name problem in VISA.. she took photo and and signature.. then said, as i dont have a usa license, i've to take written test.. for that i need to go another DMV. And she issued a letter saying that..
Taxonomy upgrade extras
Successfully changed my name everywhere
Rules are strictly followed here. Only thing we need to wait for a long time.. This is what I did to correct my name everywhere
1. April 2005 - FNU - Passport, Visa
2. July 2005 - because of this SSN got delayed for 4 months and received with FNU
3. July 2005 - DMV refused to give license, because they cannot give license with FNU.
4. July 2005 - Enquired local newspapers in Philly - They told that I need to get court order number
Taxonomy upgrade extras
TN many moons ago
I got my first TN in 07/96 and was content working with that until the Pigeon River point of entry decided that the TN for health care worker was good only for 6 months with the second one at no charge. Back then, dual intent was either ignored or didn't exist for TNs so I started the immigration process. I was in Kansas, so my labor cert took 2 years because there was only one person in Topeka working on them. If I lived in New Jersey, it would have been approved in a month. Once it was approved, I filed the I-140 and after that was approved, the I-485. There was no H1B involved.
Nonimmigrant Visas
Mine was successful... so far
I've been in the US for 13 of the last 14 years and over the years I've obtained 6 different TN's and I've been on an H1b for a total of 8 years. I was voluntarily out of the country for 1 year about 5 years ago, which reset my H1b clock.
The last status I had was a TN and that was after I was married to a USC (we were still deciding what country we'd live in) and finally I filed for my GC. My EAD was approved 2 weeks prior to my TN expiring and now I am just waiting for my GC Interview in 4 weeks.