DV-2013 Green Card Lottery Registration Period Ends on November 5, 2011.

The registration period for the DV 2013 Green Card Lottery ends on November 05, 2011 at Noon EST.

Registration should be done online at the official U.S government website: www.dvlottery.state.gov. This is the only website accepting DV Lottery entries. You should include all required information and details in order to qualify for lottery.

Please note that if you are living in the United States illegally as undocumented immigrant or overstayed your visa, you may be ineligible for a visa (green card) even if selected as a winner in the DV (Green Card) Lottery.

Mayor of D.C. reaffirmed that D.C. police will not cooperate with ICE in determining local residents' immigration status.

On October 19, 2011, D.C. Mayor reaffirmed that District police will not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), leaving it up to federal immigration officials to determine on their own whether a resident is in the country illegally. Under the new guidelines, D.C. police and corrections officials will not ask those they come in contact with about their immigration status; and will not enforce an ICE detainer or warrant issued against someone who has not committed another crime.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-wont-cooperate-with-federal-immigration-enforcement-mayor-says/2011/10/19/gIQAznSpyL_story.html

19 U.S. Senators wrote to Pres. Obama asking to stop new Immigration Policies on Prosecutorial Discretion.

On September 26, 2011, 19 U.S. Senators are questioning the Obama
administration's Immigration policies that "go beyond the scope of the law and
allow people who have broken our laws to remain in the country."

The Senators are demanding that the Obama administration stop the bypassing of
Congress with regard to immigration policies that circumvent Congressional
jurisdiction and authority.

In a letter sent to President Obama, the Senators cite a June 17th memo and an
August 18th directive which outline and encourage increased use of prosecutorial
discretion and administrative closure of cases pending before the courts.

See full text of the letter here
http://grassley.senate.gov/judiciary/upload/Immigration-09-26-11-letter-to-Presi\
dent-on-Backdoor-Amnesty.pdf


Leading the charge is Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, who said, "The administration
has repeatedly ignored and dismissed our reservations with its policies that
circumvent Congress and provide a safe-haven for illegal immigrants. Its
policies ignore the rule of law and take the powers provided to the
administration to an entirely new level,"

"We write to express serious concern about your immigration policies and ask
that you require the Department of Homeland Security to overturn recent
directives regarding the increased use of prosecutorial discretion. We also
request that the Administration halt any initiative, whether through regulation
or otherwise, that circumvents Congress or aims to ensure that illegal
immigrants are afforded every possibility to remain in this country," the letter
begins.

"After the release of the June 17th Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
memorandum, which called for the increased use of prosecutorial discretion,
several members of the Senate wrote to Assistant Secretary John Morton. While
prosecutorial discretion is justifiable in certain cases, this initiative may
result in an impermissible intrusion on Congress's plenary authority over
immigration law. Accordingly, we asked Assistant Secretary Morton to rescind the
memorandum outlining ICE's prosecutorial discretion policies. That request has
been ignored," the letter continues.

"We are also concerned that the initiative announced by Secretary Napolitano on
August 18th will result in the administrative closure of an untold number of
cases currently pending before our immigration and federal courts. In
combination with the June 17th ICE memo, these new policies send the message
that your Administration is turning a blind eye to those who have broken our
immigration laws. We are also concerned that these policies appear to be a
direct attempt to categorically legalize those who are unlawfully in the country
and to allow undocumented individuals to remain in violation of the law without
fear of apprehension or deportation. The security of our country depends on our
ability to prevent unlawful entry and to respond when such criminals have
overstayed their visa or avoided inspection. These policies have the potential
to undermine the rule of law and threaten our nation's security," the Senators
declared.

The letter states the Executive Branch is not entitled to bypass… Congress by
administrative fiat.

"While we appreciate Secretary Napolitano's assurances that these initiatives
will not provide categorical relief for any group, we remain concerned about
statements being made by certain advocates and members of Congress. For example,
in a September 20th speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Senator Dick Durbin
stated that these initiatives "pave the way" for DREAM Act students. He further
stated that "[the Administration] said recently that those eligible for the
DREAM Act, good moral character, graduates of high school and pursuing college
degrees are not going to be their targets." The United States Senate and the
American people have rejected the DREAM Act and the Executive Branch is not
entitled to bypass that determination by administrative fiat"

Obama has been quoted saying, "Believe me, the idea of doing things on my own is
very tempting. I promise you not just on immigration reform. But that's not how
our system works,"

The letter addresses that statement: "…in a recent speech before the
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Congressman Luis Gutierrez stated:
"[President Obama] said, `But I can't bypass Congress,' and people in the
audience said, `Yes you can,' and you want to know something? They were right –
he could and he did." Such statements will only create a rush to the border and
encourage the undocumented population to come forward in hopes of receiving a
benefit."

The Senators ask Obama to correct the path this policy is on. "We request that
you promptly rescind these initiatives, dismantle the working group designed to
identify "low priority" cases before our immigration and federal courts, and
direct the agencies within the Department of Homeland Security to abide by our
Nation's immigration laws. We also ask that you make Secretary Napolitano
available to members of the Senate for questioning about the Department's
immigration enforcement policies, including granting parole, deferred action,
and prosecutorial discretion to keep unlawful immigrants in this country."

"It is unjustifiable for the Administration to sidestep Congress to implement
policies that are contrary to the law and the wishes of the American people,"
the letter states.

Read at
http://libertynews.com/2011/09/29/19-senators-tell-obama-to-stop-bypassing-congr\
ess/

Work Permit, EAD, for immigrants who were granted Deferred Action under new DHS Enforcement Policy 08/18/2011. ICE FAQs published 08/30/2011.

Work Permit for immigrants who are granted Deferred Action, FAQs published by ICE on 08-30-2011:

Will beneficiaries of an exercise of prosecutorial discretion automatically receive work authorization?

No. Nothing about this process is automatic and nobody who goes through this process is automatically
entitled to work authorization. Per longstanding federal law, individuals affected by an exercise of
prosecutorial discretion will be able to request work authorization, including paying associated fees, and
their requests will be separately considered by USCIS on a case-by-case basis.

http://www.ice.gov/doclib/about/offices/ero/pdf/immigration-enforcement-facts.pdf

USCIS switches to electronic forms & filing: new rule effective date November 28, 2011.

Say goodbye to traditional immigration processing forms.

08/29/2011

In preparation for a long-delayed transition to online processing of immigration
applications, the Homeland Security Department has released new rules for
describing forms and filing procedures in official policies.

The 43-page federal notice published Monday instructs the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services, a unit of DHS, to stop typing on documents the traditional
numbers and titles for various benefit claims, such as "Application for
Naturalization, form N-400." Instead, to accommodate the new computerized
Transformation system, USCIS policies and rules will carry more generic phrases,
such as "the form designated by USCIS."

Rule effective date is November 28, 2011.

The goal of the $2.4 billion Transformation program, according to the
guidelines, is to improve customer service by offering applicants online
accounts for submitting and tracking their cases. Agency employees also should
be able to work faster because they will be collaborating on documents
electronically, rather than physically transferring folders between offices.
USCIS receives about 6 million forms annually.

All this digitization should tighten security by enabling staff to cross-check
information from multiple applications so they can better detect identity fraud,
DHS officials said.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-29/pdf/2011-20990.pdf and
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110829_3929.php

August 18, 2011 DHS Deportation or Prosecutorial Discretion New Policy is NOT an Amnesty: you can NOT apply for a work permit or ANY status under this policy at this time.

In view of August 18, 2011, public announcement by the DHS, the American Immigration Lawyers Association issued the following warning:

WARNING!

Do NOT believe anyone who tells you they can sign you up for a work permit
(Employment Authorization Document or “EAD”) or get you legal status
based on the Secretary Napolitano’s August 18, 2011 announcement!
Anyone who says that is not to be trusted!

There is NO “safe” way to turn yourself in to immigration and there is NO
guarantee that your case will be considered “low priority.” ANY person who
comes into contact with immigration authorities may be arrested, detained
or even removed.

Only a QUALIFIED IMMIGRATION LAWYER can evaluate your case and tell
your about your rights.

Do NOT seek legal advice from a notario or immigration consultant.
For more information about avoiding immigration scams go to
www.StopNotarioFraud.org

What the new policy is NOT:

** The Obama Administration announcement is NOT an
amnesty, it is NOT about granting legal status, and is NOT
something that you can sign-up for!

The Obama Administration made very clear that the announcements do NOT
provide any way to “apply” for a work permit or “EAD” nor is there a new way to
apply to remain in the United States. The change announced is not about giving
people work permits or legal status. The announcement applies ONLY to cases
already in the system, ensuring that low priority cases do not continue to clog
up an already overburdened immigration court system.

***What the new policy IS:

The Obama Administration announced the creation of a high-level working group made
up of Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice officials who are to
do the following:

** Review all cases already pending before the immigration courts. Those that are
considered “low priority” may be administratively closed. Those that are
considered a “high priority” will be prosecuted more aggressively.

** There are no rules or guarantees that a particular type of case will be considered
a “low” or “high” priority. Recent guidelines are helpful, but no one can tell you if
your case is a low priority--only immigration authorities will make that decision.

** In the future, immigration authorities will review the cases people before they are
placed in removal proceedings. Those that are “low priority” may not be referred
to the immigration court.

**Create department-wide guidance to help USCIS, CBP, and ICE agents and
officers make better, more consistent decisions about who to place in removal
proceedings.
** Issue guidance on providing discretion in compelling cases for persons who
already have a final order of removal.

In other words, the August 18, 2011 announcement was preliminary and nothing has been
implemented yet. Any details about how the review process will work, what cases will
be considered low priority or how to have a particular case considered have not been
decided.

The best course of action is to consult an immigration lawyer or accredited
representative, not to take action because a friend, neighbor or coworker
encourages you to act.

Even if a friend, neighbor or coworker encourages you to act, do NOT try to contact
immigration authorities or fall for a scam!

NOTE: At this time, there is NO application to fill out, NO form that can be filed, NO filing fee that can be paid and NO guidance from immigration authorities AT ALL as to how the review of cases
will happen.

Eventually, as the government decides how to proceed, that information
should be available from official government websites, such as USCIS.gov .

Read at http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=36705

Warning: beware of DV Lottery (Green Card Lottery) scams, E-mail scams.

Have you or someone you know recently received an e-mail claiming you’ve won the Green Card lottery and asking you to send or wire money?

Don’t fall for it – the sender is trying to steal your money!

Fraudsters will frequently e-mail potential victims posing as State Department or other government officials with requests to wire or transfer money online as part of a “processing fee.” You should NEVER transfer money to anyone who e-mails you claiming that you have won the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery or been selected for a Green Card. 

These e-mails are designed to steal money from unsuspecting victims. The senders often use phony e-mail addresses and logos designed to make them look more like official government correspondence. One easy way to tell they are a fraud is that the e-mail address does not end with a “.gov”.

One particularly common fraud email comes from an address ending in @diplomats.com or @usa.com and asks potential victims to wire $819 per applicant/family member via Western Union to an individual (the name varies) at the following address in the United Kingdom: 24 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE. If you receive this email, do NOT respond. Report it immediately to the Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Federal Trade Commission onlineor by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

For more information on this type of fraud and how to avoid and report it, please see the Department of State’s fraud warning and the Federal Trade Commission’s consumer alert on the matter.

For more information about the Diversity Visa Program, seehttp://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ and review the Department of State’s Travel.State.Gov DV Instructions webpage.


Read at: http://blog.uscis.gov/2011/03/e-mail-scam-avoid-green-card-lottery.html

New results from DV 2012 Green Card Lottery to be released today July 15, 2011 at 12:00 M EST.

The results from the 2012 Diversity Visa Lottery will go online today at noon, 12:00 PM EDT. Please use your confirmation number from registration to check the results at:

http://www.dvlottery.state.gov​/

How to avoid most common mistakes many new immigrants make.

To avoid the most common mistakes when dealing with immigration matters follow these easy steps:

• If you hire a lawyer, hire a licensed attorney and not an unauthorized “notario” or other unqualified “immigration consultant”. You should be aware that there are many people who pretend being lawyers or attorneys. They can charge you even more than a licensed lawyer would, saying that you got a bargain doing business with them. These people are committing fraud and unauthorized practice of law. A “notario” or “immigration consultant” is not a lawyer. A “notario” can only notarize documents, but cannot give you legal advice or help to complete any immigration forms or applications. The main reason for this is that notaries are not educated and not qualified as lawyers (with exception of those notaries who are also attorneys), and therefore are not authorized to provide legal advice or legal help. Oftentimes, they can hurt your situation beyond any help. Please be aware.
• Mail everything to USCIS by Certified Mail with Return Receipt, or by FedEx or other private carriers where you can ensure that you have the guaranteed delivery. Don’t try to save money, but make sure that your application is delivered and was accepted by USCIS.
• All foreigners living in USA (even permanent residents) must notify the USCIS / DHS of their address changes within 10 days. It’s advisable to do that either online at https://egov.uscis.gov or by Certified Mail by mailing the form AR-11 to an appropriate address. Please make sure you keep all the receipts and confirmations of the address change online.
• Keep a copy of everything you mail to the USCIS. If you have a lawyer, they should keep a copy of everything submitted. Many lawyers give you copies of the applications and petitions submitted, and copies of the most pertinent documents mailed to USCIS.
• Take the time to organize your immigration papers and put them in a safe place (e.g. safe deposit box or a relative’s house) where you will be able to find them in a few years if needed. If USCIS says that you never sent them something, you will be able to prove that you did. Also, any future lawyers you might hire will want to see what was filed and done with your case in the past. Your notices from the USCIS will have code numbers on them which are very handy in checking the status of your case.
• You are required by law to carry your green card or non-immigrant visa and I-94 card with you. Make copies of these important documents and keep them at a safe place. Memorize or write down you A number (Alien Registration Number) and your SSN (Social Security Number). Keep the copies of the “green card” in a safe place in case you lose the card, it’ll make it easier to renew it.
• Do not carry your Social Security Card with you. It’s not required by law. Memorize the number, and keep the card in the safe place. You might need to replace the card if you marry and change your name, or become a lawful permanent resident, or US citizen in the future.
• Keep Proof of all payments made to USCIS. Be sure to keep your money order stub, or copies of the checks or other proof of payment with your other immigration documents.
• Write Your Name and Alien Registration Number (A#) on Everything You Send to USCIS (letters, forms, applications).
• If you live and work in the United States, you shall pay your taxes, even if you are currently out of status or illegally in the country or don't have a social security number. You can apply for a taxpayer identification number (TIN) for yourself and your spouse and children, if they don’t have SSN, so you can file your tax returns and list them as your dependents. In the future if you find a way to apply for a green card or adjust your status the government will ask to see your tax returns.
• Never drink and drive; don’t do or deal in drugs; don’t get arrested; don’t commit crimes. These simple rules apply to every foreign national in the USA, even those who are permanent residents (“green card holders”) because even a permanent resident can be deported and lose his or her status (green card).
• Finally, remember, when you sponsor someone for permanent residency in the USA and sign the Affidavit of Support, form I-864, this is a legal and enforceable contract, and your obligations of support can continue even after divorce.

Read full article at http://www.law-visa-usa.com/common_mistakes.html

DHS published its 2010 Annual Report of Immigration Enforcement.

In June 2011, the Department of Homeland Security released its 2010 Annual Report of Immigration Enforcement Actions recently. Dep’t of Homeland Security, Immigration Enforcement Actions: 2010 Annual Report (June 2011). (http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/enforcement-ar-2010.pdf )

The federal government removed 387,242 people in 2010, a two percent drop from 2009.

The report identifies 'dangerous drugs', 'immigration', and 'criminal traffic offenses' as the leading types of crimes for which removed individuals had been convicted.

This does not necessarily mean that these individuals were removed as a result of these convictions. DHS defines anyone who has been convicted of a crime as a "criminal alien" whether or not that conviction led to removal. (Dep’t of Homeland Security, Immigration Enforcement Actions: 2010 Annual Report at 1 n.3).

DHS reported that ICE detained 363,064 aliens during 2010. The leading countries of origin of those removed were Mexico (73 percent), Guatemala
(8 percent), Honduras (6 percent), and El Salvador
(5 percent).

In 2010, 476,405 aliens were allowed to return to their
home countries without an order of removal. Eighty-one percent of returns in 2010 involved Mexican or Canadian aliens.

See the report at http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/enforcement-ar-2010.pdf

Controversy surrounds new Memo from ICE Director John Morton

On June 17, 2011 the ICE Director John Morton signed a new memo on exercise of prosecutorial discretion in arrests and removal of illegal aliens. Full text of the memo is here:

http://www.iceunion.org/download/283-284-mortons-prosecutorial-discretion-memo.pdf

However, on June 11, 2010, ICE Union leaders around the nation issued a unanimous no confidence vote in ICE Director John Morton on behalf of ICE officers, agents and employees nationwide citing gross mismanagement within the Agency as well as efforts within ICE to create backdoor
amnesty through agency policy.  The press release is here:

http://www.iceunion.org/download/286-287-press-release-pd-memo.pdf

EB-5 Immigrant Investor: significant changes proposed

USCIS Proposes Significant Enhancements to EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Processing.

released May 19, 2011

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today proposed significant enhancements to the administration of the USCIS Immigrant Investor Program, commonly referred to as the EB-5 Program—transforming the intake and review process for immigrant investors as part of the Obama administration’s continued commitment to improve the legal immigration system and meet our economic and national security needs for the 21st century.

The EB-5 Program makes 10,000 visas available annually to immigrant investors who invest in commercial enterprises that create at least 10 U.S. jobs. EB-5 investors may petition independently or as part of a USCIS-designated Regional Center.

“Congress created the EB-5 Program in 1990 to attract investors and entrepreneurs from around the globe to create jobs in America,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “We are dedicated to enhancing this program to ensure that it achieves that goal to the fullest extent possible.”

USCIS is proposing three fundamental changes to the way it processes EB-5 Regional Center filings.

1.) First, USCIS proposes to accelerate its processing of applications for job-creating projects that are fully developed and ready to be implemented. USCIS will also give these EB-5 applicants and petitioners the option to request Premium Processing Service, which guarantees processing within 15 calendar days for an additional fee.

2.) Second, USCIS proposes the creation of new specialized intake teams with expertise in economic analysis and the EB-5 Program requirements. EB-5 Regional Center applicants will be able to communicate directly with the specialized intake teams via e-mail to streamline the resolution of issues and quickly address questions or needs related to their applications.

3.) Third, USCIS proposes to convene an expert Decision Board to render decisions regarding EB-5 Regional Center applications. The Decision Board will be composed of an economist and adjudicators and will be supported by legal counsel.

This proposal will be online until June 17, 2011, for public comment.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov 

Immigration Resource Library online at UCLA: LibGuide.

UCLA Law Library has made available a Library Guide ("LibGuide") with extensive
and detailed research on the nation's current immigration situation.

Here's the link: http://libguides.law.ucla.edu/arizonaimmigration

This LibGuide served originally as electronic readings for a series of national
trainings. The LibGuide has evolved into a resource bank for all people
interested in learning more about the current immigration debate in the United
States. Critical topics include SB 1070 and its copycats, historical precedents,
demographic data, growing federal enforcement programs, "comprehensive
immigration reform," community-based and global activism, and much more.

FY 2012 H-1B Visa period starts on April 1, 2011.

USCIS Announces FY 2012 H-1B Work Visa Petitions Will Be Accepted Starting April
1, 2011.

USCIS announced that it will start accepting cap-subject H-1B petitions for
FY2012 on April 1, 2011, noting that cases will be considered accepted on the
date USCIS receives a properly filed petition, not the date that the petition is
postmarked.

The cap (the numerical limit on H-1B petitions) for FY 2012 is 65,000.

The first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of individuals with U.S.
master's degrees or higher are exempt (subject to a separate cap).

Fee Waiver Guidelines from the USCIS, March 13, 2011.

On March 13, 2011, USCIS has published the following final policy Memorandum:

Fee Waiver Guidelines as Established by the Final Rule of the USCIS Fee
Schedule; Revisions to Adjudicator's Field Manual (AFM) Chapter 10.9 (AFM Update
AD11-26).

It lists the petitions and applications fees can be waived and how to prove your
inability to pay the filing USCIS fees.

See at
http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/2011/March/FeeWaiverGuidelines_Establi\
shed_by_the_Final%20Rule_USCISFeeSchedule.pdf

VISA TIPS from the U.S. Consulate (apply to all Immigrant Visa applicants).

VISA FASTLANE TIPS. These general rule apply to all Immigrant Visa applicants and not only to this particular consulate.

We want to issue visas!  Really we do!  Unfortunately, most cases are not ready for issuance on the date of the interview because applicants fail to complete all of the necessary steps.

This document provides clear steps that applicants can take to be prepared better for their interview:

Read at http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov/fastlane4.html

--------------

• Arrive on Time! – For a variety of reasons, many individuals do not appear on the date scheduled for their interview.  If you fail to appear or come late, your case will be rescheduled for the next available date which is often several months away.

• Plan your trip to the Consular Building.
• Original Documents – Bring original documents (i.e. birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, etc.), as well as one photocopy of each document.  Please provide a photocopy of each document and a certified English translation for any documents in languages other than English, Arabic, or Hebrew.
Please note:
• Bring your passport.  You must have a valid passport with at least eight months validity.
• Bring completed Forms DS-230, Parts I & II.
• If your fees were not previously paid at the National Visa Center, bring exact change for the payment of your visa at the Consulate.
• Photos – Photos must comply with our strict photo guidelines.
• Medical Exams – If at all possible, the required medical exam should be completed at least three weeks prior to your scheduled interview.  This provides time for the medical documents to arrive in our office prior to your interview.  Please note that medical exams are only valid for one year and your visa will be limited if it has been more than six months since your medical exam.
• If the beneficiary served in the military, we need the beneficiary’s original Army discharge certificate.
• Apply for any required police certificates as soon as we provide you the application with Packet 3, and in any event, at least four weeks before your interview.  Police certificates are required from all locations where the beneficiary has lived for more than 6 months after the age of 16.  All Palestinian ID holders living in the West Bank or Gaza must apply for both a police certificate from the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Interior AND an Israeli police certificate from the Israeli DCO (Civil Liaison Office) in their place of residence.

And now for the biggest issues that holds up issuances: The most common delay we encounter involves sponsorship documents.  Each intending immigrant must show that he or she has adequate means of financial support while in the United States and is not likely to become a public charge.  The documents listed below are listed in our useful links page.  Please pay close attention so that your case is not delayed.
• Each petitioner MUST provide an original, signed Form I-864 for each beneficiary along with a copy of his or her current tax returns (Forms 1040 and W-2).  In some cases, a petitioner can file an I-864EZ (rather than an I-864) for a beneficiary – please see full details and requirements.  If the petitioner did not file taxes last year, the petitioner should provide an original signed and dated “no tax letter” explaining why he or she did not pay taxes last year (i.e. no earned income).
• Often the petitioner will not meet the minimum poverty guidelines.  In such cases the sponsorship requirements can be met by a “Joint Sponsor” who submits an originally signed Form I-864, plus proof of status (e.g., copy of U.S. passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate. green card etc.) and copy of current tax returns (Forms 1040 and W-2).  If the Joint Sponsor files taxes with his or her spouse, we will also need an original signed Form I-864A from the household member unless the sponsor can prove that he or she earned all the income necessary to meet the support guidelines.
• When filing for children (IR-2 or CR-2 cases), we simply need an originally signed copy of the I-864W, Intending Immigrant's Affidavit of Support Exemption Form.

---------------

Contact Information for those looking for U.S. citizens friends and relatives missing in Japan or Pacific after Tsunami (03-2011).

The US Dept of State released the following contact information for those
looking for U.S. citizens missing in Japan or other tsunami zone in Pacific
outside of Japan.

* If you have concerns about a specific U.S. citizen in Japan, please send the
State Department an email at JapanEmergencyUSC @ state.gov

* If you have concerns about a specific U.S. citizen in the Tsunami zone outside
of Japan, please send the State Department an email at PacificTsunamiUSC @
state.gov

Temporary Relief for Nationals of Japan (and Others from Pacific) Due to Earthquakes and Tsunami March 11, 2011

Relief for Japan and Other Nationals from the Pacific Stranded due to the
Earthquakes and Tsunami on March 11, 2011.

This advisory is for Japanese and other foreign nationals from the Pacific
stranded in the
United States due to the earthquakes and tsunami devastation in the Pacific.

If you have
exceeded or are about to exceed your authorized stay in the U.S. you may be
permitted up
to an additional 30 days to depart.

Visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):

• If you are at an airport, contact the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
office at
the airport.
• All others, please visit the local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
office.

Visitors traveling under a nonimmigrant visa:

• Visit the local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office.
• Bring your passport, evidence that you are stranded (such as an itinerary for
the
cancelled flight), and your I-94 departure record.
For additional immigration relief options, please visit the Special Situation
page.

www.uscis.gov

No H or L Visa interviews to be scheduled in U.S. Consulate in Mumbai, India

March 3, 2011


U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai announces that, effective immediately, no new H or L visa appointments are available at post due to forced reduction in number of interview windows. 



If you have already scheduled an H or L visa interview appointment at the Mumbai 
Consulate, you may keep that interview time.  No new H or L visa appointments 
will be made at the Mumbai Consulate.  New H and L interviews may be 
scheduled at the other U.S. Consulates in India or the Embassy in New Delhi.


Appointments will be scheduled via VFS at https://www.vfsusa.co.in/USIndia/Index.html.  Appointment times can be found on the VFS 
website.



 http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/media/pdf-visas/partial-reduction-in-visa-operations-.pdf

New filing location for USCIS Change of Address, AR-11, starting from March 15, 2011

Beginning March 15, 2011 all Change of Address, (Form AR-11) and Alien’s Change of
Address, (Form AR-11 SR) will change filing locations.  Now, you must file all change of
address forms at the following address:

DHS/USCIS
Harrisonburg File Storage Facility
Attn:  AR-11
1344 Pleasants Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Change of address forms mailed to the old location will be forwarded to the new filing location
for 45 days beginning March 15, 2011 until April 28, 2011.

You also have the option of notifying USCIS of a change of address online at www.uscis.gov

Chicago manager sentenced to 18 months in prison for hiring illegal immigrants

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

CHICAGO, IL

Manager of 2 Chicago-area staffing companies sentenced for hiring illegal aliens

CHICAGO - The president of two Chicago-area staffing companies that supplied temporary workers to suburban warehouses has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for hiring illegal aliens to form his labor pool. The sentence resulted from a worksite enforcement investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Clinton Roy Perkins, 66, was sentenced Feb. 16 to 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for knowingly hiring illegal aliens at the staffing companies. He pleaded guilty in September 2010. On Feb. 25, U.S. District Judge Joan B. Gottschall also ordered the forfeiture of $465,178 in proceeds obtained as a result of the criminal activity.

Perkins, of Wayne, Ill., was the president of Anna II Inc., and Can Do It Inc., staffing companies located at 801 Golf Lane in Bensenville, Ill. Anna II/Can Do It provided both skilled and unskilled labor to clients operating warehouses in various suburbs. The workers performed janitorial services, loaded and unloaded freight packages and merchandise, and installed and removed structures inside warehouses.

In his plea agreement, Perkins admitted to knowingly hiring more than 10 illegal aliens from Mexico as temporary workers between October 2006 and October 2007. The illegal workers hired by Perkins were not required to provide documents establishing their immigration status or lawful right to work in the United States.

Perkins and his son-in-law, Chrispher Reindl, paid the illegal workers' wages in cash and failed to deduct payroll taxes or other withholdings. Perkins and Reindl directed low-level supervisory employees to transport illegal workers back and forth between locations near the aliens' residences in Chicago and work sites in the suburbs. Both also provided bogus six-digit numbers - purporting to be the last six digits of the aliens' Social Security numbers - to a company, knowing that their workers were in the country illegally and did not possess valid Social Security numbers.

Reindl pleaded guilty in November to hiring illegal workers and is scheduled for sentencing in March.

"We will hold employers accountable for their actions," said Gary Hartwig, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Chicago. "Mr. Perkins knowingly hired an illegal workforce and circumvented our nation's immigration laws for financial gain. The goal of our enforcement efforts is two-fold - reduce the demand for illegal employment and protect job opportunities for the nation's lawful workforce."

Read at http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1102/110225chicago.htm

Texas Attorney General charged 6 Notaries with immigration fraud. Only attorneys can offer immigration legal services in U.S.A.

Feb 23, 2011

MCALLEN, Texas — Attorney General Greg Abbott says six individuals and their
businesses have been shut down over alleged immigration-related fraud in South
Texas.

Abbott on Wednesday announced six so-called "notaries" are accused of violating
the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the state Notary Public Act and the
State Bar Act.
The lawsuits, filed in Hidalgo and Cameron counties, led to temporary
restraining orders and injunctions.

The six are: Anna Trejo; Dora Maria Resendez; Josefina Fonseca, doing business
as Fonseca Services; Maria Alvarado, doing business as Mary's Bookkeeping &
Income Tax; Maria Yolanda Solis; and Emilio Zabala, doing business as Azteca
Immigration.

** State investigators say all six are commissioned Texas notaries public, but
falsely claimed to be able to handle immigration cases.

The state seeks civil penalties of up to $20,000 per violation.

Read more at: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7442527.html

Mexican Police Officer denied asylum in USA: this can set a precedent for other pending asylum claims from former police officers.

C.Juarez, Mexico, Police Officer denied asylum in USA: this decision can set a
precedent for many other pending asylum claims from former police officers.

Feb 08, 2011.

Jose Alarcon, 27, was a cop in one of the world's most lawless cities. Wounded
in a gun battle with drug gangs in Juarez in 2008, he survived only to see his
partner killed in another gunfight. When Alarcon refused bribes from the city's
drug lords, he knew it was a matter of days before they killed him, too.
Alarcon, his wife and two young children fled to El Paso to seek asylum in the
United States.

In early January, Alarcon's asylum case was denied by a Dallas federal
immigration judge. The case could set a precedent for other Mexican police
officers seeking asylum in the U.S. It's difficult to determine how many
officers have requested asylum because U.S. immigration officials do not collect
the data. One of Alarcon's Dallas attorneys, Will Humble, said Texas lawyers
with cases scheduled before asylum judges have been calling his office since the
denial. "They're very anxious and want to see how the decision applies to their
clients," he says.

In Alarcon's case, the judge ruled that the dangers he faced as a police officer
in Juarez were "the risks police officers have to take," Humble says. He
declined to release the judge's decision to the Observer because it contains
details that could endanger Alarcon's life.

The number of Mexicans fleeing because of drug cartel violence continues to
escalate. The most violent city is Juarez, with 6,347 deaths in the past four
years. Despite the growing list of victims, at least 85 percent of Mexicans who
apply for asylum are denied, according to U.S. immigration statistics.
Applicants must prove they are members of a social, political or other group
targeted for persecution—a difficult standard.

Humble says Alarcon will appeal his case, which could take another 18 months.
Until then, the 27-year-old former police officer and his young family remain in
limbo in the United States. "He's just going to wait and pray that his case is
approved," Humble says

Read at: http://www.texasobserver.org/lalinea/juarez-officer-denied-us-asylum