In today’s Washington Post, Senators Chuck Schumer and Lindsey Graham finally outline their proposal for immigration reform.  As the saying goes, the devil is in the details, and this broad outline is short on details.  But it does outline the overall goals of the plan, which are to create biometric Social Security cards to ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs; fulfill and strength our commitments on border security and interior enforcement; create a process for admitting temporary workers; and implement a tough but fair path to legalization for those already here.

The Senators also recognize that the United States should not educate foreign students and then force them to leave the U.S. because of our broken immigration system.  This legislation would award green cards to immigrants who receive a PhD or master’s degree in science, technology, engineering or math from a U.S. university.  And, for the first time that we can recall, these Senators also suggest that we create a rational system for admitting lower-skilled workers.   This has been sorely lacking in our current immigration system.

Once Congress and the President are finished tackling the healthcare issue, we’ll see if they focus on immigration reform.  It might be tough because of the economy and the upcoming November elections, but we hope that President Obama fulfills a signature campaign promise and helps reform our immigration system soon.

To read Senator Schumer and Graham’s proposal on immigration reform, please click HERE.

Join us for a Webinar on March 31

Space is limited.

Reserve your Webinar seat now at:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/792025747

In January 2010, the USCIS released a memo defining the employer-employee relationship for the purposes of filing an H-1B application.  This memo will have a significant impact on what employers, and especially information technology consulting companies, will have to prove in the H-1B application process.

We will be hosting an informative webinar for H-1B employers regarding the recently issued USCIS guidelines about the employer-employee relationship.  This webinar is a must for employers who hire professional workers under the H-1B program.

This FREE webinar will be held on March 31, 2010 at Noon EST and is open to the public.

Sign up now!

Title: What Do Changes in USCIS H-1B Standards Mean for Employers and Employees

Date: Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Time: 12:00 pm – 1 pm EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The “Sent from my BlackBerry®” used to really impress me. I used to admire my tech savvy BlackBerry® using clients until my husband came home with one…

Gone were the sit down dinners and witty conversations about the day (Oh, who am I kidding..I have 3 young kids, but you get the point).  Our FAMILY time is now meeting central with conference emails and texts with upper management, Project Managers, Engineers, etc. Are people really more productive answering texts and emails at 8:00 p.m. and later, then they are at 4:00 – 6:00 p.m? Are these “smart phones” really making us any “smarter?”

Owning a BlackBerry® or any other one of these handheld devices with email and text capability is truly addictive. It is a powerful tool in communication, good or bad, and the ability to answer someone right away, even at midnight, can be tempting beyond control.

So my husband got me a BlackBerry® for my birthday, thinking that I wouldn’t complain so much if I had one too.  And it has mostly worked. On my days off, or when we go on vacations or family outings, I am emailing clients…and friends. I am texting any and all BlackBerry® owning friends just because it’s free. I ask people for their PIN numbers so we can instant message later, instead of asking how they are doing right now.

What has happened to what used to be referred to as “down time”? I never thought it would happen to me, a mom first, an employee second, but strides in technology have blurred the line between “office hours” and “off duty” and I am as guilty as the rest.

So, I’ve come to understand the reasoning behind the BlackBerry® nickname, “CrackBerry.” It’s a compulsive addiction and I’m hooked.

With that in mind, I have a few recommendations for other self-proclaimed technology addicts like myself:

1. Admit there is a problem.

- Tina Huber, Senior Immigration Paralegal

In light of the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has designated temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian nationals in the United States.  This TPS will last for 18 months and will only apply to those Haitian nationals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010.  Haitian nationals who travel to the United States after January 12, 2010  will not be eligible for TPS and will be repatriated.

Haitians in the U.S. who are eligible to apply for TPS should call USCIS toll-free at (800) 375-5283 or contact an immigration attorney.  We will provide more information at www.bashyamspiro.com as it becomes available.

The Indian government is implementing new visa regulations that will impact foreign nationals who travel to India as tourists.   If a foreign national had been in India for more than 90 days before travel abroad or more than 180 days in the past year, these new regulations would impose a two-month gap between visits.   In addition, passports will be stamped to indicate that the foreign national cannot re-enter India within two months of exit unless special permission is received from the Indian government.   

Although these rules are stringent, foreign nationals can still make frequent trips to India without being subject to the two-month gap in certain situations.  They will have to provide documentary evidence to the immigration officer and prove that there is a real need for their frequent visits to India on the basis of tourism.   

These travelers who visit within two months must also register with the Foreign Registration Office (FRO) within 14 days of arrival, and must declare that they will only use the visitor visa to visit specified destinations.   Travelers who visit India, even for less than 14 days and for business, are sometimes being asked by immigration officers to register with the FRO even when legally unnecessary.  Therefore, travelers should be prepared to register with the FRO  on each visit to India.

We will provide additional information at www.bashyamspiro.com as it becomes available.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Pilot Program has been extended through September 30, 2009.

As a result of the extension of the Pilot Program, USCIS will continue to receive, process, and adjudicate all Regional Center Proposals and Forms I-526, Immigrant Petitions by Alien Entrepreneur, and Forms I-485, Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, affiliated with Regional Centers relying on “indirect” job creation analysis.  Currently, there are 45 regional centers throughout the United States.

To learn more about the EB-5 investor program for obtaining permanent residency, please click here.

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