Restricting the U.S. Visa Waiver Program Is a Bad Idea for Business

In the aftermath of last week’s brutal attacks in Paris, conservative U.S. politicians are calling for a crack down on travel from 30 countries with muslim residents.
Sen. Rand Paul introduced legislation on Monday that would “impose a 30-day waiting period for all entries to the U.S. in order for background checks to be completed, unless the traveler has been approved through the Global Entry program.”
It would also “suspend issuance of visas to nationals of countries with a high risk of terrorism” until more stringent screening and surveillance methods are put into place by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Nominally the bill is designed to keep Syrian refugees from entering the U.S., although Paul originally introduced similar legislation in 2013. Read more: http://skift.com/2015/11/18/restricting-the-u-s-visa-waiver-program-is-a-bad-idea-for-business/

Contact Darren Heyman, Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, for more information.

Visa Bulletin: More Changes Impacting the I-485 Process

As previously reported in our legal update from September 10, 2015, the Department of State (DOS) made a major change to the Visa Bulletin in early September. Then, on September 25, 2015, that Visa Bulletin was rescinded and replaced with a new bulletin. Since that time, a lawsuit was filed in the Western District of Washington, DOS published the November Visa Bulletin, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued guidance on when to file, and rumors abound. Here is what you need to know about the changes to the Visa Bulletin.
Read more: http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/visa-bulletin-more-changes-impacting-42871/

Contact Darren Heyman, Las Vegas immigration attorney, for more information.

Previously, we wrote about the significant revisions to the October 2015 Visa Bulletin (Original Bulletin), and the Original Bulletin’s impact on foreign nationals and employers.  Just five days before the start of October, the Department of State (DOS) published a revised October 2015 Visa Bulletin (Revised Bulletin) that supersedes the previously published Original Bulletin.  The sudden revision has caused significant headache and anger among affected foreign nationals, particularly nationals of China and India, who viewed the Original Bulletin as a much needed step forward in their journey to become Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders). - See more at: http://www.natlawreview.com/article/updated-instruction-using-dos-visa-bulletin#sthash.jOtwxVZM.dpuf

Previously, we wrote about the significant revisions to the October 2015 Visa Bulletin (Original Bulletin), and the Original Bulletin’s impact on foreign nationals and employers.  Just five days before the start of October, the Department of State (DOS) published a revised October 2015 Visa Bulletin (Revised Bulletin) that supersedes the previously published Original Bulletin.  The sudden revision has caused significant headache and anger among affected foreign nationals, particularly nationals of China and India, who viewed the Original Bulletin as a much needed step forward in their journey to become Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card holders). - See more at: http://www.natlawreview.com/article/updated-instruction-using-dos-visa-bulletin#sthash.jOtwxVZM.dpuf

The privilege of natural-born U.S. citizenship

After nearly seven grueling years, I reached my first lifelong goal on Aug. 9. I became a U.S. citizen.

During the first two years of processing my permanent residency for the United States, I battled various culture shocks studying in South Korea and later in Canada—my parents had been denied visas to return to the United States. Depression and anorexia set in when I realized I had to abandon my childhood home and friends in America.

After coming back to the United States in 2010, I saw my family break up to the point that my father was unable to live with me until 2012 because he could not find a stable job in the United States. To me, my U.S. citizenship represents all the tears I shed during family feuds, the mockery hurled my way for my low-income status, and the suicidal thoughts that I’ve had to overcome. Read more: http://columbiaspectator.com/opinion/2015/10/18/privilege-natural-born-us-citizenship

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney Las Vegas, for more information.

Deadline approaches to submit online entry for Diversity Visa Lottery

You have until noon on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to submit your online entry for the Diversity Visa Lottery — which gives green cards to 50,000 randomly selected people from countries with relatively low immigration to the U.S.
Natives of most countries qualify — except those from Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom and its dependent territories aside from Northern Ireland.
Those born in Northern Ireland as well as Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are eligible. Winners get their visas during the 2017 fiscal year. Get more information at the Department of State website, usvisas.state.gov. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/deadline-nears-submit-entry-diversity-visa-lottery-article-1.2390831

Contact Darren Heyman, Immigration attorney Las Vegas, for more information.

Immigration report finds systemic detention failures

Inspections at immigrant detention centers across the country lack legitimacy and are carried out with little oversight or transparency, a new report by two pro-immigrant advocacy groups charges.

The report, released Wednesday by the organizations National Immigration Justice Center and Detention Watch Network, is based on documents obtained through years of litigation and Freedom of Information Act requests examining 105 immigrant detention facilities nationwide. Read more: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/immigration-report-detention-failures.

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney Las Vegas, for more information.

US visa applicants warned of online scams

Applicants to a US Green Card scheme, which opened earlier this month, have been warned against online fraudsters.

The Diversity Visa Lottery opened on October 1st. It will issue 50,000 visas, with a maximum of 3,500 going to Ireland.

Applicants must have a secondary-level education or two-years work experience in the last five years in an occupation that requires at least two-years training or work experience. See more: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/us-visa-applicants-warned-of-online-scams-1.2390444

Contact Darren Heyman, Las Vegas immigration attorney, for more information.

The new bulletin shows no movement in filing date cutoffs and little movement in approval date cutoffs for those chargeable to India and China.

The November 2015 Visa Bulletin shows little change from the October 2015 Visa Bulletin issued on September 25. The new category of filing date cutoffs remains exactly the same as in October, and only a few visa categories in the Application Final Action Dates chart have changed. This alert addresses employment-based classifications.

- See more at: http://www.natlawreview.com/article/us-department-state-issues-november-2015-visa-bulletin#sthash.R7OzrUSG.dpuf

The new bulletin shows no movement in filing date cutoffs and little movement in approval date cutoffs for those chargeable to India and China.

The November 2015 Visa Bulletin shows little change from the October 2015 Visa Bulletin issued on September 25. The new category of filing date cutoffs remains exactly the same as in October, and only a few visa categories in the Application Final Action Dates chart have changed. This alert addresses employment-based classifications.

- See more at: http://www.natlawreview.com/article/us-department-state-issues-november-2015-visa-bulletin#sthash.R7OzrUSG.dpuf

US Visa Options for Foreign Entrepreneurs

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that about 400,000 new businesses are started annually in the United States. If you’re a foreign citizen who is interested in launching a new business in the United States, a corporate immigration lawyer can help you obtain an immigrant visa to the United States. For foreign entrepreneurs who are interested in exploring new business options in the United States, but not permanently move to the country, an immigration attorney can work to help you secure a non-immigrant visa to the United States.

Immigrant Visa Options for Foreign Entrepreneurs

An immigrant visa is intended for individuals who want to permanently relocate to the United States. Read more: http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/us-visa-options-for-foreign-47203/. 

Contact Darren Heyman, Las Vegas immigration attorney, for more information.