Articles Posted in Top Immigration Stories

The UK Border Agency in New York is now responsible for processing all visa applications in the United States. Effective today (20th May 2011) the UK Border Agency in Los Angeles will close.

Please note, if you are a resident in one of the States previously covered by the Los Angeles visa section and submitted an online application prior to 8th March or 6th April (for California residents) you should review the visa issuing post stated on your visa application form.

If the Los Angeles office is stated on your visa application form, you should submit your application and supporting documents to the visa processing office in Los Angeles prior to 20th May 2011. The Los Angeles office will cease accepting applications made prior to 8th March or 6th April (for California residents) on 20th May.

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. 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.

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.

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—providing stakeholders an opportunity to offer feedback on the proposed changes to the administration of the EB-5 Program.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that effective Aug. 15, 2011, petitioners residing in countries without USCIS offices will be able to file a Petition for an Alien Relative (Form I-130), with the USCIS Chicago Lockbox facility. This will increase the efficiency of the relative petition filing process and give USCIS more flexibility in managing its workload. Previous regulations permitted these petitioners, who comprise about 5 percent of all I-130 petitioners, to file with USCIS or the U.S. Department of State at their local U.S. embassy or consulate.

Under the new regulation, published today in the Federal Register, petitioners residing in countries without USCIS offices may file a Petition for an Alien Relative based on the addresses provided in the revised form instructions, also available on www.uscis.gov:
For U.S. Postal Service:
USCIS
P.O. Box 804625
Attn. CSC/I-130/OS
Chicago, IL 60680-4107
For Express mail and courier deliveries:
USCIS
Attn. CSC/I-130/OS
131 South Dearborn – 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
Petitioners residing in a country with a USCIS office have the option of sending their I-130 forms to the Chicago Lockbox, or they may file their Forms I-130 at the international USCIS office having jurisdiction over the area where they live.

To enable a smooth transition, petitioners should continue to file at their local U.S. embassy or consulate through Aug. 14, 2011. Beginning Aug. 15, petitioners residing abroad must file according to the new instructions.

Individuals with questions or concerns should contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

The Federal Government will implement a suite of regional migration initiatives together with a measured increase in permanent migration – to 185 000 visas – in 2011-12 to deliver on its broader economic and regional development priorities. Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, made the announcement today as part of the 2011-12 Budget, and said a new model for selecting skilled migrants was proposed to be introduced, as the significant next step in the government’s migration reforms.

The government’s recent reforms have contributed to a decline in net overseas migration levels by almost half from its peak of more than 315 000 for the year ending December 2008 to about 180 000 for the year ending September 2010, slowing the rate of population growth to a more sustainable level.

‘This has provided scope for a moderate increase in the migration program in 2011-12, while maintaining more sustainable annual levels of net overseas migration – in the region of 170 000–180 000 over the next few years,’ Mr Bowen said.

About two-thirds of the increased migration program will be for skilled migrants to help fill critical skill needs, particularly in regional areas. The skill stream intake will increase to 125 850 places, with 16 000 places allocated to the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme. Regional visas will also be afforded the highest processing priority to recognise the needs of employers and encourage regional migration.

‘For the first time, the Federal Government will specifically allocate permanent visas for regional areas,’ Mr Bowen said.

The government will also fast-track permanent residency for temporary business (subclass 457) visa holders who have spent two years in regional Australia and where their employer will continue to sponsor them for a further two years. This will make it easier for 457 visa holders to remain in the region where they have been living and working.

Mr Bowen said regional areas would also benefit from the introduction of Regional Migration Agreements, a new initiative that will bring together employers, local and state governments and unions to cooperate in addressing local labour needs.

‘This government recognises that different regions face different opportunities and pressures. The patchwork nature of the Australian labour market means it’s important to recognise unique local circumstances and tailor migration solutions accordingly,’ he said.

‘Regional Migration Agreements will offer a coordinated, localised response to labour needs, helping local areas to implement workforce strategies that support growth while ensuring local workers remain the first choice for employers and industry.’
Fostering training initiatives for Australians will be a strong focus of the new agreements. The existing network of regional, industry and union outreach officers will also be further resourced to ensure regional employers and industry groups are well informed about such initiatives, and can better gain access to skilled labour where it is needed.

‘This is a responsible and measured approach that recognises the role skilled migrants play in supporting regional enterprises, such as in the resources and healthcare sectors and in trades and professions currently facing significant shortages,’ Mr Bowen said.

The family intake for the 2011–12 migration program will increase to 58 600 places. The family program is socially important as it allows for the reunification of Australians with their close relatives, children and spouses.

Mr Bowen said in setting the size and composition of the migration program for 2011–12, and announcing recent reforms to skilled migration, the government has balanced the importance of maximising prosperity for all Australians, ensuring communities and regions are sustainable and maintaining job opportunities for local workers. It is critical that Australia’s skilled migration program is driven by Australia’s skills needs, rather than the desires of prospective migrants.

‘That’s why the government will introduce a new model for selecting skilled migrants to better target Australia’s future skill needs, expected to come into effect on 1 July 2012. The new model concludes a series of reforms to ensure the skilled migration program is more focussed and efficient, demand-driven and tailored to employers’ needs.

The European Commission (EC) is not planning on implementing any measures for the time being that would result in ending the liberalized visa regime for the Western Balkans, EC Spokesman Martin Grabiec told B92 on Friday (May 6th). He confirmed that several days ago the EU’s executive arm had received a letter from Belgium, expressing concern about certain cases involving so-called false asylum seekers, but said the EC’s stance is clear. “Even if Belgium really requested suspension of the visa-free regime it would be necessary to hold a debate and get consent from all member states,” he explained.

On Saturday, European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur on Visa Liberalisation for the Western Balkans Tanja Fajon told Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti that “a new wave of false asylum seekers from Serbia and Macedonia, especially in Belgium and Sweden is a reason for a great concern among the EU member states.”
According to her, the possibility of reintroducing visas for the citizens of one or both countries should not be ruled out. “Visa-free travel has certain restrictions. If you don’t respect the rules you will face consequences,” she warned.

Norway’s Consulate General in Murmansk plans to enter agreement with an external company for receiving of the visa applications and handing out issued visas.

More and more people in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions apply for visa to Norway, Sweden and Finland.

In February, Finland opened the world’s largest visa-centre in St. Petersburg. The centre is operated by a private Indian company that receives applications and delivers out visas on behalf of the Finnish Consulate General in the city. Now, Norway wants to do the same in Murmansk.

A Redwood City, Calif., man was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison and three years of supervised release following his conviction by a federal jury for conspiracy, impersonating a federal officer and attempted extortion.

Frank Salvador Solorza’s sentencing came after a jury found him guilty of attempting to extort money from six individuals while posing as a federal immigration officer. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The jury also found that the 46-year-old had engaged in a conspiracy with others to commit these crimes.

Evidence at trial showed Solorza conspired with others to send letters purporting to be from a government immigration agency. The letters were directed to six individuals. The letters demanded money — $50,000 in total — to clear up the immigration status of each individual. The letters threatened jail and deportation of each individual if the money was not paid.

After receiving the letters, the victims contacted ICE HSI, which immediately opened an investigation. The evidence at trial showed the defendant and others also called the individuals after delivery of the letters and continued to claim to be officials from a government immigration agency and to demand money. During these calls, the defendant and others designated a time and location for the victims to pay the money. The defendant was arrested by HSI agents when he arrived at the designated location at the designated time and attempted to collect the money. When arrested, the defendant was wearing a clown suit as a disguise and riding a child’s bicycle.

“The prison term in this case is absolutely appropriate,” said Shane Folden, special agent in charge for ICE HSI in San Francisco. “Regrettably, schemes like this involving the impersonation of federal officers potentially undermine the public’s confidence in their government and law enforcement. HSI will continue to aggressively pursue those who exploit innocent individuals for their own enrichment.”
Solorza was originally indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2009. In October 2009, the grand jury returned a superseding indictment accusing him of one count of conspiracy, two counts of impersonating a federal officer, and two counts of attempted extortion by a federal official.

Elvira Sosa left Mexico for the United States more than 30 years ago, but last year was the first time she’d been counted as part of the U.S. Census.

Sosa was among thousands of illegal immigrants in Los Angeles who filled out a census form last year, and city officials said the response, especially among Latinos, might have saved the area money and congressional representation.

The increased count was purposeful: A Census Bureau outreach program urged undocumented workers to fill out the census and assured them that nothing on the form could be used against them.

The program included Spanish call centers that would field questions about the census, plus billboards, bus advertisements and fliers with information. Celebrities publicized the census, too.

The response: The 2010 census showed that the numbers of Latinos living in this country increased by 43%, from 35 million to more than 50 million, during the past 10 years.

Read more….

The principality of Liechtenstein got the green light Monday from the European Union for its long-sought admission into the world of relaxed borders of Europe’s Schengen zone. The European Council ratified the final agreement in the official acceptance process, the council said late Monday.

But the process won’t be finished until the tiny Alpine country, with its population of 36,000, shows evidence that it meets Schengen standards for data protection and police cooperation.

“The admission of Liechtenstein to the Schengen region could finally take place in the second half of 2011, when Poland has the EU presidency,” said Liechtenstein’s Interior Minister Hugo Quaderer. Entry into the Schengen agreement means not only that systematic passport controls at the border are done away with, but also that Liechtenstein commits to working more closely with police and justice officials of other member states.

The tiny country, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and Austria to the east, is not a member of the European Union. After successive expansions, the Schengen agreement now includes 25 countries, including the 22 members of the EU as well as the associate members Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Catholic Charities, Santa Rosa and Petaluma Adult School will host a free information session at the Catholic Charities Immigration Services Office on March 19. The objective is to help immigrants better understand the naturalization process, including the content of the naturalization test, and to become familiar with free educational resources and materials available from the agency. Those who attend will also learn how to avoid being victimized by people not authorized to practice immigration law.

The public is invited, and USCIS personnel will be on hand to discuss the naturalization process step-by-step, and provide information about eligibility and residency requirements, application forms, fees, the background security check and processing times. Participants will also see sample questions from the new test, and will receive an overview of U.S. history and civic principles. Free educational materials will be handed out while supplies last.