| | The Business Immigration Monthly is Hammond Law Group’s latest web-based newsletter, directed at international workers and employers seeking the most up-to-date news on U.S. immigration issues, specifically those that impact workers on H, L, E, and O visas and workers seeking permanent residency.
December
Visa Bulletin
The
Department of State has released the December Visa Bulletin.
Unfortunately, there has been no movement in any category from the
November Bulletin.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4384.html
President-Elect Names
Napolitano as Top-Choice for Secretary of Homeland Security
President-elect
Barack Obama has named Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as his top
choice as the next Secretary of Homeland Security. Napolitano made
national news in 1991 as the lawyer for Anita Hill in her sexual
harassment case against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Appointed
U.S. attorney for the state by then-President Bill Clinton in 1993, she
was elected state attorney general in 1998, and governor in 2002. In
2006 she became the first Democratic governor in a quarter century to win
reelection. In office, Napolitano gained national attention for her
handling of immigration and security matters. In early 2006, she was the
first governor to call for National Guard troops to secure the
U.S.-Mexico border, months before President Bush announced plans to do
so. Although the final appointee has yet to be announced, prospects look
good for Napolitano to hold the Secretary position.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2008/11/21/arizona_governor_is_leading_candidate_for_homeland_security_post/
Mexican Consulates
Change Visa Issuance Procedures
The Mexican
consulates have recently changed their consular procedures restricting
the types of applicants permitted to apply for visas at their offices.
The following types of applicants are not permitted to apply for
a US visa from Mexico:
-
Applicants for B1/2 visas, including renewals
are not accepted from third country nationals who are not resident
in Mexico.
-
Applicants who entered the U.S. with a visa
issued in their home country and changed status with Department of
Homeland Security in the U.S. who seek a new visa in the new visa
category
-
Applicants who entered the United States in one
visa category and are seeking to re-enter the U.S. in a different
visa category.
-
Applicants who have been out of status in the
U.S. having violated the terms of their visas or having overstayed
the validity indicated on their I-94s.
-
Applicants who entered the U.S. under the
auspices of the Visa Waiver Program.
-
Applicants who obtained their current visa in a
country other than that of their legal residence.
-
PLEASE NOTE: If you were informed when you obtained
the original visa in your home country that you are subject to
National Security Entry Exit Registrations (NSEERs), are a national
of North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Sudan or Iran, you are not eligible to
renew your visa in Mexico.
Prior to traveling for visa stamping, please contact your HLG attorney
to see if you are eligible to obtain your visa in Mexico.
For more information see:
http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/evisas_third_country.html
Increase in Student and Exchange Visitor Visas Issued
The Department of State (DOS) has announced that this past
fiscal year there was a 9.1 percent increase in the number of F, J, and
M student and exchange visas issued. Issuing over 700,000 student and
exchange visitor visas, the DOS has seen an increase in the number of
visas issued in China and the Middle East in particular. To support this
increase, the DOS writes, “The
State Department, along with the Department of Homeland Security and
other U.S. government agencies, recognizes that one of the foundations
of the U.S. academic and scientific communities is vibrant international
participation. America’s outstanding academic and research institutions
are as valuable to U.S. national security as protection of our borders.”
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/nov/112041.htm
Role of Immigrants on Economy Highlighted
A recent article in
the Long Island Business News entitled “Immigrants play a valuable role
on our economy,” and written by Raymond Keating, highlights the impact
that immigrants play on the US economy. Keating writes, “To
sum up, if it were not for immigration, the United States would be a
smaller nation today. In recent years, business would have been
confronted by worker shortages and higher labor costs. Consumers would
have faced higher prices. And economic growth would have been much
lower.” Keating also comments that once the economy picks up it is a
prime opportunity for President Elect Barack Obama to “to make a
positive contribution to our nation’s economy by doing immigration
reform the right way.”
For full article see:
http://libn.com/blog/2008/11/18/keating-immigrants-play-a-valuable-role-in-our-economy/
Everyone
at HLG Wishes You and Yours
a
Happy and Safe Holiday Season
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