Month: August 2008

I am pleased to announce that Maged Rost founding partner, Kristina Rost, has been named as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s “Up & Coming Lawyers” in the August 18, 2008 edition of the publication. Congratulations Kristina!

According to a USCIS Press Release:  “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds its customers to use the correct version of the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) dated 05/27/08. The edition date appears in the lower right hand corner of the form as “Form I-765 (Rev. 05/27/08) N”.”

According to an article on newamericamedia.com:  “On the eve of the Beijing Olympics, while Bush was preparing to express his “deep concerns” over China’s human rights record, Chinese immigrant Hiu Lui Ng was dying in the custody of our great nation’s own U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. For months, according to the New York Times, 33-year-old Mr. Ng had complained of excruciating back pain. Officials accused him of faking it.”

According to a article on courant.com:  “Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez has signed a new ordinance that bars police from asking people about their immigration status.”

Another city, another immigration policy.  As I have written in the past, the concept of community policing is an important one.  If an undocumented alien is a victim or witness to a serious crime, it is in the best interest of all concerned that they come forward and report the incident to local police. 

We need a uniform Federal system that works and immigration laws that make sense.  Until then, states and even municpalities will continue to enact their own laws and ordinances that will leave the country’s immigration rules looking like a jigsaw puzzle with pro and anti immigration “rules” that vary depending on what side of the Street one is walking. 

The USCIS has updated their “How Do I” Guides that cover a range of issues relating to how to go about applying for certain benefits. I would suggest using these guides for general information only and, if possible, hiring a qualified immigration lawyer to handle your matter. 

Immigration laws and procedures can be very tricky and change constantly, yet they often seem deceptively simple.  Having said that, these guides are informative and a good place to start.

According to a USCIS Press Release:  “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced August 15, 2008 a series of proposed rule changes that will streamline procedures for hiring workers under the H-2B program.  These changes are being proposed in further fulfillment of the commitment made by the Administration last August, after the failure of Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, to review and improve temporary worker visa programs using existing authorities.  The proposed rule, which has been sent to the Federal Register, supplements the extensive reforms of the H-2B program already proposed by the Department of Labor in its proposed rule published on May 22.”

According to a USCIS Press Release:  “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Sudan through May 2, 2010. The extension will offer those who have already been granted TPS an opportunity to re-register and maintain their status for an additional 18 months. TPS does not apply to Sudanese nationals who entered the United States after Oct. 4, 2007.”

The USCIS has also released a Q&A on this subject.

According to aclu-wa.org:  “The case, Roshandel, et al. v. Chertoff, et al., challenges the Department of Homeland Security’s unlawful delays in processing the applications for naturalization of hundreds of legal permanent residents in Western Washington. Under the preliminary settlement, the government has agreed to complete the citizenship process for hundreds of individuals in time for them to register to vote in the November general election.”

According to a USCIS Press Release:  “Until further notice from the CDC, be aware that a Form I-693 may be accepted if it is only missing the zoster vaccine.  Civil surgeons may notate it on the form as “vaccine not available”.”

According to a USCIS Press Release:  “Customers can now turn to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for help in researching their family’s immigration history through the agency’s new Genealogy Program.”