235 MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS FROM 54 COUNTRIES BECAME U.S. CITIZENS THIS WEEK

According to a USCIS Press Release:  “This week, 235 military service members from 54 countries became the newest citizens of the United States during two special naturalization ceremonies in Iraq and Kuwait. The ceremonies were hosted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).” 

In this era of raids and ineffective emphasis on enforcement by our government, it is heartwarming to learn that the men and women who are abroad fighting for our country are given the recognition and benefits of U.S. citizenship that they so richly deserve.

UNOFFICIAL, ANECDOTAL AUDITED PERM PROCESSING UPDATE

From what we have experienced and heard from other lawyers, of the pending PERM employment labor certification applications that were in the “audited queue” – decisions have been coming in for those audited cases that were initially filed in June or July 2007.  So if a PERM application was filed on your behalf in early 2008 and was audited, it may be awhile before it is adjudicated.  At least in theory, the DOL is following a FIFO system for audited PERMs based on their original dates of filing.

NEW NATURALIZATION TEST

Naturalization applicants will be taking a revised test as of October, 1, 2008.  According to the USCIS:  “In the interest of creating a more standardized, fair, and meaningful naturalization process, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently completed a multi-year redesign of the naturalization test. The revised test, with an emphasis on the fundamental concepts of American democracy and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, will help encourage citizenship applicants to learn and identify with the basic values we all share as Americans.”

UNDOCUMENTED WEATHERED HURRICANE GUSTAV

According to an AP article on msnbc.com:  “Many of the illegal immigrants who have been rebuilding New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina stayed behind when Gustav struck because they were afraid of being arrested if they boarded the buses and trains arranged by emergency officials.”

These same people will refuse to come forward to report crimes or other violent activities for fear of being detained by immigration authorities.