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Author Archive

US PASSPORT CARD ONLINE APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE

January 24, 2012 by Bradley Maged.

According to a DOS Press Release: “On January 24, the Department of State’s Office of Passport Services will launch a 90-day pilot program allowing adult U.S. citizens living in the United States and Canada to apply for a passport card online. By applying online, customers will not be required to mail in their current passport book and necessary forms, saving them time and money.”

Please visit our firm’s websites at www.immigrantconnect.com and www.americaninvestorvisa.com and check out our page and become our fan on Facebook!

Posted in Immigration Reform | Print | No Comments »

VISA BULLETIN FOR FEBRUARY 2012

January 24, 2012 by Bradley Maged.

The Visa Bulletin for February 2012 is now available. EB-2 numbers for Indian and Chinese nationals continued to advance significantly due to decreased demand.

Please visit our firm’s websites at www.immigrantconnect.com and www.americaninvestorvisa.com and check out our page and become our fan on Facebook!

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

December 30, 2011 by Bradley Maged.

To all of you who take the time to read my blog, thank you. I started writing in May 2007 for three main reasons: (1) to use the blog as an outlet for my thoughts on immigration, (2) to market our firm and (3) to express my disappointment with what I felt was Lou Dobbs’ unfairly biased immigration reporting on CNN. Because he had CNN, a reputable news organization as his platform, that what he had to say was considered to be the truth even if it was simply his opinion. I wrote several e-mails to the show expressing my disagreement and none were ever published - so blogging was the way to go.

Have a great, safe New Year and I hope to report on some positive immigration developments in 2012!

Please visit our firm’s websites at www.immigrantconnect.com and www.americaninvestorvisa.com and check out our page and become our fan on Facebook!

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HISPANICS SUPPORT OBAMA OVER GOP CANDIDATES DESPITE DISAPPROVING OF HIS DEPORTATION POLICY

December 30, 2011 by Bradley Maged.

According to an article on chicagotribune.com: “Fifty-nine percent of Hispanics oppose President Barack Obama’s increased deportations of illegal immigrants, according to a new poll showing a weak spot in their otherwise broad support for the president in next year’s election.”

Please visit our firm’s websites at www.immigrantconnect.com and www.americaninvestorvisa.com and check out our page and become our fan on Facebook!

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

ICE ESTABLISHES HOTLINE FOR DETAINEES

December 30, 2011 by Bradley Maged.

According to a News Release on www.ice.gov: “As part of a broader effort to improve our immigration enforcement process and prioritize resources to focus on threats to public safety, repeat immigration law violators, recent border entrants, and immigration fugitives while continuing to strengthen oversight of the nation’s immigration detention system and facilitate legal immigration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced new measures to ensure that individuals being held by state or local law enforcement on immigration detainers are properly notified about their potential removal from the country and are made aware of their rights.”

This Obama administration initiative is good news and may be motivated by the upcoming election and/or lawsuits alleging that US citizens have been wrongfully detained as part of immigration crackdowns.

Please visit our firm’s websites at www.immigrantconnect.com and www.americaninvestorvisa.com and check out our page and become our fan on Facebook!

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

SECURE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM NABS US CITIZENS

December 15, 2011 by Bradley Maged.

According to an article on washingtonpost.com: “Four U.S. citizens were erroneously arrested in Southern California recently through the federal immigration enforcement program called Secure Communities, the American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday.”

It looks like in certain parts of the country, if one speaks with an accent (s)he should carry a US passport as well. Secure Communities is a misnomer as it will likely lead to increased tension and decreased cooperation between members of immigrant communities and law enforcement.

Please visit our firm’s websites at www.immigrantconnect.com and www.americaninvestorvisa.com and check out our page and become our fan on Facebook!

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

VISA BULLETIN FOR JANUARY 2012

December 15, 2011 by Bradley Maged.

The Visa Bulletin for January 2012 is now available. There are significant advancements in the Employment-Based Second Category for India and Chinese Nationals.

Please visit our firm’s websites at www.immigrantconnect.com and www.americaninvestorvisa.com and check out our page and become our fan on Facebook!

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WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT? WILL ROMNEY’S “FLIP” ON IMMIGRATION CAUSE HIM TO FLOP IN THE PRIMARIES OR GENERAL ELECTION?

November 30, 2011 by Bradley Maged.

Allowing undocumented individuals to “have the opportunity to register and to have their status identified” seems like the start of a plan that some refer to as “amnesty”. What would follow this “opportunity to register”? If he is saying these individuals should “go to the back of the line” this is what pro-immigrationists are advocating and is consistent with Newt Gingrich’s view on the issue. No group that I am aware of has said that the undocumented should “be given permanent residency or citizenship merely because they’ve come here illegally.” (emphasis added). In reality, many of those who are undocumented seek an opportunity to remain or legalize their status despite their being in the country illegally.

Immigration is a tricky issue and it is hard to pander to any single demographic because it will later come to bite a candidate who takes an extreme position. What may be good for the primary will not be suitable in a general election. It is therefore better to hold a sincere position on this tough topic rather than come across as a flip-flopper seeking only short-term political gain.

Please visit our firm’s websites at www.immigrantconnect.com and www.americaninvestorvisa.com and check out our page and become our fan on Facebook!

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

USCIS REACHES FY-2012 H-1B CAP

November 24, 2011 by Bradley Maged.

According USCIS Update: “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap of 65,000 for fiscal year (FY) 2012. USCIS is notifying the public that yesterday, Nov. 22, 2011, was the final receipt date for new H-1B specialty occupation petitions requesting an employment start date in FY 2012.”

Alternatives for those who missed the deadline include determining whether the employer can qualify as exempt from the numerical limitation or examining alternative non-immigrant categories for foreign nationals.

Please visit our firm’s websites at www.immigrantconnect.com and www.americaninvestorvisa.com and check out our page and become our fan on Facebook!

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

H-1B CAP COUNT (11/18/2011)…ALL I WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS WAS AN H-1B

November 22, 2011 by Bradley Maged.

According to the USCIS, as of November 18, 2011, the agency had received 61,800 out of 65,000 available cap-subject H-1B petitions for FY-2012 and 20,000 out of 20,000 available petitions under the H-1B Master’s Cap Exemption.

When the Master’s Cap Exemption has been exhausted, petitions filed on behalf of beneficiaries with Master’s or higher degrees from US universities will be counted towards the general 65,000 H-1B limit for the fiscal year.

Given that it takes a week for Labor Condition Applications to be certified by the Department of Labor, and that these are required in order to file an H-1B petition with the USCIS, it is unlikely that a cap-subject employer starting the process now would be able to file before the cap is exhausted. By the end of next week, it is safe to predict that the FY-2012 H-1B cap will be reached.

Alternatives for those who miss the deadline include determining whether the employer can qualify as exempt from the numerical limitation or examining alternative non-immigrant categories for foreign nationals.

Please visit our firm’s websites at www.immigrantconnect.com and www.americaninvestorvisa.com and check out our page and become our fan on Facebook!

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

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Author Archive

US PASSPORT CARD ONLINE APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE

VISA BULLETIN FOR FEBRUARY 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HISPANICS SUPPORT OBAMA OVER GOP CANDIDATES DESPITE DISAPPROVING OF HIS DEPORTATION POLICY

ICE ESTABLISHES HOTLINE FOR DETAINEES

SECURE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM NABS US CITIZENS

VISA BULLETIN FOR JANUARY 2012

WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT? WILL ROMNEY’S “FLIP” ON IMMIGRATION CAUSE HIM TO FLOP IN THE PRIMARIES OR GENERAL ELECTION?

USCIS REACHES FY-2012 H-1B CAP

H-1B CAP COUNT (11/18/2011)…ALL I WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS WAS AN H-1B