Up to 12 Grants Offered to Community-Based Organizations Serving Immigrant Population U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that a competitive grant program is being offered through Grants.gov for a $1.2 million grant program to support citizenship preparation programs for legal permanent residents. USCIS, through the competitive grant program, will provide funding to community-based organizations [...] Read more »
Intercountry Adoption — Adoption Alert, Kyrgyzstan
The U.S. Department of State does not recommend that U.S. citizens consider adoption from Kyrgyzstan at this time. Currently, no adoption cases are being processed, including at least sixty-five adoption cases by U.S. citizens already in progress. In addition, the Kyrgyz government is considering significant changes to its adoption regulations. The Kyrgyz Government has formed [...] Read more »
Sunset Date to Affect Regional Center Proposals Under the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds customers that the applicable provisions of immigration law concerning the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Pilot Program (Pilot Program) will “sunset” or expire at midnight on March 6, 2009. The sunset date affects all Regional Center Proposals and certain Forms I-526, Immigrant Petition for Alien Entrepreneurs and Forms I-485, Applications [...] Read more »
Garces & Grabler Holds Open House
Saturday, February 28, 2009 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Florence Fire Dept. 1 Firehouse Lane Florence, NJ 08518 Mr. William Garces, Esq., a senior partner, will be available to address your concerns on a variety of legal issues. Mr. Garces is Founder and Senior Partner of Garces & Grabler. Pamela J. Johnson, Esq., an associate, [...] Read more »
Questions and Answers: Qualifying Family Members of U Visa Beneficiaries May Obtain Lawful Permanent Residence
The T nonimmigrant status (also known as the ‘T’ Visa) was created to provide immigration protection to victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons. The U nonimmigrant status (or ‘U’ visa) is set aside for victims of crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse because of the crime and who are willing [...] Read more »
Non-Minister Category of Special Immigrant Religious Workers To Expire On March 6, 2009
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds its customers that authorization for the non-minister special immigrant religious worker program will expire on March 6, 2009. Individuals applying under the non-minister category of the program, including family members, must either adjust status to permanent resident or be admitted with an immigrant visa before March 6, 2009. [...] Read more »
New Naturalization Test in Effect
As of October 1, 2008, Naturalization applicants began taking a revised Naturalization test. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) redesigned the test in order to create a more standardized, fair and meaningful naturalization process. The revised test, emphasizing the fundamental concepts of American democracy and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, will help encourage [...] Read more »
22 charged with massive international Visa scheme
22 foreign nationals and U.S. citizens have been indicted for massive immigration-related fraud. Read more »
Reduced immigration to U.S. possibly due to U.S. economy
The number of legal and illegal immigrants moving to the United States has decreased since the beginning of the U.S. economic downturn in December 2007. Read more »
U.S. Visitors Face New Regulations
Effective January 12, 2009, all citizens or nationals traveling under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) face new regulations. Travelers from VWP countries are now required to register at least three days before departure, and obtain approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). ESTA replaces the written green I-94 form that allows visitors to [...] Read more »
