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James Bonn
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Boulder, CO 80303
Phone: 303.415.0007
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Denver, CO 80206
Phone: 303.415.0007
San Diego, California
Phone: 619-232-4007
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October 14, 2008 issue
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New Immigration Court to Open in Charlotte, NC
Oct 10, 2008: After a long wait, a new immigration court is scheduled to open in Charlotte, NC on November 4. North Carolina has one of the fastest growing immigration populations in the United States and the lack of an immigration court has placed much unneeded stress on that state’s immigrant populations.
In 2007, North Carolina had 2,883 cases in immigration court; those individuals had to travel to Atlanta to see an immigration judge. “We have a backlog of 500 to 600 cases in our office any one day that we are trying to help,” said U.S. Representative Sue Myrick (R-NC). ““An immigration court will speed up illegal alien deportations …. It will also help legal immigrants playing by the rules because they will no longer have to travel to Atlanta to deal with immigration matters.”
The new immigration court will be located at 5701 Executive Center Drive in Charlotte. The city, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the Southeast, has a population of more than half a million people. The city’s new immigration court will cover immigration cases in North Carolina and may potentially cover cases in other, neighboring states. Currently, the Atlanta immigration court covers cases in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. -
USCIS to Delay Direct Mail Program for Naturalization Applications
Oct 09, 2008: Today, USCIS announced that it plans to delay the implementation of the N-400, Application for Naturalization, Direct Mail Program. A notice, to be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, will officially announce this delay. In September 2008, USCIS published a notice that proposed to change the filing address for N-400 applications from USCIS Service Centers to two, newly created lockbox addresses in Arizona and Texas. As stated in that original notice, the new direct mail program was to be implemented on October 14, 2008.
This delay, according to USCIS, is due to the organization conducting additional tests of the technology utilized for the program. The September notice will soon be withdrawn; applicants should continue to submit their N-400 applications to the USCIS Service Center responsible for processing these applications for their region. -
LCA Online Submission Web Site Now Requires Account Registrations
Oct 06, 2008: As of October 1 of this year, individuals that want to create and submit LCA Forms 9035 electronically on the Department of Labor’s website will be required to submit these forms through a created account. Prior to this change, individuals could create and submit LCA Forms without registering with the online system. This mandatory registration process will be free to users; simply click on the REGISTER link on the LCA submission section of the Department of Labor’s Web site.
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New WHTI Travel Widget Reminds Travelers of Documentation Requirements
Oct 03, 2008: Earlier this week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a new, desktop widget that reminds travelers to obtain required documents before their departure dates. As the travel date approaches, the widget will provide a countdown timer and weather at the traveler’s destination, along with reminding the traveler to obtain travel documents required by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. As part of that initiative, U.S. and Canadian citizens that enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean must present either a passport or an approved document, as of June 1, 2009.
“We are using a wide range of media vehicles, in addition to television and magazine ads, to ensure that all segments of the population are familiar with the travel document requirements under WHTI,” said Thomas S. Winkowski, Assistant Commissioner, CBP. “A digital strategy component allows CBP to reach audiences that are increasingly using the Internet as their source of news and information, especially related to travel. The widget, because it sits on the computer desktop, provides an ongoing and interactive reminder to travelers to get appropriate travel documents.”
The widget can be downloaded from the following web address: www.GetYourHome.gov. -
Bush Signs Into Law Act that Extends E-Verify and EB-5 Pilot Programs
Oct 01, 2008: On September 30, President Bush signed into law a new resolution that extends funding for all government operations until March 6, 2009. The resolution, called the ‘Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009,’ was passed by both the house and Senate earlier last month. The bill includes extensions for the Basic Pilot/E-Verify Program and the EB-5 Regional Center Pilot Program, both of which will now remain active at least until the end of this extension period.
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New Act Would Set Deadlines for Naturalization Application Processing Times for Military Personnel
Sept 30, 2008: On September 28, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Military Personnel Citizenship Processing Act. This act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senator Schumer (D-NY), will require that USCIS process and issue citizenship decisions within six months of the application receipt date for all current or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their surviving dependants. If USCIS does not make a decision during that specified time frame, the act would require the organization to explain the reason for the delay and provide a new target date for a decision.
In addition, the act, if signed into law by the President, would establish an FBI liaison office inside USCIS and would establish processing deadlines for other naturalization applications. This act received approval by voice vote from the Senate on September 24; it is now en route to the President for final approval.
