H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

As the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) National Day of Action is swiftly approaching on March 25, 2010, we thought that it would be an appropriate time to provide some statistics on the Immigrant population in the United States as provided by research conducted through the Immigration Policy Center (IPC) of the American Immigration Counsel (AIC). The AILA National Day of Action is an opportunity to educate Members of Congress and their staff about the problems plaguing our immigration system so that they can be more effective in crafting, promoting and supporting legislative solutions.

The IPC has complied research on the Immigrant, Latino and Asian community for most of the states within our Nation. Every Wednesday, we will provide in our blog post, the highlights from the research conducted by the IPC.

Arkansas – The Natural State

The IPC has complied research which shows that Immigrants, Latinos and Asians are an essential part of Arkansas’s economy, labor force and tax base. Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers and entrepreneurs. With the nation working towards economic recovery, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of the Natural State.

Below, please find the highlights from Arkansas:
 Immigrants made up 4.2% (or 118,405 people) of Arkansas’s population in 2007.
 28.1% of immigrants (or 33,316 people) in Arkansas were naturalized U.S. Citizens in 2007 who are eligible to vote.
 Latinos accounted for 5.2% (or 147,409 people) and Asians 1.2% (or 34,018 people) of Arkansans in 2007.
 The purchasing power of Latinos totaled $2.7 billion and Asian buying power totaled $972 million in Arkansas in 2008.
 If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Arkansas, the state could lose $798 million in expenditures, $ 354 million in economic output, and approximately 6,660 jobs.

There is no denying the contributions Immigrants, Latinos and Asians make in Arkansas and the important role they will play in the state’s political and economic future. For more data on their contributions to the Natural State, view the IPC fact sheet in its entirety.

Immigration Reform will not come until we as a Nation are fully aware of the problems plaguing the current system.

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy arm of the American Immigration Council. IPC's mission is to shape a rational conversation on immigration and immigrant integration. Through its research and analysis, IPC provides policymakers, the media, and the general public with accurate information about the role of immigrants and immigration policy on U.S. society. IPC reports and materials are widely disseminated and relied upon by press and policy makers. IPC staff regularly serves as experts to leaders on Capitol Hill, opinion-makers and the media. IPC, formed in 2003 is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for office.

As the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) National Day of Action is swiftly approaching on March 25, 2010, we thought that it would be an appropriate time to provide some statistics on the Immigrant population in the United States as provided by research conducted through the Immigration Policy Center (IPC) of the American Immigration Counsel (AIC). The AILA National Day of Action is an opportunity to educate Members of Congress and their staff about the problems plaguing our immigration system so that they can be more effective in crafting, promoting and supporting legislative solutions.

The IPC has complied research on the Immigrant, Latino and Asian community for most of the states within our Nation. Every Wednesday, we will provide in our blog post, the highlights from the research conducted by the IPC.

Arizona – The Grand Canyon State

The IPC has complied research which shows that Immigrants, Latinos and Asians are an essential part of Arizona’s economy, labor force and tax base. Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers and entrepreneurs. With the nation working towards economic recovery, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of the Grand Canyon State.

Below, please find the highlights from Arizona:
 Immigrants made up 15.6% (or 991,584 people) of Arizona’s population in 2007.
 29.7% of immigrants (or 294,541 people) in Arizona were naturalized U.S. Citizens in 2007 who are eligible to vote.
 Latinos accounted for 29.7% (or 1,882,610 people) and Asians 2.4% (or 152,130 people) of Arizonans in 2007.
 The purchasing power of Latinos totaled $31.3 billion and Asian buying power totaled $5.8 billion in Arizona in 2008.
 If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Arizona, the state could lose $26.4 billion in expenditures, $ 11.7 billion in economic output, and approximately 140,324 jobs.

There is no denying the contributions Immigrants, Latinos and Asians make in Arizona and the important role they will play in the state’s political and economic future. For more data on their contributions to the Grand Canyon State, view the IPC fact sheet in its entirety.

Immigration Reform will not come until we as a Nation are fully aware of the problems plaguing the current system.

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy arm of the American Immigration Council. IPC's mission is to shape a rational conversation on immigration and immigrant integration. Through its research and analysis, IPC provides policymakers, the media, and the general public with accurate information about the role of immigrants and immigration policy on U.S. society. IPC reports and materials are widely disseminated and relied upon by press and policy makers. IPC staff regularly serves as experts to leaders on Capitol Hill, opinion-makers and the media. IPC, formed in 2003 is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for office.

As the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) National Day of Action is swiftly approaching on March 25, 2010, we thought that it would be an appropriate time to provide some statistics on the Immigrant population in the United States as provided by research conducted through the Immigration Policy Center (IPC) of the American Immigration Counsel (AIC). The AILA National Day of Action is an opportunity to educate Members of Congress and their staff about the problems plaguing our immigration system so that they can be more effective in crafting, promoting and supporting legislative solutions.

The IPC has complied research on the Immigrant, Latino and Asian community for most of the states within our Nation. Every Wednesday, we will provide in our blog post, the highlights from the research conducted by the IPC.

Alaska – The Last Frontier

The IPC has complied research which shows that Immigrants, Latinos and Asians are an essential part of Alaska’s economy, labor force and tax base. Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers and entrepreneurs. With the nation working towards economic recovery, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of the Last Frontier.

Below, please find the highlights from Alaska:

 Immigrants made up 7.2% (or 48,928 people) of Alaska’s population in 2007.
 51.2% of immigrants in 2007 (or 25,046 people) in Alaska were naturalized U.S. Citizens who are eligible to vote.
 Latinos accounted for 2.6% (or 8,000 people) and Asians 2.3% (or 7,000 people) of Alaskans in 2008.
 The purchasing power of Latinos totaled $1.2 billion and Asian buying power totaled $1.1 billion in Alaska in 2009.
 If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Alaska, the state could lose $484.7 million in expenditures, $ 215.3 million in economic output, and approximately 1,980 jobs.

There is no denying the contributions Immigrants, Latinos and Asians make in Alaska and the important role they will play in the state’s political and economic future. For more data on their contributions to the Last Frontier, view the IPC fact sheet in its entirety.

Immigration Reform will not come until we as a Nation are fully aware of the problems plaguing the current system.

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy arm of the American Immigration Council. IPC's mission is to shape a rational conversation on immigration and immigrant integration. Through its research and analysis, IPC provides policymakers, the media, and the general public with accurate information about the role of immigrants and immigration policy on U.S. society. IPC reports and materials are widely disseminated and relied upon by press and policy makers. IPC staff regularly serves as experts to leaders on Capitol Hill, opinion-makers and the media. IPC, formed in 2003 is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for office.

The Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), Alejandro Mayorkas and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have entered into an agreement to strengthen and enhance local immigrant integration efforts. Launched as a pilot, this agreement will remain in effect for two (2) years with evaluations conducted by the USCIS to analyze the program’s effectiveness and to determine whether this partnership may be replicated in other locations.

The purpose of the partnership initiative is to strengthen immigrant integration efforts in Los Angeles through proactive citizenship awareness, education and outreach activities. The partnership has planned a series of informational sessions as well as other activities for Los Angeles residents where USCIS educational materials highlighting the benefits and process of U.S. Citizenship will be available at city facilities.

Mayor Villaraigosa provided that “this outreach campaign is a model of cooperation and civic empowerment that will help enrich America’s continued success as a nation of immigrants.”

Read the entire article

$950 flat fee (no admin fee) for filing Form N-400 + One Hour of Individualized Review

*Additional $750.00 for Attorney to Attend Naturalization Interview

Our normal legal fees are $1000 + $150(admin fee) per application

Contact our office to apply for Naturalization/Citizenship

The required documents for applying for Naturalization are as follows:
1. Copy of Permanent Residence Card
2. Copy of Spouse/Parent - Certificate of Citizenship/Birth Certificate (if applicable)
3. Copy of complete passports, visa and I-94 card
4. Marriage certificate (if applicable)
5. Divorce decree or death certificate (if applicable)
6. Children’s Certificate of Citizenship (if applicable)
7. Two (2) colored passport style photographs for each applicant
8. Certified copies of federal income tax forms that you filed for the past five years
9. Application fee in the amount of $675.00 (Check made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security- DO NOT ABBREVIATE)

DETAILS OF SPECIAL OFFER:

At MVP Law Group, we offer high quality legal services at cost efficient rates with an individualized hands-on approach for each and every client. Contact our office for your Naturalization needs. From the onset, you will receive individualized attention from the initial client meeting up until your Naturalization interview. We will discuss with you the advantages of U.S. Citizenship, the process and time frame for applying; provide you with study materials and when you’re ready, devote an hour of personal attention to help you prepare for your Naturalization interview.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Question: What are some of the benefits of U.S. citizenship?
Answer: There are certain benefits to becoming a U.S. citizen, such as higher estate tax exemptions, federal job benefits, greater freedom of travel to other countries and most importantly, the right to vote. In addition there are certain federal grants and scholarships available only to U.S. citizens.

Question: What are the continuous residence and physical presence requirements for Naturalization?
Answer: The law generally requires that applicants for naturalization must have resided continuously in the United States during a period of 5 years before applying (3 years in the case of qualified spouses of U.S. citizens). Applicants are also generally required to have been physically present in the United States for at least half of that required period of time.

Question: What is the procedure for applying for Naturalization?
Answer: Once you have completed and submitted your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and you have had your fingerprints taken at a USCIS facility, you will receive an appointment for an interview. At your naturalization interview, you will be required to answer questions about your application and background. You will also take an English and civics test unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver.

Question: What is the purpose of the Naturalization test?
Answer: The purpose of the test is to demonstrate that you are able to read, write, and speak basic English and that you have a basic knowledge of U.S. history and government (also known as “civics”).

*Frequently Asked Questions were summarized from the USCIS.GOV website.

CONTACT MVP LAW GROUP, P.A. for more information!

$950 flat fee (no admin fee) for filing Form N-400 + One Hour of Individualized Review

*Additional $750.00 for Attorney to Attend Naturalization Interview

Our normal legal fees are $1000 + $150(admin fee) per application

Contact our office to apply for Naturalization/Citizenship

Special Runs from November 23, 2009 until December 31, 2009!

The required documents for applying for Naturalization are as follows:
1. Copy of Permanent Residence Card
2. Copy of Spouse/Parent - Certificate of Citizenship/Birth Certificate (if applicable)
3. Copy of complete passports, visa and I-94 card
4. Marriage certificate (if applicable)
5. Divorce decree or death certificate (if applicable)
6. Children’s Certificate of Citizenship (if applicable)
7. Two (2) colored passport style photographs for each applicant
8. Certified copies of federal income tax forms that you filed for the past five years
9. Application fee in the amount of $675.00 (Check made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security- DO NOT ABBREVIATE)

DETAILS OF SPECIAL OFFER:

At MVP Law Group, we offer high quality legal services at cost efficient rates with an individualized hands-on approach for each and every client. Contact our office for your Naturalization needs. From the onset, you will receive individualized attention from the initial client meeting up until your Naturalization interview. We will discuss with you the advantages of U.S. Citizenship, the process and time frame for applying; provide you with study materials and when you’re ready, devote an hour of personal attention to help you prepare for your Naturalization interview.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Question: What are some of the benefits of U.S. citizenship?
Answer: There are certain benefits to becoming a U.S. citizen, such as higher estate tax exemptions, federal job benefits, greater freedom of travel to other countries and most importantly, the right to vote. In addition there are certain federal grants and scholarships available only to U.S. citizens.

Question: What are the continuous residence and physical presence requirements for Naturalization?
Answer: The law generally requires that applicants for naturalization must have resided continuously in the United States during a period of 5 years before applying (3 years in the case of qualified spouses of U.S. citizens). Applicants are also generally required to have been physically present in the United States for at least half of that required period of time.

Question: What is the procedure for applying for Naturalization?
Answer: Once you have completed and submitted your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and you have had your fingerprints taken at a USCIS facility, you will receive an appointment for an interview. At your naturalization interview, you will be required to answer questions about your application and background. You will also take an English and civics test unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver.

Question: What is the purpose of the Naturalization test?
Answer: The purpose of the test is to demonstrate that you are able to read, write, and speak basic English and that you have a basic knowledge of U.S. history and government (also known as “civics”).

*Frequently Asked Questions were summarized from the USCIS.GOV website.

CONTACT MVP LAW GROUP, P.A. for more information!

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) is offering FREE Naturalization Information Sessions in various places in the U.S. during the months of November and December.

Each session will cover the following topics: Naturalization eligibility requirements, the Naturalization process, the Naturalization test, and the rights and responsbilities of U.S. Citizenship.

In November, the free sessions will be held in Hartford, Connecticut; Oakland Park, Florida; Redding, California; and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Please click on the link below to find out more information or to register for a free informational session.

In December, the free sessions will be held in Beaverton, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Yakima, Washington. Please click on the link below to find out more information or to register for a free informational session.

USCIS FREE Naturalization Informational Sessions

If you are in need of assistance in applying for Naturalization, please contact our office for more information!

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) completed a multi-year redesign of the naturalization test which has been in effect since October 1, 2008. From October 1, 2008 until September 30, 2009, applicants were able to choose whether to take the old test or the new test.

The major goal of the redesign process was to ensure that naturalization applicants have uniform, consistent testing experiences nationwide, and to provide a fair and meaningful naturalization process. The USCIS believes that the newly designed test will help encourage citizenship applicants to learn and identify with the basic values we all share as Americans. Currently the passage rate for those taking the NEW test is 91%.

Effective October 1, 2009, all Citizenship applicants must take the NEW redesigned test.

Study materials for the NEW test are available on the USCIS newly designed website.

If you are considering applying for Naturalization or have questions about the process, please contact our office.

The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted an investigation from May 2008 through March 2009 which showed that terrorists or criminals could steal an American citizen’s identity, use basic counterfeiting skills to create fraudulent documentation for that identity, and obtain a genuine U.S. passport from the Department of State (DOS). The GAO conducted their investigation by using “basic counterfeiting skills.”

The same GAO investigator was able to easily obtain four passports issued by the DOS under four different names. The first passport was applied for in a United States Postal Service (USPS) office in Virginia in July of 2008. The investigator used a counterfeit West Virginia driver’s license, and a counterfeit New York birth certificate, along with the passport application form. The first passport was issued 8 days after the application was submitted for review. The GAO investigator applied for the second passport in August of 2008 at the State’s regional Washington, D.C. passport issuing office. The GAO investigator used a genuine District of Columbia (DC) identification card obtained with fraudulent documentation, and a counterfeit New York birth certificate, along with the passport application form. Surprisingly enough, the passport was issued to the investigator that same day. In October of 2008, the investigator applied for another passport in a USPS office located in Maryland. The investigator submitted a counterfeit West Virginia driver’s license, and a counterfeit New York birth certificate. The submitted passport application contained the Social Security Number (SSN) of a fictitious 5-year-old child, which was obtained from a prior investigation. Once again, another passport was issued to the investigator based on the documentation submitted only 7 days later. The final passport issued as a result of this investigation was in December 2008 from a USPS office in Maryland. The investigator submitted a counterfeit Florida driver’s license, and a counterfeit New York birth certificate. The passport form contained the SSN of a deceased individual. And again, the passport was thereafter issued only 4 days after the documentation was submitted for review.

After the investigation, the GAO briefed DOS officials on the results. DOS officials admitted that the findings expose a major vulnerability in DOS’s passport issuance process. According to DOS officials, the department’s ability to verify information submitted by passport applicants is hampered by limitations to its information sharing and data access with other agencies at the federal and state levels. This is the same problem that was identified after the tragic events that took place on September 11, 2001, eight. Additionally, they said that they do not currently have the ability to conduct real-time verification of the authenticity of birth certificates presented by passport applicants, and to make matters worse, there are other difficulties with verifying the authenticity of drivers’ licenses.

The DOS officials stated that to improve the current passport fraud detection capabilities, they would need greater cooperation and support from other agencies at both the federal and state levels, and the ability to access other agencies’ records in real time.

After the GAO briefed the DOS regarding their investigation, the four fraudulently obtained U.S. passports were identified and revoked. The DOS indicated that it would study the matter further to determine what steps would be appropriate to improve passport issuance procedures.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has released its most updated materials for those interested in or applying for naturalization/citizenship.

At the MVP Law Group, we recommend that naturalization/citizenship applicants review the Publication: The Citizens’ Almanac. The Almanac provides an in-depth look at the history of the United States of America. It contains detailed information about fundamental documents, symbols, and anthems of the United States like the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Star Spangled Banner and the American Flag. It also contains several Presidential and historical speeches along with a few landmark decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Applicants anticipating an interview for naturalization should review the study materials provided by the USCIS. The MVP Law Group recommends that applicants utilize the following:

Learn About the United States: Quick Civic Lessons for the New Naturalization Test
The material above explains much of the history of the United States. It is designed to help the applicant understand the principles of American democracy, the U.S. system of government, and the important rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.

Civics Flash Cards
The flash cards are easily accessible online and ready to be printed. The flash cards contain the same information as the study material above; however, they should be used in preparation for the naturalization interview. There are one hundred civics questions provided with pictures.

To review all of the updated Naturalization materials please click here!

If you have questions about the naturalization process and/or are interested in getting started, please contact our office!

Under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), service members and certain veterans of the United States armed forces may apply for expedited citizenship . Qualifying military service is generally in one of the following branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and certain components of the National Guard and the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve. Several of the requirements are provided below:

- A member of the U.S. armed forces must have good moral character; knowledge of
the English language; knowledge of U.S. government and history; and attachment to
the U.S. by taking an Oath of Allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.
- Qualified members are exempt from the naturalization requirements of residency
and physical presence in the U.S.
- A member who obtains U.S. citizenship, separates from the military under “other
than honorable conditions” before completing five years of honorable service may
have his/her citizenship revoked.
- A qualified member may be naturalized overseas, including eligible spouses of
members of the U.S. armed forces.

Discharged members of the U.S. armed forces may also qualify for naturalization. The requirements consist of serving honorably for at least one year, obtaining lawful permanent resident status, and having filed an application while still in the service or within six months of separation.

In 2002, President Bush signed the “Expedited Naturalization Executive Order” which called for the expedited naturalization of aliens and non-citizens serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces during the War on Terrorism. A qualifying member under this order may immediately file for citizenship. The requirement of at least one year of honorable duty does not apply under the executive order. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has naturalized 42,981 members of the U.S. armed forces since the beginning of the War on Terrorism.

For more information on how to apply and the fingerprint requirements, please review the USCIS Fact Sheet.

The prior edition of the N-400 Application for Naturalization expired on October 31, 2008. A new edition of the form has yet to be posted to the USCIS website. Until further notice, the USCIS has informed the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) that applicants may continue to submit their applications on any useable edition of the form.

To clarify, applicants seeking naturalization may continue to file using Form N-400 found on the USCIS website until a new revised form is posted.

The United States Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Ombudsman issued a press release informing the public about the status of FBI name checks and the projected processing times for applicants filing for Naturalization . The Ombudsman is an independent office of DHS which reports directly to the DHS Deputy Secretary. The Ombudsman is responsible for assisting individuals and employers in resolving problems with the USCIS and identifying areas in which individuals and employers have problems in dealing with the USCIS.

FBI name checks are just one of several security screening tools used by the USCIS for individuals seeking immigration benefits in the U.S. The USCIS Ombudsman had identified FBI name check delays at one of the major hurdles to improved customer service at USCIS in his 2008 and 2007 Annual Reports to Congress. Fortunately, Congress responded and provided the necessary funding for USCIS and the FBI to complete a larger percentage of FBI name checks in a timely manner. USCIS met its April 2, 2008 goal by processing all name checks pending more than two years by July 2008. As of August 12, 2008, there were 95,449 FBI name checks pending, compared to 269,943 name checks pending as of May 6, 2008. Additionally, there were 61,817 name checks pending more than six months, compared to 185,162 pending for more than six months as of May 6, 2008. Although there is a sufficient backlog still to be processed, the USCIS is significantly making progress in an effort to improve service for those seeking U.S. immigration benefits.

According to the USCIS, naturalization application processing will take an average of 10-12 months nationally by the end of this month. Previously, USCIS estimated processing times of 16-18 months, then 14-16, then later to 13-15 months. The delay in processing is due to the enormous amount of applications that were submitted during the summer of 2007. Three million naturalization applicants were submitted to the USCIS compared to the 1.8 million submitted the previous year. Overall, the USCIS seems to be making considerable progress compared to past years.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently completed a multi-year redesign of the naturalization test. The major goal of the redesign process is to ensure that naturalization applicants have uniform, consistent testing experiences nationwide, and to provide a fair and meaningful naturalization process. The USCIS believes that the newly designed test will help encourage citizenship applicants to learn and identify with the basic values we all share as Americans.

To accomplish their goals, USCIS piloted a new test with an overhauled English reading and writing section, as well as new history and government questions in several sites across the country. The feedback from the pilot program was used to finalize testing procedures, reading and writing prompts and new history and government questions.

Naturalization applicants will begin taking the redesigned test on October 1, 2008. To determine whether you will take the current or redesigned test, please refer to the chart provided by the USCIS.

In July of 2007, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received a record 460,000 applications for naturalization. Moreover, for 2007, the USCIS received 1.4 million naturalization applications. This is double the normal annual volume. As a result of the record volume of applications, the USCIS announced in April
of this year that depending on the region that an applicant’s citizenship application was filed, it was taking the USCIS at least five to fourteen months. As a result, over the past few months, the USCIS has increased the number of officers adjudicating naturalization applications. Moreover, USCIS just announced that it will centralize the initial naturalization processing. Hopefully, these changes speed up the process for the thousands of individuals who are waiting to become citizens.