Posts Tagged ‘ immigration reform ’

Napolitano Welcomes Dreamers To UC

Posted on: January 6, 2014 by in immigration, visas
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bigstock-Business-meeting-in-an-office-21258410“Let me be clear. UC welcomes all students who qualify academically, whether they are documented or undocumented.” – University of California President Janet Napolitano

Since her appointment as president of the University of California (UC) in July, Janet Napolitano has sought to ease concerns that she might be hostile to undocumented immigrants because of her background with the Department of Homeland Security. In October, Napolitano announced that UC will devote $5 million to provide financial aid and counseling to students who are undocumented immigrants. The announcement came in Napolitano’s first public speaking engagement since assuming the UC presidency. The $5 million, Napolitano said, will “support these students with resources like trained advisers, student service centers, and financial aid.”

“Consider this a down payment,” Napolitano suggested, “one more piece of evidence of our commitment to all Californians.” Also beginning this year, California is allowing students who are undocumented immigrants – and thus ineligible for federal financial aid – to qualify for state scholarships and grants.

UC officials believe that in a student population of almost a quarter-million, the state university system enrolls fewer than one thousand undocumented immigrant students who were brought into the country as children, a group now popularly dubbed the “dreamers.” At the moment, most of these students are protected from deportation by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy enacted by the Obama Administration in 2012. Napolitano met with student groups representing the dreamers on her first day as UC President.

If you are an undocumented immigrant, if you’re seeking a visa for school or for work, or if you’re an immigrant who is facing any legal issue whatsoever, speak with an experienced immigration attorney right away. A good immigration lawyer will walk you through hearings, applications, and other legal procedures pertaining to immigration. An experienced immigration attorney will also provide you with the sound legal advice you need and will fight vigorously to defend your rights. Don’t hesitate to contact a good immigration lawyer today.

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E-2 Visa Requirements

Posted on: November 20, 2013 by in immigration
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bigstock-Social-security-28216202If you are applying for an E-2 visa, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has set forth several requirements that you must fulfill:

  1. As an investor applying for an E-2 visa, you must be arriving in the U.S. to invest in a new or an already-existing business. In either case, you must prove that the capital you are planning to invest is considerable.
  2. The investment must be in a “bona fide” enterprise that isn’t marginal or purely speculative. A bona fide enterprise is a real, active commercial undertaking which produces services or goods for a profit. A marginal enterprise is defined as one that will not produce more than a minimal living for you and your family or allow you to make a significant economic contribution in the United States.
  3. You must possess the funds you will invest, and those funds must be irrevocably committed to your investment.
  4. You must prove the source of your funding is legitimate and show that your investment funds came to you legally.
  5. You must be coming to the U.S. to direct the enterprise, and typically you must demonstrate ownership of at least 50 percent of the business. If you have determined that the E-2 visa is the best path for you, it’s time for you speak with an experienced migration attorney.

If you have any questions about the E-2 visa or about any other migration matter, obtain the counsel and services of an experienced migration attorney immediately. Don’t delay. A good immigration lawyer can answer your questions, guide you through the various migration procedures, defend your rights, and help you to achieve your goals in the United States. For anyone dealing with any immigration issue, finding an experienced immigration attorney to serve and represent you is still the wisest choice that you can make.

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Closing in on Immigration Reform

Posted on: September 25, 2013 by in immigration
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bigstock-Charismatic-Manager-During-A-M-11046482Immigration reform has been a hot topic of debate over the last few months. First came calls to Congress from both the President and the American people to reform America’s broken system of immigration and to reach a compromise that would treat the millions of immigrants who are already in the country with the dignity and respect they deserve. Congress acted, and has been working to pass immigration reform ever since.

The Gang of Eight

First, it started with the Gang of Eight, a bipartisan group of eight Senators tasked with writing a draft version of the check that would hopefully reform immigration in America. The draft bill was then sent to a subcommittee for finalization before being submitted for the whole of the Senate to vote on. It did, and the draft version passed.

The House of Representatives

On the other side of Congress, the House of Representatives expressed dissatisfaction with the draft check and, through the House Speaker John Boehner, stated that it would not even introduce any Senate bills on immigration reform onto the floor of the House for a vote unless a majority of House members supported the bill. Since the Senate is controlled by Democrats, and the House by Republicans, this issue became deeply divided by party lines.

It was not long after the Senate passed its version of the check that the House announced that it had its own Gang of Eight which had been working in secret all along to come up with an immigration reform bill.

As of now, the nation waits for the House to finalize its own version of a check so that the House and Senate bills can be consolidated into a single check that both sides of the legislative branch can agree on. According to a recent announcement by Speaker Boehner, the House should have a finalized version of its own bill on the table by the end of August 2013.

After the House Votes

Even after the House is able to agree on a version of the immigration reform bill of its own, the check from the House and the check from the Senate will have to be consolidated into a single bill before being sent to the President for approval. This is how laws are made in America. The legislative branch, made up of the House and the Senate, creates bills and then submits them to the President. If the President signs the bill, then it becomes law. If the President vetoes the bill, or if the bill remains unsigned, the check may be sent back to the legislators for another vote. If 2/3rds of Congress agree to pass the bill, then the President’s signature would not be needed in order to make the bill a law.

So far, President Obama has expressed his support for bipartisan immigration reform and has stated that he will support a bipartisan immigration reform bill when he is presented with one by Congress – which means that he has already stated that he will pass the legislation into law if Congress can compromise on the major issues of the debate.

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