Recent News Items

Earlier this week, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook Haiti to it core. The epicenter of the earthquake was located just 10 miles away from Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The devastation and destruction of the tiny island has been shown around the world in horrifying details. The Red Cross estimates that over 50,000 people have died as result of this catastrophe. Over the past few days, nations around the world have mobilized in an effort to provide aid to the grief-stricken nation. The Department of Homeland Security has halted all deportations to Haiti until further notice. In an effort to help Haitian nationals here, Senators, Congressmen, immigration advocates and visa lawyers are pushing President Obama to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The designation would allow thousands of Haitians, many of them undocumented, currently residing in the United States to live and work in the United States until conditions in Haiti improve and the status is revoked. Opponents argue that TPS for Haitians will exacerbate and overwhelm the already burden immigration system. TPS designation has been reserved for countries that have been devastated with civil and political unrest, natural disasters or extraordinary situations where the country in unable to handle the return of its citizens. Hopefully, the Obama administration will issue a statement granting temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian Americans in the next few days or weeks.

Happy New Year to all the readers!!! It was a dramatic year for individuals across the globe. Here in the United States, the very first African American man took office and became the President of the United States. The U.S. economy continued its downward spiral and the never ending debate over U.S. health care reform took off. Pepsi changed its logo and noted celebrities like Britney Murphy, Farah Fawcett, Patrick Swayze and Michael Jackson, to name a few, left this world. But the past is behind us and a new future awaits us all. Here’s hoping that 2010 is filled with much love, happiness, health, beauty and prosperity. Here’s a toast to a great new year.

As if holiday travel isn't a hassle enough; air travel turned into a real nightmare for hundreds of passengers aboard a Northwest Airliner on Christmas day. It is being alleged that, Umar Faruk Abdulutallab, a 23 year old Nigerian man, attempted to blow up a Northwest passenger airliner traveling from Amsterdam to Detroit. The accused bomber sewed 80 grams of explosive material into his underwear and attempted to detonate the bomb during the flights’ descent into Detroit. His attempt to detonate the bomb failed and he succeeded in setting himself on fire instead. He was ultimately subdued but this incident sheds a big spotlight on the current state of airport security measures and international communications. Since this incident, the U.S. government instituted tighter security measures for all airlines traveling inbound to the USA. New measures include extra pat downs before boarding, not getting up during the last hour of the flight and hand searches of carry-on luggage. Some Airlines have even told their crew to stop identifying landmarks during the flight route. Security measures will look different at every airport so travelers are being asked to arrive early and to cooperate with security officials. We wish everyone a safe holiday season and a prosperous new year.

The Department of State, in an effort to raise revenues and dig itself out of an economic hole, has decided to raise fees for many nonimmigrant visa applications. The actual purpose of a fee hike is to bolster administrative processing and to cover the high costs for certain processes that require in-depth consideration. But at the end of the day, it is still a hike in fees. All visa applications that are not petition based (B1/B2 for example) will see an increase of $9.00, raising the non immigrant visa application fee to $140.00. Fees for all petition based applications will be $150.00. The biggest fee increase is in the area of treaty (E) and fiancé (K) visas, which will be going up from $131.00 to $390.00 and $350.00 respectively. The proposed increases are just that proposals, the new fee schedule won’t come into effect for a while but make sure to contact your local U.S. embassy or your qualified attorney before filing any visa application. Submitting an application without the proper fee is basis for an outright rejection which will cause a delay in getting that interview and visa stamp.

On October 30, 2009, the Obama Administration announced the end of a 22 year old ban on travel to the United States by people who have tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which is know to cause AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Under the ban, those testing positive for HIV were found inadmissible for entry into the United States. The ban covered every tourist and foreigner seeking to enter the United States. Waivers have been available for individuals testing positive for HIV and AIDS but the procuedures were ardous and chance of approval slim.

The new rule takes HIV infection off the “communicable disease of public health significance” list for immigration purposes. Under the new rule, foreigners applying to become permanent residents will no longer be required to be tested for AIDS. The lift on the ban is seen as a progressive step forward and fulfills President Obama’s promise to gay advocates. The final rule will go into effect on January 04, 2010.

Source: The New York Times