visaroot's blog

This is a reminder that effective September 8, 2009, federal contractors and subcontractors will be required to use the E-Verify system to verify their employees’ eligibility to work in the United States.

In July, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano strengthened employment eligibility verification by announcing the Administration’s support for the regulation that will award federal contracts only to employers who use E-Verify to check employee work authorization.

E-Verify, which compares information from the Employment Eligibility Verification Form against federal government databases to verify workers’ employment eligibility, is a free web-based system operated by Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The system facilitates compliance with federal immigration laws and helps to deter unauthorized individuals from attempting to work and also helps employers avoid employing unauthorized aliens.

Source: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

In a ruling issued last month by the highest court in New Jersey; the N.J. Supreme Court concluded that legal immigrants must completely understand the deportation consequences of pleading guilty to violent crimes or sexual abuse of a minor. In a 6-1 decision, the Justices concluded that the defendant, Jose Nunez-Valdez, did not understand the immigration consequences resulting from his plea of guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual contact. This is a continuing problem in criminal courts because criminal defense attorneys themselves do not understand immigration law and its impact on criminal proceedings. Clients’ are pressured to take the deal on the table but do not understand that taking the deal will land them in federal custody and result in deportation. There have been cases where pleading guilty to a lesser count or even a misdemeanor has placed immigrants in deportation proceedings. In an effort to apprise every defendant of the immigration consequence of pleading guilty, the Supreme Court has ordered that legal forms be changed to make it clear to those pleading guilty that they will be deported. Due diligence by criminal defense attorneys and judicial intervention such as this will go a long way in protecting immigrant and their legal rights.

Source: Permalink
 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued guidance on requesting deferred action for surviving spouses of U.S. citizens who died before the second anniversary of their marriage. Surviving spouses qualify for this temporary program if they were married to, but not legally separated from, their U.S. citizen spouse at the time of that spouse's death; did not remarry; and are currently residing in the United States.

Surviving spouses qualify for deferred action regardless of whether the U.S. citizen spouse filed a Form I-130 petition for them. Surviving spouses may ask to have their qualifying children included in their deferred action request. To be considered a "qualifying child" of a surviving spouse, the child must be younger than age 21 or otherwise qualify as a child when the deferred action request is submitted; currently reside in the United States; and be unmarried. Contact an immigration lawyer immediately to see if you qualify.

Source: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

As of May 4, 2010, every person who gives advice on New Zealand immigration must be licensed with New Zealand’s Immigration Advisors Authority. The New Zealand Immigration service will no longer accept application filed by unlicensed immigration advisors after that date. This new law applies to all equally, whether you are living in or outside of New Zealand. Violators will be punished severely under the new law; the government has imposed heavy penalties including seven years of imprisonment and/or $100,000 in fines.

Source: Sindh Today; New Zealand's Immigration Advisors Authority

September 9, 2009 turned out to be the perfect day for a wedding for thousands of couples around the world. Why 9.09.09? In the Chinese culture, the word “nine” sounds very much like the word “forever”. Therefore, many believe that getting married on this date will ensure a long and healthy marriage. According to the official Chinese news agency, Xinhua, 18,979 couples were married or received their marriage license on this lucky day. Congratulations to all the married couples and good luck for years ahead.

Source: The New York Times