visaroot's blog

The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, and is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years. The 2010 Census will help communities receive over $400 billion dollars in federal funds. The data collected by the Census will also determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. Earlier last week, Senator David Vitter, a Republican from Louisiana, proposed an amendment that would require the 2010 Census to ask a citizenship question to each resident.

Senator Vitter added this amendment to the Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill and would ban the use and distribution of federal funds if this question is not added to the Census. Senator Vitter’s original question included a question about the resident’s legal status in the United States. Civil rights and lobby groups are working overtime urging Senators to oppose this last minute amendment to the Census. Senator Vitter argues that since data collected from the Census determines redistricting, special care should be given so that only U.S. citizens are counted towards allocating seats in the House of Representatives. Only time will tell whether this immigration question will show up in our census forms in 2010.
 

Source: Census 2010; Shreveport Times

USCIS has always bent backwards to ensure that eligible members of the military have the opportunity to become U.S. citizenship through naturalization. On October 21, 2009, immigration officers naturalized member of the military on aboard a ship in the Pacific Ocean.

USCIS Bangkok District Deputy Director Stacy Strong and Seoul Field Office Director Kenneth Sherman were flown, courtesy the U.S. Navy, to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington so that nine sailors could complete their naturalization process. The two officers conducted interviews and administered the naturalization test to the nine sailors. The sailors originally haled from China, the Dominican Republic, Guinea, Jamaica, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom.

In 2009, officers from the Bangkok District naturalized 640 members of the U.S. armed forces. USCIS has always demonstrated a deep commitment to members of armed services by granting eligible candidates citizenship as quickly as possible.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

In a vote that took place today, October 20, 2009, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors changed the city policy that required local law enforcement to contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials every time a juvenile is arrested on felony charges who they suspect is illegal. The policy took effect in summer of 2008 and since then more than 100 juveniles have been turned over to immigration.  The new policy requires police to notify immigration only after the juvenile is convicted. Since 1989, San Francisco has been known as a sanctuary city for its policy of protecting juvenile offenders. The city’s sanctuary policy has been challenged many times over the last two decades.

A rally held in support of comprehensive immigration reform was a success. The rally was held in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, October 14, 2009. Thousands of immigrants showed up to give comprehensive immigration reform a voice. Representative Luis V. Gutierrez, Democrat of Illinois and chairman of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus unveiled his immigration bill. His plan focuses on family unity, effective border protection and a legalization path for the millions of undocumented immigrants living in America.

Proponents of immigration reform are hoping that with the President’s commitment to immigration reform and the changes already taking place in within the system that comprehensive immigration reform will see the light of day. According to the demonstrators and participants the main focus of the rally was to highlight how current immigration laws split families apart. In a statement made by Representative Gutierrez, he said “we simply cannot wait any longer for a bill that keeps our families together, protects our workers and allows a pathway to legalization for those who have earned it.”

Source:     New York Times; Representative Luis Gutierrez

Department of State reports that entries are up 63% for the DV 2011 Program from last year. Applicants from around the world have submitted over 900,000 entries in just the first week. The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is open to persons meeting simple, but strict, eligibility requirements. Nationals of countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States over the period of the past five years are not eligible. Additionally, the law requires that every entrant must have at least a high school education, or qualifying work experience.

Winners of the lottery will receive notification of their selection via mail between May and July, 2010, and will be permitted to commence the Immigrant Visa application process in October 2010. The deadline for visa issuance is September 30, 2011.

There is no fee to enter DV- 2011. Successful entrants, however, will be required to pay all applicable application fees and costs, including those for medical examinations, for themselves and qualifying immediate relatives.

Enter today, the lottery closes on November 30, 2009.

Source: Consular Affairs, Department of State