Immigrant Daily

CDC Proposes to Remove HIV from Part 34 Regulation

July 2, 2009 – 7:39 am
Proposing to revise the Part 34 regulation to remove “Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection” from the definition of “communicable disease of public health significance”, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Interested parties may submit written comments through mail or electronically via internet on or before 45 days after publication of the notice in the Federal Register. Public may view these comments either in person at a predetermined time or by visiting CDC or regulations.gov Web sites. HHS/CDC is also proposing to remove references to “HIV” from the scope of examinations in its regulations. Aliens infected with a “communicable disease of public health significance” are inadmissible into the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). There are other diseases, including sexually transmitted diseases, which CDC may remove from the definition ...

Posted in Commnicable Diseases, Global Migration and Quarantine Division, Malaria, PEPFAR, President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Public Health, Tom Lantos and Henry Hyde U.S Global Leaderhip Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, US Travel | No Comments »

United States and Spain Inked Arrangement to Interdict High-Risk Travelers

July 2, 2009 – 7:31 am
To identify and stop high-risk travelers at foreign airports before they board planes bound for U.S. at Madrid Barajas International Airport, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano signed a Declaration of Principles formalizing the Immigration Advisory Program (IAP) with Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba. After signing the program Napolitano said, “Protecting our nation from terrorism requires close coordination with our international allies and this collaboration enhances the capabilities of United States and Spain to facilitate legal travel and deter dangerous people attempting to enter our country.” Since its implementation, IAP Madrid has identified or prevented the travel of 402 improperly documented travelers, intercepted 23 persons with fraudulent documents, and stopped 10 terrorism-related suspects. Secretary Napolitano’s visit to Spain was her fourth stop in a weeklong trip to the United Kingdom, Portugal, Kuwait and Ireland. During her visit to Portugal, Napolitano signed a Preventing and Combating Crime ...

Posted in Agreement to Prevent and Combat Serious Crime, Compliance, Declaration of Principles, Foreign Airports, Fraudulent Documents, High-risk Travelers, Immigration Advisory Program, Madrid Barajas International Airport, Terrorism Related Suspects | No Comments »

Brian M. O’Leary is New EOIR Chief Immigration Judge

July 2, 2009 – 7:24 am
Brian M. O’Leary has been appointed as  the new Executive Office for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) Chief Immigration Judge.  Attorney General Eric Holder announced his appointment yesterday. Prior to his elevation, Judge O’Leary served as an immigration judge from May 2007 to June 2009 at the Arlington, VA., Immigration Court. In the past, he has the honor of holding important positions in the immigration court circles including temporary board member on the Board of Immigration Appeals, deputy chief immigration judge in the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge. Based on his extended experience, Judge O’Leary possess extensive knowledge in immigration laws. In 1982, he completed undergraduate work at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and later on in 1985, received a Juris Doctorate from New England School of Law. He is a member of the Massachusetts and Florida state bars. For complete information, please click Attorney General Appoints New Chief Immigration Judge

Posted in Brian O'Leary, Chief Immigration Judge, Falls Chruch, Florida State Bar, Georgetown Univeristy School of Foreign Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Massachusetts State Bar, New England School of Law, Related News | No Comments »

Consular Section of U.S. Embassy in Honduras Will be Closed on July 1-2, 2009

July 2, 2009 – 7:15 am
Due to political turmoil in Honduras, the U.S. Embassy there has announced that its Consular Section will be closed for regular Consular services on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 and Thursday, July 2, 2009. As scheduled earlier the Embassy will remain closed on Friday July 3 in observance of the July 4 Independence Day Holiday. American citizens may avail emergency passport application and emergency services from the American Citizen Services staff. However, the American Citizen Services will be closed for routine services like regular passport applications, notarials etc.  The Embassy has also cancelled all non-immigrant visa appointments for July 1 and July 2 and applicants will be contacted directly by the Call Center for appointment rescheduling. Likewise, Immigrant Visa appointments are also cancelled for the above-mentioned dates and Consular Section will contact the applicants and reschedule their appointments. For detailed information, please read: Consular Section of U.S. Embassy in Honduras will be ...

Posted in Consular News, Consular Services, Immigrant Visas, Nonimmigrant Visas, Normal Visa Processing, Trumoil in Honduras, U.S. Emabssy, Visa Information Call Center | No Comments »

ICE Started New I-9 Audit Initiative

July 2, 2009 – 7:09 am
To expedite audits of businesses’ employment records, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has launched a bold, new audit initiative by issuing Notices of Inspection (NOIs) to 652 businesses nationwide. The notices issued yesterday are more than ICE issued throughout all of last fiscal year and alerted owners that ICE will be inspecting their hiring records to determine whether or not they are complying with employment eligibility verification laws and regulations. For enforcement of employment and immigration laws, inspections are one of the potent tools in the armory of the federal government. This new initiative indicates ICE’s increased focus on holding employers accountable for their hiring practices and efforts to ensure a legal workforce. “ICE is committed to establishing a meaningful I-9 inspection program to promote compliance with law. This nationwide effort is a first step in ICE’s long-term strategy to address and deter illegal employment,” said Department of ...

Posted in 652 Businesses Employment Records, Audit Notices, Hiring Practices, Illegal Employment, New Audit Initiative, Notice of Inspection, Undocumented Immigrants | No Comments »

USCIC Holds largest Naturalization Ceremony in Kuwait

July 1, 2009 – 10:06 am
There was jubilation at U.S. military base in Kuwait as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), naturalized 84 Soldiers and Sailors at a chapel located in this oil rich nation. Making it, the largest naturalization ceremony conducted in Kuwait to date. The highlight of the ceremony was that before it began, Army Spec. Tanu Liulamaga led the 41 citizenship candidates from American Samoa in traditional island songs and mesmerized the whole gathering. As Lori Peitropaoli, USCIS Deputy District Director for Rome said, “it was a memorable moment for all of us to hear them sing, and an even greater moment after the ceremony to hear them cheer after receiving their citizenship certificates.” Two of his staff from Rome joined Pietropaoli, who volunteered to process the applications and conduct the citizenship tests. The ceremony was special for brothers Dave and Douglas Satele and their cousin Ignosy Faafoi, who now share ...

Posted in 100th Infantry Battalion Army Reserve, American Samoa Natives, Army National Guard Hawaii, Naturalization, U.S. Military Base in Kuwait, USCIS Rome Office | No Comments »

CIS Ombudsman’s 2009 Annual Report to Congress

July 1, 2009 – 10:00 am
Highlighting that there was a marked decrease in applications and petitions filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) through May 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009, the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (Ombudsman) submitted its Sixth Annual Report to the Congress. According to the report, the reduction in receipt levels has provided USCIS with the opportunity to work on long-pending cases. However, with less fee revenue, the agency may now face new challenges. The report discuses USCIS processing times and backlogs; USCIS Transformation; Ombudsman facilitation of interagency meetings; and Ombudsman outreach. It also summaries the most pervasive and serious problems encountered by individuals and employers. The report also features eight formal recommendations made by the Ombudsman during the reporting period, which covers humanitarian, family, and business issues. In addition, there are eight new 2009 recommendations that are summarized in the incumbent report. For complete information, please click CIS Ombudsman’s ...

Posted in Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, Biometric Storage System, Compliance, DNA Laboratories, Enterprise Document Management System, Family and Employment Based Visas, National Record Center, New Challenges for USCIS, Office of Transformation Coordination, Ombudsman Annual Report 2009, Paperless Data-Sharing Pilot, Permanent Immigration Applications, Public Teleconference, Record Digitization Facility, SIMS, Secuer Information Management Service Pilot, The Identity Management Pilot, The Transformation Program Office, USCIS DNA Liasion, USCIS Office of Information Technology | No Comments »

USCIS to Hold Special Naturalization Ceremonies as Part of July 4 Celebrations

July 1, 2009 – 4:58 am
To commemorate America’s 233rd birthday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will naturalize more than 6,000 citizenship candidates in approximately 50 special ceremonies spanning whole U.S. including five ceremonies for members of U.S. Armed Forces. The elated USCIS Acting Deputy Director, Michael Aytes said, “There is no more important role we have as an agency than to welcome new citizens during naturalization ceremonies throughout the year, but on the Fourth of July, that role is even more profound as we proudly stand side-by-side with the newest Americans to celebrate our independence together as one family.” This year, USCIS’ weeklong celebration of citizenship itinerary includes administering oath of allegiance to approximately 800 candidates on July 1 at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, and approximately1000 candidates on July 3 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. USCIS has also planned to hold special ceremonies on July 4 at Liberty Island, N.Y., for seven ...

Posted in America's 233 Birthday, Baghdad, Camp Lejeune, Fourth of July Celebrations, Gateway Arch, George Washington's Home in Mt. Vermon, Las Vegas, Liberty Island N.Y., Naturalization, Nellis Air Force Base, Norfolk, Special Ceremonies, St. Louis Historical Old Courthouse | No Comments »

Public Schools in Washington Hire Foreign Teachers on H-1B Visa

July 1, 2009 – 4:39 am
In pursuance of the District Court Order in Ruiz-Diaz v. United States, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Acting Associate Director, Donald Neufeld has issued a memorandum implementing the court direction regarding I-360 religious workers. The district court directed USCIS to accept properly filed Forms I-360, Forms I-485 and Applications for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) from certain religious workers affected by USCIS implementation of regulation at 8 C.F.R. §245.2(a)(2)(i)(B). Eligible applicants may also file an Application for Travel Document, Form I-131, as long as they properly filed the application. Effective immediately, USCIS personnel are advised to comply instructions outlined in the Neufeld Memo. For readers’ understanding, the decision in Ruiz-Diaz v. United States is the result of a class action lawsuit challenging implementation by the USCIS of the concurrent filing regulation at 8 C.F.R. §245.2(a)(2)(i)(B). The said regulation precluded individuals from seeking classification as religious workers and their ability to ...

Posted in Computer Programmer, Dominican Republic, English Elementary-school and Subsitute Teachers, H-1B Visa, High-Tech Companies, Highline School District, Seatle-Tacoma International Airport, Software Engineer, U.S. Special Education, Wahsington School District | No Comments »

Aytes Response to CIS Ombudsman Recommendation 41

July 1, 2009 – 4:26 am
Concurring with all recommendations of the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman recommendation 41, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Acting Deputy Director, Michael Aytes, issued a detailed response. Earlier in April, the Ombudsman had submitted four recommendations to USCIS on payment methods for its filing fees and other costs including batch filing system, online shopping cart mechanism, expansion of the payment options, and additional visual and written aids within current instructions. In his response, Aytes, welcomed the Ombudsman’s recommendations and avers that all of these recommendations will be implemented in near future in consultation with the experts. For complete information, please click: Aytes on Payment Methods for USCIS Filing Fees

Posted in Batch Filing System, Compliance, E-Filiing System, Form G - 1055, IBM, International Business Machine Corporation, Lockbox, Paying Immigration Fees, Recommendation 41, Solutions Architect, U.S. Treasury Department, USCIS Online Fees, USCIS Transformation Initiative | No Comments »