Visa Lawyer Blog

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The number of Chinese students studying in the United States surged 30 percent in the 2009-10 academic year, making China, for the first time, the top country of origin for international students, according to “Open Doors,” the Institute of International Education’s annual report.

The report found that a record high of 690,923 international students came to the United States last year — nearly 128,000 of them, or more than 18 percent, from China. Over all, the number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased 3 percent for the 2009-10 academic year. India, which in recent years had been in the top spot, increased its numbers only slightly, to 104,897 last academic year.

But not all countries sent more students to the United States last year. The number coming from Japan declined 15 percent, and Mexico, Indonesia and Kenya each sent 7 percent to 9 percent fewer students than in the previous year.

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The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry proposes the closing of 7 diplomatic missions abroad, Minister Nikolay Mladenov announced. For the very first time, Mladenov mentioned the names of the countries, in which the Bulgarian embassies will be proposed for closing to the Bulgarian Council of Ministers. They are: Sudan, Angola, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, Thailand, Mexico and Tunisia.

In order for the closing process to go smoothly enough, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry considers temporarily sending additional diplomats in the neighboring countries of those mentioned. The choice is based on a scrutinizing financial analysis and on the necessity to optimize the system, according to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry.

“The closings should not be read as a negative evaluation about the mutual relations between Bulgaria and those nations.”, Minister Mladenov affirmed. “Some 15 employees will return”, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Vesela Cherneva, clarified.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to push for a vote during the lame-duck session on a bill that would legalize young, undocumented immigrants if they attend college or serve in the military, according to Democratic sources familiar with a leadership conference call Wednesday.

A vote on the bill, known as the DREAM Act, could come as early as next week, the sources said. Pelosi asked Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) to assess the mood of the caucus, according to one source.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had previously announced that he plans to bring up the DREAM Act during the lame duck session. His spokesman said Wednesday that Reid still hopes to call a vote.

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According to a recent NPR story, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) wastes resources by targeting the wrong people for deportation. The study shows immigration judges are rejecting an increasing number if ICE’s deportation requests.

The study, by a clearinghouse called TRAC, at Syracuse University, says immigration judges turned down one in three of ICE’s deportation requests during a three month period this year.

That’s up from one in four compared to the same period the previous year, according to the study.

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Today is Veterans day, and I wanted to send warm wards of support to our Veterans and the active duty men and women fighting for our country day and night.

As it relates to immigration, On July 3, 2002, President George W. Bush signed an Executive Order allowing certain noncitizens to become Naturalized citizens of the United States if they served an in an active-duty status during the war on terrorism.

Additionally,as a Gulf War veteran, one may be eligible for expedited Naturalization under Immigration and Nationality Act section 329, Naturalization through Active-Duty Service in the Armed Forces during World War I, World War II, Korean Hostilities, Vietnam Hostilities, or in other Periods of Military Hostilities. For example, if one performed active duty military service during the Persian Gulf (August 2, 1990 – April 11, 1991) or on or after September 11, 2001, one may be eligible for expedited Naturalization.

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There are certain employers, agents and even Attorney who engage in illegal and unethical practices. The government is working actively to punish such parties by excluding them from filing under the seasonal and permanent Labor Certification programs.

The Office of Foreign Labor Certification maintains the list below of employers, attorneys, and/or agents from the Permanent Labor Certification Program debarred under 20 CFR 656.31(f), the debarment provision, of the regulations governing the labor certification process. For more information on debarments under the Permanent Labor Certification Program, see 20 CFR 656.31(f).

For the complete list click here Download file

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From 31 July 2009, migrants who applied for a Certificate of Approval between 2005 and 2009 have been able to apply for their fee to be repaid. They were required to show that paying the fee caused them real financial hardship at the time of payment. The advertised repayment scheme came to an end on 31 July 2010.

Since 31 July, the UK Border Agency has accepted some adhoc applications for a repayment of the COA fee. The Agency accepted such applications in the interests of ensuring that all those who may have suffered real financial hardship as a result of the COA fee had an adequate opportunity to apply for a repayment. From 1 December, however, the UK Border Agency will no longer accept such applications.

Those wishing to make an ad hoc application for repayment of the COA fee before the repayment scheme finally ends should use the Repayment of Certificate of Approval fee request form COAFR by visiting following link:http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100503160445/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/partners-other-family/coa-refund-form

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In view of Mr. President Barack Obama visit to South Asian giant ‘India’, here are some updates on Indo-US bilateral relationship. The basic purpose of Mr. Obama’s visit is to strengthen the bilateral relationship. U.S. President Barack Obama began his maiden visit to India on last Saturday by promising to remove restrictions on sensitive high-tech exports, a nagging irritant in the evolution of bilateral ties, even as he declared deals worth $15 billion that would support some 54,000 American jobs and seek to answer critics back home. This visit and the expected outcome of more employment generation is considered to be greatest achievement of Mr. Obama after the recent debacle in US Polls.

The White House will, of course, stay in Washington but the heart of the famous building will move to India when President Barack Obama landed in Mumbai on Saturday. Communications set-up and nuclear button and majority of the White House staff will be in India accompanying the President on this three-day visit that will cover Mumbai and Delhi, India. He will also be protected by a fleet of 34 warships, including an aircraft carrier, which will patrol the sea lanes off the Mumbai coast during his two-day stay there beginning Saturday. The measure has been taken as Mumbai attack in 2008 took place from the sea. Mr. Obama visit to Mumbai went considerably good.

The United States is the world’s largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). India is among the fastest growing investors in the United States. As the U.S.-India economic relationship deepens, investment from India contributes to the growth and vibrancy of the American economy and in the creation of jobs in the United States. Over the last decade, investment capital from India grew at an annualized rate of 53% reaching an estimated $4.4 billion in 2009. This growing flow of capital from India reflects the increased integration of the two economies and has brought many benefits to the United States, increasing U.S. exports and supporting tens of thousands of jobs in the last six years alone.

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The problem of illegal immigration is one of an endless debate. Ruben Navarrette JR. wrote an interesting story about American dependency on illegal labor.

Americans are still addicted to illegal immigrant labor — particularly around the house. And still, we hear that the only reason we have illegal immigrants in the United States is because the federal government isn’t enforcing the law.

From October 2009 through September 2010, ICE deported 392,000 illegal immigrants — a record number. More than half had been convicted of criminal offenses. ICE has also gone after employers who hire illegal immigrants and imposed more than $50 million in fines during the last two years.

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