Mirror of Justice

Your US Immigration Questions Answered

July 19th, 2009 at 10:39am Under Immigration Law

US Immigration has become a very important issue for American citizens and those individuals or families wishing to settle in America. Since the establishment of the first colonies in America, there have been immigrants desiring their chance at freedom. Elis Island was, for many, a portal to a new life through which they would pass to begin their journey.

Hundreds of thousands of individuals fled persecution, poverty or inhumane conditions to come to the United States for a chance to live the “American dream” of life and the pursuit of happiness.

A Visa is legal documentation that a person intends to be a visitor in the United States either for a limited stay, such as a visit, or for an indeterminate amount of time due to work, school or vacation purposes, thus a part of the US immigration process. Asylum is when a resident of another country is seeking to be allowed in the United States due to hostile rules, oppression or economic hardship suffered in their home country.

Illegal immigrants, or known as illegal aliens, face deportation as part of the US immigration program if they are discovered within the country illegally. Illegal US immigration can severely affect the economic status of the community. The illegal US immigration effects can range from criminal activity, illegal workers working for wages far beneath the minimum standard wage set forth by the state as well as a burden on the healthcare system if they do not have healthcare insurance.

The current laws regarding US immigration limit how many people are allowed asylum or entrance. There is currently a change to the testing questions for people seeking citizenship. At this time there is a debate waging on passing stricter laws and harsher penalties for people coming into the states illegally.

For more resources about immigration law or even about immigration bill and especially about immigration news please review these links.

Should You Hire a Dallas Immigration Attorney?

July 19th, 2009 at 04:39am Under Immigration Law

Immigration to the United States is great, but the question of staying in the country comes up and that can be a bear to figure out. Immigration laws, are complex and are not easily understood. Most times, only a trained immigration attorney will be able to help. Many people misrepresent themselves, so make sure your search for an immigration attorney is thorough.
Make sure your lawyer can solve your problem. You are not a number, and your concerns and fears are important in dealing with your case. Good attorneys can relate the information in a way that you can understand, and in a way that will not embarrass you.
Choosing a good immigration attorney is not always easy, as there are many who would portray themselves as being knowledgeable in the area, but aren’t. Working with someone who doesn’t know, can cost you money, and delay or make your situation worse.
When looking for a qualified immigration lawyer, there are certain things you should look for right away. Make sure your attorney is actually licensed to practice in a US jurisdiction and is in good standing with the State Bar. It sounds like common sense, but there are many who have unwittingly ended up working with those not registered or have good standing with the State Bar.
Integrity and reputation is important. Check around and get references. If you can’t get references, walk away. Find out if the lawyer you are considering primarily practices immigration law. If their focus is criminal or divorce law, another attorney had better serve you. When you check references, make sure you speak with people that have the same kind of immigration needs that you have.
They should also give you a clear-cut answer on what it’s going to cost you to deal with them. And last, but not least, they should not give you a guarantee of success but simply indicate they will work for you and with you to do the best they can given the system.
There is no specific requirement for having an attorney prepare those documents for you, but not doing so can set you back months or years.
Becoming a part of the United States Citizen population can be a very rewarding and exciting experience. Living the American dream is what we are all looking for. Take the time to deal with your immigration correctly, and work with an attorney to make sure you do things right.

The Illegal US Immigration Problem

July 18th, 2009 at 10:39pm Under Immigration Law

At the moment there are between ten and twenty million illegal immigrants residing in the United States. This is the case because illegal us immigration has become greater than legal us immigration over the last couple of years. Seventy-five percent of illegal immigrants arrive in the U.S. by crossing the southern border with Mexico. And since Mexico is the largest contributor to the us immigration problem, it is necessary to understand why.

It’s a well known fact that fifty-three percent of Mexico’s population of one hundred four million residents lives in poverty, which is defined as less than two dollars a day. Twenty-four percent of them live in extreme poverty, which is defined as less than one dollar a day. Mexico’s unemployment rate is approaching forty percent and there is little healthcare. Only seeing these factors one gets the idea why there is such a big problem in regards to illegal us immigration. But this is only the beginning.

U. S. companies look for cheap, exploitable labor in order to increase their profit margins. Such companies hire illegal workers and offer them only poor working conditions, very low pay as well as no benefits, because the U. S. companies only need to accept identification that appears authentic from these workers and fake ID cards are readily available in every major city. So this factor as well enlarges the illegal us immigration problem.

Due to both the legal and illegal us immigration, the Hispanic population is dramatically increasing and is now the largest ethnic group in the United States, and of course politicians are quite aware of the changing demographics and fail to adequately enforce laws that they perceive will not be popular with their Hispanic voters.

The U.S. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 was meant to provide for penalties against companies that hire undocumented workers. In 1999, under the Clinton Administration, the U.S. government collected a meager 3.69 million from 890 companies in fines while in 2004, under George W. Bush, the amount of money collected in fines from companies hiring undocumented workers was zero. It is estimated that in that same year in 2004, three million illegal immigrants entered the United States.

In summary, Mexican people living across the border in poverty see the opportunity in the United States to put food on the table for their families. And as long as there are willing employers in the United States ready to offer them work, with low wages, poor working conditions and without benefits illegal us immigration will continue to grow. The fact is that for illegal immigrants, these conditions are still far better than the poverty of Mexico. Illegal immigrants enter the country through very porous borders then they acquire fake identification on the streets of America’s cities and work for companies which exploit them. And one mustn’t forget the fact that the career politicians in charge of government fail to enforce the immigration laws in place and adequately patrol the southern borders for fear of offending Hispanic voters.

Finally, illegal immigrants and the American people are both victims because they are both affected by the problem of illegal US immigration. The U.S. government needs to enforce the laws in place and there is a need for coherent us immigration policy. The selective enforcement of laws is divisive and confusing.

How To Pick The Right Dallas Immigration Attorney

July 18th, 2009 at 04:38pm Under Immigration Law

Your immigration is extremely critical so choosing the right qualified Dallas immigration attorney will make the difference between success and failure. A couple of things, make sure you choose an attorney who is licensed to practice in the United States jurisdiction and is in good standing with the state bar of Texas. This may sound strange, but it must be said, because there are immigrants who refer attorneys to people who in their opinion, are good, but, some are not qualified, and often leave innocent people in a bad position. Be sure to spend the money for good representation.
Integrity and honesty are the main characteristics in a good attorney, so be sure to choose a lawyer with these characteristics. One of the biggest things to think over, is to make sure that your attorney has high ethical standards. Check their references and if you need to, find someone else. Make sure your lawyer practices in the fields of immigration. If she focuses other types of law like criminal law or divorce, then you’re probably better to find one that fits for you and your needs. Make sure your lawyer is a specialist in immigration in Dallas.
Keep in mind that there is no real specific requirement that states that you must have your papers prepared by a lawyer, you can do them yourself. However in most cases this can be a recipe for disaster. Most people are not well versed in immigration law and by trying to save money and do it themselves they make mistakes. Law applies differently on a case-by-case basis and unless you know the mall you could get bogged down in a system and not be successful. In addition to local and state requirements you may also need to know about Federal law and federal standards.
When meeting with your lawyer discuss the situation up front and make sure that they have experience dealing with all the things that are important to you. Depending on the kind of questions they ask you should also get a good feel and whether or not the attorney is a good match for you.
Make sure you know all the things you will need to pay for up front. Ethical lawyers will make sure that they do you exactly how much and how they’re going to charge you. Be careful if you get the feel that the attorney is out just to increase their billable time.
Following these simple steps is a good start in getting a great Dallas immigration attorney. A lot of common sense applies but don’t take things for granted. Ideally, if you have someone that has had to do with immigration and they had a great lawyer sometimes a reference or a referral makes all the difference in the world.

Immigration Policy Background Information

July 18th, 2009 at 10:38am Under Immigration Law

Immigration policies of countries reflect their attitude regarding immigration. There were no strict regulations regarding immigrations in the past. With increase in the consciousness about political identity each country formulated a set of conditions, to regulate migration. Additionally, population control and migration pattern control was something that many countries wanted to exert control over.
The immigration policy is revised according to the motives of the government. The countries, which have low population growth, have liberal immigration policies. Many times the lax policies are due to the fact that they need bodies for infrastructure. The growth of terrorism has forced countries to become more stringent in their immigration policies.
Legal immigration is possible only for immigrants, who fulfill the eligibility criteria mentioned in the immigration policy of the country. The policy also determines the rights and abilities of the immigrant in the country. The policy provides a comprehensive outlook to handle the economic and social life of the immigrant. Some countries have tough guidelines regarding the activities of an immigrant who has taken up residence in the country.
The government develops the policy according to the social and economic conditions prevailing in the country. Ultimately, whatever benefits the country is what the country is going to do. The policies are set in place by the government or ruling party, and then signed into law.
Population increase and anti immigrant sentiments influence the formulation of strict policies. As an example, the United States is dealing with heavy illegal migration from South America, which is offsetting jobs for citizens, and pushing wage rates down. The policies of many countries enforce strict regulations to limit illegal immigrants. The immigration policies of a few countries have provisions to provide amnesty to illegal immigrants.
Immigration process can be delayed if the policy requirements are not strictly adhered to. Awareness about the immigration policy is essential to avoid problems. The immigration office provides guidance about the policies of the country. There is general information you can find on the internet or at the local government office. It is a good place to start there, but also look at getting professional advice as well.
Immigration attorneys and services also assist with necessary information. Internet is the best tool to gather information about the immigration policy a country. Because of the breadth and depth of immigration law, it is advisable to seek professional advice for solutions to you immigration needs. Making mistakes in immigration paperwork can cause unnecessary delays and possible deportation.

Best Immigration Attorney – Make Good your Opportunity

July 18th, 2009 at 04:39am Under Immigration Law

Searching for the best immigration attorney is of utter importance if you want success in your immigration application. Only a good immigration attorney will have knowledge of all nuances and finer points of immigration law to achieve best results for your immigration application. All the aspects of immigration application require deft handling and exceptional skill, whether filing papers or preparing for interview. It is important to see that your immigration lawyer specializes in the area for which you are filing your immigration application. Careful Selection Is The Key
Although, there are attorneys who have expertise in many fields of immigration law, you should select your attorney carefully as the success of your application depends entirely on the handling of your documents and your presentation, as directed by your attorney. Your best immigration attorney should have a better experience than others in the line and should also have a better success rate to show his superiority.
It is also important to see the status and standing of your best immigration attorney before you start doing business with him. In order to judge an attorney it is very important to see where he got formal education from, and from where he passed his bar exam. Taking education from reputed schools makes a lot of difference in developing the mental level of the students. Then it is also important to see if your immigration law attorney has joined any well known association of lawyers or is a member, executive member or head of any bar council. Such people are better informed and more acquainted with local administrative and private personalities and can easily work their way out of tricky situations. Your attorney should also be a member of the American Immigration Attorneys Association.
The task of selecting your attorney becomes quite easy if you find that he/she is constantly in the news for his/her achievements, is constantly invited to august gatherings and functions, and is well recognized in the lawyers’ fraternity. You can also be sure of the credentials of a lawyer who has been appointed by a newspaper or journal to report on issues of immigration or is running columns on immigrations issues and magazines with high circulation.
If your immigration attorney is well known in trading circles, maintains a decent office, takes part in forums and discussions, is well recognized in society and also maintains a good track record of past performance then you can select him as your best immigration attorney. But before you hire your attorney you should also make sure he has a deep knowledge and understanding of your case by asking him to clarify all your queries and confusions regarding your immigration application. If you have some knowledge of the immigration law required in your case, it will help you in making the right selection of your best immigration attorney.

What is an Immigration Test?

July 17th, 2009 at 04:39pm Under Immigration Law

All over the world people are trying to move away from their country and seek another place where they think it will be better for them. The reasons for relocation are various. They can be of political or economical nature or just because they do not want to live there anymore. Whatever the reasons, people do emigrate from their countries daily and they can do it either legally or illegally.

The future of the people that try to do this illegally is very grim. The US is the most likely target and their means to discover illegal immigrants are getting better every year. Why would you risk being submitted to a very unpleasant process like being arrested, deported or who knows what else? There is a better way to do this and stay there for as long as you can.

The legal way for this is by taking an immigration test. This option is available for everyone, but you should keep watch for anyone who is pretending to help you, when in fact they are only after your money. The best place to start looking for information about an immigration test is the internet. For this keep in mind a very easy to remember address: immigrationtest.org.

This immigration test website will provide the answers you need regarding immigration laws, visas or other related subjects. The help you receive through this website is being watched over by Sonia Munoz. She is the president of an immigration specialized law firm. They have handled countless immigrations in the US and internationally. Their goal is to protect the rights of immigrants.

In order to keep the media as up to date as possible regarding the most recent immigration events, they post question and answer columns in a lot of publications throughout the nation. Apart from processing a huge number of visas, their job goes as far as prosecuting the notaries, paralegals or any individual that posed as an attorney, pursuing their own interest and damaging their clients. Even though it seems very cruel and unfair, this sort of thing happens every day.

When pursuing an immigration test, one of the things you need to be familiar with is the immigration law. In this direction, the president of the United States has announced the additional 6000 members of the National Guard that were sent to strengthen the southern border. The method used by the president to enforce the changes within the immigration law is believed to be one of the most technologically advanced in American history. As part of the immigration law, the infrastructure investment at the border will be increased.

Another aspect of the immigration law expands the use of the ‘Expedited Removal’. This is the power of the US government to send illegal immigrants home faster. Illegal immigrants are considered to be those people that enter the United States without inspection or those that have overstayed the time that was allotted on their visa. Any of these situations are considered to be a violation of the immigration law.

Considering the illegal immigrants issues, employers that hire them can be held accountable also. Hiring undocumented immigrants is considered a criminal act and will be prosecuted accordingly. The number of people that have been arrested due to such situations has increased significantly. There have been allotted considerable funds in order to toughen the investigations conducted on worksites.

Canada Immigration Facts to Know About

July 17th, 2009 at 10:39am Under Immigration Law

Canada immigration is usually based on non – discriminatory principles. According to some survey there are round about 200 million international immigrants present. And out of them 50% of them are illegal. The world wide immigration is increasing day by day.

Some of the people who are migrating are taking help of Lawyers, some agents and so on. But the legal guidelines and proper way is to take the help of Lawyers. The main reason is that they are totally well known by immigration law and new US immigration laws and the other reason is that immigration law and society doesn’t help and not even support illegal immigrants.

There are two ways of applying to migrate US or Canada. You can do all the work yourself and save a lot of money, or you can pay an Immigration Lawyer between US$1,000 to US$3,000 or more to prepare the files for you. Talking in general this is the good and a legal way to undergo the immigration process.

The person who is going to apply for immigration is assessed using a pointing system. An applicant is assessed under the federal skilled worker class based on various factors. The other thing to be assessed is that the financial background is sound or not because they want to make sure that the applicant is capable to settle down in Canada properly or not. Ideal applicants should possess employment skills. They are having efficient experience. The applicants applied for Government Job Offers are approved quickly if selected. Canada allows immigrant under Business immigration process which includes three factors Investors, Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed.

But most immigrants who Plan their immigration with proper research and knowledge of immigration laws and procedures are normally able to achieve their immigration goals successfully. Their immigration plan is similar to a good business plan. Their every immigration step is pre planed and anticipated. They know their limitations of resources and set realistic immigration targets to be achieved.

So the conclusion of the whole article is that if immigration is to be done legally then the person is to take the help of the legal Lawyer or the legal consultant.

Top 10 Reasons to Hire an Immigration Attorney

July 17th, 2009 at 04:39am Under Immigration Law

Immigration laws are constantly changing and can be confusing to negotiate all of the legal hurdles to accomplish your goals. Individuals, families and employers are constantly seeking solutions to the ever-changing and confusion immigration legal system. Hiring the right immigration attorney can help ease the pain of the process, simplify the system and achieve the best results for you, your company or family.

How Can an Immigration Lawyer Help You?

1. Analyze the facts of your case thoroughly

2. Explain all the options for which you may be eligible

3. Recommend the best ways for you to obtain legal status

4. Complete and submit your applications properly

5. Stay current on the new laws that affect you

6. Avoid delays and problems with your case whenever possible

7. Discuss the status of your case with you

8. Speak for you in discussions with the Department of Homeland Security or represent you in court

9. File necessary appeals and waivers

10. Utilize the system to your advantage because he or she has the experience to do so

Finding and retaining the right immigration attorney may be the right solution for you. If you do decide to hire an immigration attorney, and follow the checklist above, your dealings with the various government agencies and courts will go much more smoothly.

Are you looking for a Los Angeles immigration lawyer? Look no further. The Root Law Group (1-888-Root-Law) is a full service Spanish & Russian speaking immigration law firm in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino, Ventura County, and the San Fernando Valley that offers free consultations.

• Root Law Group exclusively practices business and family immigration law.

• Root Law Group offers quick turnaround time (most petitions are prepared within 10 working days).

• Most of our business comes from referrals from former or existing clients.

• Root Law Group offers state-of-the-art case management software that enables you to access and check the status of your case online.

• Offices of Root Law Group are conveniently located in both the Los Angeles and Orange counties.

• Root Law Group offers you direct communication with an attorney or a senior paralegal and a four business hour response time to your inquiries.

• Root Law Group’s experienced staff is well versed in the preparation of all immigrant and Nonimmigrant Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) petitions, as well as PERM labor certifications.

Root Law Group (“RLG”) offices cater to corporate and individual clients living throughout the United States and abroad. RLG uses state-of-the-art case management software, which provides our clients with easy access to their personal case status information over the Internet. RLG’s average case preparation “turnaround” time is within 15 days. RLG’s experienced office staff answers all client inquiries within 4 business hours.

Root-Law for a free initial legal consultation. Root Law Group listens to your concerns, answer all your questions and expertly guide you through your immigration process.

The New Bite in Immigration Enforcement—it’s not Just for Undocumented Aliens

July 16th, 2009 at 10:39pm Under Immigration Law

My practice is exclusively immigration law.  Friends, family, and folks I meet when out and about invariably ask me if I see a lot of Hispanics.  Immigration law is not just a matter for the millions of undocumented foreign nationals, many millions of whom are not Hispanic. 

The mistake many business owners, employers, executives, managers, and supervisors make is to think immigration law does not affect them.   Most business owners, executives, managers and supervisors will never file a visa application for a worker. But the mistake they make is assuming they do not need to worry about immigration laws.  

Despite the focus on immigration in the news, a large number of companies fail to comply with the I-9 laws that have been in place since 1986.  I-9’s are required of every employer for every employee.  I-9’s have to be completed timely, correctly by both the employee and the employer, some employees need to have their I-9’s reviewed, every employer has to properly retain their I-9’s.  Business owners, company officers, executives, managers and key employees are liable personally for civil and criminal penalties for I-9 related errors.

An estimated 5 percent of the U.S. work force is not eligible to be lawfully employed.  Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) workplace arrests have soared 869 percent since 2002. With Congress unable to agree on immigration law changes, state governments are applying their own pressure. In 2007, 19 states enacted a total of 33 laws relating to immigration and employment issues, including worker verification by employers and contractors.

Why should you care?  You should care because business owners, executives, managers and supervisors can be prosecuted for criminal (also known as “how good do you look in an orange jumpsuit?”) liability, in addition to company monetary penalties.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (”IRCA”) provides that every employer in the country is required to verify the identity and work authorization status of every employee of the business on an I-9 Employment Verification Form, that every worker must complete on the day of hire or earlier. Failure to comply with IRCA’s I-9 rules can result in significant fines, loss of access to government contracts and highly negative publicity for a company.

What penalties does an employer face for I-9 violations? Employers face stiff penalties for IRCA and I-9 violations substantial fines and debarment from government contracts. Penalties can be imposed for hiring unauthorized workers as well as simply for committing paperwork violations even if all workers are authorized to work. Fines for hiring unauthorized workers will amount to anywhere from $250 to $5,500 per worker depending on the prior history of violation. Employers can also be barred from competing for government contracts for a year if they knowingly hire or continue to employ unauthorized aliens. Paperwork violations can also result in significant fines. Each mistake or missing item on a form can result in a $100 penalty up to $1000 for each form. A missing I-9 Form would automatically be assessed at $1000. An employer, for example, that had 100 employees and did not complete I-9 Forms might face a $100,000 fine. IRCA investigators have considerable discretion in assessing fines and will look at factors like the size of the company, the seriousness of the violations, whether the employer was trying to comply in good faith and the pattern of past violations.  

Employers should also be cautioned that knowingly accepting fraudulent documents from employees, or accepting them with “constructive knowledge”,  is a different kind of violation that can be criminally prosecuted, including individual criminal liability for officers, executives, managers and supervisors, under other immigration laws.  

Aside from federal violations, many states have passed or are considering passing laws that would penalize employers violating IRCA including barring such employers from state contracts and revoking their business licenses.

You are not familiar with ICE enforcement?  Read some of my favorite quotes from Julie Myers, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Director of ICE)

 

One of ICE’s more active special agents, Brian M. Moskowitz, reinforces his boss’ enforcement bite:

 

So next time you think immigration law only affects undocumented foreign nationals, think about whether any immigration laws may impact you, your family, your neighbors, and whether they are up to speed on the new bite in immigration enforcement.

You can visit my I-9 website for everything you want to kjnow about I-9 employment eligibility and verification, and ICE worksite enforcment.