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If you or a family member is interested in living in the United States, you may need someone who can help you understand U.S. immigration laws and who can help you apply for legal status. This Video will help you decide if you need an immigration lawyer and what you need to know to about Visa Lawyers. Lawyers will tell you what to expect up front. They will warn you of the risks and possibilities that can reasonably be expected. It is a good idea to go with an Immigration Lawyer that is a Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n08JHPyuzdU

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that Self Check, a free online service of E-Verify that allows workers to check their own employment eligibility status, is now available in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. Launched in March 2011 by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas, today’s announcement delivers on the goal of expanding Self Check nationally within one year.

“We are pleased to complete, ahead of schedule, our expansion of this important tool for employees,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas during a press conference at the agency’s field office in Orlando, Fla. “Since our initial launch in March, approximately 67,000 people have used Self Check and we anticipate that participation will dramatically increase with service now available to individuals across the country.”
Self Check was developed through a partnership between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to provide individuals a tool to check their own employment eligibility status, as well as guidance on how to correct their DHS and SSA records. It is the first online E-Verify service offered directly to workers. Available in English and Spanish, Self Check enables individuals to enter the same information into Self Check that employers enter into E-Verify.

Since the program’s inception, thousands of individuals have used Self Check, available in English and Spanish, to access their federal employment eligibility records and for guidance on how to correct potential record discrepancies prior to the hiring process.

In August 2011, Self Check became a bi-lingual service available to users in both English and Spanish, broadening the scope of the program to members of our U.S. workforce who are more comfortable reading Spanish-language materials.

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UK Border Agency reported that from 16th January 2012 all UK visa applicants in Singapore will be required to pay for their visa online as part of the online application process using either a Visa card or MasterCard. In addition to credit cards, this includes debit cards and pre-paid cards, bearing the Visa and MasterCard logos. Other methods of payment will not be accepted from this date.

Once you have applied and paid for your visa online you will still need to visit the visa application centre to submit your documents and provide your biometrics (fingerprints and digital photograph). Appointments to attend the visa application centre should be booked online on completion of the online application form.

The integration of payment into the online system will provide a more streamlined visa application process and is part of a wider move to allow almost all applicants to apply and pay for visas online by 2013/14.

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The Austrian Embassy on Thursday introduced its services for the collection of visa applications and delivery process in Jeddah through a dedicated Austria Visa Application Center (VAC) set up at VFS Global, described as the world’s largest outsourced consular services company.

The center was formally opened by Georg Postinger, deputy head of mission at the Austrian Embassy in Riyadh, and Nesma Holding Vice President Abdulaziz Gabel, who represented Austria’s local honorary consul Saleh Al-Turki. The center at the Jeddah Visa Application Center (JVAC) on Manazil Muttaqin Street, off King Abdullah Road in Ruwais district, will be operational from Jan. 14.

Postinger said: “Austria is very glad to offer to the citizens and foreign residents the possibility of handing in their visa applications not only in Riyadh but also in Jeddah. The number of Saudi citizens visiting Austria for business and tourism has seen a steady increase over the past years.

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St. Kitts and Nevis begins issuing new E (Biometric) passports from January 5th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Labour and Social Security has announced.

The Ministry said in a news release that the new passports, with several improved security features, are being introduced as part of government’s ongoing efforts to prevent fraud and identity theft consistent with its regional and international commitments.

The Passport Office will issue the new E – (Biometric) Passports to citizens and residents, who are applying for the documents for the first time, or to those requesting replacements.

Citizens and residents currently using the machine readable passports will continue doing so, once these are not expired, lost and or damaged.

They will not, at this time, be required to change to the new E – (biometric) Passports; until the old document has expired.

Information on the various fees to be applied through the purchase of stamps for the issuance of the new E Passport can be obtained from the Passport Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Labour & Social Security, Government Headquarters, Church Street, Basseterre.

The Ministry said that introduction of the new passport has become necessary given the regional and global efforts to improve security.

“The new document to be issued by the Government of St Kitts and Nevis is more secured and designed with specific imbedded features intended to enhance the integrity of the new E Passport and will facilitate more seamless travel by citizens and residents of the Federation.

Fees associated with the new Biometric passports are as follows:
Issue of a 32-page epassport for applicants under 16 years or over 65 years – EC$150.00
Issue of a 32-page e-passport for applicants 16 years or under 65 years – EC$250.00
Replacement of a lost, stolen and or damaged e-passport (except for citizenship by investment) – EC$500.00. Replacement of a lost, stolen and or damaged e-passport with a copy of a report from the Police, Fire & Rescue Services Department, other relevant authority, or such credible information supporting the applicant’s statement – EC$250.00. Processing and issuing of a passport in four days or less (except for citizenship by investment) – EC$350.00.

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The UK Border Agency has issued new policy guidance following the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Quila and Bibi v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] UKSC 45.

This case challenged the requirement under paragraph 277 of the Immigration Rules for both foreign spouses and their sponsors in the UK to meet a minimum age of 21 before the foreign spouse could be granted a visa to enter or remain as a spouse or partner. Paragraph 277 (along with other paragraphs of the Immigration Rules) was amended on 27 November 2008 to raise the minimum age from 18 to 21.

The Supreme Court has ruled that, whilst they recognised that the Secretary of State was pursuing a legitimate and rational aim of seeking to address forced marriage, the change to the rule (increasing the minimum marriage visa age from 18 to 21) disproportionately interfered with the Article 8 rights of those who were in genuine marriages.

The guidance primarily affects applicants whose applications for entry clearance or leave as a fiancé(e), proposed civil partner, spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner were refused under paragraphs 277, 289AA, or 295AA of the Immigration Rules solely because they or their sponsor were aged between 18 and 20 and whose application was refused on that basis between 27 November 2008 and October 2011. This applies to applications made within or outside the UK. The guidance sets out how such applicants can apply for a review of the original decision to refuse a visa which might now result in a visa being issued.

Changes to the Immigration Rules have been laid in Parliament today to reinstate a minimum age of 18 for a spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e), proposed civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner and for their sponsor in order to qualify for entry clearance, leave to enter, leave to remain or a variation of leave on that basis. These rules will come into effect on 28 November 2011. The new policy guidance explains how applicants affected by the judgment can request a review of an earlier refusal due to the age requirement by 31 May 2012.

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Russia will finalize the details of a long-discussed visa agreement with the United States by the end of November, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Thursday.

“Within the next few days we will complete all the technicalities concerning simplification of the visa regime [with the United States],” Ryabkov said.

The agreement will shorten the time it takes to process visa applications and extend the visa validity period.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin proposed scrapping visa restrictions between the two countries altogether during a meeting with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Moscow in March.

In May, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama announced plans to liberalize visa restrictions for businessmen and tourists traveling between the two countries. Under the new agreement, eligible business travelers and tourists would be issued visas valid for 36 months at a unified and reciprocal fee.

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The Government of Canada is planning to welcome more federal skilled workers in 2012, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) remains the principal avenue for permanent immigration to Canada. In 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) plans to welcome 55,000–57,000 federal skilled workers, up from 47,000–47,400 in the 2011 Immigration Levels Plan.

““The government’s number one priority remains the economy. We recognize the importance of immigration to our labour market and we value the contributions of skilled immigrants who add to our international competitiveness,”” said Minister Kenney. ““We are committed to facilitating the arrival of the best and the brightest to our country.””
An important milestone was reached this year when the backlog of FSW applications prior to the launch of the 2008 Action Plan for Faster Immigration was reduced by more than 50 percent – two years ahead of schedule. The higher range in 2012 will support labour market responsiveness and sustain progress on backlog reduction.

CIC completed an extensive evaluation of the FSWP in 2010, showing that the program is working well and selecting immigrants who perform well economically. The report found that 89 percent of FSWs were employed or self-employed three years after landing. Moreover, 95 percent of the employers surveyed indicated that FSWs were meeting or exceeding their expectations. The evaluation indicated a strong continuing need for skilled immigrants in Canada.

““CIC will continue to ramp up efforts to modernize our immigration system to make it more nimble and responsive to labour market needs,”” said Minister Kenney. ““Following nationwide consultations this past spring on proposals to improve the Federal Skilled Worker Program, we are actively exploring policy options on the way forward.””

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The U.S. Consulate General Mumbai will shift this month from Lincoln House in Breach Candy and the American Center in Churchgate to its new facility in the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). The new U.S. Consulate General at BKC reflects the expansion in U.S.-India relations, and features expanded space for consulate operations. The number of interview windows for services to visa applicants and U.S. citizens will increase significantly, from 13 to 44.

U.S. Consul General Peter Haas comments “Our new home reflects the overall trend of U.S.-India ties. Our relationship with India is growing and modernizing, and our Consulate must do the same.”
Lincoln House will close its doors to the public on November 15 and reopen on November 21 at the new BKC location. The Consulate cannot provide visa services between November 15 and 21. Consular officers will host a webchat on November 9th at 7:00PM to answer specific questions about the shift and its effect on consular services: https://statedeptasia.connectsolutions.com/mumbai. The American Library at New Marine Lines near Churchgate has already closed and will reopen to the public shortly after consular operations begin at the new Consulate.

The new consulate compound will house all United States Government offices in Mumbai, including the Department of State, the Foreign Commercial Service, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Foreign Agricultural Service. The new consulate will also include the Consul General’s residence. The new consulate features state of the art green technology, including high-efficiency lighting, a gray-water recycling system, and a self contained waste water treatment facility.

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is enhancing the filing process for select forms dealing with naturalization and citizenship (N-Forms). Beginning Oct. 30, 2011, the new process will allow individuals to file N-Forms at a secure Lockbox facility instead of our local offices. This change streamlines the way forms are processed, accelerates the collection and deposit of fees and improves the consistency of our intake process.

Individuals should begin submitting affected forms directly to the appropriate Lockbox beginning Oct. 30, 2011. Forms received by local USCIS offices during a transition period between Oct. 30 and Dec. 2, 2011, will be forwarded to the USCIS Lockbox facility for processing. Forms received at local USCIS offices after Dec. 2, 2011, will no longer be forwarded but will be returned to the individual with instructions on how to re-file at a designated USCIS Lockbox facility. USCIS will centralize intake of Forms N-336, N-600 and N-600K at the Phoenix Lockbox facility. The Dallas Lockbox facility will handle the Form N-300. Individuals filing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, already file at a Lockbox facility.