On behalf of Weiss, Alden & Polo, P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Friday, May 18, 2012
The issue of immigration in the United States is complex. Residents of cities throughout the nation, including Miami, Florida, have their own take on why or why not the current status of U.S. immigration law is an issue. One reason often provided against immigration is the financial burden communities that are home to significant immigrant populations reportedly feel. According to Standard & Poor's, well known issuer of credit ratings, there may be more to this than first meets the eye.
According to a recent S&P report, a majority of the cities throughout the nation that saw immigration levels that are considered "significant" actually experienced improved credit ratings.
On behalf of Weiss, Alden & Polo, P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Friday, May 11, 2012
On the topic of immigration, the current administration has articulated a focus on deporting convicted criminals who are in the United States illegally rather than those illegally here but otherwise adhering to the laws of the land. This U.S. immigration law policy has been illustrated in several sweeps held in locations throughout the nation including Miami, called Operation Cross Check.
Late last month the administration announced additional changes designed to further the federal government's goal. The changes have been made to a program called Secure Communities.
On behalf of Weiss, Alden & Polo, P.A. posted in Family Immigration on Friday, May 4, 2012
Individuals from countries throughout the world are interested in coming to the United States to live in places like Miami. There are of course multiple ways this can be accomplished legally. One of those ways is through family-based immigration. Depending on the country one is seeking to immigrate from, the wait time can vary widely.
The number of green cards made available each year is not based on demand. Rather each country across the globe is given an equal percentage of family-based visas. For this reason, residents of countries where a lot of people want to immigrate to the U.S. via family sponsorship, have to get in line. Countries where the wait is particularly long include Mexico, India, China and the Philippines.
On behalf of Weiss, Alden & Polo, P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Friday, April 27, 2012
Much has been made of the passage of certain immigration bills in some southern states in this country. As we wrote about last week, the controversial immigration law passed in Arizona has made its way all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Presumably the main focus of the laws in these states, some of which share a border with Mexico, are individuals residing in the neighboring country who are making their way to the United States illegally.
In light of the passage of those laws, a study recently released by the Pew Hispanic Center will likely be of interest. The study found that the number of residents of Mexico entering the U.S. illegally has declined.
On behalf of Weiss, Alden & Polo, P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Friday, April 20, 2012
As most are likely aware, immigration is a hot issue for many in the Miami area as well as throughout the United States. Accordingly, the current administration has implemented a program designed to target criminal aliens rather than aliens who are following the laws of the land. Known as Operation Cross Check, to date, since December 2009, there have been three national and seven regional operations. More than 7,400 convicted criminal aliens have been arrested to then face deportation.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently conducted another operation designed to detain convicted criminal aliens. The 6-day sweep resulted in 3,100 arrests in states across the nation, including Florida. According to ICE agents, the individuals who were arrested in this operation were people in violation of immigration laws, immigration fugitives and those with criminal convictions.
On behalf of Weiss, Alden & Polo, P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Friday, April 13, 2012
Throughout the world there are educated workers who are seeking to live and work in the United States. To facilitate this, the U.S. has created a temporary worker visa that may be granted if an applicant it eligible.
In an earlier post we wrote about the availability of these H-1B visas which allow professional workers from other counties to enter the United States to work and live in places such as Miami, Florida. The number of these temporary work visas is limited to 65,000 each year and to be eligible, each recipient must, at minimum, have a Bachelor's degree.
On behalf of Weiss, Alden & Polo, P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Friday, April 6, 2012
This time of year many throughout the state of Florida as well as the rest of the country turn their attention to the U.S. Supreme Court and the cases that they have selected to hear. This year, one of the most highly anticipated cases is the one regarding Arizona v. United States. The case concerns Arizona's immigration law titled S.B. 1070. It is slated to be heard by the court on April 25, 2012.
The law, which was passed in April 2010, makes it a requirement for those who are 15-years-old and older, from other countries but in the U.S. for over 30 days, to register with the federal government and keep those registration pagers on their person at all times. In addition, when during the course of a lawful stop, law enforcement officers suspect a person of being in the country illegally, they are required to attempt to determine the immigration status of that person.
On behalf of Weiss, Alden & Polo, P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Friday, March 30, 2012
As many in the Miami area are aware, at the end of 2010, what is known as the Arab Spring began when residents of a couple Arab countries began to wage protests and staged demonstrations seeking revolutions. Since then, the movement has spread to numerous other countries. This movement has left many residents of the affected countries in danger of losing their lives. Syria is one of the countries currently in this position.
Much of the world has been watching countries facing unrest throughout the globe to see how matters will play out. Now the United States has taken steps to protect Syrians who have been in the country on a visa by designating the country as one eligible for Temporary Protected Status.
On behalf of Weiss, Alden & Polo, P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Friday, March 23, 2012
In recent years China has enjoyed a period of great economic growth. This growth has made a small percentage of the country's residents quite wealthy, living a life that many envy. Despite living the good life, some of these people are pursuing a life outside of China via immigration to either the United States or countries in Europe.
While each person likely has his or her reasons for contemplating such a move, there are several reasons that may ring true, at least in part, for many of them. In addition to food that is safer, some Chinese residents also are hoping to end up in a country where their children can receive a better education and all can breathe cleaner air on a regular basis. Financial security is also a concern to many.
On behalf of Weiss, Alden & Polo, P.A. posted in US Immigration Law on Friday, March 16, 2012
Most people are probably aware that there are citizens of the United States who leave the country to obtain cheaper medical care. People may not be aware however that more and more often, citizens of other countries are seeking medical treatment in the U.S. Broward and Palm Beach counties in Florida are two areas that are reaping the rewards of the temporary visitors who are sometimes called medical tourists.
There appear to be two main reasons the people come to the U.S. for medical treatment. First, the treatment they are in need of may not be available in their home country. This is particularly true in cases where the treatment is sophisticated. Another reason is familiar to American citizens who leave this country for medical procedures-the price. Sometimes the treatment a foreigner is in need of is less expensive in their own country.
