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[This message has been edited by Gary Bala]

1. NEW PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
U.S. citizens will need to show a U.S. Passport
to enter or re-enter the U.S. from Mexico or Bermuda
or other locations in the Western Hemisphere.
(Effective no later than Jan. 01, 2008)

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/44228.htm

2. NEW FILING FOR ADJUSTMENT PETITIONS
Effective April 01, 2005, all I-485 Adjustment of Status
petitions, with I-765 Employment petition and I-131 Travel
petition are no longer filed at the local immigration office. They
are mailed to the National Benefits Center Lockbox contractor.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120 USA

Case will later be sent to the local office for adjustment interview, as appropriate.

http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/20050330directmail.pdf

3. USCIS DIRECTOR TESTIFIES

USCIS Director Eduardo Aguirre testified to House Appropriations,
Subcommittee on Homeland Security on March 17, 2005.

http://uscis.gov/graphics/aboutus/congress/testimonies/2005/USCIS_Budget_031705.pdf

Aguirre testified on FY2006 budget request of USCIS, about $1.8 billion.
USCIS employs 15,000 persons, of which there are 5000 contractor employees.
USCIS says they reduced petition backlog from 3.8 million in Jan. 2004,
to presently 1.5 million. They process 30,000 immigration applications daily,
and now receive 7 million petitions a year.
Aguirre wants more general appropriations funding for USCIS of $80 million,
so they are less dependent on fee-funded services.

PREMIUM PROCESSING OF FIANCEE AND FAMILY PETITIONS (IMMEDIATE RELATIVE)

USCIS has a FY2006 fee proposal regarding non-employment petitions,
INCLUDING FIANCEE VISA PETITIONS, FAMILY PETITIONS (IMMEDIATE RELATIVE),
EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATIONS AND ADVANCE PAROLE TRAVEL PETITIONS.

They propose for FY2006 what is being done now in employment petitions,
called PREMIUM PROCESSING.

SEE EMPLOYMENT PREMIUM PROCESSING PETITION:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-907.htm

In exchange for Premium Process fee of $1000, USCIS will "guarantee" a petition decision
in 15 calendar days (or less) or refund the $1000. This will help pick up speed for those
who are willing and able to pay the extra processing fee.

This is a PROPOSAL ONLY. It needs to be passed by Congress and signed by
the President. In addition, some people object because if they cannot afford
the extra process fee, they are fearing that they will be penalized and forced
to wait longer than even normal time, just so that the expedited petitions can
be done first.

Of course, someone who is truly without funds to pay the extra process fee
or the standard filing fee can petition for a fee waiver.

http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/FeeWaiver03_29_04.pdf

End
GB

... in response to Immigration News April 2005, posted by Gary Bala on Apr 7, 2005

Hi Gary,

The problem is not with the documents. The problem is with all the ILLEGALS walking across the damn border without any documents. The government has their priorities mixed up again.

Premium processing fee my ass! I think they should refund ANY fee where the petition is not acted upon within 30 days. This premium nonsense is just another excuse for raising fees AGAIN.

“Of course, someone who is truly without funds to pay the extra process fee or the standard filing fee can petition for a fee waiver.” WHAT!?!?! So now we are all going to pay more so some idiot without any money can go to the head of the line? BULL SHIT! If someone is "truly without funds", then they have no damn business petitioning a fiancée or relative in the first place!

Ray

... in response to What a Crock!, posted by Ray on Apr 7, 2005

Darn right, Ray. Except let 'em keep the money (the usual amount, not the new $1,000), just make it such that if a petition isn't acted on within 30 days, it's automatically approved. And to avoid the law of unintened consequences, if any La Migra worker gets caught disapproving an unreasonable amount of cases just to 'keep them from expiring' repremand and castigate him severly.

... in response to Hear! Hear!, posted by Michael B on Apr 7, 2005

But didn't you mean... reprimand and "castrate" him severely? LOL!

... in response to What a Crock!, posted by Ray on Apr 7, 2005

n/t

... in response to What a Crock!, posted by Ray on Apr 7, 2005

[This message has been edited by DavidMN]

Just a guess, but most of those waivers probably occur in dirt-poor family reunification instances, not Gringos marrying someone from abroad. Even so, it begs the question if they can't cough up a couple hundred bucks for documents, how are they going to support the Mom, Dad, whoever once they're in the U.S.

Regarding the illegal aliens flooding across the border, I've been following this story with some interest (see below). They certainly got Uncle Sam's attention, as the Border Patrol announced 500+ new officers and a bunch of planes as the project gained publicity.

www.minutemanproject.com/index.html

... in response to Re: What a Crock!, posted by DavidMN on Apr 7, 2005

The problem of "illegal" immigration is a long-standing one in our country
for many reasons. In my opinion, among some of the reasons are geographic  
(the vast physical expanse of our borders), historical (our tradition from the
earliest days of the Republic of free immigration and an open society),
and economic (despite all our economic problems, the U.S. economy remains
the envy of the world, and attracts foreigners like a magnet). Some of the problem
has been a "political inertia" on the part of both political parties (Democrats don't
want to offend the Hispanic vote, and Republicans want to keep business happy
with cheap labor.)

This may be changing due to post 09-11 security concerns.

Customs and Border Patrol reports that apprehensions last year in
2004 were up by almost 50%. (Arizona Border Control Initiative).
Homeland Security is rolling out "Operation Full Court Press",
and will put more pressure on with more Border agents, resources
and technology.

For more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7317822

Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4415

To any person thinking about bringing a fiancee or spouse here
in some fashion other than the "legal" way, such is NOT recommended.
Transit and travel by people without papers or status is physically dangerous
and filled with legal pitfalls and perils. There are many horror stories out there,
which makes simple "waiting time" pale by comparison.

MSNBC recently ran an extensive investigative video report called
"Dangerous Crossings", which documents the danger and plight
of the "illegals". Contact me privately if you want to know more
about that, and possibly look at it.

Regards to all.

... in response to Re: What a Crock!, posted by DavidMN on Apr 7, 2005

I’ve also been watching the citizen border patrol story and so far it seems to be working. The Mexican president and the ACLU are going berserk as usual and the illegal traffic seems to be way down in the area.

A similar operation a few years back worked extremely well here in San Diego. A whole bunch of citizens parked their cars in a line along the border near the Tijuana River every night and aimed their headlights toward Mexico (“Light up the Border” project). It worked because it put a big dent in the alien traffic in that area and they shamed the government into actually doing something meaningful to stop the flow.

The border near San Diego was a total joke with thousands of illegals walking, running, or driving through the holes in the ‘fence’ at will. The Border Patrol simply let them cross and then ran around every night trying to round up a few so they could take them back to Mexico. Those that were caught usually tried again the next night as often as needed until they made it through. The smugglers (or “coyotes”) would prowl the residential areas here after dark and steal trucks, cars, or vans to transport their cargo North to L.A. They broke into my truck 3 times attempting to steal it and virtually all of my neighbors had vehicles stolen from in front of their homes.

The citizens down here simply got fed up with the nonsense and took matters into their own hands with miraculous results. Out of shame I guess, the Border Patrol came up with an ingenious plan (LOL!) to stem the flow of illegals called Operation Gatekeeper. They simply pulled every available Border Patrol Officer off of their normal work assignments and lined them up directly on the border with orders to not let anyone cross. The problem was literally solved overnight. No more illegals running through the back yards at night, virtually no more vehicle thefts or burglaries, and finally PEACE AND QUIET at night!

It will be interesting to see what comes out of the Minuteman Project if anything. They do seem to be getting a lot of publicity, which is great. I hope the suck-ass ACLU has a heart attack over this (LOL!).

Ray

... in response to Re: Re: What a Crock!, posted by Ray on Apr 8, 2005

Ray,

For that and many other reasons, I would love to put the ACLU out of commission. They are scum, in my opinion!  However, the lawyers love them.  That is how those scummy, Johnny Cochran type lawyers think.  More billable hours is all they care about.  I am glad to hear that the locals are able to give the politicians a wake up call!  Take care.

                      OkieMan

... in response to Immigration News April 2005, posted by Gary Bala on Apr 7, 2005

Gary,

Can you define "local immigration office"? My wife received a letter from CIS recently saying that her removal-of-conditions AOS case had been transferred to our "local immigration office", and to "contact" that office to schedule an interview. Of course, the letter did not name which specific office nor did it provide any contact info. We live in Nashville, does that mean we should contact the Memphis office? Is it even possible to contact the Memphis office by phone? The Infopass online appt. system does not seem to give an option for actually scheduling an interview.

Any help appreciated,
Thanks

... in response to Re: Immigration News- Clarification plea..., posted by Red Clay on Apr 7, 2005

If you want you could go to the office just to see whats up.
You need the info pass just to even talk to someone at the window.
Here in St. Louis they are very helpful but you must have the info pass.

TE AMO PERU!!!

jim

... in response to Re: Re: Immigration News- Clarification ..., posted by JimmySTLOUIS on Apr 7, 2005

Yeah, we just did that a couple of weeks ago. Drove to Memphis killing a whole day to ask what was up (right before the letter came of course) Infopass appt. worked well, but the officer didn't know anything about us needing an interview, he just stamped her passport with a very unofficial-looking, easily forged stamp that "extended her extension" for another 12 months. Then a couple of days later the letter comes telling us to "contact our local office" for an interview appt.

GRRRRRRR!

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Immigration News- Clarificat..., posted by Red Clay on Apr 7, 2005

Red Clay,

I don't have any personal experience with this process yet; but when it comes to any government program, they all are pretty screwed up.  I believe it is a case of "the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing"!  I hope that you can resolve your situation. Besides, if you go to Memphis, you can go see Graceland or Beale Street, again.  Cool!   Hopefully, some day, I will be able to share in the joys of wedded bliss; and then I will joyously trot off to some govt office to waste my time too!  Isn't life grand? ha

                                OkieMan

... in response to Re: Immigration News- Clarification plea..., posted by Red Clay on Apr 7, 2005

[This message has been edited by Ray]

You can find your local or sub office here:

http://uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/distsub_offices/index.htm

Is this for an I-751 Removal of Conditions? An interview is not always required for the I-751. If they approve the petition without an interview, then she should receive directions to appear at a specific office location with her passport, green card, and 3 photos. From your post, it ‘sounds like’ they want you to schedule an interview.

I see that there is an Application Support Center in Nashville. I don’t think it is possible to get any info from your local office over the phone. You will probably need an InfoPass appointment just to walk in and ask them what the hell they want. If you are not able to contact them by phone, then I would make an InfoPass appointment with Nashville and bring everything you would normally need for an I-751 interview including 3 passport photos (just in case). If the system won't let you schedule an InfoPass appointment with Nashville, then try Memphis.

Good luck,

Ray

... in response to I-751?, posted by Ray on Apr 7, 2005

Thanks Ray, yes it is I-751. I was not sure there was still any office here in Nashville, thanks for the link. We are assuming by the letter that they want to interview us.