If anyone wants to file an application for adjusting status to Permanent Residency (Green Card), they have to undergo a physical examination from a doctor listed by Citizenship and Immigration Services. The doctor has to ensure that the person has received all their shots and have to communicable diseases. The shots required by US Government are:
Hepatitis B at birth, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months, 12 yrs
DTP 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months, 4 years, 12yrs
IPV 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months and 4 years
HiB 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months
MMR 1 year and 4 year
Chicken Pox (varicella) 1 year and 12 years
PPV and PCV 2 months, 4 months and 6 months
TD Booster every 10 year
FLU last October
Many clients especially from developed countries have already had these vaccines. Since these vaccines are also required by most schools, most students have already had them. Same is true for clients coming in on K visas and adjusting status here.
Yet the doctors prey on these immigrants. Most of the doctors on the list are Foreign Medical Doctors (FMGs) I understand that GPs with good practices would not want to do immigration physicals. But it is very hard to find an ethical doctor.
The average cost of this physical should be about 150 USD. Yet clients routinely get charged anywhere between $600 to more than $1000/- The doctors give shots which very often these people have already had. The physical comes in a sealed envelop and lawyers or clioents cannot see it. So there is no way of verifying anything inside.
Also very often the doctors make mistake in filling out these forms. The client comes to know about this only through a Request for Information in an Employment based case, or at the Interview in Family based case. The clent has to take the form back to the doctor to correct the mistake. Very often they are charged again, this time for the mistake of the doctor.
I propose that we lawyers suggest the names of these doctors to the CIS, and offer proofs of these totally illegal activities. The CIS will then have a mandatory obligation to report these matters to the State Board of Medicine and the Attorney General's Office.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Undocumented Success
Jose Antonio Vargas won the pulitzer in 1997 for the Virginia Tech shootings. He has interviewed Mark Zuckerberg. He writes for the Washington Post. And he is illegal.
His mother put him in a plane from the Phillipines, and he landed in California, and lived with his grandparents. He was a very good student. When he discovered that he was "illegal" he learned to speak English, so that no one would mistake him as "illegal". And now, he has come out, to fight for his rights, to fight for the rights of thousand others like him, illegal children, who were raised in the US, educated in the US. The House tried to pass, what is called the Dream Act several times, to legalize these children, yet the bill always die. Republican Congressmen, like Kay Bailey Hutchinson from Texas, think that granting these students the Permanent Resident status would encourage their parents to file for permanent residency.
Yet, if what Vargas did was criminal, then its criminal to be a human. He overcame, and he survived. And this determination achieved fruits for America. Yet, how many Vargases are being quashed everyday by restrictionists?
To deny undocummented children who are being educated in the US, the right to survive and live properly in the US, is not only inhumane, its ultimately detrimental for America. Look at the list of Nobel Prizes from America, at the list of Intel and Westinghouse Science Scholars. Yes, if we were to all leave the US, the US would become a third world country in a day. It would become the country of sub intellects like Sarah Palin.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
His mother put him in a plane from the Phillipines, and he landed in California, and lived with his grandparents. He was a very good student. When he discovered that he was "illegal" he learned to speak English, so that no one would mistake him as "illegal". And now, he has come out, to fight for his rights, to fight for the rights of thousand others like him, illegal children, who were raised in the US, educated in the US. The House tried to pass, what is called the Dream Act several times, to legalize these children, yet the bill always die. Republican Congressmen, like Kay Bailey Hutchinson from Texas, think that granting these students the Permanent Resident status would encourage their parents to file for permanent residency.
Yet, if what Vargas did was criminal, then its criminal to be a human. He overcame, and he survived. And this determination achieved fruits for America. Yet, how many Vargases are being quashed everyday by restrictionists?
To deny undocummented children who are being educated in the US, the right to survive and live properly in the US, is not only inhumane, its ultimately detrimental for America. Look at the list of Nobel Prizes from America, at the list of Intel and Westinghouse Science Scholars. Yes, if we were to all leave the US, the US would become a third world country in a day. It would become the country of sub intellects like Sarah Palin.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
Deemed Export Control
Although Export Control can apply to goods, Deemed Export applies to Technology. This blog will only deal with Deemed Export.
Certain technology is controlled by our Government and restricted for importing to other countries. The Commerce and State Departments issue licenses for such exports. This rule has long been in the books, but was not really enforced. Suddenly in December of 2010, the new I-129 form came in, and the form included questions about deemed export for H-1B, H1B1,L-1 and O-1A.
The employer has to first ascertain what the beneficiary’s citizenship country is. (Not country of birth) Particularly countries like Iran, Iraq, Lybia, China are suspect. Then ascertain what technology or technological data the beneficiary has access to. If the employer needs a license from the Department of commerce/State to export that technology to that person’s country, then the employer has to first get the license before filing the H-1B, or deny access to the person until such license is obtained. This process can take about 6 months.
For large high speed Computers Systems, usually source code is controlled, not object code. Also sophisticated networking systems and encryptions are usually controlled.
There are two types of Deemed Export regulations: the Export Administration Regulations administered by the Department of Commerce, (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, (ITAR) administered by the Department of State. More information on these can be found at:
http://www.bis.doc.gov/licensing/exportingbasics.htm
EAR typically deals with high speed computers, semi conductors, telecommunications, and technology dealing with manufacturing equipment. ITAR deals with technology which has space or military applications.
To get the license for nationals from countries like Iran, Iraq, Syria, China and Libya is very difficult, especially for ITAR
The penalties for violation of this law is severe. And ICE will audit employers. Civil penalties range is either $250,000 or twice the gain from the particular technology. Criminal penalties range from up to 1 million USD, and up to 20 years prison term.
There is of course no prior evidence that anyone on H-1B ever exported any technology back home. But, Immigration is fast becoming a huge cash cow for the Government. We love to hate immigrants, and make employers who hire immigrants pay severe penalties. And in the process we will lose our competitive edge to other countries.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
Certain technology is controlled by our Government and restricted for importing to other countries. The Commerce and State Departments issue licenses for such exports. This rule has long been in the books, but was not really enforced. Suddenly in December of 2010, the new I-129 form came in, and the form included questions about deemed export for H-1B, H1B1,L-1 and O-1A.
The employer has to first ascertain what the beneficiary’s citizenship country is. (Not country of birth) Particularly countries like Iran, Iraq, Lybia, China are suspect. Then ascertain what technology or technological data the beneficiary has access to. If the employer needs a license from the Department of commerce/State to export that technology to that person’s country, then the employer has to first get the license before filing the H-1B, or deny access to the person until such license is obtained. This process can take about 6 months.
For large high speed Computers Systems, usually source code is controlled, not object code. Also sophisticated networking systems and encryptions are usually controlled.
There are two types of Deemed Export regulations: the Export Administration Regulations administered by the Department of Commerce, (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, (ITAR) administered by the Department of State. More information on these can be found at:
http://www.bis.doc.gov/licensing/exportingbasics.htm
EAR typically deals with high speed computers, semi conductors, telecommunications, and technology dealing with manufacturing equipment. ITAR deals with technology which has space or military applications.
To get the license for nationals from countries like Iran, Iraq, Syria, China and Libya is very difficult, especially for ITAR
The penalties for violation of this law is severe. And ICE will audit employers. Civil penalties range is either $250,000 or twice the gain from the particular technology. Criminal penalties range from up to 1 million USD, and up to 20 years prison term.
There is of course no prior evidence that anyone on H-1B ever exported any technology back home. But, Immigration is fast becoming a huge cash cow for the Government. We love to hate immigrants, and make employers who hire immigrants pay severe penalties. And in the process we will lose our competitive edge to other countries.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Following to Join
If the principal beneficiary becomes a green card holder, the immediate family, ie spouse and minor children can file following to join if they have not filed together. The requirements are enumerated in 9 FAM 40.1 N7.1 General
There is no time limit to file this petition, provided that the Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) has not left the country. Minor children, if they are in US can adjust, no accrual of illegal stay (under 21) However the relationship should still exist, ie the child has not reached 21 years of age, got married, or the LPR has not died. The relative should consult the consulate, fill out a DS-230. Documents should include all of the LPR’s Immigrant visa petition, and a copy of the Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) and documents to establish the relationship, like marriage certificate or birth certificate. The LPR has to also file the I-864.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
There is no time limit to file this petition, provided that the Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) has not left the country. Minor children, if they are in US can adjust, no accrual of illegal stay (under 21) However the relationship should still exist, ie the child has not reached 21 years of age, got married, or the LPR has not died. The relative should consult the consulate, fill out a DS-230. Documents should include all of the LPR’s Immigrant visa petition, and a copy of the Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) and documents to establish the relationship, like marriage certificate or birth certificate. The LPR has to also file the I-864.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
CIS going to issue fee waiver form
The fees for most CIS applications are astronomical. For instance the fee for N-400 to become a US Citizen is $675/- The fee for adjusting status to become a permanent resident is $1010/- Many people simply cannot afford that. However previously there were no forms and no guidelines to filing anything without fees with the CIS. If anyone filed a form and could not afford a fee, they had to write a letter. But the mailroom personnel at CIS either does not read or perhaps cannot read. So the form used to be returned asking us to send the check. You could go back and forth and in the mean time loose time or even status.
Even more egregious were fees paid due to CIS' mistake. For instance if the CIS in clear cut error denied your case, you had to file a motion to reopen for $585/- We even had a case once where the CIS collected a fee for a I-765 (EAD) filing for $340/- and lost the file. When we traced and send them the check, the reply was that my bank should ask for the money back. My bank, Bank of America, did not know how to. So we simply paid again and refiled.
Now the CIS is proposing a form: I-912 which will establish clear guidelines for fee waivers. Hopefully the form in its approved version will have no fee requirements for CIS' mistakes along with applications for applicants below the poverty level.
Don't just start spending the money that you were saving for the CIS fees yet though. Sometimes these forms take years to come to fruition. As for me, I will believe it when I ultimately see it.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
Even more egregious were fees paid due to CIS' mistake. For instance if the CIS in clear cut error denied your case, you had to file a motion to reopen for $585/- We even had a case once where the CIS collected a fee for a I-765 (EAD) filing for $340/- and lost the file. When we traced and send them the check, the reply was that my bank should ask for the money back. My bank, Bank of America, did not know how to. So we simply paid again and refiled.
Now the CIS is proposing a form: I-912 which will establish clear guidelines for fee waivers. Hopefully the form in its approved version will have no fee requirements for CIS' mistakes along with applications for applicants below the poverty level.
Don't just start spending the money that you were saving for the CIS fees yet though. Sometimes these forms take years to come to fruition. As for me, I will believe it when I ultimately see it.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
Thursday, July 15, 2010
How to How to show control under the Jan 08 memo
There are only 65,000 visas given for regular H-1Bs and 20,000 for holders of US Master's Degree. As of July 09, only 24,800 regular petitions were filed and 10,600 US Master's petition were filed. The reason for this slow filing is two fold.
Heading into a deeper recession, the economy is definitely a factor. Unlike what most people think, Companies would rather hire US workers, and not pay the $2320/- filing fees plus attorney's fees.
However there are some professions which have a shortage in the US. That is true of computer professionals. But the computer professional market has been bruised by a poorly conceived and legally impermissible memo that CIS promulgated on January 08, 2010. The CIS is their infinite wisdom deemed that professionals need to be "controlled" directly by the petitioning company.
The IT business typically have contracts that go through tiers--- from the petitioning company to the end user. The CIS thinks that this creates "job shop" a four letter word to them.
The Jan 08 memo is startling in how unconstitutional it is---- how it totally disregards the rule of law. The class action lawsuit against it will hopefully see the end of the memo. Meanwhile software companies are outsourcing their business elsewhere.
However if there is a contract using an intermediary, control can be shown if another employee of the same H-1B employer works for the end user and actually supervises the H-1B beneficiary.
For instance if Company A, the H-1B employer has a contract with Company F and Company F has a contract with the end user, Company Bigshot. If Company A has employee X who works for Big Shot too, who supervises employee Y, who is the beneficiary, then control can be established under the January 08 memo. Of course all companies have to provide a ton of document to prove the case.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
Heading into a deeper recession, the economy is definitely a factor. Unlike what most people think, Companies would rather hire US workers, and not pay the $2320/- filing fees plus attorney's fees.
However there are some professions which have a shortage in the US. That is true of computer professionals. But the computer professional market has been bruised by a poorly conceived and legally impermissible memo that CIS promulgated on January 08, 2010. The CIS is their infinite wisdom deemed that professionals need to be "controlled" directly by the petitioning company.
The IT business typically have contracts that go through tiers--- from the petitioning company to the end user. The CIS thinks that this creates "job shop" a four letter word to them.
The Jan 08 memo is startling in how unconstitutional it is---- how it totally disregards the rule of law. The class action lawsuit against it will hopefully see the end of the memo. Meanwhile software companies are outsourcing their business elsewhere.
However if there is a contract using an intermediary, control can be shown if another employee of the same H-1B employer works for the end user and actually supervises the H-1B beneficiary.
For instance if Company A, the H-1B employer has a contract with Company F and Company F has a contract with the end user, Company Bigshot. If Company A has employee X who works for Big Shot too, who supervises employee Y, who is the beneficiary, then control can be established under the January 08 memo. Of course all companies have to provide a ton of document to prove the case.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Arizona and the Justice Department on Immigration
The justice Department's suit to block the restrictive law in Arizona is heralded by everyone as an "immigration issue." Both Wall Street Journal and New York Times have huge headings under "Immigration Law." But the question is not about immigration law. It is about the fundamental human right to not be judged by the color of our skin.
The proponents of the bill, like Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce say that the bill "prohibits racial profiling." But I wonder if every individual is stopped and asked for their passports. The will cripple business in the State. Will everyone, ie white, black, brown, yellow, and whatever other color or look need to take their passports, birth certificates, etc to Arizona?
I naturalized into this country and is in the highest tax bracket. I work and pay taxes. Yet I am brown and have an accent. As a practitioner of immigration law, I know say for instance white Canadian who are here, in the US, working illegally, but are white and except for a slight "oot and aboot" has no other accent. Who will the Arizona police "catch"?
The lawsuit is also about separate state and federal rights. The Conservative Supreme Court will champion State rights, but it will remain to be seen whether they champion Separation of Powers. My guess is that their judgment will be clouded by the more emotional issue of immigration.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
The proponents of the bill, like Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce say that the bill "prohibits racial profiling." But I wonder if every individual is stopped and asked for their passports. The will cripple business in the State. Will everyone, ie white, black, brown, yellow, and whatever other color or look need to take their passports, birth certificates, etc to Arizona?
I naturalized into this country and is in the highest tax bracket. I work and pay taxes. Yet I am brown and have an accent. As a practitioner of immigration law, I know say for instance white Canadian who are here, in the US, working illegally, but are white and except for a slight "oot and aboot" has no other accent. Who will the Arizona police "catch"?
The lawsuit is also about separate state and federal rights. The Conservative Supreme Court will champion State rights, but it will remain to be seen whether they champion Separation of Powers. My guess is that their judgment will be clouded by the more emotional issue of immigration.
For more information contact Houston Immigration Lawyer or Houston Immigration Attorney, Annie Banerjee
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