Immigration Update

11/04/2010: Result of November Election and Expected Change in Immigration Legislation Leadership in the House of Representatives
November 2, 2010 Midterm National Election will turn the House of Representatives into a Republican-majority and Republican-controlled chamber. Report indicates that this change will also affect the leaders in immigration legislation in the House. Currently the House Judiciary Committee is chaired by Rep. Conyers and its Immigration Subcommittee is chaired by Rep. Lofgren. But in the 112th Congress that opens in January 2011, the Judiciary Committee will be reportedly chaired by Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas and its Immigration Subcommittee is expected to be chaired by Rep. Steve King of Iowa. Report indicates that the new immigration leadership in the House will support highly skilled foreign worker program such as H-1B but will oppose low skilled foreign worker program including H-2B. This new leadership is contrasted with the Senate immigration leadership that takes a hostile position on high-tech foreign worker program such as H-1B while supporting low skilled visa program and comprehensive immigration reform legislation. These Senate leaders include Senator Chuck Schumer, the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, and Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa. Durbin-Grassley has formed a strong team in the Senate against the high-tech foreign worker programs such as H-1B and L-1 visa programs. Generally, the Senate will remain a pro-CIR Chamber, while the House will turn into a strong anti-CIR Chamber. Accordingly, it s anticipated that CIR will face increased hurdle and challenges ahead in the Congress. Unless the political environment changes the Congress into a "negotiate and compromise" legislature, immigration bills are likely to face a steep uphill battle in 2011.

source: The Oh Law Firm

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Immigration Update

03/10/2009: NSC Projected Processing Times of I-140 Petition and EB-485 Applications

* There is a very good news on the projected times. As affected by the current economic recess, NSC reports that the agency has been receiving reduced number of cases, which will allow the agency to reach four (4) months processing for I-140 petition by 06/01/2009 and for EB-485 by 09/30/2009. Remember that this is just a projected time and not an assured time. Very promising news, though. Thank you, NSC!


03/10/2009: NSC I-140 Processing Times as of 02/26/2009

* NSC and AILA liaison minutes of 02/26/2009 reflects that the current I-140 processing times by types are as follows:

o EB-11, Extraordinary Worker= 04/01/2008
o EB-12, Oustanding Researcher or Teacher=03/01/2008
o EB-13, Multinational Corporate Executive or Manager=06/15/2008
o EB-2 Regular, 07/01/2008
o EB-2 NIW, 08/01/2008
o EB-3, Skilled Worker or Professsional, 10/01/2007
o EB-3 EW, Unskilled Worker, 10/01/2008

* Remember that the USCIS processing times cut-off date is 12/31/2008, while the foregoing NSC processing reflects the cut-off date of 02/26/2009.


03/09/2009: Official April 2009 Visa Bulletin

* EB-3 ROW, Mexico, and Philippines moved backward to 03/01/2003! Here is the State Department explanation:

o Despite the established cut-off date having been held for the past five months in an effort to keep demand within the average monthly usage targets, the amount of demand being received from Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Offices for adjustment of status cases remains extremely high. Therefore, it has been necessary to retrogress the April cut-off dates in an attempt to hold demand within the FY-2009 annual limit. Since over 60 percent of the Worldwide and Philippines Employment Third preference CIS demand received this year has been for applicants with priority dates prior to January 1, 2004, the cut-off date has been retrogressed to 01MAR03 to help ensure that the amount of future demand is significantly reduced. As indicated in the last sentence of Item A, paragraph 1, of this bulletin, this cut-off date will be applied immediately. It should also be noted that further retrogression or “unavailability” at any time cannot be ruled out.

o It has also been necessary to retrogress the Employment Third Preference Other Worker cut-off date for all countries in order to hold the issuance level within the annual limit.


source: The Oh Law firm

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Immigration Update

02/14/2009: Tough Times Ahead for Professional Foreign Workers in EB-Based Nonimmigrant or Immigrant Journeys

The just relased arrests and indictments of eleven people for H-1B frauds by U.S. District Attorney in Iowa may not be taken as an isolated event or incident. It is a signal showing government's determination to crack down abuse of the employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant proceedings for the purpose of alleged protection of U.S. workers' jobs. This is a union-backed government. Besides, current economic crisis allegedly mandates the government leaders to take an action to protect American workers' jobs. No one will be in surprise to see Senators Durbin and Grassley reintroducing sooner or later their H-1B and L-1 reform legisation which they introduced last year but failed to make it before the last Congress closed at the end of 2008. The H-1B and L-1 reform legislation will mandate the agencies' reinforcement of enforcement activities against the abuse of such visas and tighten the threshold requirements for these visas in a line similar to the TARP-funded employer H-1B rules. Reinforcement of enforcement actions is soon to be made easy because of the two developments. One is reengineering of agencies's filing system and database in a direction of "account" system for each involved employer, each representative, and each alien worker, allowing detection of violation of the rules easy. The USCIS has been pushing such reengineering process in the form of electronization of filing of petitions and applications using "account" system and building such database. The DOL has also been working on such reengineering and is scheduled to implement it beginning from May 2009 for H-1B labor condition application filing using new ETA 9035 form which is designed to accomodate such account system and dababase and from July 2009 for PERM labor certification application filing using new ETA 9089 form which is also designed to accomodate such concept. The other development that makes the government's enforcement activities easy is electronization and data-sharing system among different agencies and their database. Electronization of the processes makes such data sharing available and easy among the related agencies. Expansion of E-Verify programs allows the Social Security Administration to participate in such enforcement process. Timing of release of recent indictment of evelen alleged H-1B visa fraud offenders is in a way not just a coincident.

The Chief of DOL Division of Foreign Labor Certification, Dr. William Carlson, released as recent as February 2, 2009 that in the first quarter (October, November, December 2008) of FY 2009, they completed about 4,500 PERM applications, but in one month of January 2009 alone, they completed about 3,500 applications. But don't get excited about this statistics. He cautioned that the processing times would slow down as they feed into adjudication process investigation of unemployment conditions in various labor markets, increasingly turning cases into so-called "supervised recruitment" process considering worsening labor markets and rising unemployment. When the agency posted the supervised recruitment Q&A on its website quite some time back, we speculated that it was intended to send out a signal that they would increase supervised recruitment cases ahead. It has turned out that it was not just speculation. Worse yet, the Chief stated that once a case is turned into a supervised recruitment track, there is no set processing time implying that it can take time and time. When the PERM system is already clogged bad, the information is indeed depressing. On top of all of these, the newly designated Republican Commerce Secretary who was known to be a H-1B program supporter all of sudden backed out from participation in the Obama administration. Year 2009 may be marked as a difficult year for foreign workers, particularly professional foreign workers.

02/13/2009: Eleven Arrested by ICE for H-1B Visa Frauds After Extensive Investigation of H-1B Visa Petitions

Click here


Source: www.immigration-law.com

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Visa rule primer for int'l student in F-1 category

Visa rule primer for int'l student in F-1 category

Q. I changed from B-2 visitor to F-1 international student. Can you please explain the rules for my traveling outside the United States?

I am a Brazilian citizen. I came here on a visitor's visa and then changed to F-1 international student status. I haven't left the United States since. I understand that if I travel home, I need an F-1 visa to return. However, I heard that special rules apply to travel to Canada, Mexico and adjacent islands.

Name Withheld, New York

A. So long as you are maintaining your student status, you can travel to Canada, Mexico and islands adjacent to the U.S. for as long as 30 days without getting an F-1 visa. That's true if, as is typical, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services granted you the right to remain here for Duration of Status. You are correct that if you travel to any other country, including Brazil, you need an F-1 visa to return.

When a visitor or other nonimmigrant changes nonimmigrant status while in the U.S., they may remain here for the period granted by the USCIS, provided the nonimmigrant obeys the rules for the new status. USCIS notes the change of status and the duration of stay on USCIS form I-94, Arrival/Departure document. For international students, USCIS usually the duration of stay is "duration of status." That means the student may remain here so long as they follow the rules for F-1 status. The stay expires only when the student finishes school or fails to meet the conditions of F-1 stay.

An international student may travel to Canada or Mexico or an adjacent island without a valid visa for as long as 30 days provided their I-94 does not expire before they return. If you have a I-94, it never expires if you maintain student status. To travel to an adjacent country, you would need to bring a "travel" I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status. You get that form from your international student advisor. In any event, speak to your adviser before making travel plans. He or she is the best person to advise you in this matter.

If you want to travel to Brazil or any other country not adjacent to the U.S., different rules apply. You would need an F-1 student visa to reenter the U.S. You would apply for that visa at a U.S. consul abroad.

Note that if you apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. consul in an adjacent country and the consul denies you the visa, you may not reenter with your unexpired I-94. You would need to return to Brazil to get an F-1 visa. Note also that special travel rules apply to nationals of Cuba, Liberia, North Korea, Iran, Sudan, and Syria.

You can learn more about rules for returning after travel abroad at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Web site, www.ice.org.

Q. My brother-in-law's wife abandoned him. Can he nevertheless continue with his green card application?

My brother-in-law married a U.S. citizen. He and his wife filled out all the paperwork for him to get permanent residence, but before he could send it in, she abandoned him.

Narry, Brooklyn

A. To get his permanent residence without his wife's help, your brother-in-law would need to prove that he is the victim of spousal abuse. The law provides for self-petitioning for an abused spouse or for the parent of an abused child. If the abuse was mental but not physical, he would need a statement from a mental health professional or counselor.

If your brother-in-law can't prove abuse, his best bet is to get divorced or get his marriage annulled, and find someone who appreciates him.

Q. My wife came here on a fiancé(e) visa, intending to marry another man. Can she get permanent residence based on her marriage to me?

I am a U.S. citizen who married a lovely lady from Asia. Her visa admitted her for 90 days, but she never married the man who brought her here. We have been married for three years.

Joe, New York City

A. Your wife is going to have a hard time getting permanent residence. Foreigners who come here on a fiancé(e) visa can interview for permanent residence in the U.S. only if they marry the U.S. citizen who brought them here.

So, your wife would have to travel home for her immigrant visa interview. That's risky because she'll need a a waiver for overstaying her visa.


Prof. Allan Wernick
Wednesday, January 21st 2009, 4:25 PM
allanwernick.com.

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NY Consulate opens two Sundays in December (Dec. 7 & 14)

In an effort to extend its public service and as a Christmas gift to the community this winter season, the Consulate will be open for two Sundays in December, the 7th and the 14th, to give those who can not be absent from work during the week the opportunity to avail of consular services. Passport applications will be processed from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Legalization of documents will be accepted from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, for release until 4:00 pm; documents received after 2:00 will be available for pick-up the following day. The community is enjoined to help spread the word and encourage those who wish to avail of consular services to come. Our offices are located at the 3rd floor of the Philippine Center, 556 Fifth Avenue (between 45th and 46th street), New York, NY 10036, easily accessible on foot, or through bus or subway. For more information on documentary requirements and downloadable forms for all our services, please see our website: http://pcgny.net/ or call us at 212-764-1330.

source: filipinoreporter.com

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Pinoy workers in NY recover $100,000 in wages

Filipino waiters and other guest workers in New York have recovered US$100,000 in illegally-withheld salaries with the assistance of New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo announced on November 20 a settlement with Florida labor contractor Star One Staffing, Inc.

“This settlement is another message to unscrupulous employers who try to scam New York workers out of money they’ve earned,” said Cuomo.

According to the website of the Office of the Attorney General, Star One reportedly failed to pay proper wages to Filipino guest workers. The contractor also deducted money from the workers’ salaries for their rent, board and transportation which violated the New York Labor Law.

Cuomo said the workers arrived in the US on federal “H2B” visas. Star One transported them to New York from Florida, promising fair wages and a decent place to stay.

The workers were sent to various country clubs and banquet halls around Long Island where they worked as waiters and bus staff.

However, the contractor deducted huge amount of money from the workers every month for their rent, board and transportation. The deductions sometimes outstripped the workers’ earnings for the entire month.

“These workers were invited into our country on the promise that they’d be treated fairly and compensated fully-instead, they were taken advantage of. My office will continue its fight against greedy employers who try to undermine the protections this state guarantees its workforce,” Cuomo said

Furthermore, Star One also failed to pay the workers for some of their shifts worked, for days worked during training, and for overtime wages. Star One employees were also placed in overcrowded houses with small rooms, inadequate sleeping space and unsanitary facilities.

The Office of the Attorney General’s website said settlement provides restitution for aggrieved workers, damages and a period of monitoring of the company by Attorney General Cuomo’s office.

It was learned that the Filipino workers sought assistance from Father Brian Jordan of the Church and Friary of Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan.

“These were all workers who had done everything right and were here legally. But this company took advantage of the fact that their legal status depended upon their continued employment with Star One, squeezing money out of them to make a profit. I applaud Attorney General Cuomo for stepping up on behalf of these workers, who for so long had nowhere to turn,” Father Jordan said.

Meanwhile, Cecilia Rebong, of the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York lauded Attorney General Cuomo.

“We commend Attorney General Cuomo for ensuring that unscrupulous employers cannot undermine the most basic right to receive wages for one’s work. Like other hard-working people in America, the Filipinos employed by Star One merely sought an opportunity to support themselves and their families,” Rebong said.

The case was handled by Assistant Attorney General C. Michael Higgins, Acting Bureau Chief Seth Kupferberg under the supervision of Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice James Rogers.

source: abs-cbnNEWS.com 11/25/2008

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US adds 7 countries to visa waiver list

The United States government will add seven more countries to the list of states whose citizens can travel to the US without a visa. The Philippines is not included in the list of visa-free countries.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will formally announce the addition of seven allies to the list of countries authorized to participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that includes: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia, according to news released by the US embassy in Manila.

The DHS said beginning Jan. 12, 2009, eligible citizens or nationals from all VWP countries must obtain approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling to the United States under the VWP.

“We are especially pleased to welcome these allies into the Visa Waiver Program,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

“Expanding the number of countries whose citizens can travel to the US without a visa increases business and social ties between our countries and at the same time deepens cooperation on required security measures.”

The administration sought authority for years to reform the VWP. DHS received authorization through the issuance of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.

Under the VWP, eligible citizens or nationals of certain countries are allowed to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.

To be admitted to the VWP, a country must meet various statutory requirements, such as more enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States and timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports.

VWP members are also required to maintain high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards.

The citizens or nationals of the following countries are currently eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Philippines? ummm, read again...

To be admitted to the VWP, a country must meet various statutory requirements, such as more enhanced law enforcement and security-related data sharing with the United States and timely reporting of both blank and issued lost and stolen passports.

VWP members are also required to maintain high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards.

.

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Immigration Update

USCIS Reports its Achievements in FY 2008 and its Backlog Reduction Goals in FY 2009

During FY09, USCIS’ goal is to achieve a 20 percent reduction in processing times for the majority of key petitions and applications, in spite of having to work through an unexpected surge of applications received during FY07. The agency plans a five-month processing time for naturalization applications (N-400s) and a four-month processing time for both adjustment of status applications (I-485s) and petitions for alien workers (I-140s). Sounds like a dream considering the current backlogs of I-140 and EB-485? For the full text, click here.

We hope these goals are achieved not at the end of FY 2009 (09/30/2009) but sometime early in FY 2009. We also hope that the goal to reduce the processing times from current way over one year to four (4) months for I-140 petitions includes expansion of I-140 Premium Processing Program as soon as possible.

source: immigration-law.com

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Immigration News

IT Firm Settles With DOL to Pay $1.7 Million Backwage Payment to H-1B Workers

DOL has announced that GlobalCynex Inc., a Sterling information technology company, has agreed to pay $1,683,584 to 343 non-immigrant workers after a U.S. Labor Department investigation found the company violated the H-1B visa provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. An investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division found that employees hired under the H-1B program were not paid required wages from March 2005 through March 2007. Wage and Hour Division investigators also found that the company charged new H-1B workers training fees ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 that were in violation of the law. Globalcynex reportedly runs operations in Hyderabad, India, and provides offshore services. Reportedly, if the settlement were split evenly among all 343 employees, they would get nearly $5,000 each, and the settlement is one of the largest of its kind involving the H-1B program.

source: Link

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ICE Conducts Massive Raids

Thousands of illegals captured in three-week nationwide sweep by immigration agents

JERSEY CITY– Ninety Five Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fugitive operations teams from all over the Unites States have arrested and detained a total of 1,311 illegal immigrants, mostly with criminal records, in what is called the biggest concerted effort yet to enforce immigration laws to violators.

The majority of the arrests were made in California with a total of 1,157, while raids conducted in Pennsylvania and Delaware turned in 78 immigration fugitives. In New Jersey, a total of 76 arrests were reported by the local Newark immigration office.

"Individuals who defy immigration court orders to leave the country need to understand there are consequences for willfully disregarding the law. ICE is committed to enforcing these outstanding deportation orders and strengthening the integrity of our nation's immigration system," said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers, who oversees ICE, in a news release.

The nationwide effort came in the wake of a turbulent US economy brought about by the crash of several financial institutions, which also caused major drops in stock market points. It also came in the final stretch of an intense presidential campaign by senators McCain and Obama, whose programs of government include comprehensive immigration reform similar to the futile immigration reform bill proposed in the Senate last year, which both senators supported.

In the Delaware/Pennsylvania raids, of the 78 illegal aliens arrested, 26 are with criminal histories. In New Jersey, 60 of the 76 arrested have criminal records. However, the biggest number of illegals with criminal links were in California, where almost a third of the total number of apprehended aliens were either convicted or charged with felonies, including child abuse, and gang-related violence. Among those arrested by the Fugitive Operations Teams was a Mexican national whose criminal history includes prior convictions for lewd acts involving a child as well as battery. Also arrested during the special enforcement operation was a previously deported 47-year-old Mexican national with a prior conviction for selling heroin.

The Fugitive Operations Program was established in 2003 to eliminate the nation's backlog of immigration fugitives.

“The deployment of more Fugitive Operations Teams, together with enhancements in our ability to track leads in these cases, have resulted in the arrest of record numbers of immigration fugitives this year and we expect that trend to continue,” said Secretary Myers.

Estimates now place the number of immigration fugitives in the United States at slightly under 560,000, a decrease of more than 34,000 since October 2007. Despite the large-scale operations, however, there were no immediate reports of Filipinos that were arrested.

While the Department of Homeland Security and ICE are celebrating, several pro-immigrant groups, including those headed by Fil-Ams denounced the government tactics and called it ‘scare’ tactics that does more harm than good.

“Families are getting broken up every day because of this. There is a more humane way to handle this problem than barraging through a family’s door and picking up people at gun point,” said Manny Cabrera of Delaware.
Source: FilipinoExpress.com

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Immigration Update

09/11/2008: October 2008 Visa Bulletin Bringing Happy Faces to Those Non-Indian and Non-Chinese EB-3 Skilled and Unskilled Workers

EB-3 has been suffering from "unavailable" visa numbers accross the board. Consequently those whose EB-485 was pending could not anticipate any prospect for approval of their green card approvals.

Additionally, those whose EB-3 labor certifications and I-140 petitions have been approved but was unable to file I-485 applications have lived in despair because of unavailability of the benefits that are attached to the 485 waiters that include (1) legal status pending 485 application; (2) EAD; (3) Travel Document (Advance Parole); and AC-21 portability, etc.

Now, a door will open for some of these sufferers on October 1, 2008, albeit a narrow door. We are happy for these future permanent residents.

source

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Immigration Update

08/29/2008: EB-485 Processing Times for NSC=07/02/2007 and TSC=06/18/2007 (Oops! Typos)

• August 15, 2008 USCIS Service Centers Processing Time Report indicates that TSC was not processing the July 2007 VB fiasco cases, while NSC was probably adjudicating July 2, 2007 filing cases as of August 15, 2008.


• It is time for the USCIS leaders to either confirm or deny the ongoing rumor that the USCIS has been on hold adjudication of EB-2 485 applications for the Indians and Chinese effective August 21, 2008. This information has been allegedly leaked through the local district or field office Information Officers and some of other sources. They should confirm whether the current situation is "on hold" or "exhausted" EB-2 numbers for FY 2008 for Indians or Chinese. Nothing should be secret about this.

Good or Bad? We're just waiters on the side...

source: The OH Law

related links:
Visa Bulletin
Service Centers Processing Times

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Bill filed to help new immigrants

Just in time for the upcoming Toastmasters project. Read the news...


Bill filed to help new immigrants

WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) have introduced legislation that will help newcomers integrate into America's social and economic fabric through English language education, civics instruction, incentives for businesses that invest in the education of their non-English speaking employees, and federal support for state and local plans to integrate new immigrants.

Clinton hailed the "The Strengthening Communities Through Education and Integration Act of 2008" as an important step toward helping bridge the gaps between coming to America and becoming part of the fabric of America.

She noted that despite working hard and playing by the rules, many new Americans face significant obstacles to achieving success for themselves and their families, especially lack of English language skills.

"We all share a belief in stronger communities that make America more competitive in the world," Clinton said. "By investing in English language education, community support and other important tools, this legislation will help new Americans become part of the American family."

Honda and Clinton were joined by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) as the bill's original cosponsors.

Honda said the importance of this bill is underscored by its bipartisan nature.

"As a country of immigrants we have always depended upon newcomers to fuel our progress," said Honda. "Legislation that provides them educational tools is logical and good for our country. Instead of turning our backs on immigrants, we should open our arms and embrace them. Their success is America's success, and we should invest in it through sound education policies such as this."

The bill is divided into three components that support English literacy education; encourage businesses to support English literacy and other education; and empower local communities to design strategies that fit their individual realities. It will:

• Increase funding for the Department of Education's successful Even Start Family Literacy Program and offers tax credits to English Language Learners to encourage focus on this important area. It also creates grants for English literacy and civics education programs and supports research on adult learning and literacy.

• Offer tax credits to employers who provide their workers with English literacy and GED training. Businesses can receive credits for 20 percent of the cost of the program, or up to $1,000 per employee.

• Authorize grants for the formation of State New American Integration Councils consisting of leaders from the business, nonprofit, religious, civic and philanthropic communities. These councils will be charged with developing and implementing comprehensive integration plans for immigrants in their local areas.

Last year, Hinojosa introduced the "Adults Achieving the American Dream Act" (H.R. 2214), which contained several key provisions that were incorporated in the legislation.

That bill called for an important expansion of adult ESL and civics education, an increased investment in Even Start and employer-based tax incentives.
Each of those components is part of the bipartisan initiative.

"For centuries, the American Dream has called millions to our nation's shores. Unfortunately, at present, the dream is fading for too many because they lack the skills needed to succeed in our country," said Hinojosa. "This legislation opens the doors to immigrants so they have the chance to fully participate in American society and strengthen the country's fabric."

Karen K. Narasaki, from the Asian American Justice Center, said the benefits of this bill will be immense for the Asian-American community, which has a high percentage of English learners.

"More than a third of our population is limited in English proficient and a majority are foreign-born," said Narasaki, president and executive director of AAJC. "Today, many Asian-Americans are motivated to learn English because they want to gain their citizenship. They know that access to English language programs leads to increased self-sufficiency and better lives for their children."

The number of English language learners in America's public school system - most of whom are native-born U.S. citizens - has nearly doubled in the last 15 years, and is expected to reach 25 percent of the public school population by 2025.

Also, new immigrants represented at least two-thirds of the growth in the U.S. civilian labor force in the last three years, and experts project that between 2010 and 2030, immigrants will account for all of the growth in the domestic labor market.

"The immigrant community has always recognized that realizing their full economic and social potential of America requires English fluency in English, and today they are acquiring English faster than ever," Jammal said. "We are encouraged that members of Congress are taking steps to help provide that opportunity."

Source: Filipino Reporter

Related Links:

Mike Honda in Congress

Learning The Language

Better English for Filipinos

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Machine Readable Passports (MRP)

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL ISSUES MACHINE READABLE PHILIPPINE PASSPORTS EFFECTIVE MONDAY, 2 JUNE 2008

Features of New Passport In Compliance with Global Standards


NEW YORK – The Philippine Consulate General New York wishes to inform the public that effective Monday, 2 June 2008, applications for the new Machine Readable Passports (MRP) will be processed by this Post, providing improved document security features, at no additional cost.

The MRP is a project of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, in compliance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations created to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. The 188 contracting states of the ICAO, which includes the Philippines, agreed to issue ICAO Standard MRPs no later than 1 April 2010. This global standard is inter-operable and harmonized with all participating countries. Because of this, compliance benefits for the governments, the travelers, the airports and the airlines, primarily in document security and ease of travel. Those who applied and have been issued MRPs in the Philippines have reported satisfaction in the speed of processing when entering a country, and the simplicity of registration, particularly at "self check-in" counters at US airlines.

In addition to the ease of travel provided by the MRP to travelers, it has superior security features compared to the old green passports, which virtually eliminates the possibility of identity theft and acts of fraud. To ensure this, all passport applications are processed at the main office at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

Applications received by the Philippine Foreign Service Posts abroad will be sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila via diplomatic pouch. In view of the transit time, it will now take SIX WEEKS for a passport to be released to the applicants, from the time the application is accepted at the Consulate General.

PERSONAL APPEARANCE FOR ALL is required for data verification, finger-printing and signature capture. Applications by mail will not be accepted.

NEW PHOTO REQUIREMENTS:

• Background – ROYAL BLUE


• Size – 4.5 cm X 3.5 cm


• Pose – image of applicant is 70 – 80% of the photograph


• Straight frontal shot (no tilting of head)


• "Medium" smile is allowed


• Collared shirt / decent attire


• Both ears visible


• Prescription eye-glasses allowed, provided there is no glare


• Head scarf / veil for religious or health reasons allowed

Photos can be rejected for the following reasons:

• Distorted image – head is tilted or smile is too wide


• Women - excessive makeup, large earrings


• Men – wearing makeup, earrings


• colored contact lenses


• use of headgear other than scarf / veil for religious or health reasons


• use of dark eyeglasses / shades


• photos with "red-eye" effect


• dirty photos / poor photo quality / poor or uneven lighting


• digitally altered photos (rendered with photoshop or other imaging programs) / unnatural skin tones

The new and improved Philippine Passports are issued by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs at no additional cost to the applicants. Maroon-colored MRPs issued in the US will still cost USD $50.00, the same as the green-colored passports.

If you currently hold a valid Philippine passport (green passport that has not expired), there is no need to worry as the green Passport will still be honored as a bonafide travel document issued by the Republic of the Philippines until it expires, even after the roll out of the new Machine Readable Passports.

Please check the website of the Philippine Consulate General New York at http://pcgny.net/ for the latest information regarding the Philippine Machine Readable Passport. END

This Press Release is also viewable on http://www.pcgny.net/pcgny/2008/MRPPR1.pdf


PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL NEW YORK
556 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10036 USA
Tel: (212) 764-1330
Fax: (212) 382-1146

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