U.S. Immigration News

Latest immigration news

Good news: U.S. Immigration speeding up procedures

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service - INS) plans to meet its goal of reducing the average wait time for immigration services to six months by the end of September.

The total number of pending cases that exceeded the six-month wait period fell from 3.8 million in January 2004 to 1.1 million in July this year. Nearly 1 million applications will still be pending at the start of October.

New electronic passports (e-passports): Are they making the life easier?

The immigration officer scans your e-passport and compares your photograph with downloaded photograph and your face. The encrypted digital data in chip of your passport makes it much more difficult to replace the photograph with another. The counterfeiter must also change the encrypted chip in addition to the photograph.

The chip in your passport has radio frequency identification (RFID) that contains your date and place of birth, your gender, the issue and expiration dates of your passport, and its number.

It will take a decade to have all U.S. passports replaced as they are issued to 10 years. The new passports cost $97 and renewals cost $67. You can expedite your renewal in three business days for an additional $60 (totaling $127).

Currently, 28 nations adopted the new passport design. The European e-passports also include fingerprints. Future passport will contain not only fingerprint information but also iris characteristics as a part of biometrics technology.

Fill out your I-94 correctly when you arrive in the United States

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) increased safety and security measures. You, as a visitor, foreign student, or other non-immigrant must make sure that the information on your entry documents accurate and readable.

You must keep your arrival/departure document safe until you leave the United States. Make a photocopy of it just in case. The Arrival/Departure Document (I-94) establishes your lawful admission to the US and it indicates your US non immigrant status.

I-94 also indicates the date, place and US port of your arrival and the authorized duration of your stay in the U.S. If there is a mistake or inaccurate information your arrival/departure form, then you are escorted to “Secondary” or screening room where the immigration officer asks you detailed questions.

U.S. visa violators may be prohibited from entering the U.S. for a period of 3 to 10 years. So, be careful in filling out your I-94 form.  Do not leave any spaces blank. Overstaying is a major problem. Don’t stay more than you are allowed. You may be subject to  immediate deportation and risk your future visits.

Finally, keep your tickets, e-ticket, and the stubs of your boarding pass until you complete your whole travel. These supplemental documents may help you prove the dates of your arrival, departure, and your period of stay.

Number of immigrants in the United States is increasing

U.S. Census figures indicate that the number of immigrants lining in the United States increased by 16 percent in five years. Most immigrants preferred to live in California, New York, Texas, Florida, and New Jersey. Total number of immigrants in the U.S. is 35.7 million, comprising 11.2 percent of total U.S. population in 2000.

News for legal aliens who want to travel while they have pending applications

You need to obtain an advance parole (Application for Travel Document Form I-131) if you wish to travel.

New Immigration news update

The USCIS Press Room publishes the newest information

Previous immigration news

U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services – USCIS (formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service – INS) started accepting printouts of the U.S. Department of Labor as temporary proof of labor certification as of September 29, 2005.

The fees for immigrations forms were raised by the USCIS on to adjust for inflation as of September 26, 2005.

Senate Prepares to Debate Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Advocates Call for Legislation That is Bipartisan, Comprehensive, and Workable by National Immigration Forum contains most recent development on immigration reform.

Sources of updated immigration information and news

Immigration policy issues are published by The American Immigration Law Foundation on regular basis.

Updated immigration information is also made available by the American Immigration Lawyers Association for those interested in immigration regulations.

Another source for updated information on immigration issues is National Immigration Law Center posting its news in PDF.

For specific and daily immigration news, visit Yahoo! News to find stories, articles, opinions and editorials.

Immigration reform: Senate Presses Forward (National Immigration Forum).