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2/3 of Lawful Permanent Residents Eligible to Naturalize

The Department of Homeland Security has recently released a report about the lawful permanent resident population of the United States. One of the findings of the report was that nearly two-thirds of the lawful permanent resident population is eligible for naturalization. In 2009, the Immigration agency estimates that there were 12,450,000 lawful permanent residents in …

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DOJ Issues Employer & Employee No Match Information

The Department of Justice has recently released information for Employers and Employees who have received “no-match” letters from the Social Security Agency. The “no-match” letters are sent when the social security numbers that are provided to the Social Security Agency do not match the social security numbers that the Agency has on record.

The check …

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USCIS Releases First Ever Fee Waiver Form

The USCIS has finally released its first ever formal form for fee waiver applications. The new form is I-912 – and is available for immediate use on the USCIS website.

The USCIS has long allowed for indigent individuals to apply for a fee waiver – however, it never had a formal form. The lack of …

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USCIS FEES GO UP TODAY

Starting today, November 23, 2010, the USCIS will charge the following fees:

Form No. Application/Petition Description Fees Effective

Nov. 23, 2010 I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card $365 I-102 Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document $330 I-129/129CW Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker $325 I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) $340 I-130 Petition …

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What is the Dream Act?

There has been much buzz lately about whether or not the DREAM Act will pass through Congress during the next month. With all of the debate, many are asking for the first time, What is the DREAM Act?

The short answer is that it is legislation that will provide immigration status to undocumented immigrants who …

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Hazleton, PA Town To Pay $2.4 Million in Fees From Unconstitutional Immigration Law

Hazleton, PA was one of the first communities in the United States to enact a local law that would fine landlords of undocumented immigrants. Unfortunately for the town, the law has been ruled unconstitutional by the Court System. Even more unfortunate for the town – it will now have to pay $2.4 million in legal …

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USCIS Granted Citizenship to 11,146 Service Members in 2010

The USCIS granted citizenship to 11,146 Service members in fiscal year 2010. this number of service members represents the highest number of service members who have naturalized since 1955. The number is also a 6 percent increase from fiscal year 2009.

Immigrants who serve in the armed forces are able to obtain citizenship in the …

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USCIS to Release New I-129 Form For Nonimmigrant Workers

The USCIS has announced that it will release a new I-129 form on November 23, 2010. The new form will go into effect the same day that the USCIS plans to raise its application fees.

The I-129 form is used by multiple types of nonimmigrant workers, including H-1B workers, L-1 workers, and O-1 nonimmigrants.

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Changes Coming To I-130s Filed By Petitioners Living Abroad

Nearly 95% of the I-130s (Family-based immigrant petitions) that are processed by the USCIS are processed in the United States (namely because the petitioner lives in the United States). However, in the other 5%, petitioners file the I-130 at the U.S. Consulate closest to where they live. This option was open to petitioners who could …

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Immigration Insights Blog Named One Of America’s Best Immigration Law Blogs

Immigration Insight, the immigration law blog operated by Chris Gafner and Gafner Law Firm, has been named one of the best immigration law blogs by the website Immigrationlawyers.net.

Immigration Insight is meant to provide its readers with the most recent immigration developments and to provide basic, general information about immigration laws. If you have a …

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Somalian TPS Extended

The United States government has extended the temporary protected status (TPS) for Somalians for another eighteen months. Somalians are now eligible for TPS until September 17, 2012.

Temporary Protected Status is provided to nationals of certain countries that have suffered from a nationwide disaster, including natural disasters and military conflicts. TPS allows nationals who register …

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What is the Difference Between Naturalization and Derivative Citizenship

Many use the words naturalization and citizenship loosely. Many even use the words interchangeably. However, don’t be confused – these words have distinct meanings and are not interchangeable.

Naturalization refers to the process through which a noncitizen becomes a citizen. The process requires that an applicant meet certain requirements, including having good moral character, being …

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Reminder that USCIS Fees Are Going Up On November 23rd

In less than twenty days, the USCIS will start charging its new fees:

Form No. Application/Petition Description Fees Effective

Nov. 23, 2010 I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card $365 I-102 Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document $330 I-129/129CW Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker $325 I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) $340 I-130 Petition for Alien …

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USCIS Provides Information For Immigrant Domestic Violence Victims

In an effort to make its services more widely known, the USCIS has issued information for immigrant victims of domestic violence.

Too often, immigrants who come to the United States are subjected to domestic violence. Often, these abused immigrants believe that their immigration status puts them at a disadvantage in dealing with the domestic violence. …

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A Little Push to Become a U.S. Citizen

Many permanent residents of the United States spend years thinking about becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. Often the permanent residents count down the days/years until they can apply. But a funny thing happens when that date final comes and a permanent resident is able to apply for citizenship…they don’t.

It isn’t that they don’t want …

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