[May 15, 2004]

¼            of the new Immigration program known as Infopass?

¼            that when you want to make an appointment to see an Immigration officer to  inquire about your case, you can actually obtain an appointment date to see an officer instead of standing in line the whole day?

¼            that to obtain an appointment, you must log on to the following website: https://infopass.uscis.gov/en/options.php, follow the instructions and you will be scheduled an appointment?

¼            that the U.S. is conducting what is known as “Hartford Pilot Program” to determine the impact of detaining aliens who have been issued final orders of removal?

¼            that typically, these aliens were offered several weeks to reappear for deportation?

¼            that by immediately detaining these aliens, Immigration hopes to ensure that those individuals will be removed right away and will not be able to abscond?

¼            that each year, 4,000 non-detained aliens fail to leave the U.S. as ordered?

¼            that there are in the neighborhood of half a million such absconders in the U.S.?

¼            that the pilot project will be tried shortly also in Denver and Atlanta?

¼            that there will be deportation officers present at the deportation hearings – and if the person will be ordered deported, they will be detained on the spot?

¼            that we believe this program might cause people not to show up at all and the opposite will be accomplished?

¼            that in the beginning of April, 2004, one can again file for H-1B status which will become effective for October 2004 when the fiscal  year starts again and numbers will again be available?   So, hurry!

¼            that employers are lobbying Congress to increase the 65,000 limit per year, but nothing has happened yet and with the current climate at Immigration, the increase may not take place ?

¼            that an emergency regulation implemented in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks was struck down by a Federal judge because it allows the indefinite detention of non-violent aliens while deportation proceedings are pending?

¼            that the judge wrote that such regulation eliminated the discretionary nature of the Immigration Judge’s determination to grant bond and results in a mandatory detention?

¼            that also this regulation undermines Congressional intention that aliens who do not pose a public threat should not be subject to mandatory detention?

¼            that the court specified that its ruling applies to those aliens who were qualified for release on bail and determined by an Immigration Judge not to be a threat to the public or a flight risk?

¼            that the Federal Appeals Court recently granted asylum to family members of an individual if they can show that they were persecuted simply for being members of the same family?

¼            that the court has broadened the asylum safeguards for refugees?

¼            that the procedure for a non-U.S. citizen to report that he or she had used a false social security number in the past is to approach the Social Security office to file a Form 7008?

¼            that the alien who used the false number has to provide evidence of wages earned and social security will correct the earning record?

¼            that  new number will be assigned and credit will be given for payments made?

¼            that aliens who just immigrated should not apply for a social security number until ten (10) calendar days after admission to the U.S.?

¼            that if an alien who applied for a social security number does not receive the Social Security card within 30 calendar days from date of application, the Social Security representative should be contacted?

¼            that the Department of Labor PERM regulations are actually on the way?

¼           that the Department of Labor hopes that PERM will go live 120 days after publication?

¼            that hopefully, by October 2004, we will finally have in place a new Labor Certification process?

¼            that hopefully, under the new system, cases will be determined within a short time instead of lingering for years?

¼            that it is anticipated that there will be two PERM processing centers located in Atlanta and Chicago reporting to the National Office

¼            that the Department of Labor believes that PERM is a major reform?

¼            that leading members of the Senate Judiciary Committee urge the Secretary of Homeland Security to delay implementation of regulations to allow time for foreign nurses to complete the certification process and to give Congress an opportunity to address the issue?

¼            that by October 26, 2004 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers will have to present machine readable passports and VWP countries will be required to have a biometric passport program by that deadline?