MurthyBulletin
VOL. XIII, no. 48; November 2007, week 5
Posted : Nov 30, 2007
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"We know your immigration matters!" SM
The MurthyBulletin is the eNewsletter on immigration from the Murthy Law Firm. This bulletin is not sent unsolicited. The information provided is of a general nature and may not apply to any particular set of facts or circumstances. It should not be construed as legal advice and does not constitute an engagement of the Murthy Law Firm. Full Disclaimer available.
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TOPICS in this Edition of the MurthyBulletin :
Reminder : Murthy Teleconference Series for Employers - Dec 5, 2007
Topic : The Why, What, and How of PERM Audits
1. Humanitarian Concerns by ICE in Worksite Enforcement
2. USCIS Issues Notice on New Form I-9
3. New Anti-Terrorism Security Requirements for Visitors to Japan
4. Consul General in Chennai Combats Domestic Abuse
from Murthy Immigration Services Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, India
Posted Nov 28, 2007 on MurthyDotCom
5. MurthyDotCom : Did You Know about our USCIS Service Center Page?
6. Important Processing Times and Dates
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Engaging the Murthy Law Firm : Our office can conveniently and efficiently represent clients located anywhere in the United States or abroad on U.S. immigration matters.
Consultations with attorneys at the Murthy Law Firm : You may contact our office to schedule a one-time paid consultation with no further obligation. A scheduled consultation with an attorney at the Murthy Law Firm provides you with details and recommendations based on the specific facts of your case. This will help you with making the right decisions based on the legal options and strategies available.
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Reminder : Murthy Teleconference Series for Employers - Dec 5, 2007
Topic : The Why, What, and How of PERM Audits
©MurthyDotCom
We remind employers and/or their representatives that they are invited to attend the next Murthy Law Firm teleconference on December 5, 2007 at 2:00pm Eastern Time (U.S.). This teleconference will address the subject of PERM audits and how employers can prepare for them. This FREE teleconference series is designed to guide employers, enabling them to better serve their foreign national employees in these matters. To participate you must be an employer, HR manager, or similar agent in a company.
©MurthyDotCom
If you have already attended a Murthy Law Firm teleconference, you will automatically receive an eMail with details for the December 5th teleconference. If you have NOT signed up for this teleconference before, please eMail the following information to corporate@murthy.com. Specifics regarding the topic, as well as the telephone number, access code, and other details regarding the teleconference will be eMailed to interested company representatives prior to the teleconference.
Name
Title / Position in the Company
Company Name
Contact Telephone Number
Company WebSite URL
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1.
Humanitarian
Concerns by ICE in Worksite Enforcement
©MurthyDotCom
The U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued Guidelines for
Identifying Humanitarian Concerns among Administrative Arrestees When
Conducting Worksite Enforcement Operations. ICE is the arm of the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responsible for enforcement of
immigration laws involving detention and removal of unauthorized foreign
nationals. The guidelines set forth practices for quick identification of
persons arrested as a result of worksite enforcement who are sole caregivers
or who should be released from ICE custody due to other humanitarian
concerns. There has been significant controversy surrounding the fallout
from worksite enforcement because of the impact upon U.S. citizen children
and other dependants left without caregivers.
©MurthyDotCom
Certain Individuals to be Identified for
Possible Early Release
©MurthyDotCom
The new ICE guidelines are an attempt to take into account special groups of
individuals who must be quickly identified and possibly released from ICE
custody, following their arrests during worksite raids. These groups include
sole caregivers of minor children or disabled or seriously ill relatives,
individuals with serious medical conditions, pregnant women, nursing
mothers, and parents who need to support their spouses in caring for sick or
special-needs children or relatives. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and
Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA, 10th District) negotiated this issue after
ICE arrested 350 workers during a worksite enforcement raid in March 2007.
These ICE guidelines are designed to apply to all worksite enforcement
operations targeting the arrest of more than 150 people. In smaller worksite
enforcement operations, ICE will implement these procedures where practical.
©MurthyDotCom
Conclusion
©MurthyDotCom
The new ICE guidelines constitute a positive development that should help
those whose detention may result in problems because of their own or their
relatives' conditions. It is important that government agencies address humanitarian considerations
and we at the Murthy Law Firm applaud this positive step.
©MurthyDotCom
Copyright © 2007, MURTHY LAW
FIRM. All Rights Reserved
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2.
USCIS Issues
Notice on New Form I-9
©MurthyDotCom
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a
notice in the Federal Register on November 26, 2007, to introduce a
newly amended Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The amended
form incorporates the current regulations on the identity and employment
authorization of newly-hired and returning employees. MurthyDotCom and
MurthyBulletin readers were informed of this matter in our November 16, 2007
article USCIS
Releases New Form I-9 for Employment Eligibility.
©MurthyDotCom
The amended Form I-9 is the only valid version, as of November 7, 2007.
Employers will not be penalized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
for using a previous version of Form I-9 on or before December 26, 2007,
however. This timeframe reflects a 30-day transition from the time of the
initial Notice on November 26, 2007 for U.S. employers to make all necessary
adjustments to commence using the amended form.
©MurthyDotCom
Form I-9 Available Online
©MurthyDotCom
Both Form I-9 and the Employer Handbook are accessible on the
USCIS
WebSite. Employers who do not have web access may order USCIS forms by
calling 800.870.3676.
©MurthyDotCom
Copyright © 2007, MURTHY LAW
FIRM. All Rights Reserved
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3.
New
Anti-Terrorism Security Requirements for Visitors to Japan
©MurthyDotCom
New security measures were implemented November 20, 2007 with regard to all
visitors to Japan as part of efforts made by the Japanese government to
prevent terrorism. While this concerns Japan's immigration laws and not U.S.
immigration laws, it may be of interest to MurthyDotCom and
MurthyBulletin readers planning to travel. Under Japan's new immigration procedures, when a
foreign national arrives in Japan, fingerprints and a facial photograph are
taken at the port of entry by an immigration officer, similar to the
procedures for nonimmigrants at U.S. airports.
©MurthyDotCom
Fingerprints, Photos, and Questions at Japanese
Port of Entry
©MurthyDotCom
All
foreign nationals who are not special permanent residents, under 16 years of
age, holding the status of 'Diplomat' or 'Official,' invited by the head of
any national administrative organization of Japan, or others specifically
exempted from the requirements by the Ministry of Justice, are required to
undergo the new immigration procedures upon arrival in Japan. A person
seeking entry into Japan is asked to provide his or her passport and to
place both index fingers on a digital fingerprint reader. A facial
photograph then is taken, and the individual is asked several questions
regarding the purpose of his or her visit. If one seeking entry is unable to
provide fingerprints s/he will need to state the reason, which will be
considered by the immigration officer. A typical example of this would be a
person who is missing fingers. If the individual does not comply with these
requirements, entry to Japan will be denied.
©MurthyDotCom
Conclusion
©MurthyDotCom
The Japanese government has indicated that it will use modern technology to
safely store personal information on visitors to that country, which will
not be shared with any outside agencies or other entities. The new
immigration requirements for entry to Japan are a measure put into place to
prevent terrorism and are similar to U.S. measures for border protection.
Visitors to Japan should understand the importance of compliance with these
new rules and prepare to comply with them upon arrival.
©MurthyDotCom
Copyright © 2007, MURTHY LAW
FIRM. All Rights Reserved
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4. Consul
General in Chennai Combats Domestic Abuse
from Murthy
Immigration Services Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, India
Posted Nov 28, 2007 on MurthyDotCom
©MurthyDotCom
In recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against
Women, the U.S. Consul General in Chennai, India, David T. Hopper,
introduced a new pamphlet on November 26, 2007 to help in the fight against
domestic violence and abuse. The pamphlet is to be distributed to immigrant
and work visa applicants and to dependents. Detailed information on
resources and support available in the United States to victims of abuse is
contained in the pamphlet, which is distributed in English, Tamil, and
Telugu. It is also available
online.
©MurthyDotCom
The relevant press release is available on the Consulate WebSite at <http://chennai.usconsulate.gov>.
©MurthyDotCom
Copyright © 2007, MURTHY LAW
FIRM. All Rights Reserved
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5. MurthyDotCom :
Did You Know about our
USCIS Service Center Page?
©MurthyDotCom
At the Murthy Law Firm, we receive many inquiries about the specific service
centers. Because the service centers are somewhat unique in their procedures
and in how they handle cases, we have prepared a page for each. Whether you
wish to know about California,
Nebraska,
Texas,
Vermont, or the
National Benefits Center
(Missouri), we have the information available for you, with convenient links
to the processing times for each one. MurthyDotCom has information
and analysis on the policies and procedures specific to each of the
different USCIS Service Centers.
More general news,
that affects all of these centers and, perhaps, local offices, as well, is
linked from this main page for the
USCIS Service Centers.
©MurthyDotCom
The next session of the
MurthyChat will be Monday, Dec 03, 2007,
9:00pm Eastern Time (U.S.). Please check the
chat page for any
necessary changes to the schedule. Meanwhile,
search the chat
transcripts for
answers to your questions.
©MurthyDotCom
MurthyForum :
Consider joining those who have discovered the value of this service. Our
message / discussion board is visited daily by one of our attorneys.
©MurthyDotCom
MurthyDotCom - MurthyBulletin - MurthyChat - and MurthyForum - Your
ultimate U.S. immigration resources on the Internet all start with MURTHY!
©MurthyDotCom
Copyright © 2007, MURTHY LAW
FIRM. All Rights Reserved
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6.
Important Processing Times and Dates
©MurthyDotCom
Processing Times : For
links to processing times for the USCIS Service Centers, district
(or local) processing times, the Administrative Appeals Office,
Department of State visa bulletin, and Department of Labor dates for the
processing of labor certification applications.
©MurthyDotCom
Copyright © 2007, MURTHY LAW
FIRM. All Rights Reserved
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