John Valdez’s Legal Blog

The federal government is making some technology improvements that will help foreign nationals receive better immigration services, but most new technologies employed by immigration agencies address national security issues.  For example, fingerprinting and/or biometric photograph technologies will, beginning on January 18, 2009, be required of more foreign nationals entering or leaving the U.S.  See my last blog […]

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My advice to green card holders is simple:  When eligible, apply for citizenship.  Without U.S. citizenship, you will always be subject to immigration rules that may place additional burdens on you.  For example, many Permanent Residents were provided green cards with no expiration dates, which for years meant they did not have to take any action regarding […]

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Employers should mark their calendars to account for changes in I-9 procedures that will be effective beginning on February 2, 2009.  On that date, the USCIS will require employers to observe new I-9 regulations.
The I-9 employment verification program is a system that requires employers to verify the identify and employment authorization of new employees and, […]

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Every month, there are many foreign nationals who anxiously await the publication of the new Department of State Visa Bulletin.  The Visa Bulletin represents the Department of State’s prediction for green card availability.  It lists cut-off dates for immigrant visa categories that determine who may apply for a green card.  When a foreign national’s priority […]

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For several years, hospitals and other health organizations have been beseeching the federal government to help them deal with the nursing shortage by allowing more foreign nurses to come to the United States.  Help has not arrived, but at least the Citizenship and Immigration Services (”CIS”) Ombudsman has been listening to the complaints of health care organizations.
On December […]

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