The Follies of a Self-Deportation “Stipend”

The Follies of a Self-Deportation “Stipend”

Last month the Department of Homeland Security began offering a so-called stipend of $1,000 to entice individuals without lawful immigration status to self-deport. It stands to reason that not even P.T. Barnum would have cooked up this scheme. Just like anything that...
“Alien” Registration Requirement

“Alien” Registration Requirement

There has been much ballyhoo and consternation about the so-called “Alien” Registration Requirement that long has been on the books but gained popularity in these extraordinarily xenophobic times. I used quotation marks, because, while, yes, that is the legal term...
Have you met with your elected officials lately?

Have you met with your elected officials lately?

In his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey outlines six strategies to help us be more effective and then includes the most important one as the last habit: Sharpen the saw. After we adopt new strategies, we need to go back and practice and...
State Department Restricts Visa Renewal By Mail

State Department Restricts Visa Renewal By Mail

During the Biden administration, the U.S. State Department widely expanded interview waivers for visa applications at U.S. consulates abroad. There also was a pilot program to resurrect state-side visa renewals for H-1B workers. That stateside process had been...
The (Political) Circus Returns to Washington

The (Political) Circus Returns to Washington

It came as no surprise to see the raft of xenophobic executive orders issued soon after the former-now current president returned to the White House. It continued with updated agency guidance on medical exams for persons seeking lawful permanent resident status....
New H-1B Rule Has Much to Offer

New H-1B Rule Has Much to Offer

In the last days of the Biden administration, USCIS published a new regulation to update and improve adjudications of H-1B visa petitions. Among the new provisions are the ability to include dependent family members on the employee’s petition (rather than submitting a...