A Note from the Editors:

The INS is immediately implementing changes governing an alien's ability to begin a course of study, and proposing significant changes to the rules governing the period of time visitors are permitted to remain in the United States. According to the New Release from the INS the changes will

1. eliminate the minimum 6-month admission period for B-2 non-immigrant visitors, and instead base the admission period on the amount of time needed to accomplish the purpose of the trip (in many cases 30 days);
2. reduce the maximum initial admission period for all B non-immigrant visitors from one year to six months;
3. limit the conditions for which an extension of stay in B non-immigrant visitor status can be granted and reduce the maximum length of that extension;
4. prohibit non-immigrants admitted in B visitor status from changing to student status unless they state an intention to study at the time of admission; and
5. deny discretionary relief to persons with a final order of removal who fail to surrender for removal within 30 days of the final order.

According to INS statistics, the most visitors for business and visitors for pleasure are admitted under the Visa Waiver Program, not with B visas. Alleged terrorists who could have entered under the Visa Waiver program include French citizen Zacarias Moussaoui, the "20th hijacker," and British citizen Richard Reid, the "shoebomber." Reducing the normal period of admission for B visa holders may not be as useful in increasing security as its proponents would hope.

Articles

Choosing Between Adjustment of Status and Consular Immigrant Visa Processing
H. Ronald Klasko analyses the relative advantages of Adjustment of Status and Consular Immigrant Visa Processing.

U.S. Passports Will No Longer Be Issued Abroad
The Department Of State issued a Press Release advising that effective April 8, 2002, overseas passport issuance is being transferred to the National Passport Processing Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Muslim migration to U.S. slowing
CNN.com reports that prolonged security checks since September 11 have caused a slowdown in the number of Muslims permitted to live in the United States through a special green card program.

Civil War within the GOP Part II: Why the H-1B Numbers are Coming Down
Gary Endelman writes that the Attorney General is determined to move against immigration in the public arena, and needs a way to do it that will not interfere with, or undercut, the President's electoral logic of attracting Hispanics votes, so he is likely to move against H-1B numbers before October 2003.

New INS Restrictions for Students
According to the Washingto Post Immigration officials tightened visa rules for foreign students and proposed new restrictions that limit the time a tourist or business person may stay in the country.

District Court Holds that Closed Immigration Hearings are Unconstitutional
Carl R. Baldwin writes about the recent federal court ruling that closed immigration hearing are unconstitutional.

Recent Development in HIV Positive Immigration Asylum and Petitioned Cases: Consequences in Light of September 11th
Rosalba Novoa of the Offices of Cyrus Mehta review the information presented at a recent panel discussion on asylum and Convention Against Torture (CAT) cases based on HIV status and waivers of the bar to admissibility.

Groups Urge Overhaul of Immigration
New York Times talks about the industry, unions and civil rights groups joining forces to urge overhaul of the nation's immigration laws.

The ABCs of Immigration - Losing US Citizenship
Greg Siskind and Amy Ballentine write about seven possible grounds for losing US citizenship.

INS Clarifies Rule Changes
The INS clarifies that the proposed changes for visitors will not automatically limit B-2 visitors for a 30 day admission, but will put the burden on the visitor to establish why the period should be longer, and that that prohibition on change of status from B to student will not apply to those currently in the US or those who express their intent to change status at the time of admission.

ILW Highlights

Problems Entering the ILW.COM Chat Room or Discussion Board

Many site users have complained that they are unable to get into the Chat Room to chat with an attorney and use the 24-hour public chat or the Discussion Board to post or reply to an immigration question. Site users will not be able to enter the chat room or discussion board if they do not have a recent computer (Pentium 90 MHz) and a recent browser such as Netscape 3, 4 and Explorer 4 or 5. ILW.COM offers many secure services for which it is essential to have a 128-bit encryption that only the recent browser versions offer. Users can easily download a free copy of the latest browser version at http://www.ilw.com/membership/security.shtm .

Site users will not be able to enter the chat room or discussion board if they are coming through a proxy server. Both programs are running on Port:81, which is a non-default port and many ISPs (Internet Service Provider) do not permit their clients to log onto a non-default port. In order to confirm this, users must try accessing http://www.ilw.com/findlawyer. If they are unable to do so, then users must contact their ISPs if they are accessing the chat room or discussion board from home or contact their Network Administrator if they are accessing the chat room or discussion board from work.

The final possibility that the users are unable to access a chat would be if they have a bug on their system. In order to detect the virus they must run a virus scan program or contact someone who can help them in this matter.

Letters to Editor

To write to Editors, send emails to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.

Dear Editor:

I receive your weekly ilw editions and my quetsion doesn't really have anything to do with it, but somehow I can't find how to contact some one that can answer me. Why am I not able to chat with the lawyers? I have tried so many times and everytime I get the message that I do not have acces to talk in the chatroom. I would like to know how can I chat. Please help me or direct my email to the right person. I will be more than grateful. Thanks in advance for your help.

Amarilis Venencia

For an answer to this Reader's question, read the ILW highlight 'Problems Entering the ILW.COM Chat Room or Discussion Board' above.

Dear Editor:

I was impressed by the letter from Connor Robertson regarding people with approved visa petitions who enter this country "without inspection" because of the long wait for available prority date thanks to 245(I). I would like yours and Mr Connors permission to use part of that letter to try and get the attention of Senators and Representatives around the country who may be able to do us some good. I have a son, daughter-in-law and grandson in England waiting for consular processing with it seems no hope until about 2006.

Being an American citizen who is turning 60 this year the prospect of waiting that long for my children seems daunting.

Yours sincerely
Janice Nammacher

Please feel free to use Connor Robertson's letter, while at the same time cite its source. Good luck.

Immigrant Life

Stop making immigration laws anti-immigration

Are the recent changes making life more difficult for you? Are these changes which are designed to stop terrorists from entering this country, fulfill their aim? Speak your mind as an affected immigrant.

This week's chat schedule

When Attorney Monday, April 15 9:00 pm Eastern Time Monique Kornfeld, Esq. Wednesday, April 17 9:00 pm Eastern Time Robert Perkins, Esq.

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