A Note from the Editors:

Post September 11, we see a trend of anti-immigration. It started with detention of immigrants, deportation of immigrants, tightening of immigration for students and visitors. It hasn't ended yet, it will continue to get worse. Many unfair actions are been taken under the garb of stopping terrorism. Many law enforcement agencies have become involved in rounding up out-of-status immigrants, instead of rounding up criminals. It is immigrants who are victimized.

Where is it headed? Is America going to shut its door to immigrants? Which would mean, is America is going to shut its door to economic development? Is the American culture of tolerance and respect for other races and cultures, now going to become one of intolerance and of anti-immigration? We welcome you to share your thoughts on this subject, by writing to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.

Articles

Travel by Adjustment of Status Applicants
H. Ronald Klasko examines the reasons those with pending adjustment applications should choose to travel with advance parole or on a visa.

Advisory On New INS Rules To Restrict Visitors And Students
Cyrus D. Mehta writes that the proposed INS rule, once it takes effect, will have the greatest impact on relatives of immigrants who are planning to spend more than 30 days in the US and will also burden the INS with unnecessary extension applications.

South Carolina To Crack Down on Undocumented Immigrants
The Times Examiner in Greenville, South Carolina reports that South Carolina Attorney General Charley Condon said he is planning to “lead a crackdown on the presence of illegal aliens in the State,” using federal rather than state authority.

Here We Go Again: The Magic $25,000 Asian Immigration Ripoff
Jose Latour writes that the level of human desperation for security among immigrants to this country is heart breaking, and they keep getting duped by scam-artists, although they could go to an army of good attorneys who charge fair fees and get the job done for their clients.

INS Overreacts On Tourist And Business Visas
The Fresno Bee says that reducing the time limit on most tourist visas to this country from six months to 30 days may cause great inconvenience while doing little if anything to enhance America's security and similarly, reducing the duration of business visas from one year to six months would hardly make any difference in terms of security, but it could create cumbersome situations for many firms.

The ABCs of Immigration - E-1 Treaty Trader Visas
Greg Siskind and Amy Ballentine explain the ABCs of Treaty Trader Visas.

Labor Cert Backlog To Receive Major New Funding ?
According to a report by the San Jose Mercury News, on the "bayarea.com" site, the Bush administration budget proposal shifts $138 million from H-1B Technical Skills Training Grants to the US Department of Labor's labor certification program to speed up processing of the case backlog.

The ABCs of Immigration - E-2 Treaty Investor Visas
Greg Siskind and Amy Ballentine explain the ABCs of Treaty Investor Visas.

INS Sweep Against Undocumented in Colorado, Kansas and Missouri
The Denver Post reports that the INS is involved in a sweep of undocumented aliens including recently subpoenaing hiring records of businesses in Kansas and Missouri to track down undocumented workers in the fast-food industry there. One of the aliens who was arrested said: "we've been treated like the worst kind of criminal, but the only thing we've done is work."

ILW Highlights

Immigration Forms

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Letters to Editors

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

Dear Editor

I am an Indian national of Goan origin residing in Goa, India. I am engaged to a US citizen and he has filed a petition for a fiancee visa so that I may join him in the US, where we plan to get civilly married. It is nearly five months since the petition was filed, and there is yet no word from the INS on the status of our petition. Is there any website containing the relevant bulletin board or information cell giving the expected time of approval of the petition? How would I be able to know the approximate time remaining for the processing of my visa to be completed?

I shall appreciate an early reply. Thanks.

L.J.L

Editors note: ILW.COM staff does not provide answers to legal questions. However, site visitors must feel free to obtain answers to their questions by:
- Attending free live chats
- Contacting an immigration lawyer

Immigrant Life

Stop making immigration laws anti-immigration

" Immigration in this country is not only restrictive but also very unfair. Rich people can do whatever they wish with the us immigration laws and as a matter of fact immigration laws do not apply to them.Their money counts. There are people like me who are over 22 years in this country and because I don't have a close relative I can't get a greencard......." (Cont'd).

This week's chat schedule

When Attorney Monday, April 22 9:00 pm Eastern Time Alice Yardum-Hunter, Esq. Tuesay, April 23 9:00 pm Eastern Time Special Chat with INS Official Linda Dodd-Major, Esq.

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