A Note from the Editors:

Secy. Ridge Suppports Legalization

During a town hall meeting held this Tuesday in Florida, DHS Secretary Ridge said that the vast majority of undocumented aliens in the US were not a threat to national security and should be given "some kind of legal status." This is the first Cabinet-level statement supporting legalization after 9/11. We welcome the acknowledgement of the obvious by Secretary Ridge, in that 99.99% of the undocumented are as much a threat to national security as a head of lettuce. While we strongly support efforts by the Adminstration to bring terrorists to justice, we believe that inaction on the legalization front is a failure of statesmanship. Secretary Ridge's statement sets a positive tone for the legalization battles in 2004 and supports the hope that President Bush will lend his crucial support in achieving legislation next year.

We welcome readers to share their opinion and ideas with us and other readers by writing to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.

Articles

Address Prepared For Delivery Before The Mobilization Conference Of The National Jewish Welfare Board: Presidential Paper Historical Series
President Truman sent this message to Congress on October 17, 1952.

The Strict Rules Regarding Marriage Fraud
Christina B. LaBrie writes "US immigration law contains very strict provisions regarding fraudulent marriages."

Not All H-1Bs Are Created Equal
Gary Endelman writes "We want a seamless movement of trade and ideas across national boundaries but seem to believe that people must stay behind. Give us your money and intellectual capital, but be sure to remain where you are!"

USCIS Guidance Memo On Extension Of Status For Conditional Residents With Pending I-751 Forms
William Yates, USCIS Acting Associate Director of Operations issued a memorandum to all interim regional directors, service center directors, and USCIS district directors on the extension of status for conditional residents with pending I-751 forms.

Pushing The Envelope With The Child Status Protection Act
Cyrus Mehta explores two provisions of the CSPA that have been subject to varying interpretations.

Confusing Content And Clients
Peter Boyd, Esq. discusses some common errors that lawyers routinely make when developing content for their website.

How Do I Remove The Conditions On Permanent Residence Based On Marriage?
Read a detailed response from the USCIS on how to remove the condition from your status.

ILW Highlights

Curriculum For "By Air, Land And Sea - When The POE Becomes A Brick Wall"

The curriculum for ILW.COM's new seminar is as follows:

"By Air, Land And Sea - When The POE Becomes A Brick Wall"

FIRST Phone Session on December 18: "My Cousin Is At The Airport and They Won't Let Her In" The Entry Process and How to Get In

1. The ABC's of Entry - The Entry Process

• Each Step, What They Do (Their Purpose)
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Deferral
  • Proceedings
• General Pitfalls To Be Aware Of

• The Problem of Immigrant Intent
• Unlawful Presence as a Ground for Inadmissibility
• "Returning" Residents and the Use of Reentry Permits

• When Does It Apply
• Procedure That Is Followed
• Alternatives
• No Judicial Review

5. IBIS Checks and Other Data Checks

• TECS - Treasury Enforcement Computer Systems
• NAILS - National Automated Immigration Lockout System
• NCIC
• NLETS
• CLETS
• DACS
• NIIS
• CLASS

• Parole
• I-193
• Reentry Permits

SECOND Phone Session on January 14: "I need my TN ASAP so I don't miss my flight" A focus on Canadian and Mexican Borders Issues

1. Border Adjudications-NAFTA

• TN's
  • The process
  • The problems - Dual intent, Self employment, Specific occupation
  • Canadians at the Mexican border
  • Appeals
• L-1's
  • Procedure(s)
  • RFE's
  • Appeals
• The Mexican process

• Where to go
• Who to see
• Attorney presence

• Who gets them
• Who needs them
• Passport requirements

THIRD Phone Session on February 12: "My Friend Has An 'Interesting' Case And He Can't Seem To Get Back Into The U.S." Problems Which May Keep People Out

1. Impediments to Entry

• Failing to Register Under NSEERS
  • Procedure and proof of NSEER registration
  • Where and how to leave the U.S.
  • Where and how to register upon return
• Abandonment of LAPR
• Last Action Rule
• Travel ability of 'Ported' aliens
  • Returning while 'EOS' & 'COS' are pending
• Intending students
• Data sharing between DOS & USCIS
  • DS-156 & DS-230 Info

3. PFI Inspections - Problems unique to PFI's

4. Seizures and Forfeitures

5. Inspass

6. Technology alert list (TAL)

7. Use of FOIA

8. Section 110 - Integrated Entry/Exit System - Biometrics

The deadline to register is Tuesday, December 16th. For more info, see: http://www.ilw.com/seminars/december2003.shtm. (Fax version: http://www.ilw.com/seminars/december2003.pdf.)

Letters to Editors

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

Dear Editor:
I sponsored my son in 2000, I am a greencard holder and my son is over 21. How long do I have to wait. Please send me the current list dates for issuing the visas.

Name Not Provided

Editor's Note: To find what case dates are currently being processed, visit the processing times section of our website at: http://www.ilw.com/govttimes/.

Immigrant Life

What is a Social Security Card?

A Social Security number and card is used by the government to keep track of earnings and witholdings. The Social Security witholdings are disbursed to people who have retired or are disabled.

To learn more, see here.

Have a story that you'd like to share with us? Send your story as an immigrant to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.

This week's chat schedule

ILW.COM announces that as of Nov 1st, all chats will be held at 6:00 pm Eastern Time.

When	Attorney
Monday Dec 15 6:00 pm Eastern Time	Kyle Kinzy, Esq.
Wednesday, Dec 17 6:00 pm Eastern Time	Robert Gottfried, Esq.
Friday, Dec 19 6:00 pm Eastern Time	To be announced

Classifieds

For information on advertising in the classifieds please click here.