A Note from the Editors:

Bar Associations Help Abandoned Clients

An immigration attorney has apparently left the country to return to his native Chile, leaving about 400 clients in the lurch, according to a Seattle Times news article. Both the Washington State Chapter of AILA and the Washington State Bar Association have taken steps to help the unrepresented clients. We commend the actions of both bar associations and their prompt attention to the plight of those affected. For the item, see below.

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

Articles

Presidential Papers Historical Series: Letter On Revision Of The Immigration Laws (John F. Kennedy: 1961-1963)
John F. Kennedy sent this message to Congress on July 23, 1963

An Immigration Roundup
Jose Latour provides a roundup of recent immigration events.

USCIS Guide To Naturalization
The USCIS released the latest version of its guide to naturalization, including FAQs, table of eligibility requirements, and glossary of terms.

USCIS Announces Final CSS And LULAC Settlements
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the final settlements in the CSS and LULAC legalization cases for which the notices had been announced earlier.

Capped Out: Where Do We Go From Here?
Gary Endelman writes "Employers will have to wait until April 1 before filing a petition requesting new FY 2005 H-1B approval with an October 1st validity date. That is what we know right now. Capped out, where do we go from here?"

EOIR Announces Latest Disciplinary Actions
The Executive Office for Immigration Review announced disciplinary action against six attorneys: five attorneys were immediately suspended; one received a final order.

Workplace Identity Fraud and Identity Theft In The Workplace: The Convergence Of Immigration & Nationality Laws And Labor And Employment Laws
David Nachman, Esq. writes "Issues that emerge from the realm of social security mismatch, constructive knowledge and document fraud demonstrate the truly "gray areas" that exist at the precipice where the immigration, the tax and the employment laws converge."

USCIS Issues EAD To TPS El Salvadorans
The USCIS announced it had completed processing renewal Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for more than 238,000 Salvadorans who have re-registered for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

White House Say President Bush Is Fully Committed To Immigration Reform Initiative
During a White House press briefing, White House Spokesman responded to the query, "Is the President doing anything to get this immigration proposal through Congress?"

DOL Announces 2004 Adverse Effect Wage Rates
The Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor announced 2004 adverse effect wage rates for employers seeking H-2A temporary workers.

Marketing Myths Most Lawyers Believe
Trey Ryder dispels 18 marketing myths.

How Do I Get a Work Permit?
Read a response from the USCIS on how to obtain an employment authorization document.

ILW Highlights

New Forms

Form DS-11 (Application for U.S. Passport or Registration) and Form DS-82 (Application for U.S. Passport by Mail) were recently updated. To download the forms, see here.

Letters to Editors

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

Dear Editor:
I am a British citizen residing in London. I have had the unfortunate experience of witnessing your country's immigration policies, though indirectly. I am a concerned brother of a person who was deported from the U.S back in November of 2002. She later married a resident alien who has now been granted citizenship status. They both have three children together, the last borne in Nigeria since she was removed from the US. All efforts by her husband to secure her return to the US has failed. She has not see her husband nor the children she left behind for over 16 months now. My concern however is about the mental punishment and scar on the children. No mother's presence for 16 months; it comes as no surprise why they are falling behind in school work, the feeling that their mum purposely deserted them and the loss of love than you can only get from your mother at such a very young age.

O. Taiwo
London (UK)

Dear Editor:
I am extremely grateful and appreciative for the vast volume of info you provide to the world via ILW.COM. It's a great service to all. I am trying to locate an article entitled "Tips for Filing from the Nebraska Service Center".

Pam Pryce

Editor's Note: Try using our advanced search tool to locate your desired item. For example, a boolean search using the term "Nebraska Service Center" AND tips results indicates that the item appeared in the March 1, 2004 issue of Immigrant's Weekly.

Immigrant Life

What is Health Insurance?

Health insurance means just what it says: it's a way to insure yourself against health catastrophes such as illness and injury. In return for payment of a monthly fee, called a premium, the insurance company agrees to pay the price of a set amount of medical expenses, minus any deductible you may choose. This amount depends on the type of health plan you purchase. In the USA, health insurance falls into three categories: Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider Organizations and traditional "fee-for-service," or "indemnity" plans.

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 Feb 3rd, all chats will be held at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

When	Attorney
Tuesday, Mar 9 5:00 pm Eastern Time	Alice M. Yardum-Hunter, Esq.
Thursday, Mar 11 5:00 pm Eastern Time	Glendia Mondesir, Esq.
Tuesday, Mar 16 5:00 pm Eastern Time	To Be Announced

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