Homeland Security Facts and Principles

The duty of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is to protect the United States from national disasters and threats and the goal of the DHS is to keep America safe. The DHS is the national protection agency that secures the borders of the country and that prevents terrorists from attacking the country. This department was created in the year 2003 after the INS was dissolved in response to the terrorist attacks in 2001. The US Department of Homeland Security safeguards the constitutional rights of the Americans and protects the economy of the country. DHS is the executive department of the federal government and its main responsibility is to protect the country. It prevents terrorist attacks, enhances border security, administers immigration laws, secures cyberspace and minimizes the damage from natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

DHS oversees few different government agencies and the department was created through the integration of 22 different federal departments and currently the DHS oversees the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), US Coast Guard, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, US Secret Service (USSS) and the Office of Inspector General. The main goals of the DHS are to prevent terrorist attacks and to prevent them from using nuclear and chemical materials on American soil.

Likewise, the department allots funds to modernize ports of entry and it helps to enhance national preparedness in state and local law enforcement. It is also updating the border security technology as the goal of the department is to secure the land, air and sea ports of entry. It also investigates and prevents criminal organizations from getting into the country. DHS has doubled Border Patrol agents and it has deployed National Guard troops in order to help the law enforcement agencies. Moreover, the department is joining forces with Mexico to secure the border.

DHS implements immigration laws and the USCIS, a federal agency managed by the DHS, oversees all immigration processes. Likewise, the responsibility of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is to identify and remove undocumented immigrants. It is also working hard to combat human trafficking and is conducting programs to assist the victims. The National Cyber Security Division of the DHS counters cyber threats and implements cyber-risk programs. People can obtain information about cyber crimes from the National Cyberspace Response System and this system also assesses cyber threats through its US-Cert Operations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency of the Homeland Security, makes recommendations to the government and provides disaster assistance to affected communities. However, DHS that is keeping the country safe, is looking forward to become a smarter agency and protect the country more effectively.

What You Should Know When Renewing A Green Card?

Green Card is an identity document issued by the government of the United States to the permanent residents of the country. Green Card holders can enjoy various rights and they also have few responsibilities. With this Green Card, you can stay anywhere in America, as long as you wish and this permanent resident status will never expire. But this does not apply to Green Cards and the Green Cards will expire and these cards are good only for a decade and the Green Card holders will have to apply for Green Card renewal prior to the expiration of their cards.

Hence, it is mandatory to understand the renewal process. An expired Green Card will create problems and it might also endanger your permanent resident status. You may not be able to accept employment in the country if you do not have a valid document to prove that you are a permanent resident and you may not be able to obtain benefits that are meant for permanent residents. US employers may not hire you, if your permanent resident Card is invalid. To avoid such difficulties, you need to immediately file an application for Green Card renewal, if you find that your Green Card is about to expire or if it has already expired.

The USCIS forms that must be filed to get your Green Card renewed, is Form I-90. All the fields of this form must be completed and the required supporting documents along with the form must be mailed to the right service center. The form filing process may not be difficult as you can file Form I-90 electronically and you can just follow the customized form instructions and complete the form. Moreover, you will immediately receive a confirmation notice after you e-file your Green Card renewal application. Copies of supporting documents such as your driver's license, both the sides of your Green Card, passport and other relevant documents must be mailed to the location specified in the confirmation notice that you receive after filing your petition, online. You may pay the form filing fee through a check or a money order, if you file the paper form and through your debit or credit if you e-file your Green Card renewal application.

Currently, the form filing fee is $450 and this includes the biometrics fee. And remember that you will be sent a biometrics appointment notice after you file your petition and without fail you will have to make it to the location, specified in the appointment notice. USCIS might require applicants who have filed applications for Green Card renewal to appear for in person interviews and this may not be applicable to all the applicants. USCIS will issue a new Green Card that is valid for a ten year period, after conducting background checks or after the interview, if you are still eligible for lawful status in the United States.

The Difference between the H1B Sponsorship Job and the U.S. General Jobs

A foreigners  who are not a citizen of America or not an LPR residents  need a work visa like any other immigrants in quest of relocating, broaden their horizons  and working in the United States of America, or wish to change the current visa status to a H1B visa transfer, it is a must and required to acquire a job offer H1B visa sponsorship, you will need to meet some requirements to qualify and the work should be with a corporation or a Company who hires migrant workers, and who are willing to sponsor the highly motivated and skilled candidates employment by applying and filing a petition for an H1B work visa with USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services).

As a result, your career hunting is very different from the usual because you must meet the US job standard, criterion and requirements for the H1B visa program, the jobs, employment in the United States should be currently available for H1B sponsorship. Under the US immigration law: the US Companies must meet the specific H1B sponsor requirements, abide to H1B policy and regulations,  understand the processes and the responsibilities required of the employers and most importantly the US Companies who have a job offer must be willing to sponsor/ file a nonimmigrant petition and apply for an H1B visa.

If you want an H1B visa, visa sponsorship program varies depends on the kind of career you want to have i.e. temporary work, seasonal work and depend on your skills and the level of your expertise and the experiences you have. Foreign national’s job seeker who wishes to apply on sponsorship program can access a list of organization and Companies that sponsors a visa by applying online.

Currently there are a vast growing numbers of Jobs & Employment based companies and web sites posted online who are offering for a sponsorships visa but you should be wary of them.  The best way to obtain that sponsorship is to research the Companies who will be needing your skills and  create a blow up Curriculum Vitae that highlights your unusual expertise and exotic skills that is highly needed in America and above all, market yourself – convince then and makes them wants to sponsor you.

Employment-Based Visa Immigration with no Labor Certification

The other common ways getting a lawful resident status in the U.S. is via employment.  There are several choices in employment-based immigrant visa classification and lots of sub classification contained by those choices. One is eligible by deciding correctly which categories to take to triumphantly transfer to the United States. Fundamentally, this type is called “EB-1”.

The best characteristic of EB-1 visa is that usually the job offer from an employer is not required. This feature is very significant since the optimistic immigrant will not need the support of an employer. Without an employer the aspirant can apply a self-petition with the USCIS also known as United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.  The hopeful migrant does not need to obtain labor documentation from the United States Department of Labor as a prerequisite to legal permanent residency.

The second most excellent attribute part of EB-1 visa is the scarcity of visa backlogs. This connotes that the immigrant, the unmarried children below 21 years old and the US citizen spouse can depend on to transferring soon to the United States after the acknowledgment of EB-1 petition.

For the non-citizen who has an exceptional skill the first choice is EB-1 visa.

“Remarkable skills” is portrayed as a “stage of expertise indicating that the person is one of those marginal’s who have ascended to summit of the playing field of achievement”.  EB-1 visa aim is to give the most excellent and the smart immigrant with a visa as a superior member of staff whose ability, creativity and skills are useful to the United States of America. An immigrant with an extra-ordinary skill entry in the United States has to “extensively benefit potentially for the United States”.

The hopeful immigrant who has an aspiration to submit an application should meet the criteria as a priority worker, must be an alien with a bizarre skills in the playing fields of arts, of business or athletics (“EB-1A”), sciences, an excellent professor or research (“EB-1B”), education,  a multinational executive or a manager who will be employed in the United States for the same company whom he/she was working with in his/her native land for one out of three years in an administrative competency (“EB-1C”). For qualification the three categories of EB-1 visa priority personnel have distinctive characteristics and conditions.

Human Rights Violations in US Immigration Reforms Enforcement

Hispanics, immigrants and native Americans are said to face a pattern of human rights violations under United States Immigration policies. The communities living in the border are greatly affected by the immigration control measures which results in human rights violation. The execution of immigration enforcement criterion along the border has created an impact in the rights of Indigenous population as their lands lie on both regions of the US-Mexico border.

Immigration policies has pushed the undocumented immigrants into using dangerous routes through the US desert which results in the death of numerous people. Racial profiling has been increasing due to the improper supervision of the state and local law enforcement. Some Immigrants are denied their basic human rights like the right to education because of the increasing region laws and local policies. Local communities and some minority populace are at a risk of injustice. Some immigrants face a range of obstructions of justice, most especially once they are victims of domestic violence or human trafficking.

A report states that the federal and state laws had failed to respect immigrants' right to life. American citizens of Hispanic descent and Native Americans are subject to prejudiced identification by federal, state and local law enforcement officials. Through that they are being preyed for police stops and investigations. Each citizen and every immigrant has human rights, despite of their lawful resident status. The report from Amnesty International says that US has been failing to ensure the basic human rights under the international law.

Federal and state authorities have controversial ideas about the report's complaints of racial profiling. The officials from the Department of Homeland Security say that the report is based on obsolete information. The statement doesn’t have rational approvals for improvisation. It only suggests the deferral of the nationwide immigration compulsory programs.

Even Texas does not have immigration laws, the DOS officers arrest undocumented immigrants in spite of their nationality. The federal state communities say that they prevent racial profiling by having the fingerprints of all the arrested people and are being checked against FBI criminal records. Customs and Border Protection officials say that is has been working with the tribes to create identification forms. The federal agency has institute a policy which will protect victims of domestic violent behavior both physically and emotionally and to make ensure that the criminals are prosecuted

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As per the statement of Amnesty International, most of the victims do not file law enforcer reports because they believe that the police will not lend a hand to them. The human rights group has also commented on the US border policy, for forcing the undocumented immigrants to use dangerous routes to enter the country. Amnesty International says that many have lost their lives along the border and the children are suffering due to the local policies as they face difficulties in accessing their right to education.

What will the American Airport Immigration Officer Expect To See After Your Absence from the U.S. for 6-12 Months ?

Lawful permanent residents of the United States may travel abroad freely for less than a year. But traveling abroad might be difficult if you hold an expired Green Card. Even if your Green Card is valid you will be permitted to enter into the country only after inspection and the US immigration officers will question you in order to make sure that you had not left the country with an intention of giving up your lawful status in the United States. US Green Cards are issued to foreign nationals who intend to make the country their permanent home and if such Green Card holders plan to reside permanently in a foreign country, their Green Cards may be revoked and they may not be allowed to re-enter the country. You may be at the risk of losing your Green Card if you travel outside the country frequently. US immigration officers at the US airport will also ask you about the purpose of your frequent travel.

However, you may not be allowed to re-enter the country with your valid Green Card, if you had lived in a foreign country for a year or more. And you will have to obtain a re-entry permit to get back to the country, prior to your departure, if you plan to remain abroad for more than 365 days. But if you had to remain abroad for long time due to a genuine reason, you may explain your situation to the US immigration officer and provide evidence to prove that you had not planned to remain outside the country but you had to remain due to a valid reason. If your family member had fallen sick all of a sudden and if you had to stay in the foreign country due to that reason for a long period of time, you may submit copies of medical records to show that you had to remain with the family member who was in need of your help. However, your continuous absence from the country disrupts your continuous residence and the US immigration officers may doubt that you have plans to live in a foreign country and abandon your permanent residence status in America.

In order to prove that you had to remain abroad for a genuine reason, you may be required to provide documentary evidence to show that you have social and family ties in the United States. Hence, it is wise to always carry with you certain documents that will help you to prove that you intend to reside in the United States permanently. You may provide details about your property in America, the vehicle that you own in the United States, your American bank accounts and your US driver's license, to demonstrate that you need to return to the country. Similarly, the tax returns that you had filed and your employment in the United States, may also help you to establish that you had do not have an idea to relinquish your permanent resident status in America. Apart from that, you may present copies of your family member's medical reports to show that you had to stay with that relative, as he needed your help. A US immigration officer at the US airport may expect the above mentioned documents and evidence to grant you permission to re-enter the country.

Who Are The Young People Eligible for the President’s “Deferred Action” Initiative

According to the deferred action policy, young undocumented immigrants who got into the United States, as children are eligible to receive deferred action. Their deportation will be postponed for two years for which they are granted deferred action. As much as 1.4 million undocumented immigrants in the country may become eligible to request deferred action as they meet the eligibility requirements for deferred action. Around half the number of eligible undocumented immigrants live in Texas and California. But other American states also have significant number of undocumented immigrants from every part of the world. Most of the undocumented immigrants in the United States are from Mexico. Apart from Mexicans, there are many undocumented immigrants who are from Asia, South America, Europe and various other parts of the world.

Young people who are eligible for the deferred action process, are the undocumented immigrants who are below age 31 and above 15 and they must have entered the country when they were below age 15. Such undocumented immigrants to become eligible for the deferred action process should have resided within the United States, continuously for 5 years. Their physical presence in the country as of June 15, 2012 and at the time of submitting their requests, is mandatory. Moreover, the requesters must not have any legal immigration status in the country. If they had entered lawfully, then they must prove that their lawful status expired on or before 15th June, 2012. The application filed by an undocumented immigrant will be considered for deferred action, if he has been issued a final deportation order or if he was never placed in removal proceedings. Young undocumented immigrants who are currently in school or those who hold a high school completion certificate alone are eligible to request deferred action. Otherwise, the applicant must be an honorably discharged veteran from the US Coast Guard or Armed Forces, to request deferred action. In order to prove all the above, you must mail Form I-821D, along with the documents that will establish your eligibility. Undocumented immigrants who were convicted of punishable offenses may not be eligible to request deferred action. Moreover the undocumented immigrants who pass the background checks will only be eligible to receive deferred action.

However, children below age 15 may not be eligible to request deferred action, but they may become eligible in future, if the deferred action process is in effect. Though this process is not a permanent solution, it will help a lot of undocumented immigrants, who do not want to be removed from the country. Undocumented immigrants who are considered to be of low-priority for the enforcement of the US immigration laws will be benefited through this process. They may file Form I-821D, to request deferred action by providing the required supporting documentation to prove that they are eligible to receive deferred action. These undocumented immigrants who receive deferred action will receive federal work permits and driver's licenses. Hence, the President's deferred action/Acción diferida initiative will grant a temporary relief from deportation to the law-abiding young undocumented immigrants.