immigration

Immigration is changing rural England life

2009-07-09T23:12:00.001-07:00

Recent polls, including the Ipsos Mori political monitor, last month, have put immigration at number one in the public's list of concerns. This used to be a polite way for people to tell pollsters that they were racists.

Yet race is no longer the issue: not since the arrival of more than 600,000 white Eastern Europeans after the expansion of the European Union in 2004, in what has become the biggest-ever influx of foreigners to our shores.

After a decade of broadly pro-immigration policies, Labour is on the defensive. Jacqui Smith's appointment as Home Secretary in June surprised Westminster, but she knows why Gordon Brown chose her for the job.

When he was chancellor and she was Chief Whip, an MP for a Midlands marginal seat, she submitted political strategy papers to him that singled out immigration, particularly from Eastern Europe, as a top concern of voters, and one that the Government needed to address. Brown admired her political acumen.

Yet, since her arrival in the Home Office, it has been business as usual. The arrival of EU migrant workers has continued apace, while The Sunday Telegraph reveals today that the Home Office is moving towards an amnesty that could allow hundreds of thousands of failed "legacy" asylum-seekers to settle legally in Britain.

Meanwhile, there is little appetite in the Conservative leadership to challenge Labour over the issue. David Cameron has resisted calls from the Tory Right to talk more about immigration, for fear of surrendering the political centre ground.

A poll on the ConservativeHome website, last week, suggested that 39 per cent of party supporters want more focus on immigration, while only 31 per cent were happy with the current stance. But a change of strategy at this stage would bring accusations that the leader was lurching to the Right only to shore up his own position.

The asylum amnesty will apply to some of the backlog of 450,000 cases that were identified last year, while John Reid was home secretary, as the leftovers from a decade of Whitehall incompetence.

These individuals were assessed by officials, often many years ago, and judged to be economic migrants rather than refugees. Instead of being removed from the country, they were left in limbo for years. Many, understandably, have settled, started families and found work in the black economy.

Calls for an amnesty have won the backing of church leaders and more than 80 MPs, led by Jon Cruddas, the former Labour deputy leadership contender.

If asylum-seekers were given permission to remain in Britain and find work, the campaigners say, they would go from being a burden on the economy to being an asset, paying taxes instead of claiming benefits.

This claim is disputed by the pressure group MigrationWatch, which calculates that the extra burden the regularised migrants would place on the Welfare State would outweigh the taxes they paid.

Ministers refuse to call the legacy case review an "amnesty", for fear of the political backlash that the word brings. Yet, for many failed asylum-seekers, it will look and feel like an amnesty.

That brings a disadvantage: the prospect that it will encourage further illegal immigrants to try their luck in Britain in the expectation of another amnesty a few years later.

It is also unfair to low-skilled workers who have sought entry to Britain through legitimate channels and been turned down, only to find that their counterparts who broke the law and entered the country as stowaways are now being granted permission to stay on as legitimate migrant workers.

When Spain declared a three-month amnesty for illegal immigrants in 2005, about 700,000 people took the opportunity to regularise their status. The country's Socialist government claimed that the move raised £1 billion in taxes. The opposition said it incurred one-off costs and sparked far-Right attacks on immigrants.

MigrationWatch has identified three previous "amnesties" in Britain, none on the scale of the current operation. In 1993, the Conservative government granted "exceptional leave to remain" to 32,000 adults.

In 1999, a "backlog clearance exercise" under Labour gave 29,000 people indefinite leave to remain. And in 2003 David Blunkett, as home secretary, launched the "family exercise", under which 70,000 adults and children, all of whom claimed asylum before 2001, have been granted settlement rights.

In 2004, the all-party Commons Home Affairs Committee declared: "Amnesties set up a vicious circle which should be broken by discouragement of unfounded claims, fast and efficient processing of those claims when made, and rapid removals when claims have failed."

Recent reforms to asylum and immigration have mainly amounted to tinkering around the edges, from the New Asylum Model, which has speeded up the handling of some claims, to points-based assessment for skilled migrants, to the rebranding of the Home Office's immigration directorate as the Borders and Immigration Agency.

None of the changes has had much effect: the flow of foreign citizens into Britain via work permits, student visas or other schemes has been largely untouched.

Increased security at Channel ports has had some impact on illegal entrants. Yet, while the Government cannot prevent stowaways from finding their way into Britain and claiming asylum, the bulk of current immigration is the result of a deliberate decision by ministers.

When the EU expanded in May 2004, members including France and Germany banned nationals from the "A8" joining countries, chiefly Poland, from taking up jobs immediately. Britain, Ireland and Sweden were the only countries to open their labour markets overnight.

The result was the biggest wave of immigration this country has ever seen. It is a testament to British tolerance, as well as to the hard-working character of most of the new migrants, that this historic event has sparked no riots or protest movements. Yet its impact on our public services, housing and culture has yet to be fully felt.

Six years ago, the Cantle report on the riots in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley found that in those towns, the white and Pakistani Muslim communities were leading separate lives.

We do not yet know how quickly our newest arrivals will integrate. Research on central and Eastern European migrants, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation earlier this year, concluded that "the vast majority spent most of their time with recent or settled migrants from their own country and with migrants from other countries".

As our map on page 17 shows, the new migration hotspots are not the multi-ethnic inner cities that absorbed previous waves of immigration, but rural towns and villages where low-paid farm and hotel work is being done by Eastern Europeans.

In Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Polish grocery shops have sprung up. In Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, a policeman has taught himself to speak Lithuanian so he can chat to locals on his beat.

The biggest winners, apart from the migrants themselves, are the farmers and hoteliers who employ them at minimum-wage rates. The losers are the British craftsmen and cleaners, farm labourers and semi-skilled workers whose wages have been forced down as they compete in the labour market.

Overall, immigration increases the size of Britain's total economy, but its impact on what really matters - gross domestic product per head, or average wealth - is very small. Andrew Green, of MigrationWatch, claims that the positive effect is equivalent to 4p a week, or a Mars bar every three months.

Perhaps the strongest criticism of this Government's policies is that they are being pursued in ignorance of what impact immigration at its present level is having on Britain's economy and demography.

The Bank of England has warned that its efforts to keep inflation in check are hindered by the lack of accurate figures for the number of migrants coming to Britain. Mervyn King, the bank's governor, said: "Our biggest concern is that we simply don't know how large the migration is."

Local authorities with large migrant populations have protested that Whitehall under-counts their residents, resulting in underfunding to public services.

Westminster City Council complained last week that official figures showing that only 48,000 Eastern Europeans came to live in Britain in 2004 were extrapolated from a survey of a mere 169 EU migrants at airports and sea ports. The Office for National Statistics is reviewing its methods.

The most remarkable impact of recent migration is shown in birth statistics, calculated by the Office for National Statistics and revealed today.

These show that out of 669,000 babies born last year in England and Wales, 147,000, or 22 per cent, were the children of foreign-born mothers. A further six per cent had British-born mothers but foreign-born fathers.

Among the foreign mothers, roughly a quarter were Asian, a quarter European, a quarter from Africa or the Caribbean, and a quarter from elsewhere.

The figures also show that British-born women have, on average, 1.6 children - less than the "replacement rate" needed to keep the population stable. Foreign-born women living in Britain have, on average, 2.2 children. The highest fertility rate is among women born in Pakistan but living in Britain, who have an average of 4.7 children.

The Government Actuary predicts that by 2031, Britain's population will have risen from 60 million to 67 million, with most of the growth due to net immigration. The increase is the equivalent of six new cities the size of Birmingham. Yet many believe that even this is an underestimate.

David Green, the director of the Centre-Right think tank Civitas, said: "The current statistical basis is so weak, and there are so many unknowns - but I think everybody expects it to be much higher than that." Whatever the precise numbers, it looks certain that Britain in the future will be more crowded, and more diverse, than it is today.

Immigration divides England into two zones

2009-07-09T23:04:00.000-07:00

Many people simply don't understand how this could have happened without anyone being consulted and they are deeply concerned about the future.

Is it a cock up or a conspiracy? Actually, both. Labour abolished the last of our checks on individuals as they crossed our borders and they were desperately slow in tackling the asylum crisis.

But the real reason is deliberate, if largely camouflaged, government policy.

Labour's 1997 manifesto said only that "every country must have firm control over immigration and Britain is no exception". The first hint, no more, came in the 2001 manifesto which said: "As our economy changes and expands, so our rules on immigration need to reflect the need to meet skills shortages."

This turned out to be the trigger for a massive increase in work permits which have trebled under this government - a policy supported by the extreme Left for ideological reasons, by trades unions for politically correct reasons, and by employers for reasons of self-interest.

In 2004, the same forces argued for opening our borders to the east Europeans with results at least 10 times larger than the Government had foreseen.

This mass immigration is dividing England into two zones. In the countryside, life continues much as usual. In the cities, multiculturalism is rapidly taking over. In London, one third of the population are immigrants and half of all children are born to foreign mothers.

In many city schools immigrant children can find little British culture to adhere to, even if they wished to do so. Trevor Philips was right to suggest that we are "sleepwalking towards segregation".

Second-generation Muslims have not only failed to integrate; a small, dangerous minority are so filled with hatred for our country that they turn into suicide bombers.

The situation is now very serious but not hopeless. The first requirement is to get the numbers under control. The Government reels off a list of measures, many of them admirable in themselves, but they still refuse to put any overall limit on immigration despite the fact 75 per cent of the public wish to see one.

They are living dangerously. There is a growing groundswell of anger to which they would be wise to respond.

australian backpackers Australia Immigration Visas Temporary Visas

2009-07-09T22:54:00.000-07:00

What is a temporary Visa. A temporary Australian visa can be granted for holidays, temporary employment sponsored by an employer, students etc. The Visa expires after a specified date. I wouldn’t recommend illegally overstaying or you could find yourself a guest of Australia Immigration Officials in one of Australia’s immigration centers.

Electronic Travel Authorities (ETAs)

Some temporary Australia visas are granted on the basis of your passport of nationality, without ever requiring documentation to be submitted e.g. UK.

Generally an ETA only permits a stay of up to three months on the initial visit. Your travel agent should be able to advise you on obtaining an temporary Australia visa.

Australia Immigration can be complicated process so we recommend you get professional advice and assistance from MARA registered Australian Immigration Consultants or if you want help with visas contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Visas, Immigration and Refugees

2009-07-09T22:52:00.000-07:00

Professionals and other skilled workers seeking work or business in Australia.
People moving permanently to Australia or returning from overseas.
Tourists, working holiday, people transiting, visiting family or friends, or visiting for business or an event.
People studying or seeking study, training, or skills development in Australia.
Education agents and providers.
Employers who sponsor skilled people to work in Australia.
Australia's Refugee and Humanitarian programs

Post Australia Jobs Online for Free:

2009-07-09T22:51:00.001-07:00

This website is a FREE SERVICE for Australian employers who are looking to recruit or fill job vacancies and for Australian migrants eligible for residence to find those employers.

Among the many challenges facing migrants is securing employment. Perhaps simply in order to put bread on the table or because without it you won't qualify for residence.

Australian Skill Shortages - Migrants are a viable solution:

Australian employers continue to experience genuine and ongoing skills shortages. With the second lowest unemployment rate in the developed world Australian employers must increasingly be willing to consider employing non Australians.

Unfortunately for both would-be migrant and employer, Australian Immigration law doesn't allow a candidate to start a job without a work or residence permit yet most employers and recruiters demand that job candidates have one of those permits before putting you forward for consideration for jobs or offering you one. A highly frustrating Catch-22 for all parties.

Only job candidates that qualify for Australian residency are introduced to employers posting jobs:

This part of our IMMagine Immigration web site is designed to put genuine, serious migrants in touch with genuine serious employers.

Employers want tangible proof that job candidates are serious about moving to Australia; they want to know job candidates are available for interviews, available within a few weeks to start work, that they are eligible to live and work in Australia and are committed to remaining in Australia. This site is only for migrants/job candidates who have established they are likely to qualify for residence of Australia.

If you are an Australian employer we understand that you want to see clear signals of commitment from job candidates. All job candidates that you will find here are eligible for residence. They just haven't got it yet. They have paid for and been assessed by us and have been briefed on the realities of moving to Australia. Our job candidates are not "window shopping". These job candidates have already demonstrated their commitment to come live and work in Australia. You will not be bombarded with CVs/resumes and have the ability to express a preference for country of origin.

Australian Immigration Seminars in September 09 in Singapore

2009-07-09T22:48:00.000-07:00

IMMagine Australia Immigration is an Australian based Immigration Consultancy that specialise in Australian Immigration.

We will be holding a number of FREE Australian Immigration Seminars and consultations in Singapore for those people interested in Australian immigration / emigrating to Australia.

The Australian Immigration Seminars include information about:

Australian immigration policy and any recent changes;
The Australian immigration process;
Opportunites in Australia;
The impact of moving to Australia;
Finding a job in Australia;
Australia's cost of living, taxation, salaries, the education system and;
What Australia has to offer those interested in emigration.

We will also discuss the global economic environment and how it might impact on your immigration plans.

In the days following we will be available to meet with you for a one on one consultation to work through your eligibility, employability, children's schooling and answer your questions about Australia. Whilst the seminar is free a consultation (should you wish to arrange one) will be at a cost of S$100. This will be refunded should you become a client of ours.

We are specifically interested in those people with Degrees, Trade Qualifications, National Diplomas, business people, the self employed and those with family in Australia.

Canada Immigration Law Library

2009-07-09T22:46:00.000-07:00

The Campbell Cohen Canada immigration law library is a valuable Canadian immigration information source.

Please feel free to use these resources to learn more about the Canadian immigration process and recent trends in Canadian immigration law.

For ease of use, the Canada immigration law library is divided into the following sections:

Canada Immigration Law Glossary
A list of specialized Canadian immigration words and terms with their definitions.
From Adaptability to Work Experience and everything in between, you can learn the meaning of the terminology utlilized by Canadian Immigration Visa Officers.

Case Commentary
A monthly summary of Federal Court cases that have a direct bearing on the Canadian immigration process.
Learn how the Canadian judicial system has modified Canadian immigration policy by its interpretation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and its Regulations.

A-Z Topics
A exhaustive list of all Canadian immigration topics contained within the Canadavisa.com website.
Quickly find the information that you are looking for whether it be qualifying for a Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa or finding work in Canada to speed up your Canadian immigration process.

Archived A-Z Topics
Older material that has since been replaced by more current material on Canadavisa.com.
Be advised, that although this content is outdated, it is made available to you for research purposes on Canadian immigration matters of the past.

Work in Canada

2009-07-09T22:42:00.000-07:00

The Work in Canada Zone provides tools and resources to speed up your Canadian immigration. Jobs are accessible through our Canada Job Search Tool.

Whether you are looking for a temporary or permanent job in Canada, or you are a Canadian employer seeking to bring in skilled foreign professionals from abroad, the Work in Canada Zone will provide you with valuable online resources to help accomplish your goals.

We have earned our credentials... and that is why David Cohen has been named the exclusive Canadian immigration jobs advisor to the Monster.ca network. We are 100% committed to delivering the most efficient and cost-effective Canadian immigration employment services to both job seekers and employers.

Featured in the Work in Canada Zone:

Canada Job Search Tool: Start your job search now!
Work in Canada FAQ: Frequently asked questions about working and finding a job in Canada.
Canada Salary Calculator: Obtain a Salary Report for different areas of Canada.
Canadian Labour Standards: Learn about the minimum standards for wages and conditions of employment in each region of Canada. Rules on such issues as hours of work and overtime pay, vacations and pregnancy leave are all set out in this feature.
Job Interviews: A summary of what may and may not be asked by Canadian employers as part of the employee selection process, and general information on how to ask questions in a non-discriminatory fashion.
How to Write a Resume: Tips about how to tailor your resume for the Canadian job market.
Canadian Salary Survey: From Cooks to Information Technology Specialists, find out what your education and experience are worth in Canada.
Canadaworkvisa.ca: If you are not a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident and wish to work in Canada, you will require a Work Permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Visit Canadaworkvisa.ca, to see if you qualify for a temporary Work Permit in Canada.

Temporary Resident and Visitor Visas for Canad

2009-07-09T22:41:00.000-07:00

Except for Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents, all others require permission to enter Canada as a visitor, with or without a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV).

Canada welcomes more than 35 million temporary residents (non-immigrants) each year.

Individuals who wish to enter Canada for a temporary purpose, such as tourists, temporary foreign workers (Work permits) and international students (Study permits) must apply for and be granted a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), unless they are citizens of a visa-exempt country.

The TRV is a document issued by a Canadian Immigration Visa Office outside Canada, showing that the holder has satisfied the requirements for admission to Canada as a visitor. Temporary Resident Visas may be for single entry or multiple entry.

As a general rule, tourists are admitted for a period of six months. Temporary foreign workers and international students are admitted for varying periods of time, as determined on a case-by-case basis. Extensions may be applied for within Canada.

However, possession of a valid Temporary Resident Visa does not necessarily mean that the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Officer at the Canadian Port of Entry will admit the visitor into Canada. At the Port of Entry, all visitors must demonstrate that the purpose of their visit to Canada is of a temporary nature. Citizenship and Immigration Canada Officers at the Port of Entry will deny admission to all persons who, in their opinion, do not intend to leave Canada at the expiry of their visitor status.

In addition, criminality and medical issues may prevent a visitor from entering Canada. Visitors to Canada must also be able to prove their ability to support themselves during their intended temporary stay in Canada.

Canada Immigration Visas

2009-07-09T22:39:00.000-07:00

To become a Canadian Immigrant Permanent Resident, a foreign individual must apply for and be issued a Canada Immigration Visa.

People outside of Canada often refer to a Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa as a "Canada Green Card". The term Green Card, of course, pertains only to US immigration status.

The different Canadian immigration categories are:

Federal Skilled Workers (Professionals): Federal Skilled Workers (Professionals) are assessed upon a series of factors, i.e. a point system, which is designed to indicate the likelihood of becoming economically established in Canada.

Provincial Nomination Program (PNP): Under the Provincial Nomination Program provinces select individuals who are interested in settling in their province and who will be able to contribute to the province's economic development.

Canadian Experience Class: The Canadian Experience Class is for foreign workers and international graduates who are in Canada on a temporary basis and wish to become Permanent Residents. Canadian education and work experience are key selection factors.

Quebec Skilled Workers : Skilled Worker (Professional) applicants intending to reside in the Province of Quebec are selected based upon a different set of criteria than applicants who wish to settle elsewhere in Canada. The Quebec Immigration selection system is designed to indicate the likelihood of succeeding in settling in Quebec.

Business Immigration : Foreign individuals with business/managerial experience and relatively high net-worth may apply for Canadian permanent resident status under three sub-categories.

Family Sponsorship : In certain circumstances, Canadian citizens and permanent residents are entitled to sponsor their close relatives from abroad.

Canadian Immigrants are entitled to live and work anywhere in Canada and they may sponsor close family members for Canadian Immigration status. Canadian immigrants enjoy many, but not all, of the privileges of Canadian Citizenship and may apply for Canadian Citizenship after 3 years.

Immigrate to Canada

2009-07-09T22:37:00.000-07:00

As your Canadian immigration legal representative, Attorney David Cohen and the Campbell Cohen Law Firm will provide you with customized solutions for your Canadian immigration needs.

With over 25 years of experience and a 98 per cent success rate, Campbell Cohen is very familiar with the Canada immigration road map. With many routes to choose from, we have the expertise to find you the most efficient road to Canadian Permanent Residency.

Under the Canadian government's Action Plan for Faster Immigration, qualified applicants can now expect to receive their Canada immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa in 6 to 12 months if their occupations are in high demand in Canada.

If you are not sure that you qualify for Canadian immigration, complete our free online assessment. It will only take a couple of minutes and we will provide you with your eligibility report in less than 24 hours.

Law & Policy

2009-07-09T22:34:00.001-07:00

In this section of travel.state.gov, you will find information on a wide array of issues that often affect Americans traveling or living abroad.

These include “private matters” such as marriage, divorce, the need for a foreign attorney or for a document to be notarized. Or, you may be looking for information on documenting the birth of an American citizen abroad, acquisition of U.S. citizenship, and matters related to the death abroad of an American citizen.

You will also find information about “public matters” such as our international law obligations with regard to foreign nationals arrested or detained in the United States and other treaty, legal or public policy matters, including Congressional testimony on consular issues.

Laws, Regulation and Policy Visa Information

2009-07-09T22:33:00.001-07:00

This page provides information on visa laws, regulations and policy, including congressional testimony regarding visas provided by State Department officials. Click on the links to the left for easy access to the code of Federal Regulations, the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Foreign Affairs Manual, Visa Policy Telegrams and links to other legal and policy Web sites.

visa Bulletin

2009-07-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

VISA BULLETIN FOR JULY 2009

A. STATUTORY NUMBERS

1. This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during July. Consular officers are required to report to the Department of State documentarily qualified applicants for numerically limited visas; the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security reports applicants for adjustment of status. Allocations were made, to the extent possible under the numerical limitations, for the demand received by June 8th in the chronological order of the reported priority dates. If the demand could not be satisfied within the statutory or regulatory limits, the category or foreign state in which demand was excessive was deemed oversubscribed. The cut-off date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who could not be reached within the numerical limits. Only applicants who have a priority date earlier than the cut-off date may be allotted a number. Immediately that it becomes necessary during the monthly allocation process to retrogress a cut-off date, supplemental requests for numbers will be honored only if the priority date falls within the new cut-off date which has been announced in this bulletin.

2. Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets an annual minimum family-sponsored preference limit of 226,000. The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000. Section 202 prescribes that the per-country limit for preference immigrants is set at 7% of the total annual family-sponsored and employment-based preference limits, i.e., 25,620. The dependent area limit is set at 2%, or 7,320.

3. Section 203 of the INA prescribes preference classes for allotment of immigrant visas as follows:

FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES

First: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.

Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent
Residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, and any unused first preference numbers:

A. Spouses and Children: 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;

B. Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older): 23% of the overall second preference limitation.

Third: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.

Fourth: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES

First: Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.

Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.

Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to "Other Workers".

Fourth: Certain Special Immigrants: 7.1% of the worldwide level.

Fifth: Employment Creation: 7.1% of the worldwide level, not less than 3,000 of which reserved for investors in a targeted rural or high-unemployment area, and 3,000 set aside for investors in regional centers by Sec. 610 of P.L. 102-395.

4. INA Section 203(e) provides that family-sponsored and employment-based preference visas be issued to eligible immigrants in the order in which a petition in behalf of each has been filed. Section 203(d) provides that spouses and children of preference immigrants are entitled to the same status, and the same order of consideration, if accompanying or following to join the principal. The visa prorating provisions of Section 202(e) apply to allocations for a foreign state or dependent area when visa demand exceeds the per-country limit. These provisions apply at present to the following oversubscribed chargeability areas: CHINA-mainland born, INDIA, MEXICO, and PHILIPPINES.

5. On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); "C" means current, i.e., numbers are available for all qualified applicants; and "U" means unavailable, i.e., no numbers are available. (NOTE: Numbers are available only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below.)

Questions About Visas? PART 2

2009-07-09T22:27:00.000-07:00

My visa expires in 5 years, what does this mean?
A visa must be valid at the time a traveler seeks admission to the U.S., but the expiration date of the visa (validity period/length of time the visa can be used) has no relation to the length of time a temporary visitor may be authorized by the Department of Homeland Security to remain in the United States. Persons holding visas valid for multiple entries may make repeated trips to the U.S., for travel for the same purpose, as long as the visa has not expired, and the traveler has done nothing to become ineligible to enter the U.S., at port of entry.

My old passport has already expired. My visa to travel to the United States is still valid but in my expired passport. Do I need to apply for a new visa with my new passport?
No. If your visa is still valid you can travel to the United States with your two passports, as long as the visa is valid, not damaged, and is the appropriate type of visa required for your principal purpose of travel. (Example: tourist visa, when your principal purpose of travel is tourism). Both passports (the valid and the expired one with the visa) should be from the same country and type (Example: both Uruguayan regular passports, both official passports, etc.). When you arrive at the United States port of entry (POE) the Customs and Border Protection Immigration Officer will check your visa in the old passport and if s/he decides to admit you into the United States they will stamp your new passport with an admission stamp along with the annotation "VIOPP" (visa in other passport). Do not try to remove the visa from your old passport and stick it into the new valid passport. If you do so, your visa will no longer be valid.

How can I find out how long I am authorized to stay in the U.S.?
A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States, but allows a foreign citizen coming from abroad, to travel to the United States port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States, and determine how long a traveler may stay. At the port of entry, upon granting entry to the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security, US immigration inspector, provides you a small white card, Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record in your passport. Visa Waiver Program travelers receive Form 1-94W. On this form, the U.S. immigration inspector records either a date or "D/S" (duration of status). If your I-94 contains a specific date, then that is the date by which you must leave the United States. Your Form I-94, or I-94W is a very important document to keep in your passport, since it shows your permission to be in the U.S. Review information about Admission on the CBP Website. Also, see Duration of Stay.

I did not turn in my I-94 when I left the United States, what should I do?
If you failed to turn in your I-94 Departure Records, see Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection website for more information.

My visa will expire while I am in the United States. Is there a problem with that?
No. If the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection Immigration Officer at the port of entry (generally an airport) admitted you into the United States for a specific period of time, s/he will note your authorized period of stay on your I-94 card, called an Arrival Departure Record. You will be able to remain in the United States during your authorized period of stay, even if your visa expires during the time you are in the United States. Since Form I-94 documents your authorized stay and is the official record of your permission to be in the U.S., it is very important to keep inside your passport.

My passport with my visa was stolen, what should I do
If your passport with your I-94 are lost or stolen, you must get them replaced immediately. There are a number of steps you need to take.

What are indefinite validity visas (Burroughs visas) and are they still valid?
Indefinite validity visas (Burroughs Visas) are tourist/business visas manually stamped into a traveler’s passport which were valid for ten years. Effective April 1, 2004, all indefinite validity Burroughs visas became void. Therefore, if you have an indefinite validity visa you must apply for a new visa for travel to the U.S.

I hold an Iraqi "S" series passport; can I travel to the U.S. with this passport?
If you hold an Iraqi "S" series passport, effective January 8, 2007, the "S" series passports became no longer valid for travel to the U.S. due to its failure to meet international security standards. Holders of the "S" series passport cannot apply for a U.S. visa, and Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection will not admit travelers on U.S. visas issued in "S" series passports.

Travelers with existing valid U.S. visas in the "S" series passports must obtain a new visa as well as a new passport. In order to apply for a U.S. visa and travel to the U.S., Iraqi citizens must have a "G" series passport. The "G" series Iraqi passport has effective security features and can be used for visas or travel to the U.S. See U.S. Embassy Amman's website for more information about obtaining a "G" series passport, as well as information about certain immigrant special cases and refugees who may not need a passport to travel to the U.S.

Can an Iraqi "M" or "N" series passport holder travel to the U.S. with this passport?
If you hold an Iraqi "M" or "N" series passport, effective January 2007, both the "M" and "N" series passports are no longer valid for travel to the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection will not admit travelers on "M" or "N" series passports.

If you have a valid U.S. visa in the "M" or "N" series passport, you will need to obtain a new "G" series passport, but need not obtain a new U.S. visa.

I have dual citizenship. Which passport should I use to travel to the United States?
All U.S. citizens, even dual citizens/nationals, must enter and depart the United States using his/her U.S. passport.

I would like to know if my friend has applied for a visa and what the status is. Who should I contact?
Your friend, the visa applicant. Under U.S. law, specifically the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 222(f), visa records are confidential. Therefore, the visa applicant should inquire at the U.S. embassy or consulate abroad where he/she applied regarding necessary information about visa application status. Because of confidentiality of visa records, you’ll need to ask your friend, the visa applicant your questions about whether a visa application was made, or a visa was issued or denied.

What is Administrative Processing?
Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant's interview by a Consular Officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview.

Questions About Visas? PART 1

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Questions About Visas?

VISA

The information below provides answers to certain general visa questions you may have. The purpose of your travel, with few exceptions, determines the type of visa required under United States immigration law. By selecting other information on this website, such as Visa Types for Temporary Visitors, Visa Types for Immigrants, or the A-Z Subject listing, as examples, you will find detailed information and frequently asked questions (FAQs) specific to that type of visa.

What types of visas are available for people to come to the United States?
There are more than 20 nonimmigrant visa types for people traveling to the United States temporarily. There are many more types of immigrant visas for those coming to live permanently in the United States.

How do I read and understand my visa?
Please use the illustrated guide below to learn how to read your new nonimmigrant visa (for travel to the U.S. as a temporary visitor). In addition, as soon as you receive it, check to make sure information printed on the visa is correct (see below). If any of the information on your visa does not match the information in your passport or is incorrect, please contact the nonimmigrant visa section at the embassy or consulate that issued your visa.

After I have my visa, I will be able to enter the U.S., correct?
A visa does not guarantee entry into the U.S. A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to the U.S. port-of-entry, and the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immigration inspector authorizes or denies admission to the United States. See Admissions on the CBP website.
I have a nonimmigrant visa that will expire soon and I would like to renew it. Do I need go through the whole visa application process again?
Yes, you will have to go through the whole visa application process each time you want to apply for a visa, even if your visa is still valid. There are some situations where a visa applicant may not need to be interviewed when renewing his/her visa. See the U.S. Embassy website for more information.

How do I know whether to contact the Department of State or Department of Homeland Security about my issue?
Contact the Department of State, U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad with questions about U.S. visas, including application, the status of visa processing, and for inquiries relating to visa denial.
Once in the United States, the traveler falls under the jurisdiction of Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is responsible for the approval of all petitions, the authorization of permission to work in the U.S., the issuance of extensions of stay, and change or adjustment of an applicant's status while the applicant is in the U.S. See Other Government Information below to learn more.

Americans Traveling Abroad

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Traveling abroad doesn’t have to be confusing if you know the right things before you go. This section provides information and links to pages containing background and requirements for Americans traveling abroad. Click on the link below to access our alphabetical listing of countries to view specific entry requirements. The link below also includes information on passports, visas, immunizations, medical information and additional fees. Our International Travel section also includes information concerning conditions abroad that may affect your safety and security.

Visa Types for Temporary Visitors

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We welcome visitors to the United States, with secure borders and open doors. Most Canadian citizens and many citizens from Visa Waiver Program countries can come to the U.S. without a visa if they meet certain requirements. Visit Travel Without a Visa to learn more. There are various types of nonimmigrant visas for temporary visitors to travel to the United States, if you are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. lawful permanent resident. The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. It's important to have information about the type of nonimmigrant visa you will need for travel, and the steps required to apply for the visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.

Review the chart below. For more detailed information specific to each visa type, including how-to-apply information and more, select a link below.

Purpose of Travel to U.S. and Nonimmigrant Visas	Visa Type	Required: Before Applying for Visa*
Athletes, amateur & professional (compete for prize money only)	B-1	(NA)
Au pairs (exchange visitor)	J	SEVIS
Australian professional specialty	E-3	DOL
Border Crossing Card: Mexico	BCC	(NA)
Business visitors	B-1	(NA)
Diplomats and foreign government officials	A	(NA)
Domestic employees or nanny -must be accompanying a foreign national employer	B-1	(NA)
Employees of a designated international organization, and NATO	G1-G5, NATO	(NA)
Exchange visitors	J	SEVIS
Foreign military personnel stationed in the U.S.	A-2 NATO1-6	(NA)
Foreign nationals with extraordinary ability in Sciences, Arts, Education, Business or Athletics	O	USCIS
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Professionals: Chile, Singapore	H-1B1	DOL
International cultural exchange visitors	Q	USCIS
Intra-company transferees	L	USCIS
Medical treatment, visitors for	B-2	(NA)
Media, journalists	I	(NA)
NAFTA professional workers: Mexico, Canada	TN/TD	(NA)
Nurses coming to health professional shortage areas	H1-C	USCIS
Performing athletes, artists, entertainers	P	USCIS
Physician	J , H-1B	SEVIS
Professor, scholar, teacher (exchange visitor)	J	SEVIS
Religious workers	R	(USCIS)
Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge	H-1B	DOL then USCIS
Students: academic, vocational	F, M	SEVIS
Temporary agricultural workers	H-2A	DOL then USCIS
Temporary workers performing other services or labor of a temporary or seasonal nature.	H-2B	DOL then USCIS
Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitors	B2	(NA)
Training in a program not primarily for employment	H-3	USCIS
Treaty traders/treaty investors	E	(NA)
Transiting the United States	C	(NA)
Visa Renewals - Available in the U.S.		(NA)

*What the abbreviations (above) mean:
Before applying for a visa at a U.S. Embassy abroad the following is required:
DOL = The U.S. employer must obtain foreign labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor, prior to filing a petition with USCIS.
USCIS = DHS, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must approve a petition, filed by the U.S. employer (or U.S. citizen, for fiancé petitions)
SEVIS = Program approval entered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
(NA) = Not Applicable - Means that additional approval by other government agencies is not required prior to applying for a visa at the U.S. Embassy abroad.

Note: Canadian NAFTA Professional workers- Visa not required, apply to CBP at border port-of-entry.

Important Notices:
This chart includes more frequently used types of nonimmigrant visas and the associated purpose of travel with links to relevant webpages. However, it should be noted this chart is not a complete list of all purposes of travel or types of nonimmigrant visas. For additional information, see Nonimmigrant Visa Classifications on the USCIS website. Each visa applicant must meet the eligibility requirements for the type of visa for which he/she is applying, as determined by the consular officer at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, following U.S. immigration laws. See more detailed information in our temporary visitor webpages.