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DV-2009, the 2007 Green Card Lottery Begins on October 3rd
 WASHINGTON, DC
- The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the
Green Card
Lottery, starts at 12.00 pm on October 3rd, 2007. The U.S. Department of State
continues to encourage all applicants to the 2007 Green Card Lottery (DV-2009)
to submit their applications early in the two-month registration period. It is
important to understand that being selected in the lottery does not
automatically guarantee a green card. The requirements are strict and many
applicants selected in the lottery do not receive a green card because
they do not meet the educational or professional requirements. There are 50,000
immigrant visas (Green Cards) available in the
2007 Green Card Lottery
(DV-2009). The odds of being selected depend on the total number of
eligible entries received by the Department of State. There are also country
quotas, which causes some countries to receive more Green Cards than others. Citizens of
most countries qualify for the visa lottery program, however there are few
exceptions. The full list of eligible countries can be found in the
Green Card
Lottery Application Guide.
Warning: It is important to not fall victim to Green Card Lottery scams. Many
fraudulent websites claim to be the official Green Card Lottery website. These
fraudulent websites charge a fee to submit Green Card Lottery applications. There is no cost to submit
an
application.
Click here to learn more.
Download the
Green Card Lottery Application Guide and submit your application
today.
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New York Making it Easier for Immigrants to Get a Drivers License
 NEW YORK, NY
- The 9/11 Commission recommended the Real ID Act, which president Bush signed
it into law on May 11, 2005. The Real ID Act sets minimum standards for state-issued
identification cards and
driver’s licenses.
Greater security is gained by requiring states to check the legal status and
identity of the applicant. However, there are currently eight states (Maine, Michigan, Utah, Washington, Hawaii, Maryland, New Mexico and Oregon) that are not mandating that
driver license applicants show proof of their legal status.
New York is the most recent state to join this group, making it a total of nine
states that do not require proof of legal immigration status. It is estimated
that there are anywhere from half a million to one million illegal immigrants in
New York. Applicants will be allowed to present a valid foreign passport to
apply for a NY drivers license starting in December.
New York governor Eliot Spitzer believes this new policy will benefit many and add security. With the increased number of applicants, the state will be able to expand its public records database. Law enforcement and other agencies will now have access to records of individuals they did not have previously. New York drivers will benefit by seeing insurance premiums fall. Many
illegal immigrants are currently driving without a license and many would take up the offer to obtain a driver’s license if given the opportunity. Critics of this new policy believe security could be put at risk and point out that some of the 9/11 hijackers were able to open up bank accounts and rent cars with a driver’s license. They also believe that not requiring proof of legal status could encourage many illegal immigrants to move to New York, which could easily become a financial burden due to the social services provided to them.
Download the
United States Drivers License Application Guide and apply for a
drivers license today! |
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Former Nazi kicked out of the United States returns to Germany
 PHOENIX, AZ
- Two neighbors living in the same community as next-door neighbors lived
through the same experience (the Holocaust) but on different sides. Nathan Gasch
was a prisoner at a Nazi concentration camp who endured everything from
humiliation to torture while living in inhumane conditions. He survived the
Auschwitz camp and the identification number on his left arm is a daily
reminder. Martin Hartmann, a Romanian, had served in the SS Death’s Head Guard
Battalion at an infamous Nazi camp known as Sachsenhausen where thousands died.
He served at the Nazi camp until the end of World War II and in 1966 headed to
the United States. Six years later Hartmann became a U.S. citizen and had lived
here without any problems until his past was discovered. Gasch who was invited
into the Hartmann’s home about four years back quickly spotted a picture of
Hartmann in a Nazi hat. He quickly left the room and never questioned his
next-door neighbor about the picture or his past Nazi history. Hartmann’s past
finally caught up to him as he was discovered by a special investigation unit of
the U.S. Department of Justice for his Nazi involvement. He was deported after
admitting he had been part of the SS guard and even assisted in Nazi
persecutions. The U.S. officials do not have the authority to prosecute Hartmann
for his war crimes, but they did revoke his citizenship. Hartmann is one of 106
individuals with past Nazi involvement that have been discovered by U.S.
officials since 1979.
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Mexican Consul General advises immigrants to avoid Texas region
 IRVING, TX
- Recently the Mexican Consul General of Dallas recommended that immigrants avoid the area of Irving, Texas due to the large number of immigrants arrested and turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Since June 2006 the consul, Enrique Hubbard, claims that Irving law enforcement has arrested about 1,600 immigrants. He mentioned one example where immigrants were having a barbecue in their apartment complex when they were questioned by police about their
legal status. The consul believes that communities with large immigrant populations especially Hispanics are being singled out and is classifying this as racial profiling. The number of
immigrants arrested is greater than 1,600 when taking into consideration that many other immigrants have been detained under the 24/7 Criminal Alien Program where the legal status of the detainee is checked. If the detainee is not able to show acceptable documentation verifying their legal status, then the detainee is handed over to ICE officials and most likely deported. Hubbard is criticizing the Irving police for putting in significant time and resources in going after immigrants when they should be going after criminals. Officials responded by saying that they only target apartments where high crime rates abound and that the jail staff plays a large role in trying to identify detainees who are here illegally. Herbert Gears, Irving’s mayor, stressed that those arrested were arrested for a reason like an offense and that the police department does not inquire into an individual’s
legal status.
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False Information Leads to High Influx of Immigrants to Canada
 WINDSOR, CANADA
- Immigrants looking to escape the threats of
immigration raids and the tougher immigration law enforcement by the U.S. have turned to Canada. Recent statements by some immigrant groups on the Internet have misled some immigrants into thinking that Canada is a safe haven for immigrants and will grant them
refugee status. They have made claims that illegal immigrants will receive financial assistance and health care while they wait for their claim to be heard. One group in Florida called the Jerusalem Haitian Community Center was charging $400 per individual for assistance into Canada. Many of the immigrants (the majority Mexican) headed into Windsor, Canada and have started to overwhelm their social care system. Last year about 13% of Mexican immigrants were granted
refugee status. Claims can take up to two years to be heard and meanwhile the city has to provide lodging to families and individuals seeking refugee status. The city is responsible for paying 20% of the social services provided to immigrants and the remaining 80% is paid by Ontario. The recent surge of about 220 immigrants in the last month has prompted the mayor to ask the Canadian government for financial assistance. As of now Windsor has incurred costs of about $200,000 for the services provided. Others have proposed that the claim process be expedited to provide some relief to the city.
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Proposed Recall of Green Cards Without and Expiration Date
 WASHINGTON, DC
- In the period from 1979 to 1989 the Immigration and Naturalization Service
(now known as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - USCIS) issued
approximately 750,000 green cards or permanent resident cards without an
expiration date. In August of 2007, the USCIS announced a
proposal that would recall the no-expiration green cards. The new cards issued would
have a 10-year expiration date just like the cards issued before 1979 and after
1989. The proposal is being made for security purposes and would allow the USCIS
to update information, store fingerprints and photos electronically, and run
background checks on cardholders. The fee for the new card would be $370.
Cardholders would be given a timeframe of 120 days in which to apply for the
replacement. Among the critics of such proposal are members of the Congressional
Hispanic Caucus or CHC and other Congressmen. Representative Joe Baca, the CHC
chairman, has stated that such proposal would be unfair to permanent residents
since they would have to pay the $370 fee and most likely face a backlog. He
pointed out that many green card holders have been in the U.S. for decades and
are in the country legally. In addition, the 120 days may not be sufficient time
to notify all permanent resident cardholders of the changes that would take
place. A USCIS spokesperson responded that it is just a proposal that is being
developed with no implementation date in mind. In addition, the USCIS would take
the time to educate cardholders beforehand if the proposal became effective.
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The U.S. Immigration Newsletter is published by:
U.S. Immigration Support
511 Avenue of the Americas # 45
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