Each year the U.S. government allocates a limited number of H-1B visas for certain immigrant workers. In late September, this blog reported that the demand for H-1B visas has been high in recent years. The H-1B visa program is a professional employment visa for immigrants with at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in specialty occupations. The H-1B visa program allows immigrant workers in such filed as engineering, science and computer programming to work in the United States.
Mercedes-Benz manager arrested under Alabama immigration law
In October, this blog discussed employment-based visas for Florida businesses. Many Miami and South Florida businesses rely on the immigrant and non-immigrant employment visas available under U.S. immigration law to hire foreign nationals. However, as most Americans know, we live in a global economy in the 21st century. Occasionally, foreign nationals visit the United States on business. That was the situation last week underlying an immigration status arrest of a German national in Florida's neighboring state.
Man lies to get deported in unusual alleged scheme
An unusual wrinkle in the nation's apparent obsession with deportations recently hit the news. This blog has reported that removal proceedings resulted in a record number of deportations last year. Many deportations involve undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of a crime. Typically, a person convicted of a crime is required to serve their prison sentence before being turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.
ICE touts new employment verification program
This blog has previously reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has conducted several waves of audits of businesses in Florida, and nationwide, concerning I-9 compliance records. Employment eligibility verification is required of Florida businesses, even amidst the national public debate about the use of the federal E-Verify system.
StartUp Visa Act gets renewed interest in Congress
Immigration reform ideas keep making headlines. This blog has reported a variety of ideas that have surfaced in recent months, from real estate investment visas to streamlined rules regarding EB-5 visas. Investment visas and employment visa programs are often referred to in many news reports. Studies have shown that immigration can help to fuel an economic recovery.
And the challenges to state immigration laws continue
It is not exactly a new twist, but 16 Latin American nations have asked to join a federal lawsuit that seeks to block the state immigration law in South Carolina. Why isn't it a new twist? Mexico asked to join a lawsuit seeking to challenge the Arizona immigration law last June. This time the number of nations is much larger.
ICE detention complicates couple's marriage plans
An East Coast couple had a storybook romance. The woman got a flat tire and the knight in shining armor who repaired the car became her fiancée after a romance. The couple made their wedding plans and two years after meeting were on the doorstep of being husband and wife.
Miami naturalization ceremony includes 205 new citizens
More than 200 immigrants participated in a naturalization ceremony in Miami last week. The number of immigrants who took their oath of allegiance and became U.S. citizens in South Florida reflected what appears to be happening around the country in recent years. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials say the last two years have seen an increase in citizenship applications.
