USCIS Introduces Change of Address (AR-11) Online

On January 12, 2007, the USCIS launched a new service on its web site, which allows applicants to submit their change their address online.
All non-citizens (including U.S. Residents) in the United States are legally required to keep USCIS informed of any change of address within 10 days of their move by completing an “Alien Change of Address Card” (Form AR-11). Individuals with a pending immigration case should also notify USCIS of any change of address. The new online service is designed to reduce processing time and improve customer service by providing immediate confirmation that USCIS has received the updated address information. This is the first phase of this online system.

Phase two, which is projected to launch sometime in May 2007, will include additional customer service features, including allowing applicants with a pending naturalization application to report their change of address online. Until then, those individuals should continue to contact USCIS by telephone at 1-800-375-5283 to report their change of address.

Lawyers representing former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Basdeo Panday in his appeal against a conviction for failing to declare a foreign bank account to the Integrity Commission contended Tuesday that the Trinidad and Tobago government had an interest in the former leader’s prosecution.

English Queen's Counsel Richard Clayton, who along with Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC, is representing Panday in the appeal, said the United National Congress (UNC) political leader was a former prime minister and Leader of the Opposition and the matter therefore had political significance.

"The convictions relate to allegations which had significant political ramifications during the 2002 general election. As a result of the conviction and sentence, Mr. Panday is disqualified from remaining a parliamentarian, which again has implications for the general election to take place later in the year," Clayton said.

USCIS Begins Accepting H-1B Temporary Work Visa Applications Beginning April 1, 2007!

Get ready, H-1B visas are arriving again! The USCIS will begin accepting H-1B visas on April 1, 2007 for the new 2008 fiscal year, which begins on Oct 1, 2007. This means that you should start preparing no later than late February for the early April filing. Last year, H-1B visas were all used up by July! Estimates are that it will be worse this year. But remember, if you are applying for an H-1B and your I-94 will expire before Oct 1, 2007, if the USCIS approves your H-1B, it will be for consular processing, meaning you will need to pick it up at a U.S. consulate in your home country (or Canada/Mexico). With time getting so close, those of you whose I-94’s are expiring may want to consider apply for F-1 student visas to fill the gap between now and Oct 1, 2007.

Question: Hello. I came here to Sunrise from Jamaica as a tourist in 2004 and applied for an extension of my tourist visa, but it was denied because they said I did not support my request with adequate documentation. After the denial, I stayed in the U.S. My I-94 card (the one they gave me at the immigration in the airport) expired the same year. In 2005 a friend told me about getting a work authorization through some immigration place in Lauderhill, so I did it. Well, of course the guy took my money and gave me a receipt, but I never got my work permit. Now he won’t take my calls! Since then I don’t really trust anyone who does immigration cases. Anyway, now I want to marry my girlfriend who just got her citizenship, but I want to make sure that I do everything the right way. I called the Immigration 800 number to ask what we needed to do and they told me to go to the nearest immigration support center to get forms and instruction. Well, so I went to the center and they only gave me a few forms, no so-called instructions (only the complicated ones on the forms) and said they could not give me any legal advice. My fiancée and I sat down last weekend and tried to make sense out of it, but honestly, it really seems to be very unclear exactly what forms must be completed and what we need to include. I called your office but my appointment is not until next week so I thought I would send you this email in the meantime. Can you please tell me what the difference is between if I try to do this thing myself and save money or if I have a lawyer do it? I mean, is it faster if a lawyer does it? Do you have special connections at Immigration? If I pay to have it done, what exactly will we get? Thanks so much for your answers.