As long planned, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has begun implementing a program at major airports across the country which eliminates the traditional I-94 arrival/departure card normally issued to foreign nationals entering the U.S. Under the new program, international travelers will no longer be required to fill out a paper Form I-94 to present to the immigration officer.

Instead, officers will enter the individual's information into the computer system using passport biographic and visa pages. Airports currently using the automated system include Miami and Orlando International Airports, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, McCarran International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Foreign travelers can now access a special website, where they can print out their actual Form I-94 card for use in applying for USCIS benefits. Instead of I-94 cards, officers will now issue information sheets which detail how individuals can access their electronic entry records and print out Form I-94 online. This is a great improvement which brings us out of the "stone age" and takes the worry out of keeping track of that little white card that is so vital to obtaining nearly all immigration benefits and so very costly to replace. It costs$330 to replace. Those going through the automated system can access their record by visiting www.cbp.gov/I94

New USCIS policy requires interviews for some Deferred Action applicants
The USCIS has changed its policy and is now requiring some Deferred Action (DREAMer) applicants to undergo personal interviews at local field offices. While the USICS says some cases are randomly audited, the majority of interviews are for applicants who failed to provide sufficient evidence of eligibility. It cannot be stressed enough that those applying under the program must provide extensive evidence of their physical presence in the U.S. in order to meet the guidelines. Sending in a few affidavits and other papers along with the application will simply not result in approval. Our policy is always to provide too much documentation, rather than not enough. This will likely be even more important for "Registered Provision Immigrant" status petitions. So start preparing – get your documents in order now.

Moving full steam ahead, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy announced late last week that the Judiciary Committee is scheduled to begin markup on the comprehensive immigration reform bill on May 9. Senate sponsors expect the legislation, renamed the "Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act" to be amended through this process which may end as soon as May 20 for a vote on the Senate floor soon thereafter.

Key drafters of the bill, Senators Chuck Schumer and John McCain remain optimistic that they have a chance of getting a majority vote from both parties and at the least a filibuster-proof, 60-vote majority.

While many thought the Boston Marathon bombing carried out by immigrants might derail the bill, the result was the opposite, with proponents highlighting the bill's provisions which would actually strengthen border security and without it, a similar event is more likely to occur.

As momentum builds, high profile party leaders like former Republicans vice presidential candidate Representative Paul Ryan and Democratic Representative Luis Gutierrez began a tour last week to promote comprehensive immigration reform and endorse the bill. There's a lot more coming up in the days ahead...stay tuned.
Read more reform news and learn how a bill becomes law in Congress by visiting our website at www.Immigratetoday.com and clicking on the Immigration Newsletter.

Now that the immigration reform bill called the "Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013" has been introduced in the Senate. Many immigrants are cautiously optimistic about its chance for success, even while being disappointed with some of its benefits. Shocking provisions which eliminate brother/sister immigration and the Green Card Lottery are very harsh, as well as those which limit married children of U.S. citizens to age 30 or younger and failing to give DREAMers Green Cards immediately. But along with the bad, there is also a lot of good. In fact, there's something in it for almost everyone to love. With over 800 pages, the bill is packed with goodies that most immigration advocates could only have dreamed of in the past. Here are just a few

• General "forgiveness" for all: The bill appears to extend forgiveness to most non-criminal immigrants who would otherwise be ineligible for legal status in the U.S. up to the date of enactment of the law. These may include C/D crewman, those denied Green Cards for marriage fraud or denied removal of conditional Green Card status, those who entered using documents which were "other than their own," those who are in removal proceedings, those who were deported and even those who were deported then came back to the U.S. illegally. Just about everyone except those with serious criminal convictions.

The long anticipated Senate Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill initially scheduled to be unveiled on April 8, has been temporarily delayed, but is expected shortly. This comes even as all the major controversial issues have been settled by the bi-partisan senate drafters of the proposed legislation, called the "Gang of Eight." Insiders say that one of the main remaining issues is actually what the title of the bill should be. And, as those in marketing know when it comes to promoting your product - it's all about the name.
Tackling the sensitive issue of the proposed immigration law's name has proven to be quite a difficult task - since there are so many competing parties to please.
In the end, the major challenge comes down to giving the bill a "catchy" name that will sound good in the media. It is hoped that it might even be a name that some Tea Party conservatives might embrace.
To coin the perfect name, the drafters must grabble with titles which clearly do not sound like a grant of "Amnesty," opposed by many conservatives who see it as giving immigration benefits to law breakers. Instead, the group is striving for a title that sounds like a "solution," implies "security," "strength" and "confidence." For what it is worth, I suggest something like: The "Absolutely Positively Final Secure Solution -We Really Mean It Immigration Reform Bill of 2013."