Arizona's New Immigration Law
You need a passport to go to Arizona!
Los Angeles officials on Wednesday approved a ban on future business with Arizona in protest against its crackdown on illegal immigrants, becoming the largest U.S. city to impose such an economic boycott. http://tinyurl.com/22rdg8c
A tough new anti-immigration law in the US state of Arizona is facing its first legal challenges.
Critics say the new legislation, which requires police to question anyone they suspect may be in the country illegally, targets Hispanic minorities.
A Latino Christian group and an Arizona police officer have filed lawsuits.
Civil rights groups and the federal government say they may follow as President Barack Obama and Colombian popstar Shakira join the protests.
Even though most Arizonans support the measure, it has sparked protest and controversy nationwide.
Arizona police will be required to stop and question anyone they reasonably suspect to be an illegal immigrant. If the person cannot prove their status, they can be arrested.
In a state of fewer than seven million people, nearly half a million are thought to be illegal.
Most come from Mexico looking for work, but Arizona’s border is a busy route for drug smugglers.
Supporters of the new law say it will protect lawful residents. Opponents say anyone could be stopped simply because they look Hispanic. Find it here.
Arizona’s New Immigration Law
This is what the new Arizona law looks like.
Arizona's immigration law
EB-5 Investor Green Card Program
EB-5 Investor Green Card Program is a fast track path to getting your U.S. green card within 18 months. It has the highest U.S. Immigration approval, more than the Tourist Visa, Student Visa, and Employment based green cards, and Marriage Visa. U.S. Congress designated 10,000 visas to individuals in the EB-5 Category and each year thousands go unused. With a secure investment of $500,000 into a State certified project in the U.S. you and your family will be able to qualify for a U.S. green card with all the benefits of a resident.
If you are a foreign investor from any country looking to enter the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident, then the EB5 investor Green Card Program is the way to go. High net worth individuals are able to make an investment which creates 10 jobs and obtain their Green Cards as fast as one who marries a U.S. citizen. Other relative petitions take 5-15 years and employment based Green Cards 3-8 years.
Consider the following advantages this program has over other visa programs. The EB-5 Investor Green Card process takes approximately 18 months before you have your Green Card, and qualifying family members are approved at the same time. Here are the five top reasons the EB-5 Investor Green Card Program is ideal for foreign investors.
- Live and work anywhere in the U.S. that you choose
- Work or conduct any type of legitimate business in the U.S. that you choose
- Your children can attend school as a U.S. premanent resident and with lower tuition
- You can travel in and out of the U.S. as many times as you wih
- You can apply for U.S. Citizenship within five (5) years of getting your EB-5 Investor Green Card.
To learn more about this, please contact us or click here.
Who Qualifies for an EB-5 Investor Green Card?
There are no limits as to who can qualify for an EB-5 Investor Green Card as long as they can meet the three requirements. Some examples are student visa holders who want to get a green card without having to marry, retirees who want to be able to live and receive some benefits in the U.S., entrepreneurs who do not qualify for E visas, and families with young children who want the benefits of a U.S. school system.
To learn more about this, please contact us or click here.
Our Full Service EB-5 Investor Green Card Program
For one fee, we will provide you with experienced, professional law office to prepare and submit all necessary papers to the U.S. Immigration and the U.S. Consulate. We have American attorneys on the ground at the U.S. Consulate to assist you with your case, assistance and consultation for the U.S. Consulate interview. All translation and notary services in your country and in the U.S. Setting up all business documents, bank accounts, tax identification numbers. Upon arrival to the U.S., we will provide you with airport pick up, assistance with housing (purchase or rental), consultations for school for children, drivers’ license and identification applications. Additionally, we can provide assistance in applying for social security numbers, and insurance.
The EB-5 Green Card law firm of CTR & Associates Ltd. is available to help you pursue your goal of becoming a U.S. permanent resident through an EB-5 Investor Green Card Program.
There are two EB-5 programs, the Regular Program and the Regional Center Program, and CTR & Associates offer legal assistance with both.
To find out more about the services we provide, please contact us or click here.
Client Testimonials
Below are testimonials of people who have used CTR and Associates and were willing to share their experiences.
Tourist Visa B2: William Rowley
William Rowley
Cathy Tran Reck helped my Thai girlfriend, Pam, obtain a B-2 Tourist Visa to the US. Despite the fact that Pam does not have strong financial ties to Thailand, Cathy encouraged us to focus on my background of having worked and lived in Thailand for several years. Cathy provided extremely valuable advice to Pam and I regarding the DS-160 application, the interview process and how to provide user friendly supporting documents to the US Embassy personnel.
Cathy prepared Pam for the interview by suggesting brief and accurate answers to questions that would probably be asked by the interviewing officer. Working with Cathy was a pleasure. She promptly responded to my emails and phone calls, and she spent a lot of time during our consultation to make sure that Pam understood what to expect when she arrived at the US Embassy for her interview.
I would highly recommend Cathy to anyone who is seeking a B-2 Tourist Visa to the US for their Thai girlfriend.
William Rowley,
Bangkok, Thailand
Widow Penalty: I-360 Widow Petition Based on Deceased US Citizen
Nuhieng & James Bell
My uncle married a very nice Thai lady several years ago and they had a son together. Sadly, before my uncle and his wife were married for two years, he had a heart attack and died. Due to the Widow Penalty she was unable to apply for her residency visa. In October of 2009, the Widow Penalty ended thanks to an attorney Brent Renison in Portland, Oregon who had worked to end the Widow Penalty, for several years.
I contacted to inquire if he knew anyone that could help me get everything going for my uncle’s widow and her Thai son to be able to come to the US to live and work. Brent recommended Cathy Tran Reck to me. I contacted her via email and explained the situation, told her what I wanted to do for my uncle’s widow, ask what I needed to do to start the process, the cost and about the length of time before everything was done. Cathy responded back to me immediately, outlining the entire process from start to finish, a breakdown of the costs and the time frame for completion.
Cathy has been amazing. She was very knowledgeable on the Widow Penalty and the law change. The application process has been approved and we are now in the final stage of the process. She has been in touch with me on a regular basis to keep me informed of what is happening, the communications she’s had with the government officials, where we are in the process and informing me of what the next step will be in the process.
Melody Hagerty
Cathy has personally telephoned me on several occasions for information I could understand and provide better than my uncle’s widow. Cathy has personally met and explained the process in detail to my uncle’s widow, answered all her questions and advised her of what would be expected of her in the process. My uncle’s widow told me that Cathy is a very, very nice lady and she likes her very much.
Cathy has definitely lived up to her recommendation and gone beyond. If you have questions, she’s quick to give you answers. She is always pleasant, has never made me feel as though I was bothering her or that she was too busy to talk with me when I would call. Cathy made me feel that my case was as much a priority to her as it was to me. Her passion and dedication made me feel important and she always provided excellent, personal service all the way from Thailand.
It’s refreshing to meet someone who is caring and honest. She doesn’t build up your hopes, drain your bank account and then tell you it just can’t happen. Cathy is honest from the get go. She won’t make you promises she can’t keep.
Melody S Hagerty
Vancouver, Washington
Ki Fiance Visa & Student Visa: Stuart Schwartzberg
I am an American citizen by birth, and my wife is a naturalized U.S. citizen. She petitioned for two of her adult daughters to immigrate to the U.S., and they were placed on a “priority” waitlist that currently takes six years to be called. Her third and youngest daughter immigrated to the U.S. with her as she was not yet an adult at that time. We tried several times to obtain a visitor visa for the oldest daughter, but were denied the visa each time. After much frustration and failure, when the oldest daughter became engaged to an American citizen, we turned to one of the “visa agencies” that claim to be able to obtain a U.S. visa without difficulty so that she could apply for a fiancée visa. We also used the same agency to apply for a visa for our seven year old granddaughter, so that she could come on a visitor visa and subsequently convert it to a student visa. It turns out that these visa agencies do nothing more than fill out the forms. They are not recognized by the U.S. Embassy and cannot even enter the grounds of the embassy. After spending a large amount of money paying their fees, the visas were denied.
Stuart Schwartzberg
At that point, I researched the internet for a U.S. immigration lawyer to help us. We found Cathy Tran Reck and contacted her. Cathy immediately gave us sound advice and we retained her services. Cathy was instrumental in overcoming the obstacles we previously encountered, and had access to the embassy and the visa section, where she was personally able to contact the visa officers directly. The end result is that our daughter is now in the U.S.A. and is happily married. Our granddaughter obtained a student visa and is living with us in New York while attending school. We are hopeful that her mother (the last of my wife’s three daughters to remain in Thailand) will join us next year.
I highly recommend Cathy to anyone needing immigration assistance. She is extremely knowledgeable and personally handles each case. I found out the hard way that only a licensed U.S. attorney can access the embassy on our behalf. I have since recommended Cathy to all of my friends seeking to marry a Thai woman. Her fees are reasonable and she is very responsive to questions and concerns. Cathy clearly had the ability to turn a hopeless situation into a successful resolution.
Stuart Schwartzberg
Wappinger Falls, New York
Tourist Visa B2: Wayne Davis
Cathy Tran Reck assisted my efforts to obtain a visitor’s visa for my fiancée to allow her to visit the U.S. with me. The initial application for a visa was refused by the U.S. embassy. The reason given, that my fiancée had insufficient ties to her native country, Thailand, was clearly not true. All of my efforts to get the embassy to disclose the true reason for the denial were rebuffed, only the same boiler-plate 214(b) response was given. Even my U.S. senator got the same standard response. Finally, in desperation, I used Google to search for a U.S. immigration attorney practicing in Bangkok. Cathy came up at the top of the list. When I phoned for an appointment and discussed the case with her she told me that, in her opinion, the problem was that we had planned to be married during the U.S. visit and that this would be considered as contrary to the terms of a tourist visa. We dropped the plans for the wedding during the trip, it was an afterthought anyway, and following Cathy’s advice we strengthened our documentation of my fiancee’s ties to Thailand including adding an English translation of deeds of property that my fiancee owns and a translation of the deed to my condo in Bangkok. The embassy web page and the embassy’s responses to my emails had strongly emphasised that I could not sponsor my fiancée’s trip, that her visa application would be considered on her merits only. Cathy pointed out that my strong ties to Thailand strengthened my fiancée’s case so in addition to a translation of my condo deed I submitted copies of my passport and the three years of Thailand retiree visas.
My fiancée’s second visa interview was successful. I am certain that the success was due to Cathy’s advice and highly recommend her for U.S. immigration matters.
Feel free to contact me to confirm this recommendation (except for 30 June through 16 July 2010 when my fiancée and I will be in the U.S.).
Wayne Davis
Bangkok, Thailand
K1 Fiancee Visa: Roy Joslin
Roy and Hang Joslin
I met Cathy Tran Reck back in November 2007 after an exhaustive search for an immigration lawyer. I was looking for a lawyer which had extensive knowledge and experience within the immigration laws and in particularly the Fiancee Visa process. I definitely wanted a lawyer who was also licensed to practice in the United States. I had consulted with numerous other immigration lawyers (locally and abroad) prior to meeting Cathy and after the initial consultation with Cathy I knew this was the lawyer that I had been searching for! Cathy answered all my initial questions in thorough detail and comprehensible manner. I chose Cathy and her associates as my sole immigration attorney for all my legal issues which may arise while going through the Fiancee Visa process and with any possible future issues after the process was completed.
In my opinion Cathy’s firm went above and beyond my expectations from what I was expecting from an immigration lawyer. All communication with Cathy from the beginning to the end and in every aspect was conducted in a very professional manner which I cannot say enough about. I myself, being in the Law Enforcement profession for eighteen years, realize how far professionalism and professional conduct accounts for a person and their work ethics in today’s society and Cathy displays such above and beyond in my personal opinion. I and my lovely wife fully and without any doubt would recommend Cathy and her firm for any and all of someone’s needs relating to any of her firm’s practices.
Roy & Hang Joslin
Parrish, Florida
K1 Fiance Visa
For many American who have met their girlfriends during their holiday tour of Thailand or who have met online through various dating websites, the most confounding problem is what to do if you want to pursue your relationship in the US. The most common questions I get from prospective client are: How can I bring my Thai fiancee to the US to get married? Do I have to marry her in Thailand or can we marry in the US? What are the financial and procedural issues I’d have to substantiate to the US Embassy?
An American citizen who plans to marry in the US must first determine their local USCIS office to file the I-129F for their fiancee. This initial processing means you have to submit sufficient proof that you have a bona fide relationship with you fiancee and you must also have met with your fiancée in person within the last two years before filing for the visa. This requirement can be waived only if meeting your fiancée in person would violate long-established customs, or if meeting your fiancée would create extreme hardship for you. There are narrow exceptions to this rule so if you have fall in this category, you need to get professional legal help. Additionally, you and your fiancée must be free to marry. This means that both of you are unmarried, or that any previous marriages have ended through divorce, annulment or death. You may also apply to bring your fiancée’s unmarried children, who are under age 21, to the US. As a practical matter, the National Visa Center does an administrative review of the file to ensure everything is in order before moving it along to the US Consulate abroad.
Once your petition is approved in the US, the file is then sent to your fiancee’s country of residence, and in this case it would be Bangkok, Thailand. The US Consulate will do an administrative review of the file to see that everything is in order and then send your fiancee a packet of information to complete prior to making an interview appointment. This ranges from residency documents to medical exams, and any supplemental evidence she may want to take to the interview to verify the veracity of the relationship. While the US Consulate does see a fair amount of fraudulent cases, most Consular Officers are fair and knowledgeable in immigration law and they will normally approve credible, legitimate cases.To their credit, they are trained to determine if a case lacks merits or if it’s purely based on circumventing USA immigration laws, for which they will ultimately deny.
The most crucial part of this process is the interview. This is the only time where the Consular Officer will meet with your fiancee and to determine whether there are any discrepancies or dishonesty in the case. This is an essential and pivotal point in the process and where more applicants tend to fail. As mentioned earlier, the Consular Officers are adept at fraud detection and signs of misrepresentation, wherein it is within their discretion to outright deny the case and send it back to USCIS for revocation, or they issue a 221(g) and forward it to Administrative Processing. Either way, the strength of the case is dependent on the applicant’s response to questions posed and the quantity and quality of the evidence. It’s true, some legitimate cases are wrongfully denied, and some weak ones do get approved.
If your fiancee is successful, the U.S. Embassy will issue a visa for her, and her dependents if applicable, to go abroad and get married. However, the marriage has to take place within 90 days of your fiancee entering the USA. If the marriage does not take place, your fiancee cannot marry someone else and she must return to Thailand. Until the marriage takes place, your fiancée is considered a nonimmigrant, which is simply a foreign national seeking to temporarily enter the United States for a specific purpose so it’s nearly impossible to change the status of that visa to that of Tourist or Student Visa when your fiancee enters on the Fiancee K1 Visa.
If your fiancee intends to live and work permanently in the US, she should apply to become a permanent resident after your marriage. If she does not, she will have to leave the country before the 90 days nonimmigrant admission date. Once the permanent residence is issued after your marriage, your fiancee will initially receive conditional permanent residence status for two years, and it simply means that the marriage was created less than two years at the time of the application for permanent residence. This would also apply to any dependents that benefited from the K-2, such as her unmarried children.
Alternatively, if you are one of those unfortunate souls that were denied a Fiancee Visa, you may appeal within 33 days of receiving the denial by mail. Chances of getting an appeal approved is slim, especially if the denial is based on facts in the case. If you believe it was erroneously denied due to legal grounds, I suggest hiring professional legal help to appeal to the appropriate department in the Embassy. More often than not, clients do not even realize that their denial was without applicable legal basis versus factual findings to gauge whether to appeal. Many will simply abandon the Fiancee Visa and seek other immigration options or they seek the advice of a legal professional. This is purely a personal and strategic decision depending on your ultimate goal.
Working with the US Embassy does not have to be a traumatic or expensive journey. It takes some time to research the administrative procedures and a patient. The end result of bringing your fiancee to the USA should be your ultimate goal and never underestimate the power of bureaucracy.
US Ending Ban on Travel for Foreign Nationals Infected with HIV
The only disease singled out in the US immigration law for exclusion will be revoked imminently. Gay rights advocates are applauding this move as a step closer to ending the discriminatory ban which has been in effect since 1987.
Washington Post full article may be found here. |
