Musings on Immigration

Although we are in the midst of H-1B hiring season, not all of these H-1B workers will be successful in their new jobs.  We are frequently asked what obligation does an employer have when it terminates a foreign national employee like an H-1B visa holder, and what options are available to the foreign national employee if he is terminated.  While this is general guidance to employers in dealing with immigration matters during the downsizing process, employers terminating foreign employees should also consider arranging for immigration counsel to advise foreign employees on the consequences of termination as one of the services provided to workers being terminated.  There are many myths surrounding the termination of H-1B and other non-immigrant workers, and it is very important to understand the employers obligation, and to dispel the myths for the now former foreign worker employee. The foreign national employees referred to here do not include lawful permanent resid...

  Un abogado en Miami recientemente   dijo en Univision   Miami que todos los inmigrantes de Venezuela que están en los Estados Unidos, ya, a causa de las protestas y demonstraciones, pueden aplicar por asilo.  Esto es completamente falso!  Desaforadamente, muchos Venezolanos han sido engañados por este mal consejo. No sea engañado!  Aplicando por asilo en los Estados Unidos es un proceso complicado que nunca debe ser hecho sin consultar con un abogado con mucha experiencia en casos de asilo. Por ejemplo, si alguien ha estado en los estados unidos por más de un ano, tal persona   no   es elegible por asilo sin convencer a USCIS que su demora en aplicar era por una buena razón (en raros casos).  De hecho tal caso será negado y su caso será tirado al corte de inmigración.  Y, como muchos saben, los cortes de inmigración niegan la mayoría de casos de asilo. En el ano 2013, los cortes de inmigración solo   aprobaron los 33% ...

Usually the word “discharge” has a negative connotation, at least in the medical sense; however, could discharge may be a positive thing in the context of immigration reform?   As we all know, comprehensive immigration reform has stalled in the House, after the Senate passed a comprehensive bill last year.   Democratic representatives appear ready to try and kick start renewed efforts to revive reform by using a procedural maneuver known as a “discharge petition.”   A discharge petition is a petition that requires signature by a majority of House members which would compel a discharge of the petition from committee (where it is currently stalled), and moved to the House floor for a vote.   According to reports, Nancy Pelosi, Houser Minority Leader, plans on submitting a petition to discharge the stalled reform bill from committee as a way around John Boehner, who is currently blocking the bill from the House floor.   It is very unlikely that Pelosi will b...