Thursday, May 27, 2010

YDP Partner Tsui Yee to Present Seminar on Immigration

On June 8, 2010, YDP partner Tsui Yee will present a free continuing legal education program "Immigration Law: Hot Topics and Ethical Issues." This event will be hosted by TD Bank and is sponsored by the Network of Bar Leaders and the Asian American Bar Association of New York.

Time: 6 -8 PM EST
Location: TD Bank at 2 Wall Street, NY, NY.
URL: Register at http://networkofbarleaders.org

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Current H-1B Cap Count

USCIS reports that as of May 14, 2010, it has received approximately 19,000 H-1B cap-subject petitions. Under the H-1B program, there is a numerical limitation (cap) of 65,000 available visas per year. Foreign nationals who have obtained a U.S. Master's degree or higher are exempt from this cap, and may filed H-1B petition under a separate cap of 20,000 visas. As of May 14, 2010, USCIS has receipted 8,100 H-1B petitions for foreign nationals with such advanced degrees.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Governor Paterson to Grant Pardons to Immigrants with Old or Minor Convictions

Yesterday, Governor Paterson announced that the State of New York would expand consideration and granting of pardons to lawful immigrants for old or minor convictions, in the hopes of avoiding deportation. Describing the immigration laws regarding deportation as "embarrassingly and wrongly inflexible,” Paterson emphasized the importance of giving permanent residents who have been convicted of old or relatively minor crimes a second chance.

This is a welcome and marked departure from Arizona Governor's Brewer's recent signing into law of SB 1070, which requires law enforcement to question people about their immigration status if there is reasonable suspicion to believe that they are undocumented.

Paterson's new policy does not require legislative approval. To implement the policy, Paterson will establish a five-member panel called the "Special Immigration Board of Pardons" to review cases. Review of cases is expected to take several weeks, and it is anticipated that hundreds of pardon applications will be filed by the end of the year.

Many individuals are unaware that having permanent resident status (a green card) does not protect against deportation, even for crimes that may have occurred many years ago, or that seem very trivial in nature.

For more information regarding Governor Paterson's new initiative please go to http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/nyregion/04deport.html?nl=nyregion&emc=ura1