Immigration Newsletters

Immigrants - Farmworkers - Replenishment Agricultural Workers-Benefits

The replenishment agricultural worker (RAW) legalization program, established by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), was designed to provide immigration benefits to farm workers who entered the country after a shortage of agricultural workers was deemed to have occurred. During the four-year span of the program, a shortage did not occur. However, had workers been needed, they would have received favorable immigration treatment. For example, not only would they have received temporary U.S. residency followed by permanent residency, the terms of their employment and stays in the U.S. would have been quite broad.

Immigrant Visas - Employment-Based Visas - Labor Certification - Procedure before Certifying Officer

The United States Department of Labor (DOL) has delegated its function of deciding alien labor certifications to certifying officers, who operate on a regional basis to investigate and determine applications. There is a four-step process used by certifying officer to handle claims fairly and reasonably: the issuance of a notice of determination; the initial decision on the application; the notification of application deficiencies to the employer, if the initial decision was a denial; and, when requested, reconsiderations. An administrative appeal is also available from the certifying officer's decision. This topic is discussed fully in a separate article.

Grounds for Removal - National Security and Related Grounds

Grounds for Removal -- National Security and Related Grounds

Immigrants - Employment-Based Visas -EB-3/Skilled Workers and Others

The United States uses a worldwide cap on most types of immigration, along with a preference-based system, to control entry of aliens into the U.S. One of the main types of immigrants, that is, persons who intend to stay permanently in the U.S., is employment-based.

Illegal Entrants and Immigration Violators

Certain people are "inadmissible" for purposes of entry into the United States, either as an immigrant or as a visitor. There are many reasons why a person could be considered inadmissible to receive a visa and enter the United States, including that the person has already entered the United States illegally or has committed another violation of the immigration laws.