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San Francisco Bay Area Immigration Blog

Despite Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric, Trump Exposed for Sketchy Immigration Practices

Contradicting his campaign promises to be tough on “illegal immigration” and to build a border wall to protect the US, a new report by the Center for Investigative Journalism found that Donald Trump’s luxury $7 million golf course in New York tried to permanently sponsor immigrants who entered the US without inspection. According to Department

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Immigration Law Illegally Equated Alcoholism with Poor Moral Character

In a 2-1 decision from the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on March 24, 2016, the court struck down part of an immigration law that made it very difficult for a person who habitually and excessively drinks alcohol to fight deportation. The court’s majority stated that alcoholism has long been recognized as a medical

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New DHS Rule To Amend F-1 Nonimmigrant Visas Regulations for STEM-OPT Students

On March 11, 2016 DHS will publish the new 24-month “STEM-OPT rule,” to allow foreign graduates of U.S. institutions to obtain a 24-month extension of work authorization following the completion of their program beyond the 12-months given to all foreign graduates. The rule will take effect on May 10, 2016. This new rule is expected

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Passport Expiring Soon? Renew It Now Urges the U.S. Department of State

The U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) predicts there will be a surge in passport applications this year which may result in some U.S. citizens being unable to secure new or revalidated passports in advance of planned travel abroad. The following are likely causes for this anticipated spike in demand: Many U.S. citizens returning from Mexico,

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Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Obama Immigration Actions

In January, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would hear the case against President Obama’s executive action that would allow millions of undocumented immigrants relief from deportation, and the ability to obtain work permits. The challenge is led by twenty-six states arguing that the President’s executive action far exceeds the scope of his presidential

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Changes to E-1 and E-2 Visa Processing in Canada

Effective March 1, 2016, all new Canadian E-1 and E-2 visa applicants, as well as Canadian entities with expired registrations, must now apply to the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto. The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and U.S. consular posts in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal will offer E-1 and E-2 visa appointments for employees (and

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Number of People in U.S. Illegally No Longer Growing

Illegal immigration rates have been trending downward over the last decade. Currently there are around 10.9 million undocumented immigrants, which is the lowest that population has been in 13 years.  The following are a few reasons for those rates drifting lower: The undocumented population has effectively reached zero growth as a result of a fewer

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