We link to the Primer that discusses CIR, the key elements, what is smart enforcement and more released by the Immigration Policy Center

How many of you picked up on this during the week? Let’s hear your thoughts…

“The longer the healthcare debate drags out not only does it make it harder to get healthcare passed, it makes it harder to get immigration passed,” says Mark Krikorian, executive director of the conservative Center for Immigration Studies.

USCIS has received significant funding for a substantially increased volume of random site visits to employer locations.  Over the coming year, many thousands more employers will have USCIS knocking on their doors.

The FDNS (Fraud Detection and National Security Unit) of USCIS is expanding its manpower and its site visits to employers that hire foreign nationals.  Sometimes the employer is called in advance – and sometimes they are unannounced visits.  Also, many of these site visits can occur after the petition is approved.

FDNS visits are to verify the existence of the employer, discuss the information that the employer has provided to USCIS in their petition(s) and whether the foreign national(s) are working in compliance with the terms of their admission to the USA.  This information can also be used to determine whether or not a petition will be approved.  Typically, the FDNS officer will wish to speak with the HR representative, may want to also speak with the sponsored worker; the officer could have a copy of the petition and will endeavor to verify the information contained in the petition.

What’s the “take away” on this for employers:  It is important that you contact your designated immigration professional should you receive notification of a site visit… AND… make sure that you are working with well-informed immigration counsel that have experience in employer compliance issues.  Immigration Solutions does, and we link to our Employer Compliance page on our website.

We link to one employer’s experience (as posted on AILA Infonet).

Immigration Works USA has released its Talking Points today on the essentials that must be in an immigration reform bill for US employers.

Here’s a list of other talking points as well.

What are your thoughts?

As the House begins its August recess today (the Senate goes home next week), Members of Congress are returning home to kiss babies and meet with constituents on a host of issues. We are betting that some of those visits will be about this country’s broken immigration system.

Nothing moves members of Congress more than face-to-face meetings with constituents letting them know what they care about. So in honor of summer recess, the IPC is reminding you of our top resources that can be used when paying a visit to your local legislator.

We link to Immigration Impact

SAN DIEGO — President Obama recently reignited the immigration debate when he told reporters that congressional leaders of both parties were ready to “actively get something done and not put it off until a year, two years, three years, five years from now, but to start working on this thing right now.”

In the months ahead, keep an eye on two things: the calendar and the issue of guest workers.

The calendar: “Right now” might not be soon enough. The conventional wisdom is that the longer Obama waits, the harder it will be to pass any immigration reform legislation. One immigration activist I spoke with even had a deadline in mind: March 2010. Congress has to discuss the bill this fall, he said, and pass it no later than next spring. His thinking — and that of many others — is that the 2010 midterm elections might cut into the Democratic majority in Congress, and then the chance for immigration reform could slip away.

We link to The Washington Post article.

At a recent conference, Bill Gates shared his ideas about US immigration policy, noting that there should be more “exceptions for smart people.” While not the most eloquently phrased statement, it does pose an interesting question in the immigration reform debate.  Are we turning away skilled workers?  Or are they leaving on their own, thanks to a complicated and unfriendly system of paperwork and jumping through hoops that are never ending?  We link to the article

Chairman Bill Gates criticized U.S. policies on data privacy and immigration Friday in a speech to the Transforming India through Technology conference in New Delhi, India.

Microsoft will work with India on a national computer identity-card project, he said. He plans to meet with minister Nandan Nilekani, who helped build technology company Infosys.

Gates said the U.S. should have a national identity card or at least let some businesses, like health care, centralize information on individuals. “It has always come back to the idea that ‘The computer knows too much about you,'” he said.

He noted that doctors cannot share records about patients and said a U.S. ban on virtual doctor visits “wastes a lot of money.”

Gates also urged U.S. immigration exceptions for “smart people.” He said Microsoft has created “a lot of jobs” in Canada because immigrants are allowed to work if offered a high-paying job.

We link to more on this piece.

…Considering I-9 electronic reporting and tracking?  Then join us on 7/29/09 for a free audio conference with one of the leading I-9 electronic storage providers and Inc.500 winner, along with a member of our Employer Compliance team.

For the Event Announcement:  http://www.docstoc.com/docs/8780911/i-9-Event-Announcement
Tor RSVP:  info@immigrationsolution.net

We look forward to meeting up with you!

We link to a list of immigration-related legislation introduced into the House of Representatives and the Senate during June 2009 for your reference.  Each Bill has a link for you to follow for more information.