Our firm participated in the webinar (one of many scheduled through the month of September) today, and we were pleasantly surprised — it’s terrific and we highly recommend it.  They walk you through their presentation and also walk you through the actual E-Verify log on and inquiry process.  They answered questions through email and also opened up for a 1/2 hour of live Q&A — very well organized.  For information by telephone, you can call:  888 464.4218.  We will shortly be receiving a transcript of Q&A and links to their presentation and we will share these when received.

If you are interested in setting up a presentation for your organization, or interested in scheduling a live speaker for an event or conference, you can do so by calling the above telephone number or emailing:  E-Verify@dhs.gov

In the meantime, we wanted to share a few resources that we think are worthy, as follows:

1)  Where can you find the law:  Federal Register:  http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-26904.pdf

2)  The link to the DHS webpage for E-Verify

3)  FAQ Link

4)  Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Information

5)  How do I complete Form I-9?  http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/E3eng.pdf

6)  USCIS Supplemental Guide 9/8/09 for Federal Contractors

Lastly, there is a very interesting article on this topic in today’s Wall Street Journal that we link to.

We will continue to provide any and all information and resources that we feel are informative on this topic.

Immigration Solutions has both the expertise and the legal counsel to walk you through the complex and challenging compliance rules and regulations that are being enforced today.  We link to our Compliance page and to an E-Verify Timeline for Federal Contractors to implement if their organization is awarded a federal contract.

The steps that federal contractors are now required to implement are extremely time-sensitive.  It is recommended that you confer with your immigration provider to make sure that you are properly implementing and adhering to the new E-Verify regulations that go into effect on September 8, 2009.  This does not mean, however, that federal contractors will be required to comply with the E-Verify requirements of the rule as of that date as per our Timeline Chart.

September 8th is the date on which federal government contracting officers will be required to begin including an E-Verify requirement in certain contracts awarded on or after that date.

We will continue to report on this and to provide clear and up-to-date information.  If you’d like to become a client of Immigration Solutions, please contact us.

The 2009 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review process, a web-based interactive dialogue designed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to allow your opinions and ideas to inform and strengthen the Department’s relationship with its vast array of partners and stakeholders, has been up and running for a few weeks now. The online portal, however, will stop taking comments this Sunday, September 6.

There are 19 ‘reasons to speak up’ available for perusal on the website.  This is your opportunity to tell DHS what you think

Social Science Research Network:  Understaffing of nurses in US hospitals is severely impacting the quality of healthcare and is predicted to worsen in future years.  By the year 2020, the nursing workforce is projected to be nearly a million nurses short.  The current nurse pool is retiring and the number of new nurses entering the profession is inadequate.  At the same time an aging baby boomer population will need to be cared for as they reach old age.

We link to the Abstract

BusinessWeek:  For more than a decade, the US has faced a shortage of nurses to staff hospitals and nursing homes.  While the current recession has encourages some who had left the profession to return, about 100,000 positions remain unfilled.  That alot!

Experts say that if more is not done to entice people to enter the field – and to expand the US’ nurse training capacity, that number could triple or quadruple by 2025.  President Obama’s goal of expanding health coverage to millions of the uninsured could also face additional hurdles if the supply of nurses can’t meet the demand.

For more on this article, we link here.

Global Entry is designed to speed trusted travelers through the customs and immigration inspection process when re-entering the United States. And among travelers already enrolled in the program, 75 percent are processed in five minutes or less.

The way it works: U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents apply for the program, pay a $100 fee, and are interviewed by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer. Following a successful background investigation, they are accepted into the program. Once accepted into the program, membership is good for five years and can be used at any participating airport in the country.

Here is a link to the list of the 20 international airports that offer the program.

For those of you who have not seen the new I-551 Permanent Residency passport stamp, (also referred to as the“ADIT Stamp”), we link below to it. The stamp has stars in the four corners; on the left margin the vertical letters, USDHS, and on the right margin the vertical letters, USCIS.

An “ADIT” Stamp is added to a passport or an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) as temporary proof of residence. To alleviate inconvenience to our customers, USCIS continues to aggressively pursue technological improvements to allow the prompt issuing of permanent alien resident cards (“green-cards”) without the need to issue these temporary stamps.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10443239/I-551-Stamp—NEW–08-09

I’m struck how user friendly this sounds.  Some might think it’s a complete deviation from the norm for the Department of Homeland Security!  …and what an excellent idea it is.

DHS describes it as follows:

The Department of Homeland Security’s Travel Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP) is a single point of contact for individuals who have inquiries or seek resolution regarding difficulties they experienced during their travel screening at transportation hubs–like airports and train stations–or crossing U.S. borders, including:

• denied or delayed airline boarding
• denied or delayed entry into and exit from the U.S. at a port of entry or border checkpoint
• continuously referred to additional (secondary) screening

Why DHS TRIP?

DHS TRIP is a central gateway to address

• watch list misidentification issues
• situations where travelers believe they have faced screening problems at ports of entry
• situations where travelers believe they have been unfairly or incorrectly delayed, denied boarding or identified for additional screening at our nation’s transportation hubs

DHS TRIP is part of an effort by the State Department and Homeland Security to welcome legitimate travelers while still securing our country from those who want to do us harm.

Who is DHS TRIP for?

People who have been repeatedly identified for additional screening can file an inquiry to have erroneous information corrected in DHS systems.

How does DHS TRIP work?

DHS TRIP is the central processing point for redress inquiries. Requests received online are routed for redress to the appropriate DHS components. Components will review the request and reach a determination about a traveler’s status.

How is the information used?

The Department of Homeland Security safeguards the privacy of any personal information that you provide in your inquiry to DHS TRIP. The information that you provide will be used to process your request for redress. More information on DHS TRIP and your privacy.

Getting started with DHS TRIP

Learn more about TRIP and make an inquiry online.

Too bad that he didn’t get a chance to see comprehensive immigration reform legislation for which he ardently supported the last many years.  Here is a wonderful tour of his life from USA Today

For a timeline of Senator Kennedy’s career

The date is just about upon us, subject to the US District Court’s ruling on US Chamber of Commerce v. Napolitano, in which a coalition of business groups is suing the government to enjoin implementing a regulation that would require certain federal contractors and their subcontractors to use E-Verify.  The Judge is expected to issue his ruling in the case in approximately 1 week.

So, what will be expected if these requirements are implemented?  Federal contracts will begin to use new language requiring the use of E-Verify to verify the employment eligibility of all new hires, as well as existing employees who work on the federal contract.  This will apply to contractors with a performance period longer than 120 days and a value over $100,000.  Service or construction subcontracts of a covered contract would also be required to include the E-Verify clause, if the value of the subcontract is over $3,000.

The Senate approved an amendment to the FY 2010 DHS Appropriations Bill that codifies a federal contractor’s obligation to use E-Verify, but without the above-mentioned parameters and exemptions.  If the amendment becomes law, it would limit DHS’ ability to implement the federal contractor E-Verify rule as it now exists.  Both chambers of Congress are scheduled to meet in September to agree on a final package.  We are not sure if the E-Verify amendment will be included or not at this time.

Immigration Solutions will continue to monitor the FAR developments. If you have any questions about this or any other compliance issues, please contact us for more information at info@immigrationsolution.net or 1 562.612.3996.  Here is a link to our compliance services and solutions.