#Immigration Lawyer Long Island

[kalantarovimmigrationlawyer]

Green Card Lawyer Helps Clients to Move to the USA

A Green Card enables non-citizens to live and work indefinitely in the United States through various channels, such as family funding, employment-based visas, asylum, and refugee status. A skilled green card lawyer can offer problem-solving, representation, application preparation, and individualized legal consultation. A renowned law firm in Long Island, New York, provides services like naturalization and citizenship, adjustment of status, employment-based immigration, and family-based immigration.

[becklawpcqueens]

Immigration Lawyer Near Me Closely Assists Clients

Navigating the complexities of immigration law can feel overwhelming. Whether seeking a Green Card or dealing with visas, having the right professional is essential. If you are searching for an Immigration Lawyer, you should know what to look for. Understanding their services can save you time, effort, and unnecessary stress. Here is your guide to finding exemplary immigration legal service, with…

[wedesignyouny]

PERM Labor Certification Services We Provide - Shankar & Associates, PC

PERM Labor Certification Services We Provide

The procedure of obtaining a labor certification is both complicated and time-consuming. Our firm's experienced attorneys will assess your individual case and evaluate every immigration alternative open to you before beginning your PERM application. If we determine that PERM is not the best option for you, we'll inform you of any other options, such as National Interest Waiver or EB-1 petitions, that may allow you to avoid filing a labor certification application altogether.

After you employ us for your labor certification case, our experienced attorneys will assist you in completing your application by following the stages below:

Collect all required information and documents from the immigrant beneficiary's sponsoring employer.

Examine and evaluate the alien employee's qualifications as well as the employment position's criteria, including education requirements, duties, and location. We will inform the client whether a foreign degree evaluation or degree equivalent is required.

Based on the information supplied, write the job description and choose qualifications.

Discuss and resolve any difficulties relating to the job description and requirements with the alien beneficiary.

Revise and finalize the job description and requirements with the employer.

Assist the employer with the PERM online filing system registration.

To acquire a prevailing wage determination from the National Prevailing Wage Center (NPWC), submit the required information.

According to US Department of Labor (DOL) rules and guidelines, advise the employer on legal procedures that apply to the job recruitment process.

For the employer's assessment and approval, draft the job posting and propose advertising and posting schedules.

With the client's permission, arrange newspaper advertisements, the job order (either directly or through an advertising agent), and all external posts. With the client's permission, we'll also produce the content for the adverts and postings.

Work with the employer to coordinate additional relevant recruitment actions (for example, publishing the job opportunity on the employer's website, in which case we'll prepare the content and submit it to the employer for posting). One of the permissible additional recruitment actions is referring the employer to a recruiting firm.

Clarify the employer's legal obligations when it comes to screening and interviewing applicants.

All following recruitment initiatives should be coordinated, with instructions on how to respond to applicants provided. It's important to note that your lawyer can't make hiring decisions for you.

Provide easy-to-use forms for the employer to utilize in gathering and documenting information about the hiring process. In the event of a DOL audit, we'll also keep an extensive set of documents, including extensive paperwork relating to recruitment.

On behalf of the employer, review all recruitment information obtained from the employer and create the relevant recruitment report.

Prepare the online PERM application form and send a copy to the potential immigrant employee and the employer for evaluation before filing.

After both the employer and the potential immigrant employee have given their approval, submit the online PERM application.

If the Department of Labor chooses the application for an audit, we'll work closely with the employer to ensure that the request is met.

After submitting the application, communicate with the Department of Labor about any legal difficulties that arise, and answer to any requests for further information regarding the PERM case.

Refer to our Attorney's Fees and Filing Fees page if you are considering hiring our company to handle your PERM labor certification application.

Overall, PERM labor certification is a time-consuming and complicated process. We urge that you seek the advice of an expert immigration lawyer.

Contact Us For Free Consultation

📞 : 212-461-1467, 800-461-1467

📧 : shankar@shankarlaw.com

rajat.shankar@shankarlaw.com

sastry@shankarlaw.com

🌎: https://shankarlaw.com/

📍 : 518 Plainview Road Plainview, NY, 11803

[newslink7com]

🚨 BREAKING: A federal judge in Seattle has BLOCKED Trump's refugee ban, ruling that his executive order overstepped legal boundaries. Could this legal battle reshape U.S. immigration policy?

👉 Read the full story at NewsLink7.com

[aeternallis]

one of the things most frustrating to think about as someone who did go through the immigration system in the US is the fact that there seems to be a genuine belief by a significant portion of the populace in this country that the immigration system is a simple, straightforward process, when it most certainly is not.

for one thing, the applications to gain some form of legal status themselves are confusing af to actually read through. most of the applications uses confusing language and can be upwards of about 15-20 pages worth of documents you gotta spend time actually pouring through.

for example, currently the i-485 form (application for green card) sits at about 24 pages, and requires a couple of hours to fill out. for most immigrants who know little to no english, either they would have to sit with an english-speaking paralegal to help them, or one of their relatives who knows english would need to be the one to help them out.

the i-130 form (application for alien relatives) is about 12 pages, and just as hella confusing to go through.

the i-589 (application for asylum) and i-765 (application for worker's permit) aren't too bad in comparison, at about 7-8 pages, but even so, the legal language is still a hassle to try and understand.

(yes, I have helped both my parents fill out all these forms)

oh, and did i mention that every one of these forms cost money to file and submit to uscis for processing? this is not counting the typical immigration lawyer's fees immigrants have to fork up in order to get some decent representation, most immigrants still need to make a living one way or another, or how else are they to provide for their families and give their children a better future? (and ya know, afford the fees to try and actually go through the process of gaining legal status here???)

not only that, answering any of the questions wrong on any of these forms could be enough for uscis to reject the filing or outright deny it. and no, ofc there's no refunds on the application fees.

for a country that has a horrendous literacy crisis, i would so love to see the rest of y'all try to take a gander at these forms and see if you don't lose your goddamn mind.

have i mentioned how fucking terrifying it is when uscis officers grill you during the interview process???? because yes, there is an interview component to most of these forms. as if their questions are literally designed for you to fail???!!

this is just a few aspect of the immigration process that's so broken right now, it might as well be a 10k puzzle piece scattered in a room.

the strenuous waiting time between processing of applications, the anxiety of the elections every goddamn year because politicians cannot fucking make up their minds with how immigration ought to be tackled in this country, all the while immigrants also have to deal with the stress of everyday life and whatever challenges that brings.

uscis is still working through a backlog of applications from decades ago, and some people in this country really have the goddamn audacity to think, "they have to get here legally and go through the process that way"???!

a fucking luxury (ignorant af though, mind you) for some of y'all to say, indeed, especially if all it took back then for your family to get here was through ellis fucking island.

my aunt petitioned my dad with the i-589 form over 38 years ago when he was still living in the philippines, and mind you, the visa number from that filing was only granted and mailed to my dad's old house last year in december 2024, when we went home to visit relatives for the holidays and long after he's already become a US citizen.

i'm not asking for people to change their minds about immigration or that this country ought to let everyone in, i knowwwwww the system is broken and terrible.

but what i am asking is for people to educate themselves and to be open-minded, to not dismiss the struggles of immigrants, because those who think that the immigration process in this country is easy are hella ignorant and will never understand the sort of anxiety illegal immigrants go through, for the sake of trying to provide a better future for their children.

[vibrantstarfire]

i just keep thinking about a vegas early 1960s (?) divorce ranches. with dickkory donnakory roydonna roykory dickroy ... perhaps even mildly dickdonna ... polyamory.

kory is a vegas showgirl who's a recent immigrant from a small island kingdom. she's a showgirl because it's the only job she's been able to find in vegas aside from fire-twirling. she seems to thrive on odd jobs and learning about poetry and customs of this place. she won't say who she's divorcing. wild rumors fly all around -- she's divorcing someone extremely wealthy, she escaped a kidnapping and trafficking, she's the princess of her kingdom, she's actually a heroic war pilot. she won't confirm or deny any of them and seems to enjoy the mystique of it all. in the end somehow all of it is true. her arc is about letting in love again, and also dick giving her forged papers to claim she's been a citizen of nevada all along.

donna comes to the ranch to escape a marriage to terry long who insists that he'll for sure give custody of their son back to her once she returns with divorce papers. she's anxiously awaiting the end of her six months, and fretting over bills since terry isn't paying for this -- though her rich older sister was willing to pitch in a lot for donna's stay here, if it meant leaving terry. here, donna's free for the first time since a relatively sheltered early life and a very young marriage (she got married at 19 and is only 21 now). she's really enjoying learning new skills and kory seems to delight in teaching her how to do odd jobs and provide for herself. her sister's a lawyer, but donna's never been sure what to do beyond marry. kory convinces her to open a business.

divorce ranches are more common for women to retreat to than men. however

dick grayson is trying to get divorced and free himself from an ill-advised marriage that was definitely just trying to get at his adoptive father's fortune. he won't admit who he married to anyone at the ranch. fortunately, no kids were involved, and he's not going to be losing an obscene amount of his trust fund anymore. just a lot of it. it's an embarrassment to his rich adoptive father's famous last name, so though they could settle this in gotham, dick volunteered to just go get it taken care of in vegas. he's also got a lot of strange competencies and a vast education. and is very, very fit. his arc is about learning not to put too much stock in his family's expectations of him, something roy teaches him

roy was not supposed to go to the divorce resort. jade was supposed to be the one to go to the divorce resort. somehow, roy is here. with his 3 year old daughter. (jade got a last-minute contract, and told him matter of factly that his career could recover if he took a vacation with his dad's money -- but that hers would sink and never recover if she took another break like she did when she was pregnant. so she's going, harper. and look after lian, won't you?). he's the most comfortable with using the actual ranch parts of the ranch; he can ride a horse. his arc is about learning to settle down and be a family man from donna, who's fighting so hard to keep her son.

most of them are casually dating here. it's vegas, after all. what happens in vegas, stays in vegas. except the divorces -- those come home with them.

[offender42085]

Post 1154

Jeffrey Conroy, New York inmate 10A2652, born 1991, incarceration intake May 2010 at age 19, scheduled for parole consideration April 2030, with full release November 2033

Manslaughter, Gang Assault, Conspiracy, Attempted Assault as a Hate Crime

In May 2010, the white Long Island teenager convicted of killing a Hispanic immigrant in a 2008 hate crime attack in Patchogue was sentenced to 25 years in prison in a hearing that ended with the teenager’s father leaving the courtroom in a tearful rage.

The teenager, Jeffrey Conroy, then 19, stood next to his lawyer in State Supreme Court as Justice Robert W. Doyle told a courtroom filled with relatives, friends and supporters of both Mr. Conroy and the immigrant, Marcelo Lucero, that the proof of Mr. Conroy’s guilt was “overwhelming” and that he was convicted of “senseless and brutal crimes.”

The 25-year sentence was the longest possible for first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime, the most serious charge Mr. Conroy faced. Moments after the judge spoke, Mr. Conroy’s father, Robert Conroy, 49, a quiet presence in the courtroom during the nearly seven-week trial, stood up and, cursing, shouted that his son was only 17 at the time.

“This is mercy, for crying out loud?” he yelled from the back of the courtroom as he made his way outside surrounded by court officers, who restrained him briefly after he punched the doors or a wall.

Mr. Conroy was found guilty on April 19, 2010 of attacking Mr. Lucero in a train station parking lot in November 2008, one of a series of assaults that prosecutors said Mr. Conroy and six friends carried out as part of an activity that the young men described as “beaner-hopping” or “Mexican-hopping.”

Shortly before the sentencing was announced, Jeffrey Conroy seemed to apologize as he faced the judge. “I’m really sorry for what happened to Mr. Lucero,” he said, adding that every day he wished it never happened.

The defense lawyer, William Keahon, read aloud several of the nearly 100 letters that had been sent to the court from Mr. Conroy’s supporters — coaches, neighbors, and adult and teenage friends who asked for leniency. The letters described Mr. Conroy not as hate filled, but as someone who served as a volunteer mentor and coach to football and lacrosse players.

The letters also noted how Mr. Conroy had numerous Hispanic friends, including the woman he has said he plans to marry, Pamela Suarez, who is Bolivian.

But those sentiments were countered by the emotional words of the victim’s brother and sister.

Mr. Lucero’s younger brother, Joselo Lucero, 35, said that his brother became his role model and father figure after their father died when Joselo was 6. His brother’s death left him distraught, with nightmares and even thoughts of suicide, he said.

He spoke of justice for “the invisibles,” whom he described as the legal and illegal immigrants who come to the United States seeking a better life. “I don’t want this hate to continue,” he said.

Mr. Lucero, 37, a worker at a dry cleaning shop who had come from Gualaceo, Ecuador, was walking with a friend to another friend’s house on the night of the attack. They were surrounded by the seven young men, all students at Patchogue-Medford High School at the time, the authorities said.

After deliberating for four days, a jury found Mr. Conroy guilty of first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime and other charges, in connection with Mr. Lucero’s death. He was also found guilty of attempted assaults on three other Hispanic men. On the manslaughter charge, Mr. Conroy faced a minimum of 8 years and a maximum of 25 years.

Mr. Conroy received the maximum sentence on all the charges against him, but because the sentences are to run concurrently, and because he has already served nearly two years and will receive credit for good behavior, he could actually serve 18 years, his lawyer said.

4f

[thedarkone121]

Hello! Have a ramble card, you may ramble about whatever you like :3

Oh, Dust. Dust, my good fellow and now-fellow mutual, I don’t even know where to begin with this power you have given me… I’m ill-prepared for such a responsibility! But, I guess I can start my rambling off with some facts about Anne-Marie.

Anne-Marie is mixed-race, her biological mother originated from the Caribbean Islands but she fled to England during the wars for independence and to get away from her own family situation. Anne-Marie’s biological father was a wealthy Englishman, one who went after immigrant women. He’s a slimeball, plain and simple.

Anne-Marie has no desire to know her biological father. Jekyll is her dad and that’s end of it. Her mother, Isabella, is still alive but Anne-Marie doesn’t know nor does she care. Anne-Marie wants nothing to do with Isabella and would rather leave her in the past. They did not have a good relationship.

Anne-Marie did have a group of friends while she was at the Orphanage. She was the youngest so the older kids did their best to look after her. They were the ones who gave her the name Anne because of her tendency to question things by saying “And?”.

I meant to save this for a sketch on the first day of Pride Month but I guess I’ll say it here; Anne-Marie is asexual — like most of my OCs, to be honest 🤣 she falls more on the sex-repulsed side of things, which confused the heck out of Hyde. Speaking of Hyde, Jekyll and him were both very confused when Anne-Marie came out but they were still supportive in their own ways. They’re trying, okay? 🤣 They did have a huge sigh of relief when they realized that Anne-Marie wasn’t interested in fooling around with anybody when she reached her teenage/adult years.

Do not mention the words Anne-Marie and marriage in the same sentence around Jekyll. Jekyll does not want to think about marrying her off. He wants her to be the sole inheritor of everything he owns. He WILL delay marriage talks for as long as he can.

(In a future scenario where everything is happy, an older Anne-Marie does end up being in a nice queerplantonic marriage with a Jonathan Harker-inspired OC who is AroAce. Lanyon and Everly helped set it up.)

Everly is Anne-Marie’s piano teacher, something that happened not long after Robert first met the girl. The two got along together swimmingly and Anne-Marie would often play Everly’s sonnets as a form of lessons. Everly is probably the only Lanyon Anne-Marie genuinely likes. Everly sees her as the daughter she wishes she could have.

It’s such a shame that Anne-Marie doesn’t like Robert because those two would’ve gotten along swimmingly on dissing the upper-class while they were at parties. While Anne-Marie, like Jekyll, was taught upper-class etiquette but she didn’t thrive off it like her father. She’s actually pretty crabby whenever she had to deal with snobs. The only reason she is able to get away with acting as the perfect proper daughter is because Jekyll lets her loose it in either an isolated room or during the carriage ride on the way home.

She has a collection of scary stuffed toys in her room. Stuff like bears with large teeth and creepy button eyes. It freaks Lanyon and some of the Lodgers out. Jekyll has gotten used to them. Hyde is still weird out by them.

Anne-Marie’s tends to favor spicy food. Her favorite is that Chicken Paprika their family lawyer got from a fellow lawyer friend. Jekyll and Hyde can NOT handle spicy food but they still try to eat it with her. Hyde keeps going despite how much pain he’s in.

I guess it’s time to mention some stuff I have in regards to Jekyll being a dad. I can’t imagine him having any biological children. I can’t imagine this man procreating. In any form of media, might I add. It is easier to see him pick up a child from somewhere and him becoming a dad that way.

No matter how much his reputation means to him, I think Jekyll is willing to go to war if somebody ever sighted Anne-Marie the wrong way. If Anne-Marie tells her side of the story of an incident she’s involved with, he WILL believe her. Frankenstein learned that the hard way.

Him reading her bedtime stories are the only times Jekyll is able to sleep. Anne-Marie is a koala bear when she’s tired and Jekyll is never able to escape when she latches on. Welcome to the life of a dad, Jekyll.

Speaking of which, I almost forgotten to mention that I don’t think Jekyll ever planned to have kids. He likes children and sometimes don’t mind their company, but he never saw himself as a dad. Him adopting Anne-Marie was a decision that still surprises him to this day.

One last thing to close off the whole ramble, Anne-Marie is able to hold her stare for a long time. It’s something she developed when she was on the streets. She uses it as a form of intimidation, as she found out that people can unnerved by holding a long form of eye contact with them. She’s still well-known for this trick, even when she lost her sight. So if she is staring in a general direction, the Lodger who is on the receiving end of it is still freaked out.

And that’s end of the ramble! Not sure if this counts since I tend to be organized when I’m writing but thank you Dust Mint for letting me get some of ideas out!

[frodothefair]

New OC for Expats, let's go!

Ok, this wasn't even that hard! I was in the shower, and came up with a character sketch for my movie-star OC for Expats. What do you think? (Any similarities to real people, living or dead, are purely incidental).

Meet Elliot James. He is a Hollywood actor who got his start as a child star, but came to prominence when he appeared in a fantasy epic loosely based on events in early Medieval Britain, where he played a sweet, heroic squire who saved the day, but ended up giving his life in the process. Afterwards, he became a household name and in demand for everyone's epic or period piece anywhere, and while this was certainly very nice, it was somewhat disappointing to be typecast, so he tried to seek out other roles -- in indie films, horror movies, and genre cinema.

In rapid succession in his early 20's, he played a sick WWI veteran in a period piece with a plot like Flowers of Mordor, a prince in the medieval French history franchise Les Rois Maudits, a young Louis XIV, King Francis in a movie about Mary Queen of Scots (ok, yes, a lot of Frenchness here), and Nikolai Rostov in War and Peace. He also played Pip in Great Expectations, and Link in a cinema franchise of Legend of Zelda, and was one of the brothers in a multi-season Regency-era show similar to Bridgerton. He came to see his period piece and fantasy work as a "Jury duty" of sorts, but did it to please the fans and because he had some difficulty saying no. In the end, however, he put his foot down, and instead of taking the role of Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, which he was all but being bribed to do, he insisted on auditioning for Blind Pew and Israel Hands.

Why does he get typecast playing young literary and historic characters, you may ask? Well, this is because after age 20, he looks like he essentially stopped aging. He is also short and slightly built, and looks like he stepped off a renaissance painting. He has striking hazel eyes that look like liquid gold, and naturally curly dark blonde hair.

In terms of personal history, he hails from South Dakota, from a long line of ranchers and early settlers to the area of Swedish and German extraction. (Hello, inspiration from Mr. Nisilë's white heritage). His mother raised him and his sister alone, and he has a very loving, down-to-earth and supportive family of origin. However, work as a child actor gave him a lifelong hair-pulling habit, to the point of trichotillomania at times, and he is completely unable to grow a beard of his own as a result.

In his personal life, he gets together with a fan named Marina who is an immigrant from Ukraine and has both Ukranian and Russian heritage. They connect over his upcoming work on War and Peace, and impending trip to Eastern Europe to film it. (This is obviously well before the present day). During his (very ample) free time, Elliot enjoys collecting and listening to vinyl records, attending live concerts, traveling as incognito as he realistically can with his distinctive looks, and watching off-off-Broadway plays (or whatever the LA analog is for this). Ironically, he has never been in a play himself, except for a school play at a very young age.

With his girlfriend and later wife, he is a total sweetheart, and his mental illness helps him understand hers. He is also a complete and utter goofball, slightly disorganized in his household and self care, and unassuming and slightly awkward whenever the cameras are off. The weirder the topic of conversation with him, the better.

His partner, Marina, works as a medical malpractice lawyer who defends doctors, and has a crazy, domineering mother who both loves and dislikes Elliot, and belittles his work behind his back, comparing him to old Soviet actors who she thinks are the true greats. However, she has no qualms about accepting gifts and financial assistance from him. (Guess who this is based on, haha).

Elliot never went to college himself, but he paid for the college education of his sister and Marina's law education. The only thing he asked for in return was that Marina and his sister share the particularly interesting things they learned whenever they could.

What do you think?

@konartiste @emmanuellececchi

[mariacallous]

In January, Taipei-based food writer Liz Kao thought she had scored a coveted invitation to the inauguration banquet for Taiwan’s president-elect, Lai Ching-te, on May 20. She was flattered when one of the organizers asked if she wanted to attend. But when she hopped on a clarifying call with him in March, she realized there was more to it.

“He told me I was going to make the menu. I was shocked,” Kao said.

Suddenly, Kao, a lawyer-turned-food influencer, found herself in charge of designing a state banquet for more than 1,000 guests. She put together a task team composed of veteran food writer Jewel Tsai—“who is very experienced in sourcing ingredients,” Kao said—and two critically acclaimed Taipei chefs: Wes Kuo of Embers, who has an encyclopedic “knowledge of herbs and plants in Taiwan,” and Tsai Jui-lang of Mountain and Sea House, who specializes in traditional 20th-century banquet fare. “He has the technique,” Kao said.

In less than 36 hours, the group had sketched out a preliminary eight-course meal. Their strategy was to concoct dishes and flavor profiles that would represent Taiwan’s five main ethnic subgroups: Indigenous, Hoklo, Hakka, Chinese mainlanders, and Southeast Asians. “We wanted to tell the story of Taiwan’s multiculturalism and democracy,” Jewel Tsai said.

This story is central to Lai’s platform. His Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is the first political party in Taiwan’s history to secure three consecutive terms, and Lai has styled himself as an extension of his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, who maintains that Taiwan is already a sovereign, independent country and does not need to declare independence. The party asserts the island’s autonomy in part by embracing its vibrant mix of cultural identities, and this year’s banquet menu is an expansion of that ethos.

At first glance, Taiwan may not look like a very diverse society, since 95 percent of its inhabitants are ethnically Han Chinese. But that’s a huge and broad term for a multitude of peoples. In addition to its Indigenous residents, who make up about 2 percent of the island’s population, Taiwan has a 400-year history of immigration, and each wave has brought new food customs, condiments, and dishes to the island.

Seventy percent of residents have Hoklo ancestry, descending from the initial wave of migrants from China’s Fujian province who started settling on the island’s west coast in the 17th century. Hakka, a migratory group from southern China, also arrived during this period and comprise about 15 percent of the population.

Another 10 to 15 percent is represented by Chinese mainlanders, who fled with the Republic of China’s government to Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War in the mid-20th century. Southeast Asians, the most recent immigrant group, began arriving in large numbers in the 1990s and now account for 2 percent of Taiwan’s population.

“Taiwanese cuisine is the combination of all these groups of people. It’s a sum of all the cultures,” Kao said.

As Kao’s team prepared the menu, they narrowed in on ingredients unique to each of these cultures. For the first course, for example, they opted for an array of seasonal vegetables, including Makino bamboo, chayote squash shoots, and lily bulbs, plated over a streak of sauces that represent Taiwan’s ethnic subgroups: te’nas, an Indigenous chili saltwater dip; Dongquan chili sauce, a Hoklo-style hot sauce; a sweet Hakka kumquat jam; fermented tofu paste, brought over by Chinese mainlanders; and satay sauce, a nod to Southeast Asian immigrants.

Eaten together, these starkly different sauces create a bright, savory blend that ties the dish together. “Ingredients are a vehicle to represent democracy,” said Kuo, who curated the sauces for this dish.

State banquets in Taiwan have long been a soft-power tool for the island’s leaders. When the Republic of China government, led by Chiang Kai-shek, fled to Taiwan in 1949 during the Chinese Civil War, Chiang wanted to project it as the sole legitimate ruler of China. For his inauguration banquet, his staff therefore served haute regional Chinese dishes such as Sichuan smoked duck, Cantonese barbecue pork, and Shanghai-style fried prawns.

Over the next few decades, state dinners followed a similar script. In 1965, Yen Chia-kan, who would later become Chiang’s successor, hosted a dinner for foreign press corps featuring braised shark’s fin, Beijing duck, and northern Chinese knife-shaved noodles. The recent wave of mainland Chinese immigrants made up less than one-sixth of the population, but they had already become Taiwan’s ruling elite. The cuisines of the rest of the populace—Hoklo, Hakka, and Indigenous—did not appear on official menus.

Taiwan transitioned from a dictatorship to a democracy in the 1980s, with the old ruling party, the Kuomintang (KMT), or Nationalists, becoming one player in a multiparty system. But state menus didn’t change significantly until 2000, when Taiwan-born Chen Shui-bian became the first elected leader from the DPP. Unlike the KMT, the DPP had less of a cultural affinity with the Chinese mainland. Chen’s banquet included local delicacies that predated the Nationalist government’s arrival in Taiwan and elevated what had previously been considered working-class fare, such as meatball soup made with local milkfish and steamed savory rice pudding.

Since then, Taiwan’s inauguration banquets have become increasingly egalitarian and specific to the island, reflecting a growing number of people identifying as Taiwanese over their ethnic subgroups. That assertion has upset the Chinese government, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory.

The inauguration banquet of the KMT’s Ma Ying-jeou in 2008 took a farm-to-table approach that showcased the island’s food production; the menu listed the sources of many of the ingredients, including chicken from Guanmiao, a southern Taiwanese farming district, and squash from the east coast city of Taitung.

Indigenous ingredients weren’t represented for the first time until the inauguration meal of Tsai, the outgoing president. Her menu in 2016 featured pork chops dusted with maqaw, a native Taiwanese spice akin to lemon pepper. It also included Hakka-style rice noodles topped with shiitakes, which, according to the menu, were harvested by a farmer named Tian Chin-feng in northern Taiwan. Tsai has ancestry from both groups.

Lai’s banquet builds on that legacy by being more inclusive than ever. “Past menus have not acknowledged the new immigrants,” said Jewel Tsai, referring to the Southeast Asian population in Taiwan. Eighty percent of all foreign residents are migrant laborers, hailing mostly from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. “They’re an important part of Taiwan. They have small restaurants all over,” she said. “I believe that in the next five to 10 years, their food will be integrated into Taiwanese cuisine at large.”

On a Friday afternoon a few weeks before the inauguration, I met Kao’s team at the Formosa Yacht Resort in the southern city of Tainan, the venue for the banquet. Unbeknownst to patrons enjoying the breakfast buffet, the team was huddled in a private room nearby for a tasting of the presidential dinner. They had finalized the menu, but the hotel chefs were in charge of executing the vision. It was the last rehearsal before the big event, and nerves were high.

Chefs Kuo, Tsai, and their associates sat together, jotting down tasting notes and feedback on plating and tableware choices for the in-house staff. In the next room, a local vlogger was interviewing Kao. Meanwhile, Jewel Tsai patiently explained each dish to me as they arrived.

The hors d’oeuvres platter featured a drunken chicken medallion marinated in Shaoxing wine, which represented mainlanders’ cuisine, alongside a taro, sweet potato, and kumquat spring roll—a personal favorite of Lai, who has Hoklo roots—from a vendor in the president-elect’s hometown of Wanli. It also included a Hakka rice dumpling flavored with mugwort, an Indigenous millet wrap stuffed with pork, and a singular shrimp coated in a bright Southeast Asian-style sweet chili sauce.

Most of the other courses weren’t as literal but still drew from the theme. A filleted seabream from a local aquaculture farm sat on a salted white puree flavored with bright green drops of oil made from cicong, an Indigenous prickly ash, which lent it a peppery, yuzu-like tang. A chicken soup with aged turnip and a parcel of pickled mustard greens paid homage to the fermentation techniques of the Hakka. A 1930s-inspired sweet and sour pork adorned with preserved plums and green mangoes recalled Hoklo fine dining when Taiwan was under Japanese colonial rule. There was thinly sliced goose with turnip and tofu braised in two types of sauces: one to represent Chinese mainlanders of Teochew descent (“It has more spices,” Jewel Tsai said) and another in the style of the Hoklo (“More simple,” she said).

While the dishes were steeped in symbolism, none of the flavors were overwhelmingly spicy or bold. The fish had been deboned. Most courses could be enjoyed with a fork and knife. It was an elegant progression of courses fit for a crowd of political leaders, important campaign donors, and foreign dignitaries from around the world.

Then the unexpected happened. As the seventh course arrived, the room suddenly erupted in cheers. “Bubble tea!” Kuo exclaimed. Servers carried in shrimp rice and the iconic Taiwanese beverage, sourced directly from two popular eateries in Tainan. It was essentially takeout on a plate—a jolting deviation from the intricately composed dishes that preceded it. The bubble tea, which came with fat black straws, looked almost cartoonish.

A special request from the president-elect, the course was rumored by the team to be a nod to Chinese President Xi Jinping. In a television interview last summer, Lai said that if he ever had the opportunity to dine with Xi in Taiwan, he’d order shrimp rice and a cup of bubble tea. For dessert, we finished off with a fruit popsicle dipped in a citrus-forward marmalade, surrounded by mango, pineapple, melon, and wax apple—all sourced from Taiwanese farmers.

After the tasting, I asked Lee Hou-ching, the secretary-general of the nongovernmental organization in charge of planning the banquet, about the official reason for the seventh course. He demurred. “Tainan is known as a food city,” he said. “Lai wanted to represent Tainan with a dish appropriate for a banquet.”

Food is subject to interpretation, but that’s partly what makes it such an effective yet subtle tool of soft power. The inauguration banquet is a way for Taiwan’s new leadership to set the tone for how it wants the world to perceive the island. “We want the world to know Taiwan’s identity,” Kao said. “We represent democracy, freedom, and diversity.”

[hudsonmckenzie]

Is it possible for expats to buy property in UAE?

The UAE real estate industry offers fantastic opportunities for capital gains and investment. This market has been more accessible as a result of several modifications to the laws governing property ownership, particularly for foreign investors and expats. Foreigners are subject to different restrictions regarding property ownership than domestic owners, nevertheless. An UAE immigration lawyer summarises the applicable laws and numerous Emirate-specific laws for expats interested in real estate investment in the UAE.

In the UAE, foreigners could not purchase real estate until 2001 or 2002. Dubai originally allowed foreigners to purchase 99-year leasehold properties in 2001, and then allowed them to invest in freehold homes in 2002. Soon after, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman appeared.In some designated regions, freehold and leasehold properties may be owned by expatriates in the UAE. Properties with a lease have a fixed-term possession agreement. According to the leasing agreement, the property is owned by the foreign owner but not the land. Properties that are freehold suggest that the expat owns both the building and the land on which it is situated.

Leaseholder ownership implies that for the duration of the contract, the expatriate only owns the unit and not the land. When the period is over, the agreement may be extended, and the foreigner is only partially liable for repairs. Only the consent of the freehold owner is required for any significant improvements. Additionally, with limitations, the expat may sublease the house or keep pets.

Freehold, on the other hand, grants the owner total authority over both his property and the land. If a project complies with the developer's specifications and local legislation, owners are free to make significant alterations like renovations and remodelling as they see fit. After the owner passes away, the property is given to the heir. The owner can benefit from the high ROI by leasing or selling the property.

Specific guidelines for purchasing real estate in each of the Emirates

It's interesting how different emirates have different property ownership laws. Here is a quick summary of the unique regulations of the various Emirates:

Purchasing a home in Dubai

According to a leading UAE immigration lawyer, expats are permitted to own freehold properties in specified freehold regions and leasehold properties in Dubai. There is no restriction on age to buy real estate in Dubai; the laws are the same for both resident foreigners and non-resident investors. The title deeds are issued by the Land Department.

Article 3 of Regulation No. 3 of 2006 Determining Areas for Ownership by Non-Nationals of Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai applies to freehold properties.

In nine authorised investment districts in Abu Dhabi, foreign nationals are permitted to purchase flats and villas. Al Reef, Lulu, Masdar City, Mariya, Reem, Saadiyat, Sayh Al Sedairah, and Yas Islands are among them. However, Abu Dhabi does not allow foreigners to own or purchase land.

In this Emirate, there are four types of property ownership systems:

Ownership - For 99 years, the expat enjoys complete ownership of the flat or floor, and he or she is free to sell it. The deed does not, however, mention the ground on which the property is situated.

The Musalaha system allows foreigners to purchase residential properties in accordance with the Masataha contract. After the first 50-year term expires, it may be renewed. Owners are free to use the property during the period and carry out upgrades, alterations, constructions, renovations, etc.

Usufruct: For a period of 99 years, the expatriates may own and use the apartment, but they are prohibited from making any changes to the building.

Long-term lease: In Abu Dhabi, foreigners are permitted to lease homes for up to 25 years.

Law No. 19 of 2005 Concerning the Regulation of the Real Estate Sector, which is applicable in Abu Dhabi, sets down the rules governing foreigners' ownership of real estate. A few changes were made to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Law in April 2019. There were changes to Articles 3 and 4. According to Article 3(i), foreign nationals are only permitted to acquire one of three types of property:

· UAE nationals, whether they be legal or natural individuals.

· Not more than 49% of public holding businesses owned by non-nationals.

·If the President of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi makes a choice for someone.

Non-UAE nationals are permitted to own real estate properties in the aforementioned defined locations, in accordance with Article 3(ii). Original and in-kind legal rights to real estate are also permitted. According to Article 4, musataha and usufruct owners who have owned a property for more than 10 years are allowed to sell or mortgage it without the landlord's permission. In contrast, the landlord is not permitted to mortgage the flat without the holder of the usufruct or the musataha's consent.

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Reasons to Choose the Perfect Immigration Legal Service

If you need a trusted partner to guide you through the complexities of immigration, experienced lawyers offer the support you deserve. Whether you are searching for an Immigration Lawyer to help with a complex case, their team is ready to assist with professionalism, expertise, and empathy. Do not leave your future to chance. Contact Kalantarov's lawyer today for a consultation and experience the difference a dedicated immigration legal service can make.

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Green Card Lawyer Long Island: How to Secure Permanent Residency in the U.S.

Obtaining a green card is a crucial step toward permanent residency in the United States. However, the process can be challenging, requiring strict adherence to immigration laws and deadlines. Working with an experienced green card lawyer in Long Island can help you navigate this complex journey successfully.

Who Is Eligible for a Green Card?

The U.S. offers several pathways to permanent residency, including:

Family Sponsorship – Spouses, children, parents, and siblings of U.S. citizens or green card holders may qualify.

Employment-Based Green Cards – Skilled workers, investors, and professionals may obtain green cards through job sponsorship.

Asylum or Refugee Status – Individuals fleeing persecution can apply for permanent residency after one year in the U.S.

Special Categories – Includes visas for crime victims (U Visa), human trafficking survivors (T Visa), and other humanitarian programs.

Common Challenges in the Green Card Process

1. Lengthy Processing Times

Green card applications can take months or even years. Errors or missing documents can further delay the process.

2. Application Denials

Mistakes in forms, lack of supporting evidence, or issues with eligibility can result in denials. A green card lawyer in Long Island can help avoid these pitfalls.

3. Changing Immigration Laws

U.S. immigration policies frequently change, affecting application requirements. An experienced attorney stays updated on the latest laws to protect your case.

4. Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing

If you are in the U.S., you may apply for an adjustment of status. If outside the country, you must go through consular processing. A lawyer ensures you follow the correct procedure.

Why Hire a Green Card Lawyer in Long Island?

Expert Guidance – An attorney helps determine your eligibility and the best path to permanent residency.

Accurate Documentation – Ensuring all paperwork is completed correctly to avoid unnecessary delays.

Legal Representation – If issues arise, a lawyer can advocate for you in appeals, interviews, or immigration court.

Get Help from a Trusted Green Card Lawyer

At the Law Office of Alena Shautsova, we have successfully helped countless clients secure their green cards. Our dedicated team provides personalized support and legal expertise throughout the process.

Schedule a Consultation Today

If you need assistance with your green card application, contact us today for expert legal guidance.

Law Office of Alena Shautsova 175 Eileen Way, Syosset, NY 11791, United States

For appointments, visit our website: https://www.shautsova.com/

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👉 Stay informed with real-time updates and in-depth analysis at NewsLink7.com. Fact-checked news that matters. Follow us 24/7, 365 days. There are no sides, just the truth. Explore more stories and stay ahead with NewsLink7.com

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Navigating Immigration Law: How a Law Office for Immigration Can Help

Introduction

Immigration is a complex and evolving area of law, and whether you're seeking a work visa, permanent residency, or citizenship, navigating the system can be daunting. This is where a law office specializing in immigration becomes invaluable. In this article, we'll explore the critical role of immigration law office for immigration, their services, and how they can help individuals and families achieve their immigration goals.

Understanding Immigration Law

Immigration law governs who can enter a country, how long they can stay, and what rights and responsibilities they hold. The process involves various legal documents, interviews, and adherence to stringent requirements. A misstep in any part of the process can result in delays or even denials, making it crucial to seek professional legal guidance.

Key Services Offered by Immigration Law Offices

Visa Applications Immigration law offices assist with various visa types, including work visas, student visas, and family-sponsored visas. Each visa type comes with specific criteria, and an experienced lawyer can guide applicants through the process, ensuring compliance with the relevant legal requirements.

Green Card and Permanent Residency Securing permanent residency, commonly known as a green card, is a significant milestone for many immigrants. Immigration lawyers help individuals understand their eligibility, whether through family sponsorship, employment, or other pathways, and assist in submitting thorough applications.

Citizenship and Naturalization For immigrants seeking to become citizens, the path to naturalization requires meeting residency, language, and civics knowledge requirements. Immigration attorneys help applicants prepare for the process, including completing the necessary paperwork and preparing for interviews and tests.

Deportation Defense Facing deportation is one of the most stressful situations an immigrant can experience. Law offices that specialize in immigration often handle deportation defense cases, advocating for clients' rights and seeking relief from deportation through appeals, waivers, or adjustments of status.

Family Reunification Reuniting families separated by borders is another essential aspect of immigration law. Whether it involves bringing spouses, children, or other relatives to a new country, an immigration lawyer ensures that the correct legal procedures are followed to facilitate family reunification.

The Importance of Hiring an Immigration Lawyer

Immigration laws are complex and vary by country, and having an experienced lawyer to navigate these complexities can make all the difference. A qualified immigration lawyer understands the nuances of immigration law, stays updated on changes, and is skilled in handling legal challenges that may arise. By hiring a specialized law office, individuals can avoid common pitfalls and increase their chances of a successful outcome.

Choosing the Right Immigration Law Office

When selecting a law office for immigration, it's essential to look for

Experience and Expertise: Lawyers should have a proven track record in immigration cases.

Client Testimonials: Positive feedback from previous clients can offer insight into a lawyer's effectiveness.

Personalized Service: Immigration matters can be deeply personal, and having a lawyer who offers personalized attention can be crucial for success.

For more info:-

Local Guide Program Rhode Island

Cla Law Firm Rhode Island USA