#U.S. Green Card 2024

[visaandimmigrations01]

Stay updated on US immigration, particularly the U.S. Green Card. Anticipate policy changes in 2024, including updates to the U.S. Green Card Lottery by 2025. Our platform provides the Latest US Immigration News, ensuring you stay ahead of regulatory shifts. Whether you're seeking residency or tracking immigration trends, trust our insights to guide you through your Green Card journey.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Amazing what you can get done when you're not golfing everyday.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

August 1, 2024

Heather Cox Richardson

Aug 02, 2024

“This is a very good afternoon,” President Joe Biden said today. “[A] very good afternoon.”

“Today, we’re bringing home Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir—three American citizens and one American green-card holder. 

“All four have been imprisoned unjustly in Russia…. Russian authorities arrested them, convicted them in show trials, and sentenced them to long prison terms with absolutely no legitimate reason whatsoever. None.” 

In a complicated prisoner swap involving the U.S., Russia, and at least seven other countries, Americans Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, and Alsu Kurmasheva and British-Russian activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who openly opposed the invasion of Ukraine, came home from Russia. Four German citizens who had also been wrongfully detained—meaning they had not broken laws but were being held as political bargaining chips—were also part of the exchange, along with a fifth who was released from Belarus. 

Also in the swap were seven Russian citizens who had been detained as political prisoners, four of whom worked with Alexei Navalny, the political opposition leader who died in February in a Russian prison. They have left Russia and will make their way to other countries. It is extraordinary that the U.S. government managed to force Putin to release his own citizens, and Biden called it out. “It says a lot about the United States that we work relentlessly to free Americans who are unjustly held around the world,” he said. “It also says a lot about us that this deal includes the release of Russian political prisoners. They stood up for democracy and human rights. Their own leaders threw them in prison. The United States helped secure their release as well. That’s who we are in the United States.

“We stand for freedom, for liberty, for justice—not only for our own people but for others as well. And that’s why all Americans can take pride in what we’ve achieved today.” 

In exchange, Russian president Vladimir Putin got the prisoner he wanted most, hit man Vadim Krasikov, back from Germany. In addition, the U.S. released three Russians, Slovenia released two, and Norway and Poland each released one. All told, eight Russians went home. 

Foreign affairs journalist Anne Applebaum noted that “a group of brave journalists and democracy activists are being exchanged for a group of brutal spies.” The exchange included no money or sanctions relief. 

The U.S. had been calling for the freedom of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as part of the negotiations when he died abruptly in Russian custody in February 2024. His death briefly derailed the negotiations that had been going on since shortly after Biden took office. Even before he took office, he had asked his national security team to dig into all the cases of hostages being wrongfully detained, which they were inheriting from the previous administration. “I wanted to make sure we’d hit the ground running,” Biden said today, “and we did.” 

He noted that with today’s releases, his administration “has brought home over 70 Americans who were wrongfully detained and held hostage abroad, many since before I took office.” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan later noted that the administration has reclaimed U.S. citizens from “Afghanistan, Burma, Gaza, Haiti, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Rwanda, and elsewhere.”

Asking Germany to release Krasikov was a big ask, but the government was willing to exchange him for Navalny. After Navalny’s death, it seemed likely the deal could not be revived. But Sullivan believed he saw a way forward, and Biden called German chancellor Olaf Scholz and asked him to continue to move forward. “For you, I will do this,” Scholz said. The president told Sullivan to get it done. In April President Biden sent a formal request to Scholz asking him to make the complicated swap that transpired today. When a reporter today asked Biden what Scholz had demanded in return, Biden answered: “Nothing.”

In his remarks today, Biden emphasized that the deal was “a feat of diplomacy and friendship—friendship. Multiple countries helped get this done. They joined difficult, complex negotiations at my request. And I personally thank them all again.  And I’ve thanked them personally, and I’ll thank them again.”

“This deal would not have been made possible without our allies Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey. They all stepped up, and they stood with us. They stood with us, and they made bold and brave decisions, released prisoners being held in their countries who were justifiably being held, and provided logistical support to get the Americans home. So, for anyone who questions whether allies matter, they do. They matter. 

“And today is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world—friends you can trust, work with, and depend upon, especially on matters of great consequence and sensitivity like this. 

“Our alliances make our people safer.”  

Sullivan was clear about where specific praise was due. “Today’s exchange is a feat of diplomacy that honestly could only be achieved by a leader like Joe Biden,” he said at a press conference this afternoon.” He directed the team and was personally engaged in the diplomacy necessary. “There is no more singular or concrete demonstration that the alliances that the president has reinvigorated around the world matter to Americans—to the individual safety of Americans and to the collective security of Americans,” Sullivan said. “And honestly, guys, I can just say this was vintage Joe Biden, rallying…American allies to save American citizens and Russian freedom fighters and doing it with intricate statecraft, pulling his whole team together to drive this across the finish line.” 

Tearing up, Sullivan added, “Today…was a very good day.”

This deal was in the works during the weeks when the press was hounding the president and suggesting he was not fit to do the work of the office. In fact, a senior administration official briefing reporters this morning pointed out that on July 20, an hour before he announced to the nation that he would not accept the Democratic nomination for president, Biden “was on the phone with his Slovenian counterpart, urging them to make the final arrangements and to get this deal over the finish line.” 

This is the largest prisoner swap since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The administration warned journalists that no one should think that there has been a breakthrough in the relationship between the U.S. and Russia or that tensions have eased. Putin’s continuing attacks on Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and our European partners, as well as his growing defense relationship with China, North Korea, and Iran, all mean that “you will not see a policy change from President Biden or the administration when it comes to standing up to Putin’s aggression as a result of this,” an official said. 

But the deal does suggest that Putin might be finding it in his own interest to look like he might be willing to negotiate on different issues going forward, a reflection of the damage the Ukraine war has inflicted on his own society. Russia has recently pulled its ships from the Sea of Azov, Russian mercenaries just suffered big losses in Mali, and today, Russian media reported that the country’s largest oil refinery was on fire. Putin might also be seeing that Trump���s path to the White House has gotten dramatically steeper in the past couple of weeks. 

Indeed, Putin’s decision to go ahead with the swap was a blow to Trump. Gershkovich was a Wall Street Journal reporter when he was taken into custody in March 2023, and the Wall Street Journal covered the negotiations in quite some depth today. Reporters Joe Parkinson, Drew Hinshaw, Bojan Pancevski, and Aruna Viswanatha noted that Trump got wind that a deal was coming together and began to insist at his rallies and in interviews that Putin would free Gershkovich only for him.

Putin has proven Trump wrong. 

That did not, however, stop Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance from claiming that Trump deserved credit for the swap despite Trump’s insistence that Gershkovich would be released only after Trump was reelected. For his part, Trump didn’t express any joy at all in the deal, simply claiming that Biden got fleeced and saying “[o]ur ‘negotiators’ are always an embarrassment to us!”  

And from the Department of Poor Timing, MAGA representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina tweeted this morning: “Biden is MIA. Why is no one talking about it?”

At today’s White House announcement, a reporter noted that former president Trump “has said repeatedly that he could have gotten the hostages out without giving anything in exchange,” and asked President Biden: “What do you say to that?”

“Why didn’t he do it when he was president?” Biden answered.  

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[the-whispers-of-death]

OC Information: "Death"

Full Name: Jason Maximovich Ivanov

Callsign(s): Death

Alias(es): Scythe-Bearer, Devil Incarnate, Lucifer, Grim Reaper, Shadow-Wolf

Nationality: American (Russian Immigrant)

Affiliations: U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Fleet Force

Rank: Captain (U.S. Marines)

Gender: Male

Status: Alive

Birthday: February 11th, 1989 (35 as of 2024)

Build: Burly

Height: 6'8"

Marks: Whip scars on his arms, legs, back, and torso. A very old burn scar on the nape of his neck. A jagged knife scar going through his left eye scar but didn't blind him.

Hair: Black

Eyes: Brown

Background: Jason is the oldest son out of three sons and a daughter. He grew up in Russia and when he was three, his mother died during childbirth. His father trained him to be a killer and when he was thirteen, his father found out he was gay and abandoned him in the U.S. He lived on the streets until he was eighteen, where he got a green card and enlisted in the military. He's been in the Marine Corps for fifteen years.

Extra: He is a sniper and has a Purple Heart. He has a twenty year-old son named Ilariy that he adopted when Ilariy was at the age of four. He still talks to his siblings.

Reblogs are welcomed & appreciated! Asks are open, feel free to pop in and request something! (Check the rules in "Rules for Requesting NSFW" before requesting.)

[strictlyfavorites]

At least 59.4 percent of illegal immigrant-led homes use one or more welfare programs, compared with 39 percent of households headed by people born in the United States, according to the Dec. 19 report.

High rates of welfare use among illegal immigrants “primarily reflect their generally lower education levels and their resulting low-incomes, coupled with the large share who have U.S.-born children who are eligible for all welfare programs from birth,” the report reads.

“More than half of all illegal immigrant households have one or more U.S.-born children.”

Children born to illegal immigrants in the United States, also known as “anchor babies,‘ are considered to have automatic birthright citizenship even though the U.S. Supreme Court hasn’t explicitly ruled on the matter. Illegal immigrants can’t access most welfare programs, a restriction that eases for their children who are born in the country.

“The American welfare system is designed in large part to help low-income families with children, which describes a large share of immigrants,” CIS states in the report.

A dozen states offer Medicaid to all low-income children regardless of immigration status. Such children also have access to various government food and meal programs.

Programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program, free or subsidized lunch and breakfast for students, and Medicaid for children (Children’s Health Insurance Program) were “explicitly created for minors,” the report states.

The CIS report is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP).

“The reality is that illegal immigrants are included in the SIPP, a large share of them are poor, and they or their U.S.-born children have welfare eligibility; and many take advantage of this eligibility,” CIS stated.

“A very large share of immigrants come to America, have children, struggle to provide for them, and so turn to taxpayers for support. This can be seen as especially problematic given that there is already a large number of Americans who are also struggling to provide for their children.”

According to data from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the total number of U.S.-born children of illegal aliens in the United States as of June stood at 5.78 million, a population more than two times that of Chicago.

FAIR estimates that “illegal aliens and their U.S.-born children impose a net annual cost of $150.6 billion on American taxpayers as of the beginning of 2023.” Over the past five years, the annual cost has risen by almost $35 billion.

“This burden will only continue to grow as a result of the Biden administration’s open-borders policies,” the organization warns.

Ending Birthright Citizenship

Multiple GOP members have taken a strong stance against birthright citizenship. In 2018, former President Donald Trump said he would remove birthright citizenship via executive order, which didn’t happen.

In his 2024 campaign, President Trump has reiterated his position on the matter. In a May video, President Trump promised to sign an executive order on day one of his second term to solve the issue.

Such an order would end the “unfair practice known as birth tourism, where hundreds of thousands of people from all over the planet squat in hotels for their last few weeks of pregnancy to illegitimately and illegally obtain U.S. citizenship for the child, often to later exploit chain migration to jump the line and get green cards for themselves and their family members.”

“At least one parent will have to be a citizen or a legal resident in order to qualify,” President Trump stated.

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy called for an end to birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants during the second GOP debate, in September.

“Now, the left will howl about the Constitution and the 14th Amendment. The difference between me and them is I’ve actually read the 14th Amendment. And what it says is that all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the laws and jurisdiction thereof are citizens,” Mr. Ramaswamy said.

“So nobody believes that the kid of a Mexican diplomat in this country enjoys birthright citizenship—not a judge or legal scholar in this country will disagree with me on that. Well, if the kid of a Mexican diplomat doesn’t enjoy birthright citizenship, then neither does the kid of an illegal migrant who broke the law to come here.”

In July, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) introduced a proposal called “End Birthright Citizenship Fraud Act of 2023,” which aims to abolish automatic birthright citizenship for U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.

Under the legislation, at least one parent of the child must be a U.S. national or a refugee, have lawful permanent citizenship, or be an active member of the military.

“My legislation recognizes that American citizenship is a privilege—not an automatic right to be co-opted by illegal aliens,” Mr. Gaetz said in a statement.

“This is an important step in preserving the sanctity of American citizenship and ensures that citizenship is not treated as a loophole to be exploited but rather a privilege to be earned when legally migrating to our country.”

[saintmeghanmarkle]

EXCLUSIVERevealed: The real reason Prince Harry may be on a 'golden ticket' diplomatic visa in the U.S. and why getting a green card could be a financial 'dagger to the heart' for the Royal Family by u/Von_und_zu_

EXCLUSIVERevealed: The real reason Prince Harry may be on a 'golden ticket' diplomatic visa in the U.S. and why getting a green card could be a financial 'dagger to the heart' for the Royal Family The Royal Family may want Prince Harry to remain on a diplomatic visa indefinitely so it does not have to reveal aspects of its finances to the U.S. Government.If the Duke of Sussex was to become a U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident with a green card, it could be a financial 'dagger in the heart' for the royals, one tax expert told Dailymail.com.It would mean the Duke having to report his entire worldwide income to America's Internal Revenue Service, including details of any British bank accounts or trusts.And documents relating to any joint finances involving the rest of the Royal Family would have to be disclosed.It comes amid growing speculation about the Duke's immigration status in the U.S.Immigration experts have suggested to Dailymail.com that he may be on an extremely rare A-1 Head of State visa.This reporting makes no sense to me. Maybe he is on an A-1 - I do not know. But claiming that he has an A-1 because the RF wants him to be on an A1 because that would save Harold and the RF the embarassment of reporting to the US government any joint financial interests he has with the RF? What? Is anyone with a brain on duty at the DM today? https://ift.tt/sGlLzJZ post link: https://ift.tt/w1LEmyU author: Von_und_zu_ submitted: September 07, 2024 at 11:27PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[dertaglichedan]

Biden Considering Granting Amnesty, Handing Out Green Cards To Illegal Immigrants

P Resident Joe Biden is currently considering granting amnesty to illegal migrants in a bid to act on the worsening immigration crisis, according to Politico.

Biden and his administration are weighing several ideas to take a tougher stance on the southern border crisis and illegal immigration amid criticisms he has thus far failed to act on either. The administration could start dolling out green cards to illegal immigrants who have long stayed inside the United States, thereby giving them amnesty to stay in the country, three people familiar with the planning told Politico. (RELATED: Immigration Overtakes Inflation As Top Voter Concern In 2024: POLL)

The plan would grant migrants who have been in the country for more than 10 years access to the cancellation of removal program provided that they have relatives who would suffer if they were deported, according to Politico. Migrants could then receive a green card — a permanent residency grant —  if they meet the cancellation of removal requirements and an immigration judge rules in their favor.

It would represent a larger effort by Biden to take action on behalf of illegal immigrants who have long stayed inside the U.S., the three officials told Politico. The Obama administration took similar action in 2012 with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which delayed the deportation of illegal migrants who came to the U.S. when they were minors.

[ausetkmt]

Congrats on your citizenship! If you’ll be 18 before Election Day, you have the right to vote in federal, state, and local elections. This is your chance to influence the leadership in your community — and in the United States as a whole. In this article, we’ll walk you through the voter registration process.

Learn the voting rules in your state

Voting rules are different in every state. However, with exception to North Dakota, all states require citizens to register if they want to vote. How you register to vote can vary too. In many cases you can register to vote online, at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or by using the National Voter Registration form.

Check your state’s deadline for registration

You can check your state’s deadline for registering here, and learn about specific details on your state’s voter registration process, by visiting your state or local territory’s election office website. Whether or not you can vote in the upcoming midterm elections, registering to vote now will allow you to vote in the presidential election in 2024, so just do it!

Confirm you’re registered to vote

To confirm you’re registered to vote, you can check your voter registration status online, over the phone, by mail, or in person. Like registering itself, this varies state by state, so it’s helpful to check with your local election office.

When you’re confirming your registration, there are a few things to watch out for:

Your name is accurate and on the voter list

Your address is up to date

The polling place is correct

If you can’t find your name on the voter list, reach out to your election office as soon as possible! Every time you move or change your name you have to update your registration or re-register.

Determine your polling place

Once you’ve registered to vote, your election office will likely send you a voter registration card that tells you your polling place. On Election Day, you’ll go there to vote. You’ll probably need to show an ID before you can vote and if you know you can’t make it to your polling place on Election Day, you might qualify to vote by mail.

Important!

If you’re a lawful permanent resident and not a U.S. citizen, you cannot vote in federal and state elections. It can be confusing because if you’re at the DMV to get your license, the clerk might ask if you want to register to vote. If you accept, there is a risk of deportation.Non-citizens, such as green card holders cannot vote in federal, state, and most local elections. Learn more about who can vote here.

If you have any questions about the U.S. voting process process, USAGov can help! Call at 1-844-USA-GOV1 (1-844-872-4681).

Learn more about the other benefits of U.S. citizenship, and congrats again!

[kdevasier]

Understanding the Current Border Debate in Congress

On Joe Biden's first day in the White House, he sent a bill to Congress to reform America's immigration system. Called the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, it would have done what Republicans have been wanting, which has been to provide more security for the U.S./Mexican border. The bill did not pass, but lately, Republicans have been arguing that Biden has done nothing to address the influx of migrants at the southern border. So lets discuss what the bill would specifically have done, and why it did not pass.

First, briefly, here is a quick overview of what the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 would have done:

1.) Provide a roadmap for undocumented immigrants to apply for temporary legal status, with the ability to apply for green cards after five years if they pass criminal and national security background checks and pay their taxes. 

2.) Allocate additional funding for the Secretary of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and implement a plan to deploy technology to expedite screening and enhance the ability to identify narcotics and other contraband at every land, air, and sea port of entry. 

3.) Improve the immigration courts by expanding family case management programs, reducing immigration court backlogs, expanding training for immigration judges, and improving technology for immigration courts.

3.) Create a $4 billion four-year inter-agency plan to address the underlying causes of migration in the region, which would include increasing assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, conditioned on their ability to reduce the endemic corruption, violence, and poverty that causes people to flee their home countries. 

There is a lot more to the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, but the point is that the bill would have tackled the root cause of migrants from Central America, provided a pathway for undocumented individuals to escape legal limbo and become citizens, and bolstered security at the southern border. Everything that the Republicans would want, right? Nope.

In a recent interview with CNN, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) said: "Let me tell you, I’m not willing to do too damn much right now to help a Democrat and to help Joe Biden’s approval rating." In another interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), in response to Tapper's questions of accepting Biden's offer to allocate $14 billion in supplemental aid to bolster security at the border for right now, he responded with "no." With the economy improving and the 2024 elections rapidly approaching, Republicans recognize that the issue at the border will an excellent cudgel for them to hit Biden and Democrats with. Sadly, it also means that no serious measures will not be taken unless voters decide to put serious people in charge to solve the problem.

[reasonsforhope]

More details below. Thanks for posting, OP!

Article

"President Biden will clear the way on Tuesday [June 18, 2024] for hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens to apply for legal residency in one of the most expansive immigration programs of his presidency, administration officials said...

Marrying an American citizen is typically a fast track to U.S. citizenship, but immigrants who cross the border illegally are subject to significant bureaucratic hurdles that have left them in limbo for years. Federal law requires such immigrants to leave the United States for up to 10 years and then apply to return, but immigrants call the penalty excessive.

Biden will allow undocumented spouses to apply for legal residency without having to leave the United States, a major relief for those who have jobs and are raising young children and worry that there is no guarantee they will be allowed back into the country.

“It’s just too much risk for me to leave my wife, my son and everything we’ve established in the United States,” said Foday Turay, a 27-year-old immigrant from Sierra Leone who is married to a U.S. citizen and is among those invited to Biden’s announcement at the White House.

Turay crossed the Mexican border unlawfully in 2003 when he was 7 to join his mother, who had earlier fled that country’s war. He is now an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia and has a work permit through Obama’s 2012 program [DACA - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. But he said he wants to become a citizen.

About 500,000 undocumented spouses and 50,000 undocumented stepchildren of U.S. citizens are expected to be eligible to apply, according to a copy of the plan released by the White House and the Department of Homeland Security. To be eligible, immigrants must have lived in the United States for at least a decade as of Monday, have been married by that date, and meet other requirements. Their immigrant children must be under 21 to qualify, officials said.

Officials said the majority of immigrants expected to benefit from the program are Mexican nationals who have lived in the United States for an average of 23 years. Applicants who are approved will have three years to apply for permanent residency, also known as a green card, and will have work permits in the meantime.

Permanent resident spouses are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship after three years, faster than the usual five-year requirement.

Biden is also expected to announce a work-visa program for current enrollees in Obama’s 2012 program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and others who were shut out of the program after the Trump administration called it an illegal amnesty and tried to terminate it in 2017."

-via The Washington Post, June 17, 2024

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[mediahousepressin]

U.S. Department of State December 2024 Visa Bulletin: Key Updates for Employment-Based and Family-Sponsored Green Cards

[wavevisa001]

Canada Immigration: Canada Ranked Among Top Safest Countries to Travel in 2025.

Planning a trip to Canada in 2025? You’re in good hands! According to the latest report by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP), Canada ranks as the third safest country globally for travelers in 2025. With a reputation for safety and natural beauty, Canada continues to attract visitors worldwide, making it a top choice for international travelers and those considering Canada immigration.

Whether you're traveling for leisure or exploring opportunities to study or work in Canada, here’s a detailed look at why Canada stands out as a top destination for safety and immigration.

Canada Ranks #3 in Global Safety for 2025

In BHTP's annual travel safety rankings, Canada has secured third place, following Iceland and Australia. Canada even surpassed other safe countries like Switzerland, New Zealand, and Sweden. This ranking is based on comprehensive safety metrics, including protection from violent crime, terrorism, health risks, and considerations for LGBTQIA+ travelers and travelers of color.

To ensure accurate evaluations, BHTP integrated data from the Global Peace Index, Numbeo, and GeoSure Global, providing travelers with an all-rounded perspective on Canada’s safety across various dimensions.

Canada’s High Rankings in Key Safety Areas

BHTP’s assessment reveals that Canada ranks among the top in various safety sub-categories:

Protection Against Violent Crime: Canada ranks #2 globally in protection from violent crime, reassuring visitors and potential immigrants about its low crime rates and secure environment.

Wildlife and Road Safety: With vast landscapes and diverse wildlife, road safety is critical in Canada. The report advises travelers to exercise caution on highways, particularly in rural areas where encounters with wildlife such as bears, moose, and deer are common. These wildlife precautions highlight the importance of safe travel habits in Canada’s natural surroundings.

Canada Immigration: A Safe and Secure Destination

Canada’s ranking as one of the safest countries globally supports its reputation as a desirable destination for immigrants. Each year, people choose Canada immigration to pursue studies, career advancement, and quality of life improvements.

If you’re considering immigration to Canada through study, work, or residency programs, consulting with a Canadian immigration consultant can simplify the process. Reputable immigration consultants offer guidance on visa applications, eligibility assessments, and pathways for skilled workers, students, and entrepreneurs.

2024 vs. 2025 Safety Rankings: Canada Remains a Safe Choice

While Canada held the top spot for safety in 2024, it continues to maintain a strong position in 2025 as the third safest country globally. BHTP’s report shows that Canada consistently ranks high on the list of safest countries, making it a secure choice for those looking to study abroad or migrate through Canadian immigration pathways.

The report noted that travelers widely regard Canada, Northern Europe, Australia, and New Zealand as some of the world’s safest spaces. This consistent ranking underscores Canada's commitment to providing a secure environment for residents, travelers, and immigrants alike.

How to Visit Canada: Visa and Entry Requirements

For most international travelers, visiting Canada requires either a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA). Here’s a quick breakdown:

eTA: Citizens of visa-exempt countries need an electronic travel authorization before flying to Canada. U.S. citizens and green card holders, as well as residents of St. Pierre and Miquelon who are French nationals, are exempt from needing an eTA.

Visitor Visa: Individuals from non-visa-exempt countries need to obtain a visitor visa prior to their arrival.

Regardless of your documentation, travelers must also meet Canada's admissibility requirements, which means individuals with certain criminal backgrounds may face restrictions.

Benefits of Consulting with a Canada Immigration Consultant

For those considering permanent residency or studying abroad, working with a Canada immigration consultant can streamline the process. Immigration consultants help with visa consultancy services, application forms, and any necessary supporting documentation. This is especially helpful for students, skilled workers, and individuals exploring Canadian residency options through Wave visas and other visa consultancy services.

Why Canada Remains a Top Destination for Study and Immigration

Canada is more than a travel destination; it’s a country known for high-quality education, stable job markets, and diverse communities. Here are some reasons why so many people choose Canada immigration for study and work opportunities:

World-Class Education: Canada has a robust education system, with several universities ranking among the world’s best, making it a top choice for those looking to study abroad.

Thriving Job Market: With sectors like technology, healthcare, and engineering growing steadily, Canada offers abundant opportunities for skilled professionals.

High Quality of Life: Known for its welcoming culture, healthcare system, and safety, Canada ranks high in quality of life—an attractive factor for individuals seeking a better standard of living.

Pathways to Residency: Canada provides numerous pathways to permanent residency, including the Express Entry program for skilled workers, family sponsorships, and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Canada

For those planning a short stay or scouting the country before settling, Canada offers numerous travel experiences, from bustling urban centers like Toronto and Vancouver to breathtaking natural parks in the Rockies and coastlines in Atlantic Canada. Remember to take safety precautions, especially when exploring Canada’s natural beauty.

Conclusion

Canada’s ranking as the third safest country for travel in 2025 solidifies its reputation as a secure and welcoming destination for international visitors and those considering Canada immigration. From high safety standards to diverse opportunities for study, work, and residency, Canada is a top choice for global travelers and prospective immigrants

[visaandimmigrations01]

Stay updated on US immigration, particularly the U.S. Green Card. Anticipate policy shifts in 2024, with updates to the U.S. Green Card Lottery expected in 2025. Access the latest US Immigration News on our platform to stay informed about regulatory changes. Whether you're pursuing residency or monitoring immigration trends, trust our insights to guide your Green Card journey.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Trust Joe Biden

June 19, 2024

ROBERT B. HUBBELL

President Biden announced a significant modification to the pathway to citizenship for “undocumented spouses” of US citizens. Even the hard-to-impress headline writers at the New York Times described Biden’s action as follows: “The new policy is one of the most significant actions to protect immigrants in years.” (This article is accessible to all.)

Per the Times,

Under the new policy, some 500,000 undocumented spouses will be shielded from deportation and given a pathway to citizenship and the ability to work legally in the United States. It is one of the most expansive actions to protect immigrants since Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, was enacted 12 years ago to protect those who came to the United States as children. [¶] The policy aims to help people who have been living in the United States for more than a decade, building lives and families here. Even though marrying an American citizen generally provides a pathway to U.S. citizenship, people who crossed the southern border illegally — rather than arriving in the country with a visa — are required to return to their home countries to complete the process for a green card. To be eligible, the spouses must have lived in the United States for 10 years and been married to an American citizen as of June 17. They cannot have a criminal record. The benefits would also extend to the roughly 50,000 children of undocumented spouses who became stepchildren to American citizens.

The Republican response to Biden’s humanitarian plan descended to new depths of mind-blowing hypocrisy. As The Hill reported in its headline, Republicans slam Biden immigration order as election ploy.

“An election ploy?” Hmm. Remember that time—six months ago—when Joe Biden had successfully negotiated a bipartisan immigration reform package that was set to sail through the House and Senate? And then remember that Donald Trump asked congressional Republicans to kill the bill to preserve immigration as an election issue for Trump? See HuffPost (1/24/24) Trump Privately Pressuring GOP Senators To ‘Kill’ Border Deal To Deny Biden A Win.

So, in the absence of congressional action, President Biden is doing the only thing he can —use executive action to address areas of immigration policy within the President’s discretion. Biden wishes it were otherwise but has no choice. Rather, he is willing to work with anyone who is interested in finding solutions.

In announcing the new policy, President Biden said,

Folks, I’m not interested in playing politics on the border or immigration. I’m interested in fixing it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again today, I will work with anyone to solve these problems. That’s my responsibility as president. That’s our responsibility as Americans.

No, Joe Biden is not playing politics. He is addressing an intractable problem despite obstructionist behavior from Republicans. A lesser president would give up in defeat. Not Joe Biden. He is a great president and deserves to be re-elected.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

[snughuz]

From the Washington Post, Nov 1, 2024.

"Three decades ago, when Elon Musk launched his career working illegally in the United States, the U.S. immigration system did little to pursue or punish people who violated the terms of student visas, immigration experts said. ... Musk also violated the terms of his student visa, placing him among the ranks of immigrants Trump targeted during his presidency. ...  Trump also has proposed giving green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. But such a policy would not have helped Musk during his period of illegal employment, which appears to have begun in 1995. Musk didn’t receive undergraduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania until 1997, according to the university. Musk — who was born in South Africa, obtained Canadian citizenship through his mother and is now a naturalized American citizen — has denied working in the United States illegally. He has said he had a J-1 student visa before landing a specialized worker temporary visa called an H-1B. However, he has declined to answer questions about exactly how and when he obtained the work visa. Last week, The Washington Post shed light on that question, reporting that Musk arrived in Palo Alto in 1995 for a graduate degree program at Stanford University but never enrolled in courses. Instead, he launched a start-up, Zip2, that later sold for about $300 million. ... Leaving school left Musk without a legal basis to remain in the United States, according to immigration experts — a fact that was discovered by Zip2 investors, who gave Musk and his co-founders 45 days to obtain legal work status. An immigration attorney advised Zip2’s co-founders to downplay their leadership role with the company and scrub their résumés of U.S. addresses that might suggest they were already living and working in the United States, according to documents obtained by The Post. The attorney also advised Musk to obtain passport-size photos and apply to the U.S. “visa lottery.” ... Musk has never publicly acknowledged his period of illegal status, conceding only that he lived for a time in an immigration “gray area.” But his visa issues could raise separate questions for his security clearance, which he holds as the CEO and founder of SpaceX, an aerospace company with billions of dollars in federal contracts. “At a minimum, a determination that he had been less than truthful with immigration authorities would absolutely be something that security authorities could separately consider as casting doubt on his trustworthiness and good judgment,” Bradley Moss, a lawyer who works in security clearance law, wrote in an email. “If his name was anything but Elon Musk,” Moss said, “the odds are his security clearance would more than likely face revocation under those circumstances.” "

[theborderlessworld]

EB-5 Remains the Fastest Path to US Permanent Residency for Chinese and Indian Nationals Following the October 2024 Visa Bulletin

The release of the October Visa Bulletin marks the beginning of the government’s fiscal year. Immigration practitioners anxiously await its publication as it sets the stage for the new year and what may be expected. The October 2024 Visa Bulletin was just recently released and has reaffirmed that the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program remains the fastest route to U.S. permanent residency for investors born in countries with significant visa backlogs, such as China and India.  

Visa Backlogs for China and India: A Continuing Challenge

For years, Chinese and Indian nationals have faced long wait times to obtain U.S. green cards due to high demand and the per-country visa caps. The employment-based visa categories, particularly the EB-2 and EB-3 categories, have been significantly backlogged for these countries.

The October 2024 Visa Bulletin continues to reflect these severe backlogs:

The final action cutoff date for EB-1 China will advance by one week, to November 8, 2022, and India will remain at February 1, 2022.

The final action cutoff date for EB-2 China will advance by three weeks, to March 22, 2020, and India will remain at July 15, 2012.

The final action cutoff date for EB-3 China will retrogress by five months, to April 1, 2020, and India will advance by one week, to November 1, 2012.  

The retrogression for China in the EB-3 category is quite unexpected as the new fiscal year is just beginning.  This signals a very challenging year ahead and individuals impacted by the retrogression may want to consider alternative, faster green card options, such as the EB-5 program.

The Strategic Advantages of EB-5 Regional Center Program

When Congress reauthorized the EB-5 Regional Center Program in March 2022, a portion of EB-5 visas was set aside specifically for investments in Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs), which include rural areas, high-unemployment areas, and infrastructure projects. Despite increasing demand, these set-aside categories will remain current under October 2024 Visa Bulletin.

For Chinese and Indian nationals, the EB-5 Regional Center Program presents clear strategic advantages:

No Employer Sponsorship Required: For individuals without a job offer or those waiting for their employer-sponsored EB-2 or EB-3 priority date to become current, the EB-5 program offers an independent pathway to a green card.

Fast Processing Times and No Backlogs: Even compared to other self-sponsored options, such as EB-1A or EB-2 NIW, the EB-5 program stands out as the fastest and most straightforward choice for Chinese and Indian nationals without backlog delays.

Concurrent Filing Option: Chinese and Indian nationals in the U.S. on a valid non-immigrant visa, such as F-1, H-1B, or L-1, can simultaneously file their EB-5 and adjustment of status applications. Currently, the EB-5 regional center program in the set-aside categories is the only employment-based visa category that allows concurrent filing for Chinese and Indian nationals. This allows investors to obtain a five-year work authorization card (EAD) and international travel permit (Advance Parole) while their green card application is pending. This option is particularly beneficial for foreign students, enabling them to bypass the H-1B lottery for work authorization. It also provides added security for individuals on employer-sponsored visas, such as H-1B or L-1, by ensuring continued work authorization, which adds considerable peace-of-mind in the event of job loss or to simplify changing employer.

Source: FRAGOMEN

[rajulaw-immigration-service]

We’re excited to announce Attorney Raju Mahajan’s new book, Student Visa to Green Card.

This essential guide offers international students a roadmap to navigating U.S. immigration—from the initial steps as a student to exploring both temporary and permanent visa options.

Whether you’re already studying in the U.S. or planning to start, this book provides practical insights and expert advice on achieving a stress-free journey toward a green card.

Learn More about the Book: https://rajulaw.com/2024/10/31/student-visas-to-green-cards/