Entries by Cyrus Mehta

HOW VIABLE IS THE POINTS SYSTEM?

By Felicia Zeidman Editor’s Note: While we will soon be deliberating about the merits of various proposals to comprehensively reform the US immigration system, the Canadian-based points system may be proposed as it was part of earlier comprehensive immigration reform proposals, especially the 2007 compromise Senate bill. Under existing US immigration law, an employer generally […]

THE IRRELEVANCY OF ANTI-IMMIGRATION MOVEMENTS

America has been founded on the noble notion of welcoming immigrants. Even the American Declaration of Independence cites this as one of the failings of England’s monarch King George III, and thus a justification for the revolution: “He  has endeavored to prevent the Population of these States; for the purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization […]

Top 10 Posts on The Insightful Immigration Blog In 2012

Thank you for reading and supporting The Insightful Immigration Blog.  Listed below are the top 10 most viewed blogs in 2012. We will continue to provide insightful commentary on contemporary immigration issues in 2013, and wish all of our supporters and well wishers a very happy New Year! While these are the 10 most viewed blogs, each blog is a […]

USCIS and the Lack of Procedures for Surviving Relative Petitions Under INA § 204(l)

By: Myriam Jaidi Congress passed a noble law in 2009 to protect surviving family members who were the derivatives of employment-based and other categories of petitions and applications.  Specifically, the law provides that certain categories of individuals could continue to have petitions, adjustment applications and related applications adjudicated so long as they were residing (not […]

The Sweet Smell of Success: H-1B Visas for Entrepreneurs

By Gary Endelman and Cyrus D. Mehta The title of this blog may seem odd as the H-1B visa is usually associated with an employee who earns a regular wage at the prevailing rate. Yet, entrepreneurs may benefit from the H-1B. Since the USCIS recently set up an Entrepreneur Pathways Portal inviting entrepreneurs to use […]

New Portal Welcomes Entrepreneurs to the USA: But Will this Change the Culture of “No” at USCIS

Consistent with its earlier policy of welcoming entrepreneurs, the USCIS launched a new portal called Entrepreneur Pathways providing resources on how foreign entrepreneurs can use existing visas to launch their innovative startups in the US.  The portal is quite good, and it is hoped that USCIS officials retreat from their culture of “No” and process […]

US MISSION IN INDIA EXPANDS INTERVIEW WAIVER PROGRAM: DOES THIS BODE WELL FOR H-1B AND L VISA APPLICANTS?

By Cyrus D. Mehta  The U.S. Mission in India has announced expansion of the Interview Waiver Program (IWP), launched in March 2012, which allows qualified individuals to apply for additional classes of visas without being interviewed in person by a U.S. consular officer. The U.S. embassy in New Delhi expects this expansion to affect thousands […]

Obama Wins and so Does Immigration Reform

By Gary Endelman and Cyrus D. Mehta Since President Obama’s decisive re-election victory, there has been a growing realization, mainly among Republicans, that the party will continue to be decimated in future elections if it does not take action on reforming the broken immigration system. It is clear that Romney’s comments on self-deportation, along with […]