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Resources
American Immigration Lawyers Association
(www.aila.org)
AILA is a bar association of over 7,500 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. Founded in 1946, AILA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that provides its Members with continuing legal education, information, professional services, and expertise through its 35 chapters and over 75 national committees. AILA is an Affiliated Organization of the American Bar Association and is represented in the ABA House of Delegates.
Immigration and Naturalization Service
(www.ins.usdoj.gov)
The INS website provides information about recent legislation and policies of the INS. INS forms can be downloaded from this site however often the instructions that accompany these forms are out of date or incorrect. The website also provides an 800 telephone number to call for questions or for forms, however the operators on this line are not attorneys and have little knowledge of legal eligibility for visas or legal status. They often give incorrect information therefore you should always confer with a reputable immigration attorney before filing INS applications.
U.S. Department of State
(www.state.gov)
The DOS website contains very helpful information regarding U.S. consulates and embassies around the world, global travel, visas, emergency assistance abroad, as well as current topics of international affairs and information on employment with the Foreign Service.
Department of State Consular Appointment System
(www.nvars.com)
This website is for the Visa Appointment Reservation System for scheduling non-immigrant visa interviews with the U.S. Embassy and selected Consulates General in Canada, such as Vancouver, B.C., and Mexico. Persons who changed their F, M, J, H, or L status from within the U.S. will need their respective visas in their passports in order to travel abroad and re-enter the U.S. It is strongly recommended that persons in the U.S. return to their home country to obtain their travel visa but it can be done in a third country such as Canada or Mexico. However, if the visa is refused at the interview, the applicant will not be allowed to return to the United States until he receives the visa from his home country.
U.S. Department of Labor
(www.dol.gov)
The DOL website offers good general information regarding employment issues affecting both workers and employers. Workers can research wage and benefit issues, their eligibility for government benefits and disability-related government resources. Employers can find easy links to major laws and regulations and compliance tools for every aspect of employment law.
ETA Foreign Labor Certification Programs
(www.ows.doleta.gov)
The Employment and Training Administration of the DOL handles issues regarding foreign labor requirements for working in the United States. Hiring of foreign workers normally requires approval of certain certifications from the DOL prior to petitioning the INS for issuance of a work visa. These certifications often include issues of wages, working conditions, and the availability of American workers. This site allows the user to research prevailing wage rates and labor condition application procedures used for H-1B visas and the separate labor certification requirements for the permanent hiring of foreign workers.
Social Security Administration
(www.ssa.gov)
The website of the Social Security Administration provides helpful information regarding who qualifies for a social security number and specifically addresses those issues for immigrants. Instructions are provided in English and Spanish.
Selective Service Registration
(www.sss.gov)
The Selective Service System is a national system to provide man-power to the U.S. armed forces in the case of an emergency. Almost all male U.S. citizens and male aliens living in the U.S. who are age 18 through 25 are required to register with the selective service. Once registered, a man would not be automatically inducted into the military. Rather in a crisis requiring a draft, men would be called through random lottery number. Noncitizen aliens required to register include legal permanent residents, refugees, and even illegal aliens. Failing to register between the ages of 18 to 25 can be a basis for denial of U.S. citizenship applications.
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