US Customs Global Entry expedited clearance program expanded to Shannon and Dublin
Washington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced today that Global Entry kiosks are now available in CBP preclearance facilities at Ireland’s Shannon and Dublin airports.
The Global Entry program allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Current Global Entry members can begin using these new kiosks immediately.
Since the publication of a final rule implementing Global Entry as a permanent program, CBP has expanded the Global Entry program which is now available at 37 U.S and preclearance airports. Over the last four years, CBP has enrolled more than 378,000 members in Global Entry with more than 1.1 million travelers receiving Global Entry benefits. Travelers have used the kiosks more than 2.7 million times.
Travelers who use Global Entry kiosks on average experience reduced wait times of 70 percent over travelers going through traditional passport inspection, and more than 75 percent of travelers using Global Entry are processed in under five minutes. The Global Entry program is quick, easy and efficient for travelers, and allows CBP officers to focus on travelers they know less about and may pose a higher risk, before they reach the United States.
The program is available to U.S. citizens and U.S lawful permanent residents as well as pre-approved Mexican nationals. Citizens of the Netherlands may also apply under a special reciprocal arrangement that links Global Entry with the Dutch Privium program. In a recently implemented arrangement, the Republic of Korea’s Smart Entry Service program has been linked to Global Entry, allowing Korean citizens to participate in Global Entry. ( Global Entry Agreement ) Canadian citizens and residents may participate in Global Entry through membership in the NEXUS program.
Applications for Global Entry must be submitted online using the CBP Global Online Enrollment System (GOES). ( GOES ) A non-refundable fee of $100 is also collected via the website for a five year membership in Global Entry. CBP will review the applicant’s information, conduct a background investigation, and the applicant must complete in-person interview at a CBP enrollment center at which time fingerprints are collected.
For more information on this or other CBP Trusted Traveler programs, or for an application to enroll in the Global Entry program, please visit the CBP Travel web site or the Global Entry web site. ( Travel ) ( Global Entry )
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
J1 Assault in the Bronx
Some of you may have heard about the shocking incident which occurred in the Bronx in the early hours of Saturday morning, July 14th. A 20 year old J1 student was walking home with her friend from a pub on Katonah Avenue. With only a few blocks to walk to her door, the two girls were approached by an unknown male and one was attacked with a cement block causing serious injuries to her head. The sudden and shocking assault left her in need of immediate hospitalization.
The full story is available to read here.
It was also reported on by CBS News.
The Emerald Isle Immigration Center would like to remind all J1s to remain extremely cautious when out in New York, particularly at night. This incident, though horrifying, is unfortunately not an isolated occurrence.
We cannot stress how important it is to exercise extreme caution when walking the streets at night. Please only take well lit, and well populated routes and ensure that you have your mobile phone on you at all times. When leaving bars and restaurants always use a reputable cab company and try to use a cab at night time where possible. It is the safest option.
Don’t engage with suspicious strangers, even if they ask you a direct question. Just keep walking speedily and take out your phone and call a friend so you are in communication with someone you know. New York is a massive city, and so, for every great experience there is to be had here, there is also an equal possibility of something unfortunate taking place. No one wants a repeat of what happened last weekend to happen to them. Being informed and alert can make all the difference.
If any student needs to contact the Emerald Isle please do so on 718-324-3039 (Woodlawn office) and 718-478-5502 (Woodside Office)
Look after yourself and your friends,
Keep safe and enjoy the rest of the summer.
Deferred action status to be granted to certain DREAM act eligible young undocumented immigrants
Secretary Napolitano Announces Deferred Action Process for Young People Who Are Low Enforcement Priorities
Release Date: June 15, 2012
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
WASHINGTON— Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced that effective immediately, certain young people who were brought to the United States as young children, do not present a risk to national security or public safety, and meet several key criteria will be considered for relief from removal from the country or from entering into removal proceedings. Those who demonstrate that they meet the criteria will be eligible to receive deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and will be eligible to apply for work authorization.
“Our nation’s immigration laws must be enforced in a firm and sensible manner,” said Secretary Napolitano. “But they are not designed to be blindly enforced without consideration given to the individual circumstances of each case. Nor are they designed to remove productive young people to countries where they may not have lived or even speak the language. Discretion, which is used in so many other areas, is especially justified here.”
DHS continues to focus its enforcement resources on the removal of individuals who pose a national security or public safety risk, including immigrants convicted of crimes, violent criminals, felons, and repeat immigration law offenders. Today’s action further enhances the Department’s ability to focus on these priority removals.
Under this directive, individuals who demonstrate that they meet the following criteria will be eligible for an exercise of discretion, specifically deferred action, on a case by case basis:
- Came to the United States under the age of sixteen;
- Have continuously resided in the United States for a least five years preceding the date of this memorandum and are present in the United States on the date of this memorandum;
- Are currently in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a general education development certificate, or are honorably discharged veterans of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States;
- Have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety;
- Are not above the age of thirty.
Only those individuals who can prove through verifiable documentation that they meet these criteria will be eligible for deferred action. Individuals will not be eligible if they are not currently in the United States and cannot prove that they have been physically present in the United States for a period of not less than 5 years immediately preceding today’s date. Deferred action requests are decided on a case-by-case basis. DHS cannot provide any assurance that all such requests will be granted. The use of prosecutorial discretion confers no substantive right, immigration status, or pathway to citizenship. Only the Congress, acting through its legislative authority, can confer these rights.
While this guidance takes effect immediately, USCIS and ICE expect to begin implementation of the application processes within sixty days. In the meantime, individuals seeking more information on the new policy should visit USCIS’s website (at www.uscis.gov), ICE’s website (atwww.ice.gov), or DHS’s website (at www.dhs.gov). Beginning Monday, individuals can also call USCIS’ hotline at 1-800-375-5283 or ICE’s hotline at 1-888-351-4024 during business hours with questions or to request more information on the forthcoming process.
For individuals who are in removal proceedings and have already been identified as meeting the eligibility criteria and have been offered an exercise of discretion as part of ICE’s ongoing case-by-case review, ICE will immediately begin to offer them deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal.
For more information on the Administration policy reforms to date, please see this fact sheet.
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USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2013 H-1B Cap
The USCIS posted the following on their website today to announce that the 65,000 cap on H-1B visas has been reached for fiscal year 2013, starting on October 1, 2012.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap of 65,000 for fiscal year (FY) 2013. Yesterday, June 11, 2012, was the final receipt date for new H-1B specialty occupation petitions requesting an employment start date in FY 2013.
USCIS will consider properly filed cases as received on the date that USCIS physically receives the petition; not the date that the petition was postmarked. USCIS will reject cap-subject petitions for new H-1B specialty occupation workers if they arrive after June 11, 2012 and seek an employment start date in FY 2013.
As of June 7, 2012, USCIS already received more than 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of persons exempt from the cap under the ‘advanced degree’ exemption. USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions that are otherwise exempt from the cap.
In addition, petitions filed on behalf of current H-1B workers who have been counted previously against the cap will not be counted toward the FY 2013 H-1B cap. As such, USCIS will continue to accept and process these petitions to:
- extend the amount of time a current H-1B worker may remain in the U.S.;
- change the terms of employment for current H-1B workers;
- allow current H-1B workers to change employers; and
- allow current H-1B workers to work concurrently in a second H-1B position.
U.S.businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields such as scientists, engineers or computer programmers.