Breaking News

750,000 green cards have to be replaced
As US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced August 22, almost 750,000 green cards that have already been handed out will have to be replaced, because on these cards, the expiration date is missing. All those affected may file an application for a new green card within a 120-day period (form I-551) with USCIS.

The green cards serve as evidence for the card holders' resident status and employment authorization. In August of 1989, US immigration services (INS, today's USCIS) started issuing green cards valid for ten years, after that period, green card holders have to apply for a new one. From 1979 to 1989, however, green cards were issued without an expiration date. Those are the cards that will have to be replaced now. For more information, please refer to www.uscis.gov.

Governors demand increased availability of H-1B visas and green cards
On September 11, the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, together with twelve other governors, wrote a letter to the Senate leaders and the leaders of the House of Representatives, asking Congress for an increase in the number of available H-1B visas and green cards. Read the complete letter here.

23,000 new US citizens swore the oath of allegiance
On the occasion of American Constitution Day, more than 23,000 people were made US citizens by US Citizenship and Immigration Services between September 16 and September 24. ""Citizenship Day honors the brave act of 39 patriots who, on September 17, 1787, signed the Constitution of the United States and charted the course of our nation that has continued for 220 years," says Emilio Gonzalez, Director of USCIS. "With the words, ‘We the People,' they established the basic purposes of our government, forming a country that protects the rights and secures the liberties for all citizens - both native born and naturalized." During the ceremony, each new US citizen swears his allegiance to the US by raising right hand and reciting the pledge of allegiance. With this, they accept the responsibility to support and defend the American Constitution for future generations and to protect the existing rights and liberties in the US.