General information

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 353 Comments

Ken Stern Voted Best Immigration Lawyer

Earlier this month, Senior Partner Ken Stern was voted Barrister’s Best Immigration Lawyer. In over 30 years as an immigration attorney, “Ken Stern has done just about everything in immigration law – he is past chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, a group that’s honored him with more than one award including a lifetime achievement award in 2002.” The Barrister’s Best is an annual selection of the best of the best in the legal profession by Law Week Colorado.

Ken’s practice encompasses all areas of immigration law including all aspects of business and family immigration law, investor visas, and intra-company transferees. Ken works closely with HR Professionals and Corporate Counsel to help their companies develop a strategic vision for using immigration visas as a way to attract and retain the best talent from around the world. He also helps companies develop effective and efficient internal practices and policies in the area of immigration law. (More about Ken Stern)

 

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 84 Comments

Ken Stern to Speak on the Critical Ethical Issues of Immigration Reform

Attorney Ken Stern will be speaking to the The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Denver as part of their summer seminar series.  His talk, entitled “The Real Issues behind Comprehensive Immigration Reform,” will explore the critical ethical issues and matters of principle that need to be resolved as part of our ongoing immigration debate as reflected in comprehensive immigration reform.

OLLI is an adult learning membership program designed for men and women age 50 and “better” who wish to pursue lifelong learning. OLLI members, from diverse backgrounds and professions, share the desire to stay intellectually active and engaged.

 

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 25 Comments

Día Nacional de Acción y El Proyecto de Ley de Reforma Migratoria

Emily Assunta White en D.C.

Una abogada de Stern & Curray, Emily Assunta White, recientemente viajó a Washington D.C. para reunirse con miembros del Congreso de Colorado acerca de la urgente necesidad de una reforma migratoria, incluso un camino a ciudadanía para las 11 a 15 millones de personas en los Estados Unidos sin estatus de inmigración legal. Emily ha asistido en años anteriores, pero informa que este año fue en gran medida el más productivo desde que cada oficina del Congreso parecía estar de acuerdo en que hay que hacer algo para arreglar nuestro sistema roto de inmigración y que debe hacerse pronto. Los informes en Capital Hill indicaron que el proyecto de ley del Senado “Gang of Eight” se introduciría esta semana y a finales de este miércoles, el proyecto de ley finalmente se introdujo.

A pesar de que la ley de inmigración del Senado (S.744) tiene más de 800 páginas, Emily ha identificado algunos de los cambios potenciales más importantes:
  • Legalización para algunos inmigrantes indocumentados. Esto permitiría darle estatus legal a los inmigrantes indocumentados que entraron a los Estados Unidos antes del 31 de diciembre de 2011 mediante la creación de una categoría llamada Inmigrante Provisional Registrado (Registered Provisional Immigrant-RPI). Aquellos que son elegibles para este estatus estarían dispuestos a pagar una multa e impuestos atrasados, y se les dará autorización de trabajo y viaje. Después de 10 años como un RPI, podrían solicitar una tarjeta verde, y más tarde, la ciudadanía.
  • La creación de un nuevo tipo de visa para trabajadores temporarios, llamada visas W. Un W-1 permitiría a los trabajadores menos calificados una manera de trabajar legalmente en el país, mientras que las visas W-2 y W-3tomarían el lugar del programa del trabajador agrícola H-2A.
  • Los cónyuges y los hijos de residentes permanentes legítimos se considerarían parientes inmediatos, y los derivados de parientes inmediatos se permitirían. Como resultado, se eliminarían los períodos de espera de varios años para el cónyuge y los hijos de los residentes permanentes legales. La compensación consiste en que la categoría preferente basada en la familia para hermanos y hermanas de ciudadanos estadounidenses sería eliminada, significando que un ciudadano de los Estados Unidos ya no podía solicitar a un hermano.
  • Estafar a sabiendas a un inmigrante, incluyendo fingiendo ser unabogado o representante de inmigración, se haría un delito.
En los próximos días, semanas y meses, sin duda, habrá muchos debates sobre lo que el proyecto de ley significará si se promulga y probablemente habrá muchas propuestas de enmiendas al proyecto de ley. Emily se quedará activa en esfuerzos de la defensa que ocurren alrededor de la legislación propuesta. Cuando haya actualizaciones significativas de la legislación o nueva información para compartir, enviará una actualización a través de nuestro boletín de noticias de la reforma de inmigración.
Los abogados de Stern & Curray también actualizarán nuestra blog y página de Facebook con frecuencia. Estén atentos para más información acerca de esta fascinante, legislación histórica.
¡Extienda la palabra y comparta este boletín de noticias con sus amigos y queridos quiénes son afectados por la reforma de inmigración!
by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 612 Comments

National Day of Action and the New Immigration Reform Bill

Emily Assunta White in D.C.

Stern & Curray attorney, Emily Assunta White, recently traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with Colorado members of Congress about the pressing need for immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for the 11 to 15 million people in the United States without lawful immigration status.  Emily has attended in years past, but reports that this year was by far the most productive as every Congressional office seemed to agree that something must be done to fix our broken immigration system and that it must be done soon.  Reports throughout Capitol Hill indicated that the Senate’s “Gang of Eight” bill would be introduced this week and as of late last Wednesday, the bill was finally introduced.

While the Senate immigration bill (S.744) is over 800 pages long, Emily has identified some of the most important potential changes:
  • Legalization for some undocumented immigrants. The bill would give legal status to undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. before December 31, 2011 by creating a category called Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI). Those who are eligible for this status would pay a fine and any back taxes, and would be given work and travel authorization. After 10 years as an RPI, they could apply for a green card, and later, citizenship.
  • Creation of a new visa type for temporary workers, called W visas. A W-1 would allow lesser-skilled workers a way to work in the country legally, while W-2 and W-3 visas would take the place of the H-2A agricultural worker program.
  • Spouses and children of legal permanent residents would be considered immediate relatives, and derivatives of immediate relatives would be allowed. As a result, several year waiting periods for spouse and children of legal permanent residents would be eliminated. The tradeoff is that the family-based preference category for brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens would be eliminated, meaning that a United States citizen could no longer apply for a sibling.
  • Knowingly defrauding an immigrant, including by pretending to be an attorney or immigration representative, would become a crime.
Over the next days, weeks, and months, there will no doubt be many debates about what the bill will mean if enacted and likely many proposed amendments to the bill.  Emily will be staying active in advocacy efforts taking place around the proposed legislation.  When there are significant updates to the legislation or new information to share, she will send an update through our immigration reform newsletter.
Stern & Curray attorneys will also be updating our blog and our Facebook page frequently.  Stay tuned for more information about this exciting, historic legislation.
by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 59 Comments

Multinational Taxpaying

U.S. tax laws are almost as complicated as U.S. immigration laws. They are particularly complex for non-U.S. citizens who reside, even part time, in the United States. “Residence” in the U.S. has a different meaning under U.S. tax law than it does under U.S. immigration law.  The impact of U.S. tax law on foreign nationals varies depending on where the individual is from as the U.S. has tax treaties with many foreign countries, though not with all countries. Due to the complexity of U.S. tax law and the large impact it can have on individuals, we recommend that all of our non-citizen clients seek the assistance of a tax professional who is well versed in tax liability for multinational taxpayers.

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 79 Comments

House Passes Controversial STEM Jobs Act – Uphill Battle in Senate


Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed the controversial STEM Jobs Act (H.R. 6429), a Republican-backed measure that was approved by a 245-139 vote. In addition to offering a limited number of visas for family reunification through the creation of new “V” visa categories, the bill would provide up to 55,000 immigrant visas per year for foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). To do so, the legislation proposes to eliminate the longstanding Diversity Visa Program, which awards the same number of immigrant visas annually to applicants from countries that are under-represented in the U.S. immigration system.

Proponents of the bill included the majority of House Republicans and 27 House Democrats. They advocate that the STEM Jobs Act is critical for economic growth and believe that it will enable the U.S. to maintain its competitive advantage by retaining highly skilled and sought after STEM graduates within our borders.

Most Democrats and the Obama Administration oppose the bill in part because it would cut the Diversity Visa Program which they deem valuable to the American immigration system and to the country as a whole. The White House also opposes the bill because it “does not support narrowly tailored proposals that do not meet the President’s long-term objectives with respect to comprehensive immigration reform.”

The bill is also opposed by NAFSA: The Association of International Educators. In a press statement, the group announced that it opposes the STEM Jobs Act because “it perpetuates a divisive, us-versus-them approach to immigration reform.” Although the group supports the creation of visas for foreign graduates of U.S. institutions of higher education, it does “not support creating a new path for international students by eliminating another immigration program.

The STEM Jobs Act is not expected to progress in the Senate, where Democrats hold a majority. Please refer back to our blog for updates on the STEM Jobs Act and other pieces of proposed immigration legislation.

 

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 76 Comments

DREAMer Deferred Action Update

On July 19th, Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, made her first appearance before Congress since the June 15 memorandum on deferred action policies for qualified DREAMers. (Please see Stern & Curray LLC blog post of Wednesday, June 2012 for more information on the specifics of the program).  In her testimony before the House Judiciary Committee Napolitano explained that the department hopes to finalize guidelines for the process by August 1st and stated that DHS officially will begin accepting deferred action applications from undocumented youth on August 15th.  A fee charged for the deferred action application would ensure the process does not pose an extra burden on taxpayers, Napolitano said. However, the amount of the fee is still unknown. Also unknown is what form an applicant for deferred action will be required to use. For Secretary Nepolitano’s full testimony, please visit http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/Hearings%202012/Napolitano%2007192012.pdf
by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin 62 Comments

Immigrants Create Jobs

A number of studies show that overall immigrants greatly benefit the U.S. economy by starting businesses and creating jobs. Some key findings:

• Immigrants are entrepreneurial, being 30% more likely to start businesses than non-immigrants

• Although immigrants comprise 13% of the overall population, they own 18% of all small businesses

• 28% of new businesses started in 2011 were started by immigrants

• 18% of the Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants; another 22% were founded by children of immigrants

• Businesses owned by immigrants employed almost 5 million people and contributed over $776 billion to the economy in 2007

• Public companies started by immigrants include Google, Yahoo, eBay, Intel, Carnival Cruise Lines, DuPont, Nvidia, Pfizer, Proctor & Gamble and US Steel

Sources: Fiscal Policy Institute, Small Business Administration, SmartMoney, Forbes, Washington Post, CNN Money

by SCwpadmin SCwpadmin No Comments

Immigrants Create Jobs

A number of studies show that overall immigrants greatly benefit the U.S. economy by starting businesses and creating jobs. Some key findings:

  • Immigrants are entrepreneurial, being 30% more likely to start businesses than non-immigrants
  • Although immigrants comprise 13% of the overall population, they own 18% of all small businesses
  • 28% of new businesses started in 2011 were started by immigrants
  • 18% of the Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants; another 22% were founded by children of immigrants
  • Businesses owned by immigrants employed almost 5 million people and contributed over $776 billion to the economy in 2007
  • Public companies started by immigrants include Google, Yahoo, eBay, Intel, Carnival Cruise Lines, DuPont, Nvidia, Pfizer, Proctor & Gamble and US Steel

Sources: Fiscal Policy Institute, Small Business Administration, SmartMoney, Forbes, Washington Post, CNN Money

Top