Recently, congresswomen Rep. María Salazar and Rep. Veronica Escobar proposed a bipartisan immigration bill called The Dignity Act. Continue reading to learn more about what The Dignity Act entails and how an experienced family immigration lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., can help you understand what this means for you.

What is there to know about the proposed bipartisan immigration bill?

Put simply, The Dignity Act may establish a 12-year, two-part path for individuals seeking legal status in the United States. But first, this proposed bipartisan immigration bill calls for the United States-Mexico border to be declared as secure before any individual on the path may obtain legal status. The main goal of this proposed bill is to allow border patrol agents to be given “dignity,” as they are said to be “overworked” and “underpaid.”

What are the provisions included in the bill?

Mentioned above are the goals that congresswomen Rep. María Salazar and Rep. Veronica Escobar have for the proposed bipartisan immigration bill. But the specific provisions that they have proposed read as follows:

• It may push the General Accounting Office to certify that border patrol has detected and taken in 90 percent of individuals crossing the United States-Mexico border illegally for the past year before they grant them legal status.
• It may push the Dignity Program, in which individuals who have been in the United States without legal status for the past five years may work and be protected from deportation for seven years (so long as they do not have a criminal record).
•  It may push individuals in the Dignity Program to get a 1.5 percent dignity levy on their paycheck, on top of taxes and a $5,000 fee.
• It may push individuals who finish the Dignity Program to obtain a Dignity Status, in which they may have an additional five years to work and stay in the United States or otherwise have their status renewed indefinitely.
• It may push individuals who finish the Dignity Program to enter a Redemption Program, in which they may spend five years learning English or United States civics, performing community service, or paying an additional $5,000 fee so to gain legal permanent residency status.
• It may push for an immediate protected status and a straightforward path toward legal status for Dreamers.
• It may push for protection from deportation for individuals who have experienced natural disasters or otherwise conflict in their native countries.
• It may push the asylum process to be expedited to 60 days.

Undoubtedly, the aftermath of such proposed provisions may affect your immigration status or otherwise. A skilled family immigration lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., is here whenever you are ready to initiate your immigration application. Simply contact our firm at your earliest possible convenience.

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Recently, House Republics passed an immigration bill that is set to reinforce United States-Mexico border security and restrict asylum seekers. Follow along to find out what this immigration bill exactly entails and how a proficient asylum immigration lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., can help you understand what this means for you.

What is in the immigration bill that was recently passed by House Republicans?

Firstly, you must understand that, on May 11, 2023, the Title 42 policy was lifted. Namely, Title 42 restricted individuals from the basic right to seek asylum at the United States-Mexico border for the 38 months that was the coronavirus pandemic. But now that COVID-19 is no longer considered a national emergency, the United States government is reverting to immigration law as it existed before the lockdown. And along with this, there is expected to be a surge in migration at the United States-Mexico border.

So now, House Republicans have passed a new immigration bill to impede illegal immigration activity, all while protecting the security of the United States. With that being said, this new immigration bill proposes the following concepts:

• This bill seeks the construction of additional sections of the United States-Mexico wall along the southern border.
• This bill seeks stricter limitations on asylum seekers by requiring such individuals to cross the border legally.
• This bill seeks stricter limitations on asylum seekers by requiring such individuals to pay a $50 fee.
• This bill seeks stricter limitations on asylum seekers by requiring such individuals to meet rigid criteria at initial interviews.

What does this immigration bill mean to me?

First of all, you may rest easier knowing that this proposed immigration bill is unlikely to become law. This is because President Biden has publicly pledged that he will veto this bill if it were to reach his desk.

But on the off chance that this does become law, you must properly prepare for encountering these harsher requirements. For one, in your initial interview, you may have to establish an undeniable fear that you may be persecuted if you were to stay in your home country. Or, you may even have to argue for a humanitarian exemption. Specific arguments that you may make include the following:

• You may argue that you are seeking asylum in the United States because you have an acute medical condition.
• You may argue that you are seeking asylum in the United States because you have been made a victim of human trafficking.
• You may argue that you are seeking asylum in the United States because you are fleeing from imminent and extreme danger.

It should go without saying that you must consult with a talented asylum immigration lawyer in Milwaukee, WI. Give us a call whenever you can.

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The H-1B visa lottery is the process by which the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) draws professional foreign workers to receive visas. Commonly, this is so professional foreign workers can acquire authorization to work at United States-based technology companies. In a year, the number of new visas that are distributed is capped at approximately 85,000. However, the United States government has growing concerns that tech companies are cheating in this lottery. Read on to discover the issues with the H-1B visa lottery and how a seasoned work authorization permit lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., can help you correctly enter it.

What are the issues with the H-1B visa lottery?

Simply put, the Biden administration is under the belief that several dozen small technology companies have been cheating in the H-1B visa lottery to artificially increase the chances that their prospective foreign hires will win. More specifically, these companies are colluding by entering the same applications into the lottery multiple times. This is considered a fraudulent activity.

This is inevitably increasing the demand for the H-1B visa to a record high of 781,000. This is a significant jump from last year’s record high of 478,000 applications. With this 781,000, the number of organic entries is approximated at 350,000. While, on the other hand, an estimated 408,000 were duplicate entries.

It is a real possibility that some of these duplicate entries were drawn in the lottery. However, the USCIS reports that they intend to disqualify applicants who committed fraud. And if enough disqualifications are made, then the USCIS may run a second lottery so that they can meet their 85,000 visa distribution quota.

How can I correctly enter the lottery?

If you are an employer of a technology company and you are petitioning for professional foreign workers to temporarily work for you, then you must ensure that you are correctly entering the lottery. This is so you do not get accused of abusing the system.

First of all, it is not technically considered fraud if you and other technology companies all apply on behalf of a single professional foreign worker. Though, you must confirm that you have a real job available for this worker if they win the lottery. In addition, you cannot immediately contract this worker to a third party or lay them off so they can switch companies. It is with these activities that the USCIS may grow suspicious of fraudulent activity.

Understandably so, you hold a great deal of responsibility when putting yourself on the line and petitioning for a professional foreign worker. This is why, before it is too late, you must retain the services of a competent work authorization permit lawyer in Milwaukee, WI. We are ready and willing to take on your application.

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Whether it be to gain employment, stay with your family, start a life with your fiancé, or otherwise, hundreds of thousands of individuals seek out United States citizenship each year. Out of the many that apply, only a small percentage are accepted due to strict requirements set out by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Follow along to find out the benefits of becoming a United States citizen and how one of the proficient Wisconsin immigration attorneys at Sesini Law Group, S.C. can help you in this application process.

What are some of the benefits of becoming a United States citizen?

There are widely desired benefits that come with citizenship. In the United States, these benefits are considered some of the greatest honors that one may possess. Just some examples are as follows:

• You will be allowed to travel with a United States passport.
• You will be allowed to maintain your residency in the United States.
• You will be eligible to apply for federal grants and scholarships.
• You will be eligible to apply for government benefits.
• You will be eligible to apply for federal jobs.
• You will be eligible to become an elected official.
• You will be eligible to bring other family members to the United States.
• You will be eligible to bring your children younger than 18 years old to the United States.

In addition, some benefits double as responsibilities. For example, when becoming a United States citizen, you earn the right to vote in government elections. This Fourteenth Amendment right was greatly fought for, and this is a duty that is taken seriously among this country’s citizens.

Another example is that a United States citizen earns the right to serve on a jury. This may not seem like an honor at initial thought. However, serving on a jury is one way in which this country’s citizens uphold the highly-valued democratic process.

Is it possible for me to gain citizenship?

First, you must worry about qualifying for naturalization in the United States. Many strict requirements come with this application, and they are as follows:

• You will have to show that you are committed to the principles and ideals outlined in the United States Constitution.
• You will have to show that you can read, write, speak, and overall communicate in basic English.
• You will have to show that you can recite a basic understanding of the United States government and its history.
• You will have to show that you can recite an oath of allegiance to the United States.

Of note, there are a few more requirements for naturalization that were not mentioned above. So, if you are ready and willing to kick off your citizenship application, then you must employ one of the talented Wisconsin immigration attorneys today. We look forward to working alongside you.

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According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the number of applications for tech visas has significantly increased for the second year in a row. While this may not seem like a serious issue at face value, the USCIS has growing concerns that individuals may be manipulating the tech visa lottery to gain an unfair advantage over others. Continue reading to learn more about the concerns surrounding the tech visa lottery and how a proficient work authorization permit lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at the Sesini Law Group, S.C., can help you navigate this situation.

What is the H-1B visa lottery?

First of all, the H-1B visa is designated for foreign workers who wish to fill specialty positions in the United States. Such specialty, hard-to-fill positions primarily include those at technology companies. A foreign worker can extend this visa for as long as three years.

In March 2023, the H-1B visa lottery selected 110,791 winners for the 85,000 available slots. Sponsoring employers have until June 30, 2023, to confirm that they are hiring. And if confirmations total less than 85,000, then another H-1B visa lottery will be held to fill up the remaining slots.

What are the statistics on the H-1B visa lottery?

Without further ado, below are a few statistics on the H-1B visa lottery that are causing the USCIS to become concerned:

• In 2022, the tech visa lottery applications totaled 483,927, which was a 57 percent increase from the 308,613 total applications in 2021.
• In 2022, the number of applicants who applied more than once totaled 165,180, which was an increase from the 90,143 total in 2021.
• In 2023, the tech visa lottery applications totaled 780,884, which was a 61 percent increase from the 483,927 total applications in 2022.
• In 2023, the number of applicants who applied more than once totaled 408,891, which was an increase from the 165,180 total in 2021.

What are the concerns pertaining to the tech visa lottery?

As you can likely conclude, the numbers show that more and more tech visa lottery applications are illegitimate.

Sometimes, sponsoring employers file multiple bids for the same person by applying under different company names. They do so even when there are no underlying employment offers. This is so they can help other technology companies, who did not win any visas in the lottery, fill their positions. In this way, they are acting as labor contractors. And such action is essentially considered fraud.

Other times, multiple bids for the same person may not be considered an illegal activity. For example, an applicant may ask different, independently-owned companies to sponsor them in this lottery to increase their chances of winning. Or, a company may overestimate its labor demands at the time of entering this lottery. Nonetheless, the USCIS remains concerned.

All in all, a talented work authorization permit lawyer in Milwaukee, WI is ready and willing to stand by your side throughout your tech visa lottery application. Contact Sesini Law Group, S.C. today.

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