LATEST NEWS
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Martinez
Goldsby & Associates strives to provide its clients with up to date information on the
ever-changing U.S. immigration policies. Please bookmark this site and return to it often.
The following is for general reference only. For specifics on your particular case, you
are invited to fill out an online application for a telephone
consultation.
New Biometric Border Crossing Cards (Laser Visa) Now Required of Mexican Border Crossers
On October 1, 2001, the Immigration and
Naturalization Service began accepting only the new biometric BCC. This requirement
was mandated by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.
The BCC has a photo and machine-readable biometric information. Beginning
October 1, 2002, the old BCC will no longer be a valid entry document.
Effective October 1, 2002, those persons seeking admission
to the United States must possess one of the following:
- A valid biometric, machine readable, B1-B2 visa/BCC
(DSP-150);
- A B1/B2 visa and BCC combination document issued by the
Department of State before 1998, where the visa is still valid, along with a valid
passport; or
- Other valid visa and passport.
Attorney General Ashcroft Annouces Implementation of the
First Phase of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System
Attorney General John Ashcroft announced that the first phase
of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) will be implemented by
the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) at selected ports of entry throughout the
United States on September 11, 2002. After an initial 20-day period for testing and
evaluating the system at selected ports of entry, all remaining ports of entry --
including land, air and sea -- will have the new system in place on October 1, 2002.
Congress required in the USA PATRIOT Act that the Justice
Department develop an entry-exit system in order to provide greater protection for the
United States and help aliens fulfill their responsibilities under the laws of the United
States. The NSEERS program is the first step toward the development of a comprehensive
entry-exit system applicable to virtually all foreign visitors.
To Be Announced
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