Immigrants who exit U.S. may need re-entry permit!!!

Mercury News ^ | 11/26/03 | Jessie Mangaliman and Edwin Garcia

[GrandMoM]

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Posted on Wed, Nov. 26, 2003

With the arrival of the holiday travel season, officials of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are reminding immigrants to obtain important travel documents before leaving the country for travel abroad.

Leaving the United States without advanced parole, form I-131, may hinder the applications of some immigrants who have applied for green cards.

``These requirements must be met before leaving and are imperative for return to the U.S.,'' CIS Director Eduardo Aguirre said in a recent news release, part of the agency's efforts to improve customer service.

Bay Area immigration lawyers issued a similar caution. A 1996 immigration law bars U.S. re-entry to people who were undocumented or overstayed their visas some time in their past, even though they have pending applications to change their immigration status.

For example, a high-tech worker whose H-1B visa expired -- even if the person was unable to renew it because he could not find a new employer -- would be considered out of status. After traveling abroad, that person could be denied re-entry into the United States, said Kirsten Schlenger, an immigration lawyer from San Francisco.

Under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, a person who is living in the United States illegally for about six months can be barred from the country for three years. Those who are living illegally for a year or more can be barred for 10 years.

[GrandMoM]

People should assess their cases very carefully because the penalties are very harsh,'' said Beverly Byrd, an immigration lawyer in San Jose.

[.cnI redruM]

Slap there wrists too hard and they'll look like metrosexuals.

[thoughtomator]

This is basic immigration law... where's the news? I-131s have been around quite a while, as have the related requirements.

[Constitution Day]

My wife's mother died in 1996.
My wife was only 1 year from getting her citizenship at the time.
Nevertheless, she had to make a trip to the INS in order to be permitted to visit S.Africa to settle her mother's estate.

In other words, this is nothing new.

[martin_fierro]

This is basic immigration law... where's the news?

Well, this IS the San Jose Murky News, after all.

To these Masters of the Obvious, it's a revelation.

[longtermmemmory]

at least it is not in breaking news. (/h)

[ikka]

Not news, just a timely warning to our friendly criminal invaders to be careful when visiting relatives south of the border.

[thoughtomator]

Illegals wouldn't care anyway, they believe immigration law doesn't apply to them. I-131s are for people who try to be inside the law.