Immigration News Briefs

Immigration News Briefs

q An unusual set of coalitions has emerged to lobby Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) on a bill to allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at Maryland colleges. Conservative Republicans and groups favoring curbs on immigration have been joined by some African American lawmakers and the state NAACP.

q Department of Homeland Security: BCIS

Applications soon to be available for online filing are forms I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) and I-90 (Application for Replacement of Green Card) at www.immigration.gov.

q The West Indies will host the World Cup of Cricket in four years' time and the proximity of the USA makes it an attractive option to host some matches. Florida is thought to be the likeliest option because of its weather, large Caribbean community and novelty value. A number of American cities, including Orlando, have officially approached World Cup organisers offering to stage games.

q Intense demand for ”green cards”, which affords legal status to live and work in this country, may have converted as many as 100 new arrivals from China into easy pickings for two Flushing immigration service centers that bilked them of a total $3 million to $4 million, according to attorneys for the victims. The alleged scheme, which is receiving extensive coverage in the local Chinese press, centers on payments of as much as $35,000 apiece for help with filing green card applications in recent months.