IrishCentral Immigration - b5cc3275d518416eacb61d676e8d84d1

Irish immigration watchdog issues guidelines for J-1 students coming to the U.S. (IrishCentral)

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:23:49 PDT

By: IrishCentral Staff Writers

As droves of fresh faced Irish students touchdown on U.S. soil eager to experience a slice of American life this summer, the coalition of Irish Immigration Centers (CIIC) has issued a guide for J-1 students.

Prospects for immigration reform bill are 50-50 say the pols privately - House seen as major obstacle as Senate gets closer to a vote (IrishCentral)

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:03:41 PDT

US Sen John McCain (R-AZ), Sen READ MORE

Two Republican senators fail to strip Irish provision from immigration bill (IrishCentral)

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:16:04 PDT

By: NIALL O'DOWD

Two Republican senators made a major effort to strip 10,500 visas for Irish from the 2013 immigration bill at the Senate Judiciary hearings on Tuesday.

Immigration processing times (IrishCentral)

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:48:55 PDT

Q: I’m planning to file an application with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to adjust my status to that of legal permanent resident, based on my marriage to a US citizen I understand that this can take a long time, and I heard that there is a way to pay a special fee to get an application on the fast track Is this true?A: Currently USCIS offers what it calls “premium processing” for a $1225 fee only with regard to certain employment-based visa petitions Other applications, such as those to adjust immigration status based on certain family relationships, are processed on a first-come, first-served basis READ MORE

Irish Pastoral Centre Immigration News (IrishCentral)

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:48:54 PDT

Clinic updateWe had 15 people present on complex immigration issues at last week’s legal clinic Our thanks to Chris Lavery and Dan Harrington for their expert advice to those present and to our regular volunteers Neil and Sheila Our next clinic is on June 4th at 630pmVisa to come and spend time with ill relativeI had a sad call recently from an Irish person who wanted to come to the US for an extended trip so he could stay with and provide comfort to a close relative who was stricken with cancer READ MORE

Massachusetts Stands Strong for Immigration Reform (IrishCentral)

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:33:53 PDT

On Friday, May 10, the Irish International Immigrant Center stood alongside leaders of government, business, labor and faith communities to re-affirm the conviction that Congress should pass immigration reform now to strengthen the safety and further the prosperity of all AmericansHeld the day after markup began of the historic, bipartisan immigration reform bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee, the press conference reaffirmed the support of local government, business, labor, and community leaders at a time of public uncertainty in the wake of the tragic and heinous Boston Marathon bombings The press conference stressed the urgency of continuing to move forward with reform, so that families will no longer be needlessly torn apartThe Greater Boston Citizenship Initiative works in partnership with: the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Centro Latino, Irish International Immigrant Center, Jewish Vocational Services, Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers and MIRA coalition READ MORE

A Wonderful Afternoon at the 19th Annual Black and Green Event (IrishCentral)

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:33:53 PDT

From left to right: Vivian Deleon, Father John McCarthy, Councilor Charles Yancey, Janice Galloway, Dr Lorna Rinear, Renata TeodoroOn Sunday, May 5th the Irish International Immigrant Center (IIIC) along with the Montserrat Aspirers, Inc (MAI) celebrated their 19th Annual Black & Green The event was held at its signature location, the Montserrat Aspirers Hall on Washington St, Dorchester READ MORE

Will New York Senator Chuck Schumer ditch gay couples for an immigration deal? (IrishCentral)

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:33:49 PDT

New York Senator Charles Schumer (Credit: Derek Storm / Splash News)New York Senator Charles Schumer is busy this week pushing for what we hope will be a successful comprehensive immigration reform bill as one of the so-called gang of eight bipartisan senatorsAlong the way he’s sure to be casting a weather eye on the ways in which his actions now could eventually craft his political legacy, the great work he will be remembered for in decades to comeAs it stands he certainly has grounds for optimism Schumer will almost certainly deliver a successful bill because the fact is that the Republican Party, which watched with slack jawed disbelief as Latino voters choose Barack Obama over Mitt Romney by 71 to 21 percentage points in the last election, desperately need him to READ MORE

Hidden visas for Ireland and many other countries in new immigration bill (IrishCentral)

Sun, 12 May 2013 04:53:21 PDT

By: JAMES O'SHEA

Several countries, including Ireland, are seeking hidden visa programs for themselves in the new immigration bill, The New York Times reports.

Irish passengers permitted to use self-service immigration border control - could the U.S. be next? (IrishCentral)

Sat, 11 May 2013 06:43:15 PDT

By: IRISHCENTRAL STAFF WRITERS

Airline passengers from Ireland and other EU member countries will be permitted to use a self-check immigration in a new trial border control system.

Dublin born Dallas Bishop Kevin J. Farrell leads March for immigration reform - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Wed, 08 May 2013 05:00:48 PDT

By: IrishCentral Staff Writers

An Irish Catholic Bishop addressed thousands of marchers in Dallas on Sunday, who came out to show their support for comprehensive immigration reform.

IIIC welcomes Sarah Chapple-Sokol as their new Education Coordinator (IrishCentral)

Tue, 07 May 2013 02:33:37 PDT

Sarah Chapple-SokolSarah Chapple-Sokol, a native of Arlington MA, has recently joined the IIIC as the new Education Coordinator Sarah is a graduate of Colby College, in Maine, where as an undergraduate she studied Anthropology and Music She then continued her education and went onto study a Master’s Degree in Intercultural Relations at Lesley University, Cambridge MAHaving grown up in Arlington, New York and outside Burlington, Vermont, Sarah is a seasoned traveller READ MORE

Clanrye Wider Horizons celebrates their Graduation (IrishCentral)

Tue, 07 May 2013 02:33:36 PDT

It was a full house at the IIIC!The past six weeks have flown by for the first Wider Horizons group from Clanrye to arrive this year, and last night they marked the end of their time in Boston The completion of the overseas phase of their program was celebrated, as always, by a great graduation celebration at the IIIC The night included some great highlights with Chris McKevitt entertaining graduates and their guests with his guitar and singing skills while Jonjo Moore added a terrific reading of a personally composed poem to the evening’s entertainmentWe would like to express a great deal of gratitude to all of the host families for opening up their homes and to all of the employers who gave these young adults the chance to work in their organizations READ MORE

Senator Dick Durbin addresses May Day Rally for immigration reform in Chicago (IrishCentral)

Fri, 03 May 2013 04:48:03 PDT

By: BREANDÁN G. MAGEE

Senator Durbin took to the stage Wednesday May 1, standing alongside Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform Chairman Billy Lawless, for a May Day rally in downtown Chicago that saw thousands take to the streets to demand an end to deportations and immigration reform now.

Wider Horizons Profile: Tara Hillman (IrishCentral)

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:03:23 PDT

Tara Hillman “I ordered a large, and it came back three sizes bigger than I thought it would!” Tara Hillman excitedly jokes, as she tells me about her recent discovery of popular sugary drinks, Slushies The Slushie is just one of many new discoveries for the West Belfast native, who is working in Boston for six weeks as a part of the Springboard Wider Horizons programThe Wider Horizons Program brings young adults between the ages of 18 and 28 to Boston and places them in community service internships The program fosters mutual understanding and reconciliation between Protestant and Catholic communities in Northern Ireland and Ireland READ MORE

Hope and Healing Celebration for Families in South Boston (IrishCentral)

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 06:33:24 PDT

I was delighted to be invited to a wonderful evening with South Boston's community leaders and neighbors in the Laboure Center this past Tuesday, April 23rd The topic was "A Celebration of Hope and Healing for families affected by substance abuse" We watched a powerful video and had a wonderful, hopeful discussion about how the vulnerable children and families of South Boston need a voice now more than ever before According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, approximately 1 in 4 children in the US are exposed to family alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence READ MORE

Immigrants twice as likely to start a business as native-born Americans (IrishCentral)

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:38:10 PDT

By: IrishCentral Staff Writers

A new report shows that immigrants are nearly twice as likely to start businesses as native born Americans.

Immigration is not the problem - history of anti-Irish behavior reflecting on the Chechnyan bombs in Boston (IrishCentral)

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:18:26 PDT

Senator Patrick LeahyThey came from a foreign land with deep religious convictions They had ties to people willing to use violence to achieve political endsThey felt alienated in America and were ultimately accused of committing heinous acts of terrorism, undoubtedly influenced by events in their native land READ MORE

Political rivals Paul Ryan and Luis Gutierrez show their support for immigration reform in Chicago (IrishCentral)

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:43:05 PDT

By: BREANDÁN G. MAGEE

History was made at the City Club of Chicago on Monday, April 22 as two rival congressmen, one a conservative Republican and the other a liberal Democrat, shared a stage not once but twice to confirm their commitment to comprehensive immigration reform. The Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform led by Chairman Billy Lawless greeted both legislators and thanked them for their leadership on this issue.

Stop the immigration fearmongering following the Tsarnaev brother’s bombing of Boston (IrishCentral)

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:33:08 PDT

By: Irish Voice Editorial

The latest fear mongering over immigration comes hot on the heels of the Boston bombing and shootout carried out by two brothers who came to America as kids.