The California-based companies Google, Nvidia and Tesla are leading innovators in the field of artificial intelligence, and they were all founded by immigrants. Two out of three graduate students in fields related to AI are foreign-born, but many industry experts worry that America's increasingly restrictive immigration system could change this situation and erode the country's dominance in the area. These experts point out that the number of employment-based green cards available each year has not increased since 1990 even though the U.S. economy has doubled in size.
Are you ready for your immigration interview?
You may be well aware that the immigration process in the United States is strict and complex. No matter which program you qualify for, you can usually expect multiple steps and a long waiting process. If you make a mistake anywhere along the way, you risk going to the end of the line and starting the process over from the beginning.
U.S. government extends TPS protections for certain immigrants
On Nov. 1, the Department of Homeland Security announced that temporary protections for immigrants from several countries will be extended until January 2021. The action is designed to satisfy a court-ordered stay on the Trump administration's plans to terminate the Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, of certain immigrants living in California and across the U.S.
House bill introduced to offer visas to Syrian Kurds
California residents may be interested to learn that a bipartisan bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would provide visas to Syrian Kurds who have worked as interpreters and in other capacities fighting against the Islamic State. The Syrian Partner Protection Act is similar to the special visas offered during the Bush administration to Afghanis and Iraqis who assisted the United States.
Issues of concern for California immigrants seeking naturalization
It can be frustrating to set a particular goal in life and then realize, after the fact, that you don't have the resources or ability to accomplish it. For instance, if you want to join the military but you have a past injury or current health condition that makes you ineligible to do so, you might feel disappointed or upset that your ultimate plan does not seem doable at this time.
