Q: My girlfriend and I live overseas and we want to take a trip to the US for a few days to visit family and friends. My girlfriend is Asian and I'm a United States citizen living and working abroad for years now. The problem is we want to make it "legal" while we're in the U.S. and then return to our current residence, but we don't want to make the U.S. our permanent place of abode, at least not yet. Should we travel to the U.S. on a Fiance Visa or a Tourist Visa? 

A homeowner in Georgia who tried to evict a potential buyer and renter from his house, was exposed of his illegal immigration status when the woman was unable to complete the sale.

If she is alleging that Lorenzo Jimenez is not supposed to even own the house, then why is she pushing to make the sale go through and what a tacky, mean-spirited way to attempt to leverage the contract. If her immigration status was investigated, they'll probably be able to trace her family as being immigrants. Lets see how she likes it when signs are posted in front of her house claiming she's illegal.

As mentioned in an earlier post, an additional seven member countries have joined the US Visa Waiver Program. The eligible nationals are required to register through ESTA at least 72 hours prior to traveling. 

In the coming weeks and months, a number of changes will be made to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). On Monday, November 17, the Department of Homeland Security is scheduled to officially announce that the VWP will be expanded to include an additional seven member countries – the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Republic of Korea, and the Slovak Republic. Starting on January 12, 2009, all VWP travelers will be required to obtain advance travel authorization by registering in the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) at least 72 hours before travel.

Due to the grim economic climate of the United States, officials say that an increasing number of immigrants are returning home to Latin America. Immigrants, both legal and illegal, reportedly have no choice but to return to their native countries due to the limited number of jobs in employment sectors that predominantly attract recent immigrants such as the restaurant, landscaping, and construction industries.

Officials recommend that U.S. citizens apply for their passport as early as possible to prevent delays. Beginning June 1, 2009 everyone is required to have a passport or federally approved ID when traveling by land or sea. A passport is already required for international air travel, but under new legislation, travelers will no longer be able to only furnish a driver’s license and birth certificate when crossing U.S. land and sea borders.

An article from the New York Times reports that an obscure ballot initiative in Florida intended to end a legacy of bias against Asian-Americans was defeated Tuesday, apparently because voters incorrectly assumed it would prevent illegal immigrants from owning property.

This is a painful reminder that you need to have competent immigration advice or else run the risk of the most severe immigration consequences. It has been rumored that former Thai PM, Thaksin Shinawatra, has filed for asylum while in the UK when he left Thailand in August, but according to the Homeland Secretary in the UK, this may not be the case. Revoking Thaksin's visa was probably more of a political move that the UK government was entitled to exercise, however, rarely does it happen on its own.

Once in a while you hear a story that inspires you to have faith in your government and people. The tenacity and effort these people have made to be a US Citizen to they can vote at an historical presidential election cannot be taken for granted.

Foreign nationals coming to the U.S. for business purposes and to invest in legitimate businesses are normally encouraged, especially when the global economy is sliding into a recession.