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U.S. IMMIGRATION SYSTEM | hOT TOPICS

Immigration remains a fast-paced, ever-changing, and complex area of the law. In this section of our website, we desire to present some analysis and commentary on at least five (5) current emerging issues of concern to our readership – issues that we have labeled as “Hot Topics.” We do not propose here to present a mere recitation of new developments; rather, we desire to dig into issues so as to present thoughtful analysis in an effort to keep our community of clients and friends updated on new developments in the law. In addition, we desire in this section to update you on new achievements or experiences by members of the firm. This section is updated on roughly a monthly basis, so please check recurrently to get updates on issues of potential relevance in the field of immigration.

CURRENT TOPICS

February 2008

As many of you know, the Conrad State 30 Waiver Program over the past 14 years has enabled the various state departments of health to facilitate the recruitment and retention of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) into medically underserved communities. It is one initiative in a broader set of measures intended to increase the Physician supply in practice positions that will benefit the indigent and medically underserved. By all measures, this waiver program over the years has been a successful undertaking, and it is certainly an initiative that in my opinion should be sustained and enlarged.

In the attached piece, I seek to describe the changes appearing in this new "Conrad State 30 Improvement Act." I had the privilege to participate in the discussions leading to the introduction of this Bill, and feel that this is a balanced and hopefully useful approach to a major problem in this country of increasing the access of at-risk patient populations to Physicians. It will now be up to the Congress and, ultimately, the President to judge the efficacy of this Bill.

Conrad Waiver Extension Introduced

September 2007

We think that most employers genuinely seek to conform their hiring policies and practices to these new legal realities.  Yet, all too often, employers simply do not allocate sufficient attention to one simple objective:  "How can I avoid compliance-related problems BEFORE they occur?"
 
Attached is a recent article by Robert Aronson, as published in the journal "Minnesota Lawyer", that provides some helpful hints/suggestions on cost-effective, readily achievable steps that can be taken to conform employer hiring/employment practices to compliance obligations.

Helpful Hints on Immigration Compliance

June 2007

While the demise of the Senate's Comprehensive Immigration Reform initiative (reported in my Newsletter dated May 30, 2007) is the predominating immigration-related story, there are two recent developments that have possible immediate impact on you: 1) a major increase in immigration filing fees that become effective on July 30, 2007; and 2) some major revisions that become effective on July 16, 2007, to labor certification application practice, including the obligation of employers to be solely responsible for all costs and attorneys fees incurred in the labor certification application process.

May 2007

Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) is the hottest topic in immigration these days and you can’t watch a newscast or pick up a newspaper without hearing or reading about CIR. While the Senate temporarily suspended further consideration of reform legislation, effective Thursday, June 7, 2007, we expect this issue to again reemerge as a major issue on the legislative agenda. Therefore, we invite you to keep abreast of the latest changes through our professional organization’s website: http://www.aila.org/, in addition to considering the issues analyzed in this recent Newsletter sent out by the firm.

April 2007

Aronson & Associates, P.A.
1221 Nicollet Mall Suite 506
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Tel: 612-339-0517
Fax: 612-349-6059
info@aronsonimmigration.com

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