I-130 Filing Location Changes

USCIS has changed filing locations for Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relatives.

Petitioners in the US, starting Jan. 1, 2012, must send their petitions to either the Chicago or Phoenix Lockbox, depending on the petitioner's state residence. The USCIS provides a list showing the states served by each Lockbox.

US citizens and lawful permanent residents use Form I-130 to petition for their immediate relatives to obtain US permanent residency. Spouses, fiancés, children and siblings are classified as immediate relatives. Permanent residents cannot petition for their siblings.

Izizwe provides more detailed information about immediate relative petitions and other immigrant visas.

Page From My Diary

August 12, 1998
Approximately 6:30 a.m.
I arrived in JFK Airport.
On board an Egypt Air flight

August 12, 2011
Here I am
13 years later

I've been part of a city's (New Orleans)' mass exodus from a natural disaster, interviewed Bobby Jindal (Louisiana Governor), experienced being snowed-in for a fortnight during the 2010 snow storm in U.S. eastern belt, I event learnt how to drive in the snow, albeit still a terrifying a experience!

Today I'm celebrating a plethora of colourful experiences. The stirring pot of hardship, loneliness, happiness, lifelong friendships, losses, gains, but above all love, strength, wisdom, humility and triumph.

My life in the diaspora is an eternally enriching journey, I wouldn't change a single moment of it.

What are your experiences of life in the diaspora?

Happy Migrating!

Libyan F-1 Visa Holders Employment Authorization

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is granting temporary employment authorization for Libyan citizens who hold F-1 Student Visas. An estimated 2,000 Libyan students in the United States may have been affected. 

ICE's decision is intended to provide economic relief for Libyan students who were legally in the U.S. under the F-1 visa, as of Feb. 1, 2011. To qualify, students must provide evidence of enrolment in a ICE certified Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

The minimum course load requirement under the relief program is as follows, according to ICE's Web site:

Undergraduate F-1 students who are granted on-campus or off-campus employment authorisation under this notice must remain registered for a minimum of six semester/quarter hours of instruction per academic term. Graduate F-1 students who are granted on-campus or off-campus employment authorisation under this notice must remain registered for a minimum of three semester/quarter hours of instruction per academic term.

The relief is valid until Dec. 31, 2011. SEVP provides detailed information about this program. 

Citizenship Rights & Responsibilities Initiative

The USCIS launched a citizenship public awareness initiative for U.S. lawful permanent residents. The initiative's objective is to raise the legal migrant population's awareness to US citizenship rights and responsibilities.

An estimated 7.9 million of 12 million permanent residents were eligible to apply for citizenship and naturalisation, as of May 2011, according to Homeland Security data.

Interested? Check out the USCIS's Resource Center.

Zimbabwe Visit Update

My Zimbabwe visit was splendid! Great weather, kind people, lovely food; my visit wasn't long enough.

In contrast to my 2006 visit, it was refreshing to see the City of Harare streets bustling with vendors, workers and tourists. Most locals I talked to seemed pleased with the introduction of the U.S. Dollar and South African Rand into the local economy.

The 2011, Ease of Doing Business report ranked Zimbabwe 157th (of 183 ranked countries), an improvement from 160 in 2008.

I spent most of my time in Harare, but managed a visit to Great Zimbabwe; a "must see" attraction for anyone visiting the country.

Have you considered visiting Zimbabwe? Remember it is home to Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Going to Zimbabwe

I'm off to Zimbabwe next week, my first visit since 2006. Can't wait!

Zimbabwe's economy had crumbled to its knees by 2006. My visit then was bittersweet; the joy of a family reunion intersected with the ubiquitous poverty stricken Zimbabwean children and families.

In 2008, eighty percent of Zimbabweans lived below the international poverty threshold of $1.25 per person per day and unemployment had sunk to ninety-four percent by the end of the same year.

The economy has since shown signs of resuscitation as a result of the 2008, Global Political Agreement signed by the Movement for Democratic Change and ZANU PF, the leading party.

I can't wait to see my parents and again. It will be a six-year reunion with siblings.

Happy times!