$1,000 TO SPEED INS WORK CRITICS SAY PROGRAM FAVORS THE WEALTHY.Byline: Staff and Wire Reports A new pilot program aimed at reducing backlogs of immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. requests will speed up the process for those who pay a $1,000 fee. The Immigration and Naturalization Service Noun 1. Immigration and Naturalization Service - an agency in the Department of Justice that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to the United States INS program that goes into effect today will initially apply to high-tech and specialized workers, and eventually branch out to include other types of work visas, with a money-back guarantee for a 15-day processing period. ``It's like having a fast line at the bank for the millionaires,'' said Vibiana Andrade, vice president of legal affairs for the Mexican American Mexican American n. A U.S. citizen or resident of Mexican descent. Mex  i·can-A·mer Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
``We're very concerned about this,'' she said. ``Anyone who accesses the government's services should be entitled to an equal amount of high quality services.'' Critics are concerned that the fast-track process for a price could put small businesses and low-income workers at a disadvantage. But others said it could have mixed results. ``This will definitely be good for some, but how it affects others obviously has yet to be seen,'' said Carl Shusterman, a lawyer who has been handling immigration cases in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. for some 25 years. He said the length of time for processing applications can run anywhere from 30 days for certain cases up to years for others. Immigration officials estimate that once the Premium Processing Program is fully under way by later this fall, 80,000 workers a year will take advantage of the program, or about one out of every five who are eligible. More than $20 million of the fees raised will then be used to hire hundreds of extra workers to process all visa applications and buy new and improved computers. ``We want to use the revenue to make the investment in technology and infrastructure to help eliminate the backlogs,'' William R. Yates, the agency's top officer for immigration benefits said in a telephone interview. INS INS abbr. 1. Immigration and Naturalization Service 2. International News Service Noun 1. INS officials said they will waive To intentionally or voluntarily relinquish a known right or engage in conduct warranting an inference that a right has been surrendered. For example, an individual is said to waive the right to bring a tort action when he or she renounces the remedy provided by law for such the $1,000 fee for nonprofit organizations Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. that request expedited claims. And the agency already has procedures in places to speed temporary visas, lasting a few months to six years, for certain emergency cases. But Congress last year approved the INS's request to create the premium processing. Yates said that was in response to employers unhappy with the current wait of 60 to 90 days, as well as discontent within the agency, where officials have always felt that the benefits side of the organization was underfunded un·der·fund tr.v. un·der·fund·ed, un·der·fund·ing, un·der·funds To provide insufficient funding for. underfunded adj → infradotado (económicamente) in comparison to the law enforcement efforts of the Border Patrol. |
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