Dear Readers:

This week we have an article that is "off the beaten path." Usually we just publish the news and the occasional opinion piece on immigration law. But a couple of weeks ago I wrote a short opinion piece in this column describing what I thought was an unfair story on CNN about the H-1B visa. The publisher of an anti-H-1B visa web site and newsletter mentioned (in a not so kind light) my comments, and I received several letters from people holding similar views. I responded to one letter which was copied to the said publisher and we ended up having an online debate on the H-1B visa. Our discussion is included - uncensored - in this newsletter. Despite having to respond to several personal attacks, the discussion was relatively civil and I think readers will find it interesting.

In this week's ABCs of Immigration feature we describe the new US VISIT entry/exit system. The new program, scheduled to go into effect next year, will revolutionize how visitors to the US are screened and tracked after entering this country.

In firm news, I received word today that I am being appointed by Palma Yanni, the President-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, to chair the organization's Physicians Committee. In this position, I'll head up a committee charged with addressing immigration issues affecting foreign medical graduates in this country. I know that a significant number of AILA members read this publication as well as others who may have an interest in the work of this committee and I welcome feedback on what you think the committee's priorities should be this year. I'm looking forward to a busy year working on this important AILA committee.

We also learned that in her testimony before Congress, AILA President-elect Yanni also cited one of our cases as an example of the extreme difficulties small businesses are facing today as a result of long backlogs at the BCIS and State Department. We'll be reporting more on those hearings in our next issue.

Finally, as always, we remind readers that we're lawyers who make our living representing immigration clients. We would love to discuss becoming your law firm. Just go to http://www.visalaw.com/intake.html to request an appointment or call us at 800-748-3819 or 901-682-6455.

Regards,

Greg Siskind