If you or your relatives hope to live and work in the United States, you should be aware of US immigration laws pertaining to acquiring legal immigration status and employment. Immigration policies at the state level vary considerably in terms of access to public benefits and verification of legal status of immigrants. Some states have become tougher regulating immigration due to economic and security reasons.  The constitutionality of some state immigration policies have been contested by federal courts.

Like most other states, Massachusetts has stepped up its efforts to guard its territory against undocumented immigrants, particularly by enforcing strict verification of employment eligibility and checking the immigration status of arrestees. Employment Requirements

Employers in Massachusetts are required to have each new employee complete IRS Form I-9 within three days of their start date.  The new employee has to give basic information such as his/her name, address, social security number, and proper documentation to prove his/her right to work in the US.  I-9 forms now can be verified and stored online.  Employers can even use the online E-Verify system to verify an employee’s eligibility. This system immediately sends feedback as to whether the new hire is authorized to work and will also provide information as to his/her actual status.  If there is a negative response from the system, the employer must then inform the hire to report directly to the Department of Homeland Security to clear up the matter. Failure by the new hire to establish his identity and authorization to work will likely result in the termination of their employment.

Our Immigration Division at Shapiro Law Group, PC can help you with your employment verification problems. We can assist you as an employer in verification of an employee’s valid immigration status and eligibility to work. More critically, we can also review your existing records to be sure there are no existing violations, which can be tremendously costly if your company’s records are ever audited. In addition, we can also assist employees in correcting Immigration’s records if they feel that Immigration has mistakenly provided a negative system response.

Getting a Driver’s License

A foreign national applying for a driver’s license in Massachusetts must show proof of legal immigration status, their date of birth, and that they are living in Massachusetts. He or she must also present a social security card or evidence that they are not eligible for a social security number.

You may have faced difficulties at the RMV due to an officer’s confusion about your immigration status or your eligibility for a social security number. Our Immigration Division at Shapiro Law Group, PC can assist you when faced with such difficulties. Public Benefits

Except in emergency cases deemed necessary to protect life, only documented foreign nationals can receive public benefits in Massachusetts such as healthcare and food stamps. Depending on your immigration status, you may be eligible for additional assistance, like cash assistance, housing assistance, and other public benefits. If you are unsure for what benefits you may be eligible, you should contact an experienced immigration attorney at Shapiro Law Group, PC. Benefits of Legal Immigration Status in Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts recognizes benefits gained from the growth of its immigrant populations, especially in the workforce and local society. It is one of a handful of states that have pioneered certain benefits to their documented immigrants in order to facilitate their road to integration and eventual US citizenship. Students are allowed to pay the in-state tuition fee rates if they have resided in the state for three years and graduated from one of the state’s high schools. Students granted DACA status (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) also qualify for in-state tuition in Massachusetts. The state is working hard to reduce the waiting time for immigrants to obtain English classes, a prerequisite to citizenship. It has also tried to find ways to enable medical and other professional immigrants to transfer their licenses from their home countries into Massachusetts.  The state continues to fund citizen programs and healthcare benefits to documented foreign nationals.

If you are an immigrant living in the state of Massachusetts, or are a US citizen or legal permanent resident who wants to legalize your spouse or relative, contact our Immigration Division at Shapiro Law Group, PC.

By Anna Shapiro Esq.

The Equity Plan focuses on Medicare populations that experience disproportionately high incidences of disease, lower quality of care, and obstacles accessing care. CMS indicated that these people include racial and ethnic minorities, sexual and gender minorities, people with disabilities, and those living in rural areas.

“As we strive to create a health care system that provides better care, spends dollars more wisely and creates healthier people, CMS is committed to achieving equity for minority and other underserved populations and eliminating health disparities among Medicare beneficiaries,” said Andy Slavitt, CMS Acting Administrator.

The Equity Plan focuses on six priorities that were developed over a yearlong process:
I.    Expand the Collection, Reporting, and Analysis of Standardized Data;
II.    Evaluate Disparities Impacts and Integrate Equity Solutions Across CMS Programs;
III.    Develop and Disseminate Promising Approaches to Reduce Health Disparities;
IV.    Increase the Ability of the Health Care Workforce to Meet the Needs of Vulnerable Populations;
V.    Improve Communication and Language Access for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency and Persons with Disabilities; and
VI.    Increase Physical Accessibility of Health Care Facilities.

The plan was released at a conference marking the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid and the 30th anniversary of the 1985 Report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Black and Minority Health, also known as the Heckler Report.

“Making sure care is equitable is often the forgotten core area of focus for ensuring that the health system is meeting patient needs and delivering high quality care. The CMS Equity Plan for Medicare will help to ensure that as we work towards better care, smarter spending, and healthier people we also continue to work to achieve health equity in Medicare,” said Cara James, director of the CMS Office of Minority Health. “We know that in order to achieve the goals of the plan, we need to work with many stakeholders, and we hope that as we start to implement the activities in the plan, we will see a number of them join us on the path to equity.”

If you are a health care professional and have questions regarding how The CMS Equity Plan may affect your business, please contact the Health Law Division at Shapiro Law Group, PC.

By Anna Shapiro, Esq.

The Republic of Yemen Designated for TPS through July 22, 2017

Immigration has announced that nationals of the Republic of Yemen are now eligible for temporary protected status starting September 3, 2015 through March 3, 2017.

Temporary Protected Status
 
Temporary Protected Status (also known as TPS) is a measure taken by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Immigration) there is a significant concern for the safety of a country’s citizens and nationals. For example, when a devastating earthquake struck in Haiti in 2010, Immigration quickly recognized that it would be unsafe for Haitians in the United States to return to Haiti; action was quickly taken to create a TPS designation for Haiti, which is still in place today. TPS is a form of immigration status where citizens and nationals of a country can remain in the United States, even obtaining employment authorization (work permits) and social security cards. TPS is typically granted for 12 – 18 months at a time, but applications are typically only accepted for a very short period of time. Once that time period has passed, it becomes incredibly difficult to obtain TPS.
 
Deadlines to File Extensions

Immigration recently made the decision to extend TPS status to nationals of Yemen based on the ongoing armed conflict in the country. Applicants only have a 180-day period in which to file their applications: from September 3, 2015 through March 1, 2016. At a minimum, you must be a national of Yemen (or have no other citizenship and last resided in Yemen); you must also have been physically present in the United States since September 3, 2015. Even applicants with some criminal issues in their past may still be eligible for TPS.

If you feel you may be eligible for TPS status from Yemen, please contact the Immigration Division of Shapiro Law Group, PC. as soon as possible. Don’t miss your chance to obtain temporary status in the United States. We speak Arabic!
نتكلم عربى

By Anna Shapiro.