Monday, October 29, 2007
FINLAND'S TOP MUSICIAN TELLS OF BORDER ENTRY ORDEAL
The Minnesota Star-Tribune reports on entry problems for Finland's top pop group:
When three of Finland's most popular musicians, including one described as that country's Bruce Springsteen, arrived for a recent tour in Minnesota, they expected a quick trip through airport customs.
Instead, immigration agents at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport subjected them to more than two hours of interrogation that the musicians considered so harsh and demeaning that they filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki.
"It was almost three hours of screaming, door-slamming and accusations, according to the report I received," said Marianne Wargelin, honorary Finnish consul for the Dakotas and most of Minnesota, which has the second largest Finnish-American population in the nation.
Erkki Maattanen, a filmmaker for Finnish Public Television who accompanied the musicians on the September trip, said his questioners seemed to think the entourage was smuggling drugs or intending to work without a permit. "I kept trying to tell them why we were here, but they'd just yell, 'Shut up!"' he said
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 9:33 PM
Thursday, October 25, 2007
US AND UK SPORTS FIRMS TEAM UP TO PROMOTE ATHLETES IN BOTH REGIONS
From the National Law Journal:
Dreier LLP plans to launch an alliance this week with SK Sport and Entertainment, a firm in London, to promote athletes in the U.S. and European markets.
The New York-based firm expects to announce its alliance in London, where the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins play the first regular season National League Football game outside North America at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 28.
In June, Dreier launched its sports practice. The firm has certified agents who represent athletes in negotiating professional contracts and selecting professional services.
SK Sport and Entertainment is a boutique firm founded in 2002 that specializes in rights management, sponsorship, event management, music clearance, TV and film rights and intellectual property in the entertainment, sports and media industries. The firm's clients include the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, the 15th Asian Games and the Royal Ascot.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 10:34 AM
Sunday, October 21, 2007
US VISA POLICIES BLOCKING ADMISSION OF ARTISTS
This story has been playing out since post-9/11 rules went in to effect requiring every visa applicant to be interviewed in person at a US consulate before issuance of a work visa. Given that US consular officers typically take only two or three minutes for an interview, it's hard to see how we're gaining much in terms of security. If interviews must be conducted, how about allowing for video-conferencing or using another 21st century solution.
The article also discusses a legislative proposal to speed up processing. That legislation has has some success in the House with recent passage in the Immigration Subcommittee and Judiciary Committee.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 1:08 AM
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
O-1 BILL PASSES JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
HR 1312, a bill which would require O-1 petitions to be adjudicated in 30 days or less, has now passed the Judiciary Committee.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 10:27 AM
Thursday, October 4, 2007
WILL KITE RUNNER CHILD STAR SEEK ASYLUM IN US?
A very interesting and sad story is taking place behind the scenes of the film version of the wonderful Khaled Hosseini book. The child who plays the victim in a rape scene is supposedly coming to the US for the film's premiere. One wonders whether it will be with the dual purpose of seeking political asylum.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 3:51 PM
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
HOUSE IMMIGRATION SUBCOMMITTEE PASSES O-1 TIME LIMIT BILL
HR 1312 would require O-1 petitions to be adjudicated in 30 days or less. The simple bill has passed the House Immigration Subcommittee by a vote of 7 to 5 and now moves on to the full Judiciary Committee. Here is the text:
Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act (Introduced in House)
HR 1312 IH
110th CONGRESS 1st Session
H. R. 1312 To expedite adjudication of employer petitions for aliens of extraordinary artistic ability.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 5, 2007
Mr. BERMAN (for himself, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. WEINER, Mr. COBLE, Mr. NADLER, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. SCHIFF, and Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL To expedite adjudication of employer petitions for aliens of extraordinary artistic ability.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act'.
SEC. 2. EXPEDITED ADJUDICATION OF EMPLOYER PETITIONS FOR ALIENS OF EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTIC ABILITY.
Section 214(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(c)) is amended--
(1) by striking `Attorney General' each place it appears and inserting `Secretary of Homeland Security'; and
(2) in paragraph (6)(D)--
(A) by striking `Any person' and inserting `(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), any person'; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
`(ii) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall adjudicate each petition for an alien with extraordinary ability in the arts (as described in section 101(a)(15)(O)(i)), an alien accompanying such an alien (as described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 101(a)(15)(O)), or an alien described in section 101(a)(15)(P) not later than 30 days after--
`(I) the date on which the petitioner submits the petition with a written advisory opinion, letter of no objection, or request for a waiver; or
`(II) the date on which the 15-day period described in clause (i) has expired, if the petitioner has had an opportunity, as appropriate, to supply rebuttal evidence.
`(iii) If a petition described in clause (ii) is not adjudicated before the end of the 30-day period described in clause (ii) and the petitioner is a qualified nonprofit organization or an individual or entity petitioning primarily on behalf of a qualified nonprofit organization, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide the petitioner with the premium-processing services referred to in section 286(u), without a fee.'.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 5:34 PM
Monday, October 1, 2007
CONCERTS OF MEXICAN ARTISTS AFFECTED BY IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN
The fear of arrest is affecting the willingness of unlawfully present immigrants to attend public events likely to be attended by others in the same shoes. That includes concerts.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 3:37 PM
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When three of Finland's most popular musicians, including one described as that country's Bruce Springsteen, arrived for a recent tour in Minnesota, they expected a quick trip through airport customs.
Instead, immigration agents at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport subjected them to more than two hours of interrogation that the musicians considered so harsh and demeaning that they filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki.
"It was almost three hours of screaming, door-slamming and accusations, according to the report I received," said Marianne Wargelin, honorary Finnish consul for the Dakotas and most of Minnesota, which has the second largest Finnish-American population in the nation.
Erkki Maattanen, a filmmaker for Finnish Public Television who accompanied the musicians on the September trip, said his questioners seemed to think the entourage was smuggling drugs or intending to work without a permit. "I kept trying to tell them why we were here, but they'd just yell, 'Shut up!"' he said
Dreier LLP plans to launch an alliance this week with SK Sport and Entertainment, a firm in London, to promote athletes in the U.S. and European markets.
The New York-based firm expects to announce its alliance in London, where the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins play the first regular season National League Football game outside North America at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 28.
In June, Dreier launched its sports practice. The firm has certified agents who represent athletes in negotiating professional contracts and selecting professional services.
SK Sport and Entertainment is a boutique firm founded in 2002 that specializes in rights management, sponsorship, event management, music clearance, TV and film rights and intellectual property in the entertainment, sports and media industries. The firm's clients include the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, the 15th Asian Games and the Royal Ascot.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
US VISA POLICIES BLOCKING ADMISSION OF ARTISTS
This story has been playing out since post-9/11 rules went in to effect requiring every visa applicant to be interviewed in person at a US consulate before issuance of a work visa. Given that US consular officers typically take only two or three minutes for an interview, it's hard to see how we're gaining much in terms of security. If interviews must be conducted, how about allowing for video-conferencing or using another 21st century solution.
The article also discusses a legislative proposal to speed up processing. That legislation has has some success in the House with recent passage in the Immigration Subcommittee and Judiciary Committee.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 1:08 AM
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
O-1 BILL PASSES JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
HR 1312, a bill which would require O-1 petitions to be adjudicated in 30 days or less, has now passed the Judiciary Committee.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 10:27 AM
Thursday, October 4, 2007
WILL KITE RUNNER CHILD STAR SEEK ASYLUM IN US?
A very interesting and sad story is taking place behind the scenes of the film version of the wonderful Khaled Hosseini book. The child who plays the victim in a rape scene is supposedly coming to the US for the film's premiere. One wonders whether it will be with the dual purpose of seeking political asylum.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 3:51 PM
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
HOUSE IMMIGRATION SUBCOMMITTEE PASSES O-1 TIME LIMIT BILL
HR 1312 would require O-1 petitions to be adjudicated in 30 days or less. The simple bill has passed the House Immigration Subcommittee by a vote of 7 to 5 and now moves on to the full Judiciary Committee. Here is the text:
Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act (Introduced in House)
HR 1312 IH
110th CONGRESS 1st Session
H. R. 1312 To expedite adjudication of employer petitions for aliens of extraordinary artistic ability.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 5, 2007
Mr. BERMAN (for himself, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. WEINER, Mr. COBLE, Mr. NADLER, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. SCHIFF, and Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL To expedite adjudication of employer petitions for aliens of extraordinary artistic ability.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act'.
SEC. 2. EXPEDITED ADJUDICATION OF EMPLOYER PETITIONS FOR ALIENS OF EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTIC ABILITY.
Section 214(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(c)) is amended--
(1) by striking `Attorney General' each place it appears and inserting `Secretary of Homeland Security'; and
(2) in paragraph (6)(D)--
(A) by striking `Any person' and inserting `(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), any person'; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
`(ii) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall adjudicate each petition for an alien with extraordinary ability in the arts (as described in section 101(a)(15)(O)(i)), an alien accompanying such an alien (as described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 101(a)(15)(O)), or an alien described in section 101(a)(15)(P) not later than 30 days after--
`(I) the date on which the petitioner submits the petition with a written advisory opinion, letter of no objection, or request for a waiver; or
`(II) the date on which the 15-day period described in clause (i) has expired, if the petitioner has had an opportunity, as appropriate, to supply rebuttal evidence.
`(iii) If a petition described in clause (ii) is not adjudicated before the end of the 30-day period described in clause (ii) and the petitioner is a qualified nonprofit organization or an individual or entity petitioning primarily on behalf of a qualified nonprofit organization, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide the petitioner with the premium-processing services referred to in section 286(u), without a fee.'.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 5:34 PM
Monday, October 1, 2007
CONCERTS OF MEXICAN ARTISTS AFFECTED BY IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN
The fear of arrest is affecting the willingness of unlawfully present immigrants to attend public events likely to be attended by others in the same shoes. That includes concerts.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 3:37 PM
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This story has been playing out since post-9/11 rules went in to effect requiring every visa applicant to be interviewed in person at a US consulate before issuance of a work visa. Given that US consular officers typically take only two or three minutes for an interview, it's hard to see how we're gaining much in terms of security. If interviews must be conducted, how about allowing for video-conferencing or using another 21st century solution.
The article also discusses a legislative proposal to speed up processing. That legislation has has some success in the House with recent passage in the Immigration Subcommittee and Judiciary Committee.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
WILL KITE RUNNER CHILD STAR SEEK ASYLUM IN US?
A very interesting and sad story is taking place behind the scenes of the film version of the wonderful Khaled Hosseini book. The child who plays the victim in a rape scene is supposedly coming to the US for the film's premiere. One wonders whether it will be with the dual purpose of seeking political asylum.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 3:51 PM
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
HOUSE IMMIGRATION SUBCOMMITTEE PASSES O-1 TIME LIMIT BILL
HR 1312 would require O-1 petitions to be adjudicated in 30 days or less. The simple bill has passed the House Immigration Subcommittee by a vote of 7 to 5 and now moves on to the full Judiciary Committee. Here is the text:
Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act (Introduced in House)
HR 1312 IH
110th CONGRESS 1st Session
H. R. 1312 To expedite adjudication of employer petitions for aliens of extraordinary artistic ability.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 5, 2007
Mr. BERMAN (for himself, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. WEINER, Mr. COBLE, Mr. NADLER, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. SCHIFF, and Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL To expedite adjudication of employer petitions for aliens of extraordinary artistic ability.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act'.
SEC. 2. EXPEDITED ADJUDICATION OF EMPLOYER PETITIONS FOR ALIENS OF EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTIC ABILITY.
Section 214(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(c)) is amended--
(1) by striking `Attorney General' each place it appears and inserting `Secretary of Homeland Security'; and
(2) in paragraph (6)(D)--
(A) by striking `Any person' and inserting `(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), any person'; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
`(ii) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall adjudicate each petition for an alien with extraordinary ability in the arts (as described in section 101(a)(15)(O)(i)), an alien accompanying such an alien (as described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 101(a)(15)(O)), or an alien described in section 101(a)(15)(P) not later than 30 days after--
`(I) the date on which the petitioner submits the petition with a written advisory opinion, letter of no objection, or request for a waiver; or
`(II) the date on which the 15-day period described in clause (i) has expired, if the petitioner has had an opportunity, as appropriate, to supply rebuttal evidence.
`(iii) If a petition described in clause (ii) is not adjudicated before the end of the 30-day period described in clause (ii) and the petitioner is a qualified nonprofit organization or an individual or entity petitioning primarily on behalf of a qualified nonprofit organization, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide the petitioner with the premium-processing services referred to in section 286(u), without a fee.'.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 5:34 PM
Monday, October 1, 2007
CONCERTS OF MEXICAN ARTISTS AFFECTED BY IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN
The fear of arrest is affecting the willingness of unlawfully present immigrants to attend public events likely to be attended by others in the same shoes. That includes concerts.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 3:37 PM
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A very interesting and sad story is taking place behind the scenes of the film version of the wonderful Khaled Hosseini book. The child who plays the victim in a rape scene is supposedly coming to the US for the film's premiere. One wonders whether it will be with the dual purpose of seeking political asylum.
Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act (Introduced in House)
HR 1312 IH
March 5, 2007
Mr. BERMAN (for himself, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. WEINER, Mr. COBLE, Mr. NADLER, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. SCHIFF, and Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
- This Act may be cited as the `Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act'.
SEC. 2. EXPEDITED ADJUDICATION OF EMPLOYER PETITIONS FOR ALIENS OF EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTIC ABILITY.
- Section 214(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(c)) is amended--
- (1) by striking `Attorney General' each place it appears and inserting `Secretary of Homeland Security'; and
- (2) in paragraph (6)(D)--
- (A) by striking `Any person' and inserting `(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), any person'; and
- (B) by adding at the end the following:
- `(ii) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall adjudicate each petition for an alien with extraordinary ability in the arts (as described in section 101(a)(15)(O)(i)), an alien accompanying such an alien (as described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 101(a)(15)(O)), or an alien described in section 101(a)(15)(P) not later than 30 days after--
- `(I) the date on which the petitioner submits the petition with a written advisory opinion, letter of no objection, or request for a waiver; or
- `(II) the date on which the 15-day period described in clause (i) has expired, if the petitioner has had an opportunity, as appropriate, to supply rebuttal evidence.
- `(iii) If a petition described in clause (ii) is not adjudicated before the end of the 30-day period described in clause (ii) and the petitioner is a qualified nonprofit organization or an individual or entity petitioning primarily on behalf of a qualified nonprofit organization, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide the petitioner with the premium-processing services referred to in section 286(u), without a fee.'.
Monday, October 1, 2007
CONCERTS OF MEXICAN ARTISTS AFFECTED BY IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN
The fear of arrest is affecting the willingness of unlawfully present immigrants to attend public events likely to be attended by others in the same shoes. That includes concerts.
# posted by Greg Siskind @ 3:37 PM
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