A famous immigrant stereotype is the Indian doctor. Doctor usually means medical physician, not 18^th century French historian.

The Guardian has a feature: how did you get here? Recognizing that the 11% of Americans who are foreign born have unique and interesting backgrounds and stories of how they came to the United States, the site’s feature allows individuals to share their unique stories.

Mita Choudhury’s parents left India for London in 1961. Her parents would not have been able to immigrate to the United States in 1965 because of the Reed-Johnson Act (Asian Exclusion Act), which had effectively banned immigration from Asian countries in 1924. They arrived in the United States in 1970, which would make them part of the first wave of Indian immigrants after the Asian Exclusion Act was superseded.

Dr. Choudhury ends her piece by writing:

I make the 18th century my home. In theory, 18th century society had no place for someone like me except to be gazed upon as an exotic other.

Nevertheless, the same period also fostered a spirit of critical inquiry that demanded you interrogate your own society like an outsider. It rejected the boundaries that undermined individual dignity and common humanity.

The education I received and work to pass on to students upholds these values, which are also the core principles of the US, a country established in the 18th century. Now I must ask: are these principles being compromised by a fearful nationalism that discourages outsiders with its angry rhetoric of borders and walls?

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Some of the most popular American fashion icons – Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and Ralph Lauren – were children of immigrants from Eastern Europe whose parents worked in New York City’s garment industry. Calvin Klein, DKNY, and Ralph Lauren are among the most recognizable global clothing brands. Levi Strauss, founder of Levi’s and blue jeans, was an immigrant from Germany. Levi’s, of course, popularized the iconic blue jeans, which are synonymous with American.

The fashion baton has been passed onto Asian-Americans and Asian immigrants. This Fusion article showcases the creativity and innovations of Asian Americans and Latino Americans who are becoming the icons of fashion.

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The issue of Syrian refugees has caused legislators and voters in the United States to push the boundaries of immigration law in preventing their resettlement. States have written legislation in selective prevention of resettlement, and they have sued the federal government over the issue.

In Canada, this was the scene for Syrian refugees at a Tim Horton’s, Canada’s iconic doughnut and coffee shop.

Click here for CBC video.

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Stephen Colbert, who is in the first season as host of The Late Show, paid a visit to Yamini Joshi. Colbert went to Ms. Joshi’s kitchen as part of League of Kitchens. The League of Kitchens aims to connect people who are learning how to cook with skilled immigrant cooks of all cuisines. The organization has an educational purpose to share culinary and cultural knowledge because if they are not passed down, they might be lost. Director Lisa Gross explains an adulthood sorrow of not being able to cook Korean food like her grandmother. That feeling of longing launched the idea for League of Kitchens. Someone like Lisa may be bridging the gap to her heritage, or like Stephen, trying his hand at something new out of interest.

Yamini taught Stephen some basics of Indian food. Stephen made the segment delightful and funny with his usual antics, witty remarks, and cultural observations. As Stephen puts, “There are no cultural differences that cannot be bridged by a giant stick of butter” (referring to ghee).

There are two parts.

Part 1

Part 2

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Happy New Year from the Law Offices of Andrew Wood, LLC! We wish you a prosperous and happy new year in 2016.

The post Happy New Year! appeared first on Wood Immigration Law.

The United States passed a federal Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, as well, guaranteeing that states did not have to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages and federally defining marriage as a “union between a man and a woman.” The Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of DOMA in United States v. Windsor. Even though individual states had sanctioned same-sex marriages, federal benefits available to married couples were prohibited from married same-sex couples through DOMA. For instance, Windsor was in court contesting a $350,000 estate tax liability.

As Governor Corbett has announced that he will not be appealing this decision, Pennsylvania is the 19^th state to legalize same-sex marriages. Couples seeking to be married should be aware of their states’ laws, especially as they pertain to same-sex marriage and state and federal implications. States still do not have an obligation to recognize same-sex marriages, so residency remains an important question to consider. Immigration issues can create extra layers of complication. The majority of countries throughout the world do not recognize same-sex marriage, performed within that country or in a different country.

In August 2013, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the United States would begin recognizing legal foreign same-sex marriages. For example, an immigrant same-sex couple validly married in Great Britain will have that marriage recognized in the United States. This represents a great victory for same-sex immigrants and should avail them to immigration opportunities otherwise denied to them. For example, a U.S. citizen who is married to an immigrant of the same sex can now sponsor their spouse for permanent residence in the United States. The Law Offices of Andrew Wood applauds PA’s recognition of marriage equality, which will afford same-sex couples married in Pennsylvania greater smoothness in the immigration process.

The post Pennsylvania’s DOMA Law Struck Down as Unconstitutional appeared first on Wood Immigration Law.

DHS announced this proposed rule as a possibility over a year ago. The ostensible reason for authorizing H-4 dependents for employment is to increase retention of highly skilled H-1B workers in the United States. One of the pressing problems, which is mentioned frequently in the public comments section, is that the wait for long-term permanent residence is lengthy. This may also have the effect of encouraging the entry of H-4 eligible spouses who were separated from their H-1B spouses in order to continue their own careers in the United States. The public comments contain many personal stories of immigrants and their spouses facing problems that this proposed rule would help solve, such as talented spouses who were excelling in their careers in their home country being precluded from practicing their professions in the United States. Opposition to the proposed rule focuses on concern that U.S. citizens will be laid off in favor of cheaper labor. Immigrants have expressed concerns their fear that H-4 holders will end up working in low-skilled position in restaurants and gas stations, rather than pursuing their career paths.

The public comment was made available on May 12 and comment period will end on July 11. If you would like to add your own comment, you may here.

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