In the meantime, demonstrating the marketing aplomb that brought us Larry Hagman as a SolarWorld spokesman, the firm dusted off its copies of Sax Rohmer's Fu Manchu to create the classic holiday message seen below.

SolarWorld eventually realized this was a less-than-diplomatic move and issued the following statement:

“SolarWorld AG apologizes for any offense that may have been caused by a holiday card that was distributed by SolarWorld AG to a limited number of recipients in Europe. SolarWorld AG honors and respects the full diversity of the world’s population, including the people of China. SolarWorld Industries America Inc. did not approve, use or distribute the card in any way.” (Milan Nitzschke, spokesman, SolarWorld AG)

This apology might not placate Ocean Yuan, the founder of Grape Solar, an Oregon-based system installer and distributor. His letter to Oregon's senators follows. Both senators have been supporters of the SolarWorld case.

The Department of Commerce and International Trade Association will make their determinations based on the facts and merits of the CASE case. But if those agencies can take other factors into consideration, then SolarWorld has not done itself any favors with this Christmas card.

Go Green

When a foreign citizen visits the U.S. as a tourist, a medical patient, a student, or for business purposes, they generally need to present only a valid national passport, a photo ID card or birth certificate, and sometimes an entry visa. A visa is simply an endorsement on a document that shows authenticity and conveys permission to travel to and to enter a foreign country. This type of visa is also known as a nonimmigrant visa. Fees for a passport, a nonimmigrant visa, and a border crossing card total about $300.

However, when a foreign citizen wishes to reside and work in the U.S., they need to present an immigrant visa, also known as a green card. The green card was originally called the Alien Registration Receipt Card, but it has recently been renamed the Permanent Resident Card. Originally the card was green in color but now the card is white with some green printing on the back. It is still known generally as the green card. Recipients of the green card must carry it with them at all times. The green card is valid for a period of 10 years.

The green card is issued to a foreign citizen as a response to a petition by an employer or a relative who is a U.S. citizen. The petition by the employer or relative allows the foreign citizen to enter the U.S. for the purposes of being employed and residing permanently in the country.

The process for acquiring the green card generally follows three steps. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) issues the green card. This service used to be known as the INS or Immigration and Naturalization Service. USCIS is often referred to as simply the Immigration Service and is now part of the Department of Homeland Security. The first step is for the USCIS to review all of the paperwork and approve the petition from the qualifying relative or employer. The second step is to send the approved paperwork to the National Visa Center (NVC) where the petition waits for a visa number to become available. Only a limited number of visa numbers are available each year. Once a visa number becomes available, then the third step is for the petition to be forwarded to the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate in the foreign citizen’s home city or country.

The three step process appears to be simple and straightforward, but the expenses and the amount of paperwork and time involved make the process difficult and frustrating.

The first step to obtain a green card is for the sponsoring relative or employer to submit the proper forms to USCIS. The process of filling out, collecting, and forwarding the paperwork on to NVC can take two months or more. Typically, not all of the necessary forms are submitted the first time and communication by mail between the USCIS and the petitioner and between the USCIS and NVC is slow. Fees for the paperwork, photos, and supporting documents can total $190 to $400.

Next, NVC collects the paperwork and determines if additional items are needed to complete the application process. There generally are additional necessary forms, passports, and documents needed before everything can be forwarded to a U.S. embassy or consulate in the foreign citizen’s home city or country. This process can take two to seven months and requires the payment of processing fees and fingerprinting which cost about $500 or more.

If the petition is for an immediate relative, such as parents, spouses, and minor children, then the application does not need to wait for a visa number, and the petition can be sent on to the U.S. embassy or consulate. Some consulates are busier with green card applications than others and the waiting period for an appointment at the consulate ranges from a couple of weeks to 9 months. In addition to identity documents the applicant must present blood tests and medical exam results which may cost an additional $200 or more. After the appointment at the consulate and the approval of the petition, the foreign citizen is issued the Permanent Resident Card or green card. The citizen is then free to enter the United States for purposes of establishing a residence or beginning employment.

If the petition is for a family member other than an immediate relative, such as adult children, married children, and brothers and sisters, then the application must wait for an Immigrant Visa number to become available. The waiting period may take a few months to as long as 10 years. Only a limited number of Immigrant Visa numbers are available for each country each year. An application may wait for a long period of time if the applicant is from a country which sponsors a large number of applicants. After the petition receives a visa number the application is sent to the U.S. embassy or consulate and the citizen can then complete the appointment and receive their Permanent Resident Card or green card.

The green card is valid for 10 years. After five years of residency in the U.S. the citizen is eligible to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. In addition to the five years of residency, the citizen must show an ability to read, write, and speak English, understand U.S. history and government, have good moral character, and be willing to abide by the principles of the U.S. Constitution. Fees for the application and electronic fingerprinting total about $400. Once the citizen has taken the Oath of Allegiance they become a full U.S. citizen.

Obtaining permanent residency or citizenship in the United States requires a large commitment of time, determination, and resources. Simplification of the process would allow foreign citizens to more easily immigrate to the U.S. legally and would likely reduce the number of illegal immigrants. The United States has a proud history of successful legal immigration.

There are two main ways to be deemed eligible for a green card.
The first way is through your employment in the United States.
In this case, the employer of the foreign individual must agree
to sponsor that individual. Once sponsored the individual may
make application for a green card. This application is usually a
much faster process for those individuals with more education or
specialized job skills. Those individuals that have common job
skills or less education may have to wait for a longer period of
time before their application is reviewed and accepted.

The second way that an individual may become eligible for a
green card is through their immediate family. In this case, if a
foreign individual has a family member such as a child, parent
or sibling that is an American citizen, then they may apply for
a green card. If a parent of a foreign minor child is an
American citizen then that child is automatically and
immediately eligible for a visa.

Another way that a foreign person can qualify for a green card
is through marriage to an American citizen, however, the
American citizen must reside in the United States. Once the
person has obtained their green card they can apply for
permanent residency but the laws controlling this process are
very stiff. In this case, the married parties must prove that
their relationship is legitimate.

In addition to the above options for obtaining a green card,
there are special circumstances that allow certain individuals
who do not meet the above criteria to obtain a green card in a
timely manner. These special circumstances include the following:

Asylum. This special circumstance applies to any foreign
individual who is in the United States and fears returning to
their country of origin. This fear can be brought about by any
persecution that is based on a person’s race, political views or
religion.

Labor. Individuals that posses a special skill that is
desperately needed in the United States can obtain a green card
in exchange for their willingness to perform the job and skill
set at a specific job in a specific region assigned to them.

National Interest Wavier. If an individual possesses the
professional skills to be of service to the national interest of
America then that person can be granted a green card without
employer sponsorship.

Researchers. For academic researchers who are internationally
recognized for their achievements, there are special
circumstances that allow that individual to receive a green card
in exchange for sharing their information and knowledge.

Specialized Skills. Individuals that possess specialized skills
and that are experts at the top pf their field may apply for and
be granted a green card. These individuals are usually exempt
from the labor certification process.

Although special circumstances do exist, the normal application
process for and the granting of a green card usually take many
months and is a very complicated and exhaustive system. If you
are contemplating applying for a green card, it is advisable to
speak with an attorney before hand

By Los Angeles Immigration Attorneys

Nikki Mehrpoo Jacobson & Susan S. Han

Jacobson & Han LLP

www.GreenCard4You.com info@greencard4you.com

FOR A FREE CONSULTATION CALL (213) 620-0222

“Green Card” refers to the official card issued by the U.S. government to those who become lawful permanent residents (immigrants) as evidence of their authorization to live and work in the United States. It is officially called Form I-551, the Permanent Resident Card (formerly known as the Alien Registration Receipt Card). It is commonly called the Green Card not because of its current color, but because of the original color of the card many years ago.

The “Green Card” is evidence of your status as a lawful permanent resident with a right to live and work permanently in the United States, as long as you do not violate any immigration laws. A “Green Card” instantly communicates to law enforcement officials and United States employers the person’s legal status in accordance with United States immigration laws.

In August 1989, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS – now USCIS) began issuing “Green Cards” with a 10-year expiration date and required permanent residents to renew their Green Cards every 10 years. In addition, a “Green Card” that is too old, with out-of-date photographs or is damaged, cannot effectively serve as evidence of current immigration status, registration, identity, and employment authorization or re-entry documents. Current Green Cards have an expiration date stated on the front of the card and expire every ten (10) years. The USCIS puts a 10-year expiration date on “Green Cards” for Permanent Residents, not Conditional Residents (2-year expiration date), to protect against counterfeiting and tampering and to ensure that those individuals who may now be inadmissible, removable or deportable are brought to the attention of USCIS.

Green Card holders will not necessarily lose legal status in the United States if their card expires; however, permanent residents are required by law to carry evidence of their current legal status at all times (e.g. a valid, unexpired Green Card or the temporary proof of status you receive at the time of filing to renew your Green Card.) If permanent residents fail to renew an expired or expiring card, they may experience difficulties in obtaining employment, public benefits and re-entry into the United States after traveling abroad. It is important to note that USCIS will not penalize applicants for renewing their “Green Card” after it has expired, but applicants should apply to renew their “Green Cards” as soon as possible. Furthermore, under no circumstances should a permanent resident travel abroad with an expired card unless he or she has proof that a renewal for the Green Card was filed with the USCIS and is able to show proof upon entry back into the U.S.

“Green Cards” issued between 1979 and 1988 which did not state a specific expiration date did not be renewed because there was no expiration date. Lawful permanent residents who hold these permanent resident cards with no expiration date may replace their cards now, but there is currently no requirement to do so. It is important to note that these cards are now between 17 and 30 years old and are possibly damaged and with outdated photographs.

On August 22, 2007, the USCIS announced a proposed rule that all lawful permanent residents with cards with no expiration date must apply and obtain new “Green Cards.” This proposed rule in no way affects the current validity of these permanent resident cards. Permanent residents who possess these cards may continue to use them as proof of permanent residency when traveling, when seeking employment, and at any time such proof is required. However, the USCIS is seeking to terminate “Green Cards” without an expiration date. USCIS believes that the replacement of these cards is vital to the security of the immigration process. The change would allow USCIS to issue more secure, tamper-resistant permanent resident cards, update cardholder information, conduct background checks, and electronically store applicants’ fingerprint and photographic information so as to provide better evidence of the identity of the cardholders.

To renew your Green Card, you must complete and submit a Form I-90 “Application to Replace a Permanent Resident Card.” Form I-90 applications to renew “Green Cards” may be submitted by mail or online at the USCIS website (www.usicis.gov). All applicants are required to provide current biographic and biometric (photographs and fingerprint) information. If an applicant cannot afford the necessary USCIS filing fee, he or she may request a fee waiver according to standard procedures. The specific requirements and procedures for applying to renew an expiring permanent resident card are set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] at 8 CFR § 264.5.

Currently, processing times for the adjudication of I-90 applications, without any immigration issues, is usually 6-12 weeks. However, processing times can vary for each applicant based on particular facts. If you are outside of the United States at the time of the card’s expiration and you have not applied for the renewal card prior to your departure, you should contact the nearest American Consulate or Embassy, USCIS office, or Port of Entry before attempting to return to the United States or filing Form I-90 for a renewal I-551 card. The USCIS encourages eligible residents to also consider applying for naturalization.

If a “Green Card” holder has had any criminal convictions after obtaining lawful status or has any legal concerns, it is extremely important to seek legal advice prior to filing for renewal or Naturalization. Many applicants discover the consequences of applying for renewal or Naturalization only after they have been placed in Removal (Deportation) Proceedings.

The Department of State has initiated electronic registration system to make the selection process safe and secure. Winners of the Diversity Visa Lottery Program are selected by a computer-generated random lottery draw. It is one of the easiest and fastest ways of getting a green card, provided you meet the conditions. In order to apply for the U.S. Green Card Lottery Program, you should meet the following green card requirements.

i. Every year a list of qualifying countries is prepared for the annual DV program. You must be a citizen of those countries that are eligible to participate in the Green Card Lottery Program.
ii. You must have completed an equivalent of the U.S. high school education, which is a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education.
iii. You are eligible to apply for the U.S. Green Card Lottery Program, only if you have had a minimum of two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform.
iv. You should submit your recent photograph, your spouse’s photograph, and photographs of your children under 21 years of age along with the duly filled application form.
Green Card Lottery Photos are considered as one of the most important criteria when you apply. Your application will be disqualified, if your photograph does not meet the green card requirements. Your entry will also be disqualified, if you have not submitted the required visa photos. You should submit your photographs along with the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) Entry Form.

Your applications are liable for disqualification, if you do not meet the necessary green card requirements or if you manipulate the images. For a successful entry, make sure your Green Card Lottery photos strictly adhere to the guidelines stipulated by the Department of State. You can either take a new photograph or scan an existing photograph and submit it along with your application. These visa photos should meet certain compositional and technical specifications. Any violation may lead to disqualification.

Given below are the instructions you need to follow before submitting your digital photographs:

Compositional Specifications:

i. The person being photographed should face the camera directly. The head should not be tilted up or down or turned to side.
ii. The photograph has to be taken in such a way that the head of the person covers 50% of the area of the photograph.
iii. The person being photographed should be placed in front of a neutral, light-colored background. Visa photos taken with very dark or patterned background will be disqualified.
iv. The face of the person should be in clear focus.
v. Green Card Lottery photos with a person wearing sunglasses or other items that hide the face will not be accepted.
vi. Visa photos of a person wearing a hat or other head covering is only acceptable if he or she wears it as a part of their religious beliefs. Else, photographs of applicants wearing hats, caps, or other head gears will be rejected.

Technical Specifications:

i. Green Card Lottery photos must be saved in Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format.
ii. The maximum image size that can be accepted is 240 KB.
iii. Visa photos submitted should be in color with a 24-bit image color depth. Black and white, monochrome, or grayscale images will not be accepted.
iv. Green Card Lottery photos must be of 600 x 600 pixels resolution.

If you are planning to scan your existing photograph, it should meet the above mentioned compositional and technical specifications. In addition to these stipulated standards, please make sure that the images are scanned at a resolution of at least 150 dots per inch (dpi). If your photographs do not meet the compositional or technical specifications, then your Diversity Visa Lottery Program Application will be rejected. In order to avoid disqualification, you can get professional help from USA Green Card. It is a leading worldwide organization with a dedicated team that helps in preparing, processing, and submitting Green Card Lottery applications.

The USA Green Card Lottery, also known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program or the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program, is officially organized by the U.S. Government and conducted by the Department of State every year. The U.S. Government provides nearly fifty five thousand green cards every year to natives of countries with a low immigration rate to the U.S.A. This program aims to help the citizens of underrepresented countries to enjoy the benefits of living and working in the U.S. If you receive a visa through the Green Card Lottery Program, you, your spouse, and your unmarried children under the age of 21 will also get a U.S. Permanent Resident Visa.

To get a Permanent Resident Card through Diversity Visa Lottery Program you need to register online. The Department of State uses an electronic registration system to ensure complete security. If you like to participate, you have to submit your Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) Entry Forms to the Department of State during the registration period specified for that particular annual DV program. If your green card application is approved, you will be notified. Winners of the Diversity Visa Lottery Program are chosen by a computer-generated random lottery draw.

Is the Green Card Lottery the easiest and fastest way to get a U.S. Permanent Resident Visa?

Definitely yes! Some of the benefits of the Green Card Lottery Program includes:

i. Simple and easy online registration
ii. Double chance for married people to win the green card
iii. Opportunity to live, study and work in the U.S.A
Every year the Department of State releases a list of countries and the natives of those countries are eligible to submit their green card application to participate in Diversity Visa Lottery Program. Apart from being a native of an eligible country, the applicant should also fulfill other criteria like:

i. Applicants must have completed an equivalent of the U.S. high school education, which is a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education in the U.S.

ii. Applicants who have had a minimum of two years of work experience in the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform can submit their Green Card Lottery Application.

iii. Applicants must submit their recent photograph along with the photographs of their spouse and children under the age of 21 years. These photographs should meet the compositional and technical standards stipulated by the Department of State.

If all the above mentioned criteria are fulfilled, then you are qualified for the Green Card Lottery Program. It is very simple to apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery Program. But, if you are not adhering to the guidelines, then your green card application may get disqualified. No one would like to miss the opportunity to participate in Green Card Lottery. In order to eliminate the chances of disqualification, all you need is a professional help from USA Green Card. Established in 1997, USA Green Card is a leading worldwide organization, who offers step-by-step guidance in preparation, processing, and submission of Green Card Lottery applications.

Requirements to Get a Green Card
Most people will qualify for green card eligibility on the basis of employment, family relationships, or meeting the criteria for the green card lottery system. Check your eligibility for one all of these categories at the USCIS Web site.

Employer Sponsorship
Obtaining employer sponsorship for your green card application is one of the more complex green card application processes. First, you’ll need to obtain a job offer from a U.S. company who is willing to sponsor your green application. While most of the paperwork will fall to you to complete, there are points during the process where you’ll need the employer’s signatures and cooperation in providing additional documentation relating to your employment.

There are three steps that comprise employer sponsorship of your green card: the Labor Certification Application, the Immigrant Petition and the Adjustment of Status. The estimate timeframe to complete all three steps in this green card sponsorship process is approximately two years. However, these applications are processed by region so timeframes may be much longer in areas like California or Texas where the immigrant population is high. The Adjustment of Status typically takes the longest of the three applications, but you can begin working after you complete the Labor Certification Application and Immigrant Petition.

If your Labor Certification Application is denied, the green application process ends and you’ll need to prove your eligibility for another green card category and begin again. If it’s approved, the Immigration Petition is then completed and filed with U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services. Once the Immigration Petition is approved, you can apply for immediate authorization for work and travel. Finally, you’ll submit your application for Adjustment of Status along with the two previous approvals to secure your status as a permanent U.S. resident. In other words, you’ll get your green card.

Family, Fiancé and Spouse Sponsorship
Family, fiancé and spouse sponsorships for green card applications often take less time to process than employer sponsorships, but they aren’t without their own difficulties. You are most commonly eligible to apply for your green card in this way if you are:

The spouse or fiancé of a U.S. citizen Widow or widower of a U.S. citizen who has died in the last two years, but you must have been married to your spouse for two or more years and not have remarried since their death. A child of a U.S. citizen who is under the age of 21 and unmarried The parent of a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older

The process for these green card sponsorships begins with your sponsor filing a Petition for Alien Relative that proves your eligibility for a green card. While other family member categories are technically able to sponsor green card applications, they are subject to more strict criteria as well as limits on the total number of green cards approved each year for their category and issued each year to immigrants from a single country.

Once your sponsor has filed the Petition for Alien Relative, you’ll wait for INS to review your case and make their determination about the validity of your relationship to your sponsor. If the INS approves your case, the final step in obtaining your green card is filing an Application for Status as a Permanent Resident along with your approved Petition for Alien Relative.

Green Card Lottery
If you don’t have either an employer or family member who can sponsor your green card application, you can participate in the green card lottery, the official name of which is the Diversity Immigration Visa Program. The green card lottery provides up to 55,000 people annually with the opportunity to obtain a green card by way of a random drawing. Qualified applicants do not have to be living in the US already to apply; if you qualify, you can submit your application while still living in your native country.

In order to qualify for this the green card lottery you must meet two basic criteria: You must be immigrating from a qualifying country; qualifying countries have low rates of immigration to the US and you must have your country’s equivalent of a high school diploma or two years of work experience in an approved occupation.

Current, detailed information about eligible countries and approved occupations can be found at the U.S. Program of DV Lottery.

If you’re eligible for the green card lottery, you’ll complete your application online and then you’ll wait. If you’re one of the winners drawn, you’ll receive your green card quickly. If you’re not, you can sign up to have your application reentered into the drawing automatically for a nominal fee. Visit the U.S. Program of DV Lottery to take an eligibility test and/or register for the next lottery.

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