Two weeks ago, we were first to tell you about a new federal law that can help hundreds of foreign nationals, who are working here illegally, "get legal". Since then, most of the other newspapers have picked up the story. But Immigration Attorney Mark Quinn called our story a crock, saying that only highly-skilled workers have much of a chance of qualifying under this program for a Labor Certification, which enables the worker to then apply for Lawful Permanent Residence— a "Green Card".
Local Attorney Bill Andersen disagrees with Quinn. Andersen is a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor in the previous Bush administration and he works with some of the top immigration lawyers in the state. "Any illegal worker who was in the U.S. on Dec. 21, 2000, may be able to qualify under this program," he said. "Of course, the applications of those with skills will probably go through faster. But applications for workers with lesser skills also have a good chance of getting approved— especially for workers here in Key West where many employers are having trouble filling the lower-level jobs with legal workers."
If you're an illegal worker, or if you have friends who are illegal, or if you're an employer, here are a couple of things you need to know about this law: (1) Applicants need a sponsor— a family member who is a U.S, citizen or an employer. (2) The process is not cheap— about $3000 will be required just to get the application filed. (3) The process may take several years. But the most important piece of information you need to know is this: The window of opportunity to apply absolutely closes on April 30, 2001!
Here's some good news. The Andersen Firm is conducting a series of free seminars. Call Donald Porter at 295-6802 for a schedule. They also have free copies of a question-and-answer piece published by the American Immigration Lawyers Association.