2/23    Do I need my passport on me to drive from San Diego
        to Tijuana and back?
        \_ No, but you are supposed to carry your Driver's license and
           some other official proof of your identity, like your voter
           registration card. Why not bring your passport? Also, make sure
           that you have Mexican car insurance.
           \_ ACORN!!@#!@#!@!!@#!@!1!1!one
           \_ I thought the rules for that changed a while back, so that you
              always need your passport when entering the country?
              \_ It looks like you are right.
              \_ So what happens if you just don't have it?  Do you have to
                 go through some giant hassle and visit some sort of embassy?
                 \_ I am guessing if you don't look Latino and you don't get
                    into any trouble with the law in Mexico, that nothing
                    happens to you. I have never been asked to show any ID
                    travelling across the US border by land and I have
                    crossed it at least 20 times. If you get arrested in
                    Mexico and you don't have ID, this could really suck
                    for you though. I am not sure what ICE would do to you,
                    probably detain you until you could prove citizenship.
        \_ obGoogle. Rules change June 1:
           http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_you_need_a_passport_to_go_to_Tijuana
           http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

9/12    immigration by numbers
        http://video.google.com/videoplay
         docid=4094926727128068265&q=numbersusa&hl=en

6/29    Ted Kennedy self-Godwins after immigration bill dies:
        "Referring to opponents of the bill, Mr. Kennedy said: 'We know what
        they don't like. What are they for? What are they going to do with the
        12 million who are undocumented here? Send them back to countries
        around the world? Develop a type of Gestapo here to seek out these
        people that are in the shadows? What's their alternative?'"
        \_ Gush Ted, how about we enforce some of those laws from the last
        \_ Gosh Ted, how about we enforce some of those laws from the last
           amnesty bill in 86 that the Feds completely ignored?  Then after
           we try out those laws for a few years we can see where we stand.
           \_ Isn't it the job of the executive branch to enforce the laws?
              I don't think Congress has a very large police force...
              \_ Didn't PP say it's the Feds who ignored the law?

5/11    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,271438,00.html
        Authorities charge 28 in South Carolina of arranging phony
        marriages to help foreigners evade immigration laws

4/5     Harry Reid, 12 years ago
        http://www.drudgereport.com/flash1hr.htm
        \_ what, no child molestation charges??

3/29    http://weneedafence.com
        I personally don't care about the immigration issue but I'd like
        to buy stocks in companies that make fences. What are some
        companies I should look into?

11/12   I got my greencard 5 years ago, what's the cheapest and fastest
        way to get US citizenship? My mom did it through a 3rd party
        service where they did all the paperwork (for $310!). Thanks.
        \_ Seems impossible, since the application fee itself is $320.
           \_ They make up for it in volume.
        \_ 5 yr is not enough.  You need to wait for another year to apply
           for citizenship.  At least what is what I've done.  and FYI,
           they can revolk citizenship without any reason at any time, so
           behave.
           \_ I'm reading it's only for extreme cases like if you're a Nazi war
              criminal, etc.
              \_ citizenship is not protected by anything.  Yes, in pratice,
                 they don't do it very often, but who knows what kind of stunt
                 Dubya is going to pull in next few years.
                 \- unless you are being really cynical, and i dont think
                    there is need for that yet if you are white,
                    ^citizenship^naturalization.
                 \_ There is still this little thing called due process.
                    \_ that's why they've been setting up places in Cuba
                       and eastern Europe to detain people.  due process
                       was one of the first things to go.
                       \_ What kind of process is in question, but some
                          process is required before a citizen can be
                          deprived of life, liberty, &c. (see Hamdi)
                 \_ If Bush is reelected, rape will be legal! --Cameron Diaz
                    \_ Uhm, wow.  That's, well, impressive.
                       \_ Since rape is allowed according to the Old Testament,
                          and since much of Bush's base wants to see the
                          Old Testament become the law of the land in the U.S.
                          this is not so far off the mark.
                       \_ Rape is legal at the CIA torture prisons and
                          at Gitmo. At least according to the Bush regime.
                          \_ But only if you're doing it to protect the nation
                             from terrorism.
           \_ Nonsense. 5 years is ok. In fact, you can start the application
              process before the 5-year period ends.
        \_ The third parties seem unnecessary without any special circumstances.
        \_ The 3d parties seem unnecessary without any special circumstances.
           Download the PDF form from the INS web site, fill it up with acrobat
           reader and print it.  Add to your package a check for the processing
           fee and any required supporting documentation and you're set. You
           should get an appoitment notice for the interview within one to two
           months after sending the application. Now, if you really want to
           expedite the application process don't miss and don't try to
           reschedule the appointment. I forgot about mine and sent the form to
           reschedule the appointment. What a mistake! I had never heard back
           from them.  Another 8 months later I managed to schedule an
           interview after someone gave me a useful advice to call the local
           INS office directly (agaist the INS directions that said otherwise)
           instead of their useless country-wide 1-800 number where everyone
           yelled at me: "How dare you to call us because of this issue? Just
           keep waiting.  We'll schedule another appointment. Make sure not to
           call a local INS office. Oh yeah, your application will expire within
           call a local INS office. Oh yeah, your application will expire w/in
           a year after we got it if you don't pass the interview by then."
           \_ Which INS office was this? I had to reschedule and they were very
              reasonable for me ... I was dealing with the SF INS office.
        \_ Pretend you are a Mexican (or other Latin American) and
           sneak across the border?
           sneak across the border?                     -jblack
           \_ When did you stop beating your dead horse?
        \_ I don't know what 3rd parties will do for you but the process is
           easy. I put it off for a long time but finally applied in Feb 2004,
           and got sworn in in November. The form is long but fairly simple,
           the only complication for me was having to remember the dates
           for all the times I went to Canada since I got my green card (they
           don't stamp your passport, or at least didn't used to). The
           interview is a piece of cake.

10/27   Jobs program tries to discourage immigration to U.S.
        http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1510519/posts

10/27   Jobs program tries to discourage immigration to U.S.            -jblack
        http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1510519/posts

5/9     Here's someone who found a creative use for a math degree:
        http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/05/06/students.scheme.ap/index.html
        \_ What a lamer.
        \_ It crazy to do this for someone whose parents can donate $21m to a
        \_ It's crazy to do this for someone whose parents can donate $21m to a
           school.
        \_ This is like Catch Me If You Can. I half heartedly applaud this guy.
           I'd be much happier if he used those money to donate to charity.
           I want to see a modern Robinhood who takes money from big
           faceless corporations and land-owning aristocrats and redistribute
           wealth to people who need them.
           \_ You mean the big faceless corporations that employ the
              people who need the money?  And what "land-owning
              aristocrats?"  If you said, "Steal the money from ugly
              CEOs," it would at least sort of make sense.
              \_ Jrleek, small corporations in the past employed, trained, &
                 treated their employees as family members. Things have
                 changed a lot since the early 20th century. Today, big
                 corporations are owned and operated by shareholders,
                 who want many things, and among them, PROFIT as their #1
                 goal. They increase profit via training/nurturing employees,
                 attracting highly capable workers, giving out incentives,
                 bonuses, etc. However, they also increase profit via other
                 means, such as outsourcing, cutting employee benefits,
                 merger, hostile take-over, increasing work responsibility
                 (legalized increase of work hours), and other methods. And
                 in today's highly competitive world, corporations will do
                 all of the above. We already witnessed the monopoly of AT&T
                 (until 1983), the dominance of Microsoft, the abuse of F1
                 VISAs, the displacement of auto-workers, the use of child
                 labour in South East Asia, etc etc. These are not isolated
                 incidents, but rather, strong tendencies by corporations
                 for the sake of increasing profit. Right now ethical laws
                 exist to protect workers in extraordinary events such as
                 accidents, child bearing, etc. But if corporations had
                 a choice, you bet they'd get rid of these laws. In short,
                 big corporations have no allegiance to anyone, any ideology
                 nor have any compassion for its employees. Its primary
                 interest is PROFIT, period. I guess this is all difficult
                 to grasp but will be a lot clearer when you're force to
                 rethink about your career in the future.
                 \_ I totally forgot that jrleek works in the government so
                    most of what I said becomes totally irrelevant. -pp
                 \_ Do big corporations have allegiance to their shareholders?
                    \_ You asked a very good question. The point is,
                       unlike mom/pop stores, corporations don't have a soul.
                       Let me give you in layman's analogy. The corporation
                       Let me explain in layman's analogy. The corporation
                       (board membors) are like assassins, they take money
                       to do their job, which is to use money to earn more
                       money. If they fail to meet their objectives
                       (not getting their quarterly earning expectations),
                       they risk getting pounded by shareholders (stock
                       price going down, board members fired, take-over).
                       All corporations try to optimize, slime-line, and
                       do creative things to meet earning expectations.  In
                       some cases however, they become so desperate that
                       they take short-cuts or do things without ethical
                       considerations, such as polluting, cutting health
                       benefits, etc. If Ford and GM can double their
                       assembly line productivity by moving to Malaysia or
                       Phillipines (where they can hire cheaper, younger,
                       workers without having to pay them health benefits)
                       do you think board members would object due to ethical
                       considerations? Heck, they already did it in the 80s.
                       What makes you think corporations today are any
                       different?
                       \_ Interesting that you seem to have something of
                          an understanding of economics, and yet can't add
                          2+2.

5/6     The last few pages of my passport say "Amendments and
        Endorsements".  Are these pages usable for normal
        entering/exiting countries, or do I need to get extra pages
        added if this is all that remains blank in my passport?
        \- Well you have to consider who cares about and gives you the
           visa. Typically a country will say "your passport is full"
           and refuse to put the visa on the A/E page. However, when you
           show up at the airport in Swaziland, I suppose you could claim
           it was their embassy that put it there. I'm not saying it wont ever
           work, but it is a bad idea. [what if something like a schengen
           visa is used to cover up something?]. BTW, many countries have a
           "jumbo" passport for drug mules er people expecting a lot of stamps.
           i would be kind of curious what the us immigration would do if
           some other country decided to cover up one of you A/E pages. --psb

8/24    Question:  I am green card holder and now I want to go back to my
        country.  Do I need to pay uncle sam for the income I earned in
        my home country?
        \_ i suggest you do it anyway, in case you decided to get
           citizenship later.  It's a pain, but generally
           you won't need to pay a penny unless you are making more than
           $84k per year (the figure changes every year, it's slightly above
           $80k/yr).
           \_ is it true that if you are outside of the US for some period
              of time (>6 months), it would jeopadize your citizenship
              application?
              \_ umm, you should talk to your immigration lawyer about that.

6/17    Oops!  Good thing it was only the 575 F1 instead of the Enzo:
        http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004272369,00.html

4/7     What's the best way to keep your passport safely when travelling
        abroad? Does anyone have good or bad experiences with those slim
        pouches that wrap around your waist/stomach/chest?
        \_ I kept my passport in a slim waist pouch inside my pants during a
           two week trip to rural China. It wasn't really that uncomfortable.
           As a safety precaution, make sure you have a photocopy of it
           kept somewhere else in your bags.
        \_ I keep mine in my front pants pocket.  Don't need no steenkin'
           waist or under-the-shirt pouch.
        \_ Good tip is to make 2 photocopies of main passport page and all
           pages with relevant visas or extensions.  Keep one in your bag,
           the other in your wallet.  I just keep my passport in an inside
           jacket pocket "fo' e-z access".  -John
        \_ Don't put anything important on some object that hangs outside your
           body screaming, "stupid naive tourist".

6/24    Oh god.  I wish the EU (useless bunch of poltroons) would get at
        least a semblance of a backbone.
        http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/31380.html
        Does anyone know more about new biometric passports the US is supposed
        to be issuing?  I'd frankly much rather deal with the hassle of a
        visa with my Swiss passport than submit to this.  -John
        \_ Maybe it's just me, but John seems to talk about his Swiss passport
           pretty frequently.
        \_ Biometrics are such a huge mistake.  No one seems to be addressing
           the issue that if your biometrics are compromised, there is no way to
           issue new ID--well, without replacing your eyes.  -emarkp
           \_ Hm?  Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the process:  you have an ID
              or passport with your retinal scan/fingerprints on it.  They
              scan your ID, compare it to a db of such things, and then you
              put your eye/hand to the scanner and verify that you are who
              the system says you are.  Are you saying that someone could
              hack the db and sub their own particulars for yours and so take
              your bank account?  If so, you now have their fingerprints /
              ret. scan on file-- should be fairly easy to find the duplicates
              in the system and arrest the perp.
              \_ No, if someone else can ID themself with your biometrics or
                 subvert the system somehow, you're screwed.  You can't get
                 different biometrics. -emarkp
                 \_ What are we talking here?  Fake fingerprint gloves?
                    False retinal scan contacts?  Not saying it can't be done
                    but quite a stretch, no?
                    \_ Actually it's quite easy to fake out the fingerprint
                       thing. The retinal scans can be horribly difficult
                       obtain accurately at times. The real problem is identity
                       theft and proving that it wasn't you who shifted your
                       bank account/stock portfolio/real estate to party X.
                       VERY tough to dispute.
                        \_ I fail to see how biometrics makes this worse;
                           right now you're being authenticated on your
                           signature, which is way easier to forge than
                           even the simplest biometric.  -tom
                           \_ It's not worse. It makes id theft much more
                              difficult. I'm more for dual source
                              authentication. Bio + PIN. However, businesses
                              might make it much harder to dispute id theft
                              and make corrections since it is technically so
                              difficult. I fear an overreliance on tech.
                              \_ I think this has less to do with tech, and
                                 more to do with the nature of big business
                                 and bureaucracy.  Bureaucracy and silly
                                 overhead happen just fine without any
                                 technology at all.  What you'd hope is that
                                 intelligent policies will be put into place
                                 to deal with situations that the tech makes
                                 'unlikely'.
        \_ You'll submit and you'll like it.
           \_ Grey matter! Grey matter!

4/17    Are there plug-ins/add-ins (or something like that) available for
        xfig to make it easier to draw circuit schematics?
        \_ Try "dia"  IIRC, it has an icon set for circuits.  --dbushong

3/12    For those of you who are naturalized citizens or who somehow know,
        after you have formally filed application for naturalization but
        before you are granted an interview and/or the approval, can you
        leave the country for an extended period of time without jeopardizing
        your application?  I have googled and searched on INS site, but did
        not find the answer.  It must be in some CFR or USC, but that are
        big.  Please answer only if you know the answer.  Appreciate any URL
        too.  Ok, tnx.
        \_ Yes, but you need permission. If you leave the country w/o it,
           you are f*cked.
           \_ That's for leaving Before you file the application, for over
              1 year or 6 months, or there is a requirement for after the
              application is filed also?
           \_ the needed permission is called "advance parole":
              <DEAD>www.immigration.gov/graphics/howdoi/travdoc.htm#parole<DEAD>
              Here is the link for travel:
              <DEAD>www.immigration.gov/graphics/howdoi/registry.htm#travel<DEAD>
        \_ My mom left the US for a few months after filing her application
           for naturalization.  She came back after getting her interview
           notice.  She is currently staying put waiting for her oath
           ceremony after her interview resulted in a "recommended for
           approval", but I believe the immigration officer at the interview
           told her she can leave the country if she wants to.  Consult a
           lawyer.
           \_ How long does it take her to get an interview notice and
              interview itself after filing the application and how long
              to get the ceremony?  Ok tnx.
              \_ She filed in April, had her fingerprint in July, and
                 her interview the day before Thanksgiving.  She got her
                 oath ceremony notice very fast (originally scheduled
                 around late December), but the day before the ceremony,
                 she was informed that the whole ceremony got cancelled.
                 From reading the news, it seemed that in the past, if
                 INS doesn't hear back from FBI, they assume the case is ok,
                 but now, each case needs to be individually approved by
                 FBI, and FBI cannot keep up with the work load, so INS
                 cancels.  Also, it seemed like INS just left the
                 whole pile of cases sitting there until my mom called them.
                 Then things started rolling and they said "4 weeks".
                 3 1/2 weeks later, my mom called again, and was told
                 "one more week" (to get the notice for ceremony).  That's
                 where it is sitting now.  Calling INS can mean long hold
                 times.  I think they then give you a  number for a local
                 INS office to call, which is where you can find someone
                 who can actually check your case.  All this is in Chicago,
                 so it may not apply to you.
                 \_ ** errors corrected **
                 \_ Great, another immigrant come to steal my social
                    security trust fund.
                    \_ I think you don't get any social security unless
                       you work and pay taxes for 10 years.  My mom would
                       get it though since she worked for U of Chicago
                       for some years, back in the 60s.
                       \_ Not so.  She'd get it if her husband had it.  She'd
                          get welfare and a boatload (hah!) of medical bene's
                          just for being here.
                          \_ I think you are mistaken about the "husband"
                             part.  Also, I believe the same 10-year rule
                             applies to medicare and medicaid.
                 \_ My God!  We live in a fascist state!  Look at the huge
                    and privacy destroying hassle we put innocent people
                    through just to be able to live here.  Just because they
                    were born somewhere else is no reason they shouldn't have
                    all the rights of someone who simply had parents here.

12/5    Snowboard gears: step-in vs. strap bindings
        Which is better?
        \_ Consider Flow bindings (<DEAD>www.flow.com<DEAD>  They don't have the problem
           of clogging with snow, or wearing out (like clickers), nor do
           they take an age to put on (strap-ins) and they give a LOT
           of hold.  <DEAD>www.flow.com<DEAD>   -John
        \_ I've had switch binding for 5 years and am about to replace them
           with a good set of strap bindings. I have yet to be able to
           get the strap settings to give me a good tight ride without
           causing circulation problems in my calves.
        \_ My general rule of thumb is use step-ins for free-riding and
           straps for free-style.  Straps allow for more flexibility while
           step-ins are more rigid.
                \_ I'd say the opposite. Strap-ins hold you in much
                   more securely than do step-ins.
        \_ I've got a strap-on set that can give you a good tight ride.
        \_ Only posers use step-ins, sorry to say.
        \_ I can't stand step-ins. I've had strap bindings for the last
           10 years and have never found step-ins that work as well. I
           spent one winter in Tahoe giving snowboarding lessons and the
           rental shop that year rented step-ins... all the students would
           come in using them and constantly have problems with them
           getting clogged up with snow and ice and not clicking in exactly
           right and just being a general pain in the ass.      -rory
           \_ Bet they were K2 Clickers and not Switch.
        \_ I have K2 Clickers.  I have no problems clicking in on dry days.
           But it can get clogged up on powder snow.  Overall, it's very
           convenient to click in and out of the binding.
        \_ To all the step-in haters... the new generation of step-ins is
           significantly revised. They no longer have a nasty bar in your
           boot to restrict your riding, but have a high-back similar to
           strap ins. That said, if you're serious at all, you go with strapin.
           And if you're buying a board, you're either rich (in which case
           you can buy strap ins later) or you want to be serious, so you
           should buy strapins.

1/23    Short of going to an attorney, what are or where can I find some brief
        answers to these:
        \_ motd formatting god was here.  -motd formatting god
        \_ If I marry a foreigne student, can she stay here with me even after
        1) If I marry a foreigne student, can she stay here with me even after
           her visa expires?
        \_ Can she work legally?
          \_ Yes she can, as long as you adjust her status. <DEAD>www.ins.doj.gov<DEAD>
        \_ Can she leave and then come back to the US?
           \_ she should have the green card by then.
                \_ I heard it may take 5 years for her to officially receive
                   a green card.
                \_ A friend of mine did just this. Your lady will get a
                   'provisional' green card (they're now called Alien
                   Registration card, I-551) valid for 2 years. After that
                   you will have to re-apply at the INS, in which to prove
                   that your marriage is genuine and you're still together.
                   I believe both of you have to appear for interview.
        2) Can she work legally?
           \_ with the green card, yes.
           \_ Now, to get the physical green card it would take about 4-6 mos.
              But the INS will stamp her passport with a temporary green card
              that would authorize her to seek employment.
              that would authorize her to seek employment. Of course, this
              can only happen after she is approved a resident status.
        3) Can she leave and then come back to the US?
           \_ if it's non-frequent, most likely not.  You may be questioned
              though by INS.  They could potentially revoke your
              wife's green card.  Most would not leave for the first
              year.
           \_ After her passport is stamped (like I mentioned above), she
              should be able to travel without having to apply for a reentry
              visa to the U.S.
              \_ There's something called a re-entry permit.  Is that for
                 solving this problem?  -- not original poster
                \_ Re-entry permit is for folks (who have pending resident
                   status) who left the country for more than 1 year and seek
                   to return to the U.S. If you're just going to Mexico for
                   vacation, for example, you don't need this. You may be
                   confusing this with an 'Advanced Parole', which is a travel
                   document for those who haven't gotten their green cards yet
                   NOR have gotten their I-485 approved.
        \_ From the above answers, you definitely should see a lawyer
           instead.  Just pay the $50-$100 one hour consultation fee.
           I think if your future wife is already here, she can get a
           I-485 pretty fast which I think allows her to stay and
           get a work permit too.  She then has to do a change of
           status if she does not want to leave the country and re-enter.
           Again, ask a lawyer.
        \_ http://www.shusterman.com is a great site to look up all these things.
           Also read misc.immigration.usa & alt.visa.us newsgroups.