Unlike most countries, the U.S does not have a NATIONAL ID CARD. Governments (federal, local, etc.), companies, institutions accept DRIVER’S LICENSES as ID cards. Some states, maybe all, issue ID cards to people who do not drive. But there is no law that requires every person in the U.S. to have an ID card. Only that it would be very difficult and inconvenient to live today without an ID.

           Since a DRIVER’S LICENSE is of such importance, the FEDERAL government passed a law – several years ago - that the STATES must impose strict identification requirements of applicants for DRIVER’S LICENSES, especially to prove that they are legally in the U.S., if they wish their ID cards to be accepted for admission into FEDERAL facilities. These became the REAL ID. For most people, the importance of Real ID in enabling them to board planes at U.S. airports. However, the EFFECTIVE DATE for this has been postponed several times. (California also issued non-Real ID Driver’s License to non-citizens.)

           The most recent EFFECTIVE DATE for Real IDs was supposed to be in May 2023. Now it has been postponed again, to May 2025.

           USCIS plans to introduce a new ELIGIBILITY exam for AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.

           Every applicant for NATURALIZATION must pass two tests: one, for ability to speak ENGLISH, and one for knowledge of AMERICAN HISTORY and GOVERNMENT (also known as a CIVIC test). Every few years, the USCIS changes the contents and format of these tests. At present, another change is coming.

           USCIS announced that they are already TESTING the new TEST in several cities. Soon, the new TEST would be introduced nationwide.

           My personal wish is that they finally make a TEST that every American citizen, born and educated in America, is able to pass.

           U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began to issue Green Cards and Employment Authorization Cards with new designs. This started at the beginning of February 2023.

           All the old cards remain valid until the EXPIRATION DATE listed on them. Some very old Green Cards don’t even have an expiration date. They are still valid.

           It seems that the people selling FAKE Green Cards became so good with their forgeries, that the government decided to deter them by coming out with a design that would be “impossible” to forge.

           Many Green Cards are based on IMMIGRANT VISAS, which are issued by American Consuls overseas. The Consuls operate under Regulations of the U.S. Department of State (DOS), not the Immigration Service. A few weeks ago, the DOS published its most recent, updated GUIDANCE to Consuls, how to decide whether an applicant for an IMMIGRANT VISA is LIKELY to become a PUBLIC CHARGE. In other words – whether the applicant is a potential WELFARE CASE.

The important instruction in the new GUIDANCE is that the Consul must take into account the TOTALITY of the circumstances of the applicant, meaning: HEALTH, AGE, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, SKILLS, HISTORY OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE – EVERYTHING. And the Guidance clarifies: the fact that the applicant presents a complete and adequate AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT, is not, by itself, sufficient to clear the applicant from the SUSPICION that maybe, sometime in the FUTURE, he or she is LIKELY, to become a PUBLIC CHARGE by requiring GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

This is a WARNING: if you are trying to bring to the U.S. a close relative, a parent or a child, and you know that there is a problem (like a MENTALLY-IMPAIRED child, or a SICKLY parent), you must prepare some good documents before the interview at the U.S. Consulate – in ADDITION to an adequate AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT.

           If you tell your sister-in-law in the Philippines: “Don’t worry, just get to the U.S. on your visitor’s visa and then you can stay here forever” – did you commit a crime by ENCOURAGING her to come illegally to the U.S.? Maybe.

           What if you tell her: “When you come on your visitor’s visa, you can work for me in my Board and Care” – did you commit a crime by INDUCING her to come illegally for your own FINANCIAL GAIN? Maybe.

           But this section of the Immigration Act that forbids encouraging and inducing an alien to come to the U.S. for the purpose of staying here illegally, is illegal itself because it violates the FREE SPEECH First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution? Maybe.

What about immigration lawyers, who continually advise non-citizens about visas, about staying and working in the U.S. – and sometimes even get paid for this advice – are they “criminals” or are

they PROTECTED under the FREE