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Janmashtami celebrations Janmashtami celebrations Sep 12th 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM At the India Center

ISW at Spirit of Shrewsbury, Fall Festival 2010 Oak St Expo:
Sat Sep 25th 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Parade:
Sunday Sep 26th 1:00 PM

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July Satsang Dedicated to Graduates of Class of 2010

At the request of ISW members, the Religious Committee has decided to dedicate, again,
a Satsang, to the Success of our New Graduates of the class of 2010. Both High School
and College Graduates are welcome. We are organizing the July Satsang as a Group-
Sponsored event sponsored by the Parents, relatives and friends of the Graduates.
Sponsorship entails providing Prasad and helping in making arrangements for Pooja. Sponsors
are also encouraged to invite their friends and relatives to join the event.

June Satsang Dedicated to Graduates of 2010 Class

The ISW Religious committee is dedicating June Satsang to the Success of our New Graduates of the class of 2010. We are planning on Organizing this Satsang as a Group- Sponsored event, sponsored by the Parents, relatives and friends of the Graduates.

Redesigned “Green Card” Unveiled

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Redesigned “Green Card” Unveiled

By Hanishi T. Ali

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced earlier this month that it has redesigned the Permanent Resident card – commonly known as the “Green Card” – to combat and deter immigration fraud.

The re-designed Green Card, which is now colored green has begun to be issued and incorporates the latest security features and state of the art technology. The Green Card has been redesigned to prevent counterfeiting, obstruct tampering, and facilitate accurate authentication.

The main features of the redesigned Green Card are secure optical media, holographic images, laser engraved fingerprints and high resolution micro-images, all of which make it nearly impossible to reproduce. The redesigned card also incorporates tighter integration of the card design with personalized elements which make it difficult to alter the card if stolen. For instance, the card has special ink which creates color shifts in visual designs and fine-lined artwork and complex architecture which incorporate patterns that make it nearly impossible to reproduce, according to the USCIS. In addition, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) capability will enable Customs and Border protection officer at ports of entry to read unique serial numbers from a distance and compare the information to the personal data on file. The card’s ultra-violet technology and tactile clues allow for accurate authentication at border crossings.

If you apply for renewal or replacement of your present Green Card, USCIS will issue the redesigned card. If you have an existing Green Card with an expiration date, they will remain valid until they expire. USCIS has recommended that holders of card without an expiration date apply to replace their cards with the redesigned version. The current cost of renewing or replacing the Green card is $370.

Hanishi T. Ali is an attorney at Mithras Law Group, a Westborough based immigration and international business law firm. Hanishi can be reached at 617-500-3233 or at www.mithraslaw.com. Firm Blog at: http://immigrationinfo.wordpress.com/ on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/immigrationinfo

By Hanishi T. Ali
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced earlier this month that it has redesigned the Permanent Resident card – commonly known as the “Green Card” – to combat and deter immigration fraud.

The Importance of Maintaining Your Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR) Status

By Hanishi T. Ali

Lawful immigrants work hard and wait for years to obtain a lawful permanent residence (LPR) status or a green-card. Many, however, forget the important requirement of maintaining their lawful permanent residence status on obtaining the long-awaited green-card. This article discusses the factors that can be viewed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers (CBP) as abandonment of LPR status and provides pointers on how to preserve your green-card.

In today’s globalized economy many immigrants, after receiving a green card, decide to take up career opportunities abroad on a short-term basis or decide to return to their home country for a few years to take care of their ailing parents. Whether you have obtained a green card through employment or a family, it is essential to understand the factors that may lead to a determination of abandonment of LPR status.

Some green card holders incorrectly believe that as long as they enter the United States within a 12-month period they will not be at risk of losing their green-card. Although it is generally true that a green-card can be presented at the port-entry after a temporary absence abroad, not exceeding 12 months, it is not an absolute rule. So, the fact that a green-card holder enters the United States each year, within the 12 month-period from the last departure, may not be sufficient and s/he could still be found to have abandoned his or her LPR status. On the other hand, a green-card holder who lives outside the United States for over a year is not regarded as automatically abandoning his or her green-card either.

This may sound very confusing but in essence whether one has abandoned his or her LPR status or green-card turns on “intent” of the green-card holder rather than solely on length of time outside the United States. To determine abandonment, officials consider factors such as reasons for extended or frequent absences from the United States; family or property ties abroad; business ties abroad; conduct while outside of the United States, such as voting in foreign elections; and failure to file U.S. Income tax returns. Intent of the LPR is a key factor and the courts will look at whether the LPR had intent to return to the United States as a home or place of employment.

Based on case law, green-card holders that have taken up permanent residency or citizenship in another country or green-card holders that have taken up employment or been long-term students outside the United States have not had positive results. On the other hand the courts have been more understanding to green-card holders who needed to remain overseas with family members who were under political threat and to those that needed to care for their terminally ill family members.

If you, as a green-card holder, plan to take a lengthy trip remain outside the United States it is prudent to seek advice from an experienced immigration attorney and to plan preservation of your green-card. Filing for a re-entry permit before your departure from the United States, is one such option. Although, a re-entry permit does not guarantee your return in to the United States, it is always a good idea to get it, whether or not you intend to remain outside the United States for longer than a year as it minimizes the risk of aggressive questioning at the port of entry and indicates to CBP that your trip abroad was of temporary nature and you had an intent to return to the United States at the end of your stay abroad.

In addition, it is fitting to mention here that if you as a LPR or green-card holder intend to live or work outside the United States for an extended period and your ultimate goal is to naturalize and become a U.S. Citizen, you should also seek legal advice on the impact it can have on your eligibility for naturalization. LPRs who stay away from the United States for extended periods also run the risk of being disqualified from naturalization.

By Hanishi T. Ali

Lawful immigrants work hard and wait for years to obtain a lawful permanent residence (LPR) status or a green-card. Many, however, forget the important requirement of maintaining their lawful permanent residence status on obtaining the long-awaited green-card. This article discusses the factors that can be viewed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers (CBP) as abandonment of LPR status and provides pointers on how to preserve your green-card.

Tahako bhara Kavi Sammelan at India Center

Aashkaran Atal , Arun Gemini and Mahendra Ajanabi leading Haasya Kavis from India all maestro of humor with impeccable timing and delivery entertained a packed hall at the India center for over three hours bringing home some very poignant thoughts mixed with humor. Their heart-warming recitals leave the audience regaling with laughter and wanting for more. They recited poetry and anecdotes on all aspects of every day life left the audience looking at the same things in a very different light. They left us with a promise to come back in the near future to add more fun and laughter in our lives

~By Ragini Seth

Showcase India 2010

A Presentation of IYG

Indian Youth Group's biggest Fund raiser of 2010 was a great success. It was held at Oak Middle School in Shrewsbury on April 3rd from 2:00PM to 5:30 PM.
The show kicked off right on time with a packed hall. The music was flowing in the air and we could all feel the Excitement of everyone. The IYG members had worked 3-4 hours prior to decorate the Stage and the hall ways. The food was brought in and managed by the IYG volunteers. Many kinds of Drinks and candies, Hot tea and the best snacks that we could find in Shrewsbury - Samose, Pakode and Spring Rolls were ready to be consumed. Every parent donated something. Lot of them donated their time also to the event. As participants started coming into the bldg, we could feel that we are ready. The moment had arrived that we'd waited for so long.

Free Health Stop	Every Wednesday 6 pm to 8 pm
Meditation	Every Tuesday 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Yoga	Will restart in Sept
Satsang	2nd Sunday every month 12:30 pm to 2 pm

July Satsang Dedicated to Graduates of Class of 2010

June Satsang Dedicated to Graduates of 2010 Class

Redesigned “Green Card” Unveiled

The Importance of Maintaining Your Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR) Status

Tahako bhara Kavi Sammelan at India Center

Showcase India 2010

A Presentation of IYG

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