Refugee

The following is the Notice regarding the Presidential Determination on FY 2008 Refugee Admissions Numbers

Fifty Bosnians and Croatians became U.S. citizens at the federal courthouse in St. Louis during a special ceremony Friday.

They struggled for years to become U.S. citizens. All are all disabled, and most don't speak English. Only a court fight let them bypass the normal citizenship tests written in English.

The new citizens are part of a community of some 40,000 Bosnians and Croatians who settled in St. Louis after fleeing the genocide in their home countries that raged during the 1990s. Most arrived in 1998.

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The USCIS has published a Fact Sheet regarding travel outside the United States by Asylum Applicants, Asylees, or Lawful
Permanent Resident who obtained Lawful Permanent Resident status based on Asylum Status. The USCIS notes:

According to Presidential Determination No. 2007–8 of December 14, 2006:

Pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962, as amended, 22 U.S.C. 2601(c)(1), I hereby determine that it is important to the national interest that up to $5.215 million be made available from the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund for the purpose of meeting unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs resulting from conflicts in Somalia and Sri Lanka. These funds may be used, as appropriate, to provide contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations and, as necessary, for administrative expenses of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

The general purpose of a Re-entry Permit is to allow green card holders, who have left the U.S. for more than one year, but for less than two years, back into the United States. Permanent residents who leave for less than one year can generally re-enter the U.S. through the use of their "green card" plus their passport. However, permanent residents who remain outside the U.S. for more than one year CANNOT use their "green card" for this purpose. Consequently, they must obtain a Re-entry Permit IN ADVANCE, PRIOR TO LEAVING THE U.S.

Those green card holders who remain outside the U.S. for more than two years must obtain a "special immigrant" visa at a U.S. consulate abroad, in order to re-entry the U.S.

Wee Shu Min is the 18 year old daughter of Wee Siew Kim, a current Member of the Parliament of Singapore in the Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (Jalan Kayu), representing the current ruling People's Action Party. She is purportedly a student in Raffles Junior College's scholarship program.

Advance Parole is permission to re-enter the United States after traveling abroad in order to continue processing for adjustment of status or other benefits.  This section discusses various issues regarding Advance Parole.

The USCIS issued a Press Release, on October 4, 2006, reminding Applicants for Adjustment of Status, and other benefits, to obtain ADVANCE PAROLE Before Holiday Travel Abroad.

A Re-entry Permit is a document issued by the USCIS to lawful permanent residents ("green card" holders) as a travel document. Green card holders use re-entry permits to re-enter the U.S. after travel of one year or more.