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Immigrant New Yorkers contributed nearly a quarter to NYC’s GDP: MOIA report
The NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) has released its fourth Annual Report, “State of Our Immigrant City.” Major new findings include: · The poverty rate among immigrant New Yorkers is higher than for New Yorkers born in the United States. Further, the poverty rate for undocumented immigrants is 29.2 percent, higher than the 27.1 percent […]
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Beginning March 1, USCIS returns to 2008 citizenship test
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced it is reverting to the 2008 version of the naturalization civics test effective March 1, 2021. On Dec. 1, 2020, USCIS implemented a revised naturalization civics test (2020 civics test) as part of a decennial test review and update process. USCIS determined the 2020 civics test development process, content, […]
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High hopes or another false hope? Green cards for essential workers
By Anthony Advincula On a recent Monday, Maribel Lapuz got up at 4:30 a.m. The 46-year-old immigrant from the Philippines braved the sub-zero weather and took the train from Jersey City, NJ to a nursing home in Brooklyn, NY, where she has worked six days a week as a caregiver since last February. A thousand […]
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A Filipino family calls Britain home (Part 2)
By Cristina DC Pastor The Covid protocols introduced by the British government are not popular, particularly among businesses that had to shut down and individuals who lost their jobs, said Gene Alcantara, a Filipino community leader in the UK. “Travel is banned, visits even to relatives are banned. But everyone knows they are necessary to […]
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A Special Immigrant’s journey to America
By Lia Ocampo Lia Ocampo worked at the U.S. Embassy in Manila for 18 years, starting out as a Human Resources Clerk, at the U.S. Department of State and departing in 2012 as a Human Resources Specialist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She is known as a Special Immigrant, a title reserved for […]
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Effective December 1, USCIS citizenship test will have 20 questions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on November 13 plans to implement a revised version of the naturalization civics test. The agency first announced plans to revise the civics test in July 2019. USCIS revised the civics test as part of a decennial update to ensure that it remains an instrument that comprehensively assesses applicants’ knowledge […]
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On Global Filipinos: Losing my friends to COVID-19: Attorney Emil de Guzman (Part 1)
By Loida Nicolas Lewis November is the Feast of All Saints Day/All Souls Day. I remember and pray for the souls of two dear friends, Attorney Emil de Guzman and Dancing Instructor Dodie Potenciano. They died this year from COVID-19. Emil had a very successful immigration law practice in Lower Manhattan when he was stricken […]
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Immigration, abortion, the pandemic on the minds of voters as they cast their ballots
By Lindy Rosales As a long-time New York City resident, I have never seen early voting like this before: Long lines stretching several blocks, with people waiting patiently in the cold weather for their turn at the poll booth. It’s been reported that Mayor Bill de Blasio waited almost four hours before he could cast […]
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New comedy series about a gay Pinoy in Nashville
A comedy series, “Trying Hard,” created by and starring newcomer Maki Bonifacio, debuted on October 11 – which is National Coming Out Day in the U.S. — on YouTube. “Trying Hard” follows the intimate story of Maki, a gay professional from the Philippines, as he navigates the Nashville, TN dating scene while trying to overcome […]