Texas Immigration Lawyer & Attorney : Kraft & Associates Law Firm : Visas, Green Card, Citizenship, Deportation : Dallas, Texas

This information is excerpted from the U.S. government's Social Security Administration Web site, and explains to non-citizens how they can legally obtain Social Security numbers. For more detailed information visit the SSA Web site.

How do I apply for a Social Security number and card?
In general, only noncitizens who have permission to work from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can apply for a Social Security number. To apply for a Social Security number:

Complete an Application For A Social Security Card (Form SS-5); and show us original documents proving your: Immigration status; Work eligibility; Age; and Identity. Then, take your completed application and original documents to your local Social Security office.

Immigration status
To prove your U.S. immigration status, you must show us the current U.S. immigration document, I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, issued to you when you arrived in the United States. If you are an F-1 or M-1 student, you also must show us your I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. If you are a J-1 or J-2 exchange visitor, you must show us your DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status.

Work eligibility
For most foreign workers, we only need to see your I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. Some foreign workers also must show their work permits from DHS (I-766 or I-688B). International students must present further documentation. For more information, see International Students And Social Security Numbers (Publication No. 05-10181).

What can you do if you need a number for tax purposes?
If you need a number for tax purposes and you are not authorized to work in the U.S., you can apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Visit IRS in person or call the IRS toll-free number, 1-800-TAXFORM (1-800-829-3676), and request Form W-7, Application For An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

Do you need a number for other government services?
Lawfully admitted noncitizens can get many benefits and services without having a Social Security number. You do not need a number to purchase savings bonds, conduct business with a bank, register for school or apply for educational tests, obtain private health insurance, apply for school lunch programs or apply for subsidized housing.

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Unfortunately for those employers who can't find U.S. citizen workers for non-agricultural temporary employment, the government has announced that the quota has already been reached for H-2B workers for the second half of fiscal year 2008. This means that no one else will be allowed to apply for jobs in the United States if the starting date of employment is before October 1, 2008.

This is further evidence that the artificial caps for H-1B and H-2B visas are long overdue for increases. The caps haven't changed in many years, despite the growth in the U.S. economy. Any employers hoping for worker visas for jobs beginning after October 1, 2008, better get ready to start the process.

Here is the announcement from USCIS:

--U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the second half of Fiscal Year 2008 (FY2008). USCIS is hereby notifying the public that January 2, 2008 is the "final receipt date" for new H-2B worker petitions requesting employment start dates prior to October 1, 2008. The "final receipt date" is the date on which USCIS determines that it has received enough cap-subject petitions to reach the limit of 33,000 H-2B workers for the second half of FY2008.

The cap was reached with existing totals for that day. USCIS will reject petitions for new H-2B workers seeking employment start dates prior to October 1, 2008 that arrive after January 2, 2008. USCIS will apply a computer-generated random selection process to all petitions which are subject to the cap and were received on January 2, 2008. USCIS will use this process to select the number of petitions needed to meet the cap. USCIS will reject, and return the fee, for all cap-subject petitions not randomly selected. Petitions for workers who are currently in H-2B status do not count towards the congressionally mandated bi-annual H-2B cap. USCIS will continue to process petitions filed to:

1. Extend the stay of a current H-2B worker in the United States;
2. Change the terms of employment for current H-2B workers and extend their stay; or
3. Allow current H-2B workers to change or add employers and extend their stay.

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Many individuals and employers in the United States are unaware of the existence of the H-2B visa. Although it is not as common as the H-1B visa, it is still an attractive option to individuals wanting to live and work in the U.S.

The H-2B visa is similar to the H-1B visa since the H-2B nonimmigrant work visa also provides a method for U.S. employers to obtain the services of foreign nationals to fill temporary needs of the business or corporation. The H-2B visa, however, has many stringent requirements that must be met prior to filing, which is the main reason for its underuse.

One of the most significant restrictions on the H-2B category is the requirement that the need for the foreign worker be temporary. There are four situations in which there is a temporary need for workers: recurring seasonal need, intermittent need, peak-load need, and need based on a one-time occurrence. It is this requirement that makes this visa category so rarely used. Not only must the employer promise to employ the worker for a limited period of time, the employer must attest that its need for the worker is temporary.

Another cumbersome requirement of the H-2B visa is the requirement that a labor certification be approved prior to filing the visa petition. The Department of Labor must determine that there are no unemployed, qualified U.S. workers available for the position in the area of the proposed employment, and that employment of the foreign national will not adversely affect the wages or working conditions of U.S. workers. The employer must also conduct a recruitment campaign to prove that there are no qualified willing and able U.S. workers for the position.

Although the process to obtain an H-2B visa can be lengthy, there are many benefits in having an H-2B visa. A person can enter the U.S. for temporary work and enjoy all employee benefits. H-2B visa holders can bring dependents to the U.S., travel freely in and out of the U.S., and a new petition can be approved if there is a need to change jobs.

The H-2B work visa was created to allow people to come to the United States temporarily, mainly for non-agricultural jobs, for which the U.S. workers are in short supply. Up to 66,000 H-2B visas are issued every year. Although the quota has been reached for the 2007 year, it is never too early to begin thinking of applying for this visa next year, which actually begins on October 1, 2007. If you are interested in obtaining more information on this visa, please contact us.

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Last night, President Bush delivered the annual State of the Union Address. One notable portion of the speech specifically mentioned immigration in the United States and possible immigration reform. President Bush stated that:

"Extending hope and opportunity in our country requires an immigration system worthy of America - with laws that are fair and borders that are secure. When laws and borders are routinely violated, this harms the interests of our country... Yet...we cannot fully secure the border unless we take pressure off the border - and that requires a temporary worker program."

The President noted that his Administration is doubling the size of the Border Patrol and funding the use of new technology to prevent illegal immigration.

The President also outlined other immigration related goals such as:

- Creation of a temporary guest worker program is needed so that people no longer have to sneak across the border. The Border Patrol should focus on finding and capturing drug smugglers and terrorists, rather than preventing illegal border crossing.

-Immigration laws must be enforced at the work place and employers must be given the tools to verify the status of workers so there is no excuse left for violating the law.

- The United States has a tradition of welcoming immigrants and this process must continue.

- The status of illegal immigrants already in country must be resolved without animosity and without amnesty.

- Congress must engage in serious, civil and conclusive debate so the President can sign comprehensive immigration reform into law.

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