Crucial Facts About Applying for U Visas in New Jersey

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New Jersey has many immigrants. If you walk around Newark, you will see the American melting pot in all its glory. You’ll hear many languages and see individuals with many clothing styles enjoying different ethnic foods.


Many people feel America works so well because of this thriving diversity. Immigration comes into play, as many desire US citizenship for various reasons. They come seeking U visas in New Jersey and elsewhere.


We will talk about obtaining U visas in the Garden State right now.

What is a U Visa?

U visas are available for some crime victims. The U visa means you can help law enforcement agencies prosecute or investigate crimes without having any deportation fears.


Applying for a U visa in New Jersey isn’t very difficult, though getting one presents certain challenges. If you apply, understand that the U visa does not cover all crimes. It exists for serious ones. Those usually include things like felony assault, sexual violence, stalking, or domestic violence.

Can You Use It to Get Citizenship?

Say that you’re a New Jersey resident, but you’re not a US national. You don’t have citizenship. Instead, you’re living here in the US and have temporary legal status.


Someone harms you through a serious crime like we’ve described. The US might grant you a U visa. You think you might leverage that and become a US citizen. Can you do it?


A U visa holder can try getting lawful permanent resident status after living in the US for three years. Lawful permanent resident status means getting a green card. The two terms mean the same thing.


You can go from having a U visa to enjoying permanent resident status. If you live in the US for five years with a green card, you can attempt the citizenship application process at that time.


You can sometimes go from having a U visa in New Jersey to enjoying US citizenship status, but that takes eight years, minimum. You might go that route, but you must exercise patience and not get into any legal entanglements in the meantime.

How Can I Get a U Visa in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, getting a U visa isn’t the easiest prospect. You must prove that someone committed a serious crime against you and that you suffered mental or physical harm. Ultimately, you can present your case, and a judge will decide whether you qualify.


You must also assist law enforcement. Usually, that means reporting what happened and who harmed you. You get preferential treatment because you helped the police. If the court system convicts the person who hurt you, you helped get a dangerous criminal off the street. You will likely get your U visa if that happens.

Is a U Visa Like a Green Card?

Having a U visa helps you as you live and work in the US, but your situation with one remains somewhat tenuous. With a green card, you have more protection, and you can feel more secure.


The U visa status grants you some deportation protections. You can also work in the US with a U visa. Not all companies will accept you as an employee, but many will if you have a helpful skill set.


We already explained how the U visa can open up a potential citizenship pathway. It’s one good thing that might come if someone harms you. From their crime comes a citizenship opportunity.

What Helps You Get Your U Visa?

If someone harmed you, and you help the police capture and convict them, you must demonstrate that during your U visa hearing. If you can get someone from the police to testify on your behalf, a judge should regard that favorably.


If you have several police officers, detectives, prosecutors, or anyone else who might say you provided critical witness testimony and put someone dangerous behind bars, you’re in good shape. The law enforcement agency you helped can give you a special certification. It talks about what you did. The police call this document a I-198B.


You Might Face a Backlog

There’s one more issue worth mentioning. The US does not grant many U visas per year. You might wait several years while the courts process your request.


Getting a competent lawyer who knows this citizenship pathway can sometimes help you. They can guide you as you navigate this sometimes-tricky process.


You might eventually earn citizenship this way, but it takes time, patience, and fortitude.

PLDT and Cisco urge organizations to prioritize digital transformation

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PLDT Enterprise, the business arm of PLDT, and BOUNDLESS: Philippine Digital Convention 2022 (PH Digicon) highlighted emerging technologies and practices to help leaders and consumers adapt to the ever-changing business landscape during the panel discussion “Going Beyond the Future of Tech,” moderated by PLDT-Smart FVP and Group Head of Corporate Communications, Catherine Yap-Yang. The panel was joined by global tech leaders such as ePLDT President and CEO, Victor S. Genuino, Nokia Vice President and Head of Southeast Asia, Daniel Jaeger, and Cisco Head of AppDynamics, APJC, Simon Rizkallah.



ePLDT President and CEO, Victor S. Genuino on adapting to the ‘new normal’ for consumers and businesses

“With today’s ever changing business landscape, enterprises are seeing the need to adapt because consumers are changing the way they consume products and services: they want goods and services delivered in a convenient, timely, and secure manner,” explains Victor S. Genuino, ePLDT President and CEO. “Businesses are realizing that if they are to adapt to this new normal, their businesses have to transform as well.”

 

Cisco, the worldwide leader in technology, and one of this year’s keystone sponsors for PH Digicon 2022, shared insights on how the company embodies what it means to be boundless–in terms of always putting customers first and helping build a resilient and flexible enterprise as companies bounce back into their new normal.

“From Cisco’s perspective, the end user is always in mind,” says Simon Rizkallah, Head of AppDynamics, APJC, Cisco. “We also understand that digital transformation really occurs with the service provider. [And so, we congratulate] service providers like PLDT who have managed, during COVID, to live up to the level that customers were looking for and enable people to operate their businesses, for people to work from home, and for kids to continue their education through e-learning.”

Simon Rizkallah, Head of AppDynamics, APJC, Cisco talked about how digital transformation is a continuous evolution

Rizkallah goes on to explain that from a digital transformation perspective, it is still occurring, that it is a continuous task and evolution. Cisco also continues to take steps into adapting to this evolution, from insight and automation to sustainability in smart infrastructure, and data security.

“For us at Cisco, the Environmental, Social, and Governance requirement is top of mind. So, everything that’s going to come out from Cisco moving forward is going to be focused on power and how we can become greener for the environment,” Rizkallah shares. “Security is also top of mind for everyone. We’ve seen hacks across the globe and power utilities, so, [for us and service providers] how do we protect this critical infrastructure as it becomes digital?”

PH Digicon remains to be the Philippines’ most prestigious and one of the most sought-after digital thought leadership events in APAC that brings together global thought leaders and technology experts from across all industries.

For more information, visit https://pldtenterprise.com/.

Palarong Pambansa set for 2023 comeback, introduces Pre-National Qualifying Meet

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The Department of Education (DepEd) announced the conduct of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa from July 29 to August 5, 2023 in Marikina City, nearly three years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation.

The local government unit (LGU) of Marikina City, DepEd-National Capital Region (NCR) Office, and the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Marikina City are set to host this year’s edition of the scholastic multi-sport competition.

According to DepEd Memorandum No. 5, s. 2023 or the Conduct of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa, Division Meets and Regional Meets shall be conducted on February 6-10 and April 24-28, respectively, as recommended by the Palarong Pambansa Secretariat.

Moreover, an additional tier called the Pre-National Qualifying Meet will be introduced to lessen the number of delegations, shorten the duration of the event, and lower the expenses to be incurred—all without sacrificing the level of play.

As such, the said new level will only feature team sports such as baseball, basketball, football, futsal, sepak takraw, football, and volleyball.

Under the new tier, delegations will be clustered into four groups based on their geographical location. Cluster 1 is comprised of the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Cluster 2 is CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, NCR, and Bicol Region; Cluster 3 is Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula Region; and Cluster 4 is Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCKSARGEN, CARAGA, and BARMM.

The top two regional delegations per cluster will then advance to the actual Palarong Pambansa event.

The modified competition format aims to prevent the disruption of classes and to observe minimum public health and safety protocols as stated in DepEd Order No. 34, s. 2022, and other relevant policies and guidelines issued.

Measurable sports such as athletics, swimming, and archery will adopt the qualifying distance, time, and points set by the Palarong Pambansa. Other sports that do not apply qualifying standards in the selection of athletes and are not identified as team sports will advance directly to the Palarong Pambansa culminating competitions.

Aside from student-athletes from the 17 DepEd regional athletic associations, Filipino athletes enrolled in recognized schools overseas will also be allowed to compete in individual sports under the banner of Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs).

Meanwhile, a separate memorandum will soon be issued regarding the technical guidelines of all sports to be played, as provided in Section 27, Rule VI of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 10588 otherwise known as the Palarong Pambansa Act of 2013.

For more details on the 2023 edition of the Palarong Pambansa, please visit https://bit.ly/2023-palarong-pambansa.