New York City is “the most linguistically diverse urban center in the world, probably in the history of the world.” The New York Metropolitan area is home to nearly twenty million people, who speak a total of over 800 languages. Forty-nine percent of households in New York City speak a language other than English. Artist Cecile Chong, originally from Ecuador and now living and working in New York, is interested in how and where world cultures overlap and interact. She created this installation, “EL DORADO – The New Forty Niners,” as a tribute to that forty-nine percent of households. The installation consists of one hundred “colored “guagua” (Quechua for baby) sculptures,” forty-nine of which are painted gold. It is a visual representation of the linguistic diversity of the city, and an endorsement of immigration and community.
EL DORADO – The New Forty Niners by Cecile Chong
Children of Chinese Immigrants at the Beijing Olympic Games
USCIS Opens New Lockbox Facility
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) opened a new lockbox facility in Elgin, Illinois to expand its lockbox capability. On February 1, 2022, Elgin was added as a filing location for residents of certain states filing Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. The agency plans to move additional filings to the Elgin lockbox in the coming weeks, including Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. The transition is expected to be completed by late summer of this year. Additionally, in the fall of 2022, USCIS is planning to move the lockbox facility in Arizona from Phoenix to Tempe.
Read moreChinese Ribbon Dance for Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year celebrations are in full swing in New York City! At Hudson Yards in Manhattan, public performances are taking place each weekend to bring people together for the holiday. These performances, put on by the New York Chinese Cultural Center, include traditional lion dances and ribbon twirling performances. Ribbon, silk, or scarf dancing can be traced back to the Han Dynasty in China, over 2000 years ago. The art form requires incredible strength and grace to perform the captivating, fluid motions of the dance.
H-1B Cap Registration Period for Fiscal Year 2023 Begins March 1, 2022 (Plus FAQ on the H-1B Cap)
It’s that time of year again! No, not Valentine’s Day; its H-1B Cap Season! US Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) recently announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 H-1B cap will begin at 12pm ET on March 1, 2022, and run through 12pm ET on March 18, 2022. During this registration period, prospective petitioners and their representatives will be able to submit their registrations using their myUSCIS online account and pay the required $10 fee for each registration submitted on behalf of each beneficiary.
Read moreThis Black History Month We Strive to Remember Black Immigrants
Soul Ancestors by Magda Love
One of the largest murals in New York is painted on the wall of a public school in the West Village. The mural at City-As-School consists of three enormous compositions by well-known muralists Kobra, Cern, and Magda Love. “Soul Ancestors” is the name of the portion painted by artist Magda Love. Born in Argentina, the artist has lived in New York City for more than 15 years, and is dedicated to adorning the city with colorful, captivating work. With the goal of giving New Yorkers a moment of thoughtful pause in their hectic day, her work draws on her own experiences to portray themes of “vulnerability, strength, nostalgia, sorrow and joy.” The artist says that “Soul Ancestors” is a celebration of femininity, “a song to all women who are putting their souls in what they do.” The colorful artwork is a bright addition to the school building and the neighborhood.
Visas for Startups and Researchers Will Help America Innovate
Lunar New Year – Year of the Tiger
It’s time to celebrate a new year on the lunar calendar! Each year on the lunar calendar is associated with one of the 12 zodiac animals, which include the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. This upcoming year, which begins on February 1, is the year of the tiger. Lunar New Year is traditionally celebrated in China, Vietnam, North and South Korea, and Tibet, but today, celebrations take place all around the world. In London, for example, the Light Festival at Battersea Power Station features an installation celebrating the year of the tiger. The Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA) created “Digital Origami Tigers” in 2010, the last year of the tiger. The large, glowing sculptures “combine ancient methods of lantern making with cutting-edge design and technology” to create a stunning celebration of the new year.