Journal

primary education in Europe) are called elementary education in the U.S.  The phase after that is high school (generally grades 9-12 in the U.S.). In Europe, the types of degrees are undergraduate (such as bachelor’s) and postgraduate (Master’s, PhD).  In the U.S. these are called undergraduate and graduate. A college that might be termed “chartered” or “incorporated” in Europe would be called “accredited” in the U.S. Accreditation is a process of validation in which institutions of higher learning are evaluated according to a set of standards. A course in Europe would be called a program in the U.S.  A course in the U.S. would refer to just one class.  You might say, “I’m taking four courses this semester: Writing, Chemistry, Research Methods, and Hydrology.”  And of course programme is spelled program in the U.S. If you want to note which date you took which course, pay attention to the order of the day and month.  The European date format is day/month/year — so 4/6/2013 is June 4, 2013.  The American date format is month/day/year – so 4/6/2013 is April 6, 2013. To continue your philology major in the U.S., look for linguistics.  Similarly, what is called electronics engineering in Europe is known as computer engineering in the U.S. Finally, if you want to take the railway to your new college, you need to look for the railroad. Unfortunately, our railroad network is used more for freight than passengers. You might do better to rent a car.  ]]>

Boston Herald’s recent opinion piece (September 16, 2013) by the president of the American Bar Association argues that comprehensive immigration reform is vital to preserve American competitiveness. James R. Silkenat writes:

“Even the brightest foreign students graduating from U.S. universities cannot obtain continuing visas and are forced to leave the United States, taking their knowledge and ideas with them… Matters of life and liberty are decided in our system of immigration justice without the most basic protections [such as legal counsel] that we expect in American courts.”

Thus, the U.S. House of Representatives must pass comprehensive immigration reform. The U.S. Senate has offered a bipartisan CIR bill, which, while not perfect, is better than continuing the current system that divides children from their parents, erodes our borders and hurts the U.S. economy. Realistic immigration reform can strengthen our borders and address the tremendous costs — monetary and moral — of enforcement and detention. Source: http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/opinion/op_ed/2013/09/immigration_law_hurts_economy_lacks_fairness]]>

Monday, May 13, 2013 Two relatively little-known provisions of the “Jobs Originating through Launching Travel Act” – the federal bill still in its early stages – could further stimulate a growing housing recovery in Southwest Florida.  Many people have heard of the enforcement provisions, but these two key points could create a direct economic benefit for parts of the U.S., including Southwest Florida. Under the proposed federal reform, the stays in the U.S. of Canadian visitors and real estate buyers could be extended.  It also would grant temporary visas to foreigners from any country who pay cash for luxury real estate in the U.S. Canadian buyers, in particular, have been among the biggest purchasers of Southwest Florida, and cash transactions now account for two-thirds of all deals regionally. Foreigners could apply for a temporary visa for year-round residency if they:

• purchase $500,000 or more worth of property,
• maintain ownership,
• reside in the U.S. for more than six months a year,
• are at least 55 years old,
• hold full health insurance coverage, and
• pass mandatory criminal background screening

Currently, foreign home buyers who have not obtained U.S. citizenship can only stay here for six months in any given calendar year. Under the new proposal, foreign real estate buyers could apply to renew their temporary visa every three years. Under the bill, Canadian retirees could visit the U.S. for up to 240 days at a time if they:

• maintain a residence in Canada,
• be at least 55 years old,
• have purchased or signed a rental agreement for a property in the U.S. worth $250,000 or more,
• hold full health insurance coverage, and
• pass mandatory criminal background screening

Most Canadians, however, would risk losing their centralized health care back home if they leave their country for more than six months. Area Realtors hope relaxed immigration rules could further lift sales to a segment of buyers that already is energizing the housing market.  Realtors say Canadians flock to Southwest Florida because they see value here. “I go up to Canada every year, show them pictures of palm trees and beaches, and they come on down,” Bill Weed, a Realtor with brokerage firm Michael Saunders & Co. in Lakewood Ranch, told the Herald Tribune. “It feels like that feeding frenzy again.”   Source: Josh Salman, Herald Tribune, Sarasota, Florida]]>

Source: American Immigration Council For more information see:

• The Economics of Immigration Reform  (IPC Resource Page, Updated April 2013)
• Value Added: Immigrants Create Jobs and Businesses, Boost Wages of Native-Born Workers (IPC Fact Check, January 2012)
• Legalize Who?: A Portrait of the 11 Million Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States (IPC Fact Check, January 2013

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