Immigration Law Course

About This Course

This course explores all significant aspects of the immigration and naturalization process in the United States, including the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. Topics include worker and student visas, as well as Family Residence requirements, and the removal process.

Finally, the course covers citizenship and the requirements for an immigrant to become a citizen. Paralegals who plan to work in this challenging and demanding area will find the information gained in this course especially helpful in a rapidly growing specialty in the law.

Course Objectives:

Participants will demonstrate the following skills through successful completion of all required coursework and assignments:

Define the key terms related to immigration law
Name the sources of federal jurisdiction over immigration
Discuss which persons may qualify as Visitors for Business & Pleasure
Explain the procedural requirements to obtain B-1 and B-2 visas
Explain the Visa Waiver Program
Define the meaning of TN status
Name which persons may qualify for Visas for Temporary Workers
Discuss which persons may qualify for Temporary Visas for Students
Explain the procedural requirements to obtain H visas, E visas, L visas and J visas
Explain the procedural requirements to obtain an F-1 visa and an M visa
Explain which persons may qualify for Temporary Visas for Particular Occupations
Discuss the procedural requirements to obtain O, P, Q and R visas
Identify which persons may qualify for Employment Based & Investor Immigrant Preferences
Explain the procedural requirements to obtain EB visas
Explain which persons may qualify for Family Based Residency & Visas
Identify the categories of Family Based Residency
Discuss the requirements for Conditional Residence
Explain the procedural requirements to obtain K visas and V visas
Discuss the legal standard for asylum/refugee protection in the United States
Name the bars to eligibility for asylum
Explain the procedure for filing an application for asylum
Summarize the Convention Against Torture
Define inadmissibility and removal
Explain the process of seeking relief through appeals
Determine what is meant by citizenship
Discuss the statutory & other requirements to become a naturalized citizen
Identify the bars to naturalization
Explain the naturalization process
Discuss the two ways by which citizenship may be lost, namely denaturalization and expatriation
Explain the changes in immigration law which have been implemented to limit the rights of aliens in the U.S. since 9/11/2001
Discuss the changes instituted by the Homeland Security Bill of 2002
Summarize the changes regarding student visas implemented on January 1, 2003
Identify the consequences of hiring illegal aliens

Expectations

You will be expected to spend an average of 8 hours per week reading and completing writing assignments. Please note that extensions will not be granted for this online course. 70% is the minimum passing score on all tests and assignments for this course. Students may consider working ahead in the curriculum if they have the time. Coursework in Immigration Law is equivalent to 45 clock hours of study.

Prerequisites

Successful completion of Paralegal I and II, or equivalent experience.

Course Books

Required textbooks for this course:

Immigration Law for Paralegals, Most recent edition, Durham: Carolina Academic Press, Maria Isabel Casablanca and Gloria Roa Bodin.

Highly Recommended Legal Resources:

Oran’s Dictionary of the Law, 4th Edition, by Daniel Oran. Clifton Park: Delmar Cengage Learning

WESTLAW, legal research access, available for the duration of the course for only $89. Order Online Now

For more information, call CLS by BARBRI at 800-522-7737, or visit our Online Store to order.

Reading Assignments for Lesson Topics:

Lesson One: Introduction: Federal Power to Regulate Immigration and Visitors for Business and Pleasure

Read Chapters 1 & 2 in Immigration Law for Paralegals (IML)

Lesson Two: Visas for Temporary Workers and Temporary Visas for Students

Read Chapters 3 & 4 in IML

Lesson Three: Employment Based Temporary Visas for Particular Occupations and Investor Immigrant Preferences

Read Chapters 5, 6 & 8 in IML

Lesson Four: Family Based Residency and Visas; Claiming Asylum or Protection

Read Chapters 7 & 9 in IML

Lesson Five: Seeking Relief through Appeals and Citizenship

Read Chapters 10 & 11 in IML

Lesson Six: Post 9/11 Issues

Read Chapter 12 in IML

Writing Assignments:

For each lesson you will submit a 50 point short answer assignment covering the topics in that lesson’s reading.

Exams:

You will complete two exams. Each is worth 100 points. The Midterm exam is to be submitted with your Lesson Three Assignments; the Final exam is to be submitted with your Lesson Six Assignments.

Bulletin Board Assignments:

You will also post your responses to six class participation assignments. These assignments are referred to as Bulletin Board Submissions and will be submitted by either selecting Bulletin Board Submission from within the lesson material, or by selecting ‘Forums’ under Activities in the course.

All lesson objectives, assignments, and tests can be found in the Lesson Materials.

Grading

Your grade will be based on your completion of six writing assignment assignments, two exams, and class participation/Bulletin Board Submissions. The exams and writing assignments can be accessed from within the lesson material, or by selecting ‘Assignments’ under Activities in the course. You will have the opportunity to engage in “class participation” by using the Bulletin Board tool to respond to the bulletin board assignments throughout the course. Also, participating in the bulletin board assignments will enhance your understanding of the reading material.

Your final grade will be figured as follows:

The six writing assignments are worth 50 points each and comprise 40% of your grade.
The two exams are worth 100 points and comprise 40% of your grade.
Your participation in class participation assignments comprises 20% of your grade.

Withdrawal Policy

Students may drop the course with a full tuition refund less a non-refundable $50 administrative fee if written notice is sent to CLS by BARBRI by email at [email protected] by the Wednesday before class begins. Students may drop the course with a 50% tuition refund if written notice is sent to CLS by BARBRI by email at [email protected] anytime from the Thursday before the course begins until the first Thursday of class. After the first Thursday of class, no refunds will be issued.

Please NOTE: If you registered for a CLS course directly with the college or university, you are subject to the school’s refund/drop policies.