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Adoptions Present Special Issues Under US Immigration Law

In my practice, I have had a number of people come to me to ask about how they can help a relative come to the United States. When the relative is a spouse, child, parent, brother or sister, there may be ways to help them. The rules for these types of relatives vary on whether the petitioner is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. But, when the relative is a cousin, niece or nephew, often people are disappointed to learn that U.S. immigration law does not provide an opportunity for that relative to come to the United States.

That is when some people start to think creatively. “What if I adopted my niece?” That is a question I hear a lot. On the surface, it would seem to solve the problem. If you adopt a relative, then they become your child, and then, logic would have it, you could file a visa petition. Right?

Well, the answer is not always that simple. In fact, quite the contrary, visa petitions involving adopted children present special issues. The rules that apply to adopted children depend on whether the child was an orphan when adopted. The term “orphan,” however, has a special definition under U.S. immigration law.

Orphans

An “orphan” is a child whose parents:

• died or disappeared

• abandoned or deserted the child, or

• are separated or lost from the child.

If the adoptive parents do not see the child before the foreign adoption, the adoptive parents must be willing to re-adopt the child in the United States.

If there is only one surviving parent, the child may still be considered an orphan if the surviving parent in unable to provide care to the child, and irrevocably gives up his or her rights to the child so that the child can be adopted and leave the home country.

To qualify for immigration to the United States as an immediate relative, the orphan must be adopted by a U.S. citizen and spouse or an unmarried U.S. citizen who is at least 25 years old. The adoption can take place in the foreign country, or the orphan come to the United States to be adopted. The adopted parents must have seen the orphan personally before the adoption proceedings. Finally, the Attorney General must be satisfied that the adoptive parents can give proper care to the adopted orphan. The adoption must take place before the orphan reaches the age of 16.

The prospective parent or parents must show that the child will have a proper home environment when he or she comes to the United States. This is done through a home study and a fingerprint check. The adoptive parents must also show that they comply with any adoption requirements of the state in which they live.

Non-Orphans

An adopted child, who is not an “orphan” may still qualify as a “child” for the purpose of U.S. immigration law if the adoption must take place before the child’s 16th birthday. Also, the adopted child must be in the legal custody of the adopted parents, and living with them, for two years. For all intents and purposes, this means that the adopted parents must live overseas with the child for two years before the child can come to the United States. This makes it almost impossible for a permanent resident to adopt a foreign-born relative in order to bring that relative to the United States. That is because a trip abroad for over six months is considered by U.S. law to be an abandonment of permanent residency.

Because foreign adoptions present tricky issues, it is best that a person consult with a knowledgeable immigration lawyer before going through the process.

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Inorganic Industrial Degreasing Solvents Present Safety Issues

Industrial degreasing solvents are used as a cleaning agent in professional parts washing and machinery washing. These chemicals might be sprayed, brushed, or wiped directly onto the surface of the contaminated part to remove grease, dirt, or dust. While these degreasers effectively remove contaminants from machinery and extend the useful life of these parts, some of these liquids contain unsafe compounds. When businesses do not properly research the chemicals that they utilize, they run the risk of harming employees and the environment by exposing them to toxic chemicals. This article will take a look at some of the most dangerous substances contained in the industrial degreasing solvents. Business owners should familiarize themselves with the compounds in this article so that they will be able to identify unsafe chemicals and keep them from harming employees and the surrounding environment.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have made a point to focus on the presence of VOCs in cleaning products. In reality, VOCs are safe when consumed in small doses but when individuals are exposed to a high level of VOCs they could experience health issues. Symptoms of high VOC exposure include nausea, headaches, kidney damage, liver damage, and a shutdown of the central nervous system. It is important for companies to evaluate the VOC levels in industrial degreasing solvents before making a purchase.

Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)

Degreasers that contain HAPs are problematic because when these substances are used, they emit harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Individuals who work in environments where HAPs are present could inhale these pollutants and become sick. Depending on how long an individual is exposed to HAPs, he or she can develop dizziness, upset stomach, breathing issues, infertility, or nerve damage. Luckily companies can prevent the introduction of HAPs into the workspace by obtaining a list of HAPs from the EPA and using this list when evaluating the degreasers that are available on the market. Being thorough during a search will allow the company to save money by avoiding costly lawsuits and insurance price hikes.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Found in some degreasers, isopropyl alcohol is another toxin that can harm humans. The chemical leads to dry skin and drowsiness while irritating the eyes, nose, and throat. Another major risk associated with using isopropyl alcohol is that it is a very flammable substance, so its presence in a working environment can produce an unsafe workplace for employees.

Acetone

Acetone is another ingredient that is found in some industrial degreasing solvents that is also an extreme fire hazard. Employees who come in frequent contact with acetone have reported skin dryness, headaches, and even eyes, nose, and throat irritation.

Freon

Freon is not a common ingredient in industrial degreasing solvents but is still present in some solutions. While this chemical contains a low level of toxicity and low fire hazard level, it can still cause employees to experience dry skin and light headedness.

These are just some of the substantial number of harmful chemicals that can be found in industrial degreasing solvents. Businesses should protect their employees by doing their homework before purchasing degreasers, with the best choice usually being to buy organic.

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Six Key Questions to Help You Get Your Presentation Absolutely Right

One of the key reasons many presentations or public speeches fail to hit the mark is because the presenter has spent insufficient time planning the content and structure. The tendency is to rush in to writing a script or preparing a PowerPoint presentation without first stepping back to analyse what’s needed and what’s going to work best.

This article outlines six key questions which, if carefully considered and acted upon at the planning stage, will improve the effectiveness of any presentation.

What

The first thing to clarify is what you are talking about. Whilst the subject matter is often clear from the outset, it isn’t always. Titles and expectations can be ambiguous and it’s important to clear up any ambiguity at the start.

Who

Before getting down to detailed planning, it’s important to understand your audience.

Who are you talking to? What is their level of knowledge and interest? What are their expectations? How many of them will there be?

Many people approach presentations back to front. Their starting point is ‘what do I want to tell them or want them to know?’ Effective presenters, however, put themselves in their audience’s shoes and ask themselves

  • Why are they here (and are they volunteers or press-ganged)?
  • How much do they know already?
  • How much do they think they know? (this may be different from how much they really know and need to be addressed sensitively)
  • Do they want to be informed? Persuaded? Entertained? Or is it something else? Or possibly a combination of some/all of these?
  • What’s in it for them?
  • Why would they be interested/what would catch their interest?
  • If there’s just one message I’d like them to take home and act on, what is it?

If you spend time considering and answering these questions, you’ll have some very useful information to help you decide on the detailed content and how best to present it.

Why

Considering your audience, while vital, is only part of the equation. Ask yourself ‘why am I giving this speech or presentation?’ Note, the question here is not ‘why is this presentation happening?’ It’s why are you, rather than anyone else, giving it. Having established that, ask yourself:

  • What is my objective?
  • What impression do I want to leave the audience with – of me, my product, service or company?
  • What action do I want them to take as result of listening to me?

Do you want to

  • Inform
  • Persuade
  • Entertain

them? Is there another purpose? Or a mix of some or all of these? What/s most important?

Now put this alongside the information you’ve already gathered – how do the two compare? What adjustments might you need to make to ensure that you take proper account of the needs of both your audience and your own objectives?

When

You’ll also find it helpful to consider some questions about time.

For example, when and in what context is the presentation taking place? If it’s straight after lunch (often referred to as ‘the graveyard slot’), for example, you’ll want to pay even more attention than usual to how you grab and keep people’s attention.

If it’s part of a conference programme, then you’ll find it helpful to consider how it dovetails with other elements of the agenda. If it’s an after dinner speech you may wish to keep it relatively brief and upbeat though this will, of course, depend on the wider circumstances.

And, of course, you’ll want to be absolutely clear about how long you’ve got, and whether that includes time for any questions/discussions that may follow.

Where

As part of your planning, it’s important to consider where you are giving the speech or presentation – its size, facilities and how much flexibility there is with regard, for example, to seating arrangements.

If, for example, it’s a large auditorium, then you’ll almost certainly need to use a microphone and, if possible, should ideally practise with this first. You’ll also want to consider how you use the stage – or whether you’re going to stand at a lectern and use powerful visuals centre stage, to help you tell your story.

If you want to include a demonstration, then you’ll need to be satisfied that everyone will be able to see/hear easily.

Whatever the size of the venue, it’s always wise to check what facilities they have and that any planned equipment or other aids are available or can be safely accommodated.

How

Once you’ve got clarity about the five previous questions you’re be in a good position to decide how to structure your content, and how best to deliver it. Would it be helpful, for example, to include a demonstration or some ‘hands on’ practice? What, if any, audio-visual aids would enhance your overall effectiveness – or can you, as is often the case, do just as well without?

If you keep these six questions in mind when planning your presentation you’ll find it easy to decide what to leave in, what to take out and how to deliver it for maximum positive effect.

I keep six honest serving-men

(They taught me all I knew);

Their names are What and Why and When

And How and Where and Who.

From: The Elephant’s Child by Rudyard Kipling

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