[Assam] BBC: rare photos : Hindus in Pakistan

Sat Apr 21 18:29:28 EDT 2007

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/south_asia_hindus_in_pakistan/html/1.stm

Hindu Press International <hpi.list at hindu.org> wrote:   From: Hindu Press International <hpi.list at hindu.org>
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 09:36:51 -1000
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: HPI, April 21, 2007

             April 21, 2007 

   United States Immigration Service Proposes Revisions for Religious Worker Visa Classifications That May Adversely Impact Hindus  
   Tobago's First Hindu Temple Begun  
   In Pictures: Hindus In Pakistan

    1. United States Immigration Service Proposes Revisions for Religious Worker Visa Classifications That May Adversely Impact Hindus  www.uscis.gov
  WASHINGTON, D.C., April 21, 2007: (HPI note: These proposed regulations could have a dramatic impact on the ability of Hindu temples to bring in religious workers on the R-1 visa. Hindu organizations are advised to download the proposal at the URL above, and have it studied by their immigration experts. There are proposed changes that state the petitioner for the R-1 visa be the "same religious denomination" as the US employer, and that a "religious denomination" is a group of believers "administered under some form of ecclesiastical government." What would this mean with respect to Hinduism? Only some traditions have what could be construed as an "ecclesiastical government," which is a very Christian form of religious organization. The word "ecclesiastical" is defined in the dictionary as "of or relating to the Christian Church or its clergy." Comments on the proposals will be taken until June 25, 2007, see here.)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is proposing significant revisions to its regulations related to the special immigrant (SR/SD) and nonimmigrant (R-1) religious worker visa classifications. The proposed rule highlights ways to ensure the integrity of the religious worker program while at the same time streamlining the process for legitimate petitioners.

"USCIS remains committed to seeking out and eliminating fraud and misrepresentation in the immigration system," said USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez. "We recognize the importance of the religious worker program and the valuable service it provides to genuine religious organizations. Part of our effort to ensure a secure and efficient immigration system is detecting and combating deception that, in this instance, ultimately deprives legitimate organizations from participating in a worthwhile program. We're confident that this rule will go a long way to eliminate the opportunities for fraud in the program."

Currently, non-immigrants may request a religious worker visa at a consular post or a port-of-entry without any prior, stateside review of the petition. One of the key changes to the regulations include an across the board petition requirement that will allow USCIS to verify the legitimacy of the petitioner and the job offer before a visa is issued or the worker is admitted into the United States.

The rule also reduces the initial period of admission for a non-immigrant from three years to one, givi ng the agency an opportunity to review whether or not the terms of the visa have been met during the initial year before extending the worker's stay in the United States.

USCIS is also proposing to add new definitions, or amend current ones, to better describe the statutory eligibility criteria. The rule streamlines the petition process by requiring an attestation and requesting less supporting evidence. The rule includes detailed interpretations of the statutory requirements and clear guidelines for supporting documentation aimed at making the process easier to understand.

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    2. Tobago's First Hindu Temple Begun  www.newsday.co.tt
  SCARBOROUGH, TOBAGO, April 20, 2007: Tobago's first Hindu temple is being established with funding from the National Commission for Self Help Limited. They have pledged $250,000 for the temple being built by the Tobago Hindu Society. The NCSH's financial commitment to the project was formally "endorsed" during a ceremony on location at the proposed site at Carnbee, on the western outskirts of Scarborough, yesterday. Addressing the ceremony, NCSH chairman Krishna Ramkumar pointed out that the Commission has done a lot of work throughout Trinidad and Tobago, and indeed in Tobago itself. "We will continue to make this commitment to people in Trinidad and Tobago who are dispossessed or people who are in need; communities that are in need, you can feel free to come and apply to the NCSH where we will respond favorably depending on the availability of funds", Ramkumar assured. He said construction of the Hindu Temple in Tobago was just another self-help project being undertaken
 in the country by the Commission. There are certain requirements with respect to the proposed site for the Temple that are yet to be finalized. Ramkumar explained, "We are here this morning to commit a quarter of a million dollars which we gave to the Hindu Society of Tobago. As you know, it is for the construction of a building, but apparently all the Ts and the Is have not been crossed (and dotted) as yet, so the money would be given as soon as everything is in place."

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    3. In Pictures: Hindus In Pakistan  news.bbc.co.uk
  PAKISTAN, April 18, 2007: In April each year, thousands of Hindus flock to the cave temple of Hinglaj Mata, situated in a remote, desolate and hilly area of Pakistan's Balochistan province, 155 miles north-west of Karachi. Pilgrims come from all over Pakistan, carrying red banners and wearing decorative red and gold head-scarves or saffron headbands that signify the holy colors of Hinglaj Mata. For a colorful slideshow click on url above.

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