FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Feb 8th, 2008 Maryland; The Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee welcomes the revised policy memo by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The important change is with the I-485/green card application, where if the application is otherwise approvable, will be approved if the FBI name check procedure has been pending for more than 180 days. Unfortunately this same provision does not yet apply to the citizenship applications. PAKPAC is extremely concerned about the challenges the community has been feeling with the very long delay in background check, security clearances and the name check procedures which have taken multiple months and years of delay in people getting their legal immigration process completed.
PAKPAC supports legal immigration systems but urges that the process must be made fair with same processes and duration of the procedures for people of all faiths, backgrounds and countries of origin.
PAKPAC has created a subcommittee to deal with the name check and security clearance procedure. We welcome other organizations to join hands with us to help deal with one of the most important challenges felt by our and other immigrant communities in United States.

LINK TO COMMITTEE SITE

The Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC) is a nationwide, membership based, non-profit lobbying organization registered with the United States Federal Government. PAKPAC’s mission includes advancement and strengthening of U.S.-Pakistan relations. It is organized to be a unified voice on issues and concerns common to the Pakistani American community. PAKPAC’s focus includes an active environment to foster greater political and civic engagement amongst the Pakistani Americans. PAKPAC is also focused on collaborating with other regional and national Pakistani American organizations to ensue increased efficacy and reduced duplication of the stated goals. PAKPAC along with our affiliates is working to serve as a watch dog for inaccuracies and bias in media coverage about Pakistan and Pakistani Americans. We are also involved in educating media groups, journalists, politicians, academicians and members of think tanks about views of concern and importance to the Pakistani American community