Press Releases

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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FindLaw.com's New "Immigration Law Center" Helps People Understand Immigration Law, Connect with an Attorney

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EAGAN, Minn., Jan. 3, 2005 -- How can I bring a family member to the United States? What's the difference between a green card and a worker permit? How do I extend my worker or student visa? How does the deportation process work? What is the process for becoming a U.S. citizen?

From adopting a child from a foreign country to obtaining worker visas, immigration and naturalization law impacts many individuals and families both in the United States and abroad. In the post-9/11 era, new laws and regulations, as well as heightened enforcement of laws, have added further layers and complications to immigration law.

The new Immigration Law Center on FindLaw.com (http://immigration.findlaw.com) is a comprehensive, one-stop resource that helps people understand U.S. immigration law, find appropriate government resources and connect with legal help. The Center contains consumer-friendly articles, links to resources and access to immigration law attorneys through an intuitive user interface that helps FindLaw.com users easily find the information or assistance they need.

The Immigration Law Center on FindLaw.com covers a variety of topics, including

• Adopting a child from a foreign country
• Bringing a family member to the United States
• Obtaining a green card
• Working in the United States on an employment visa
• Coming to the United States to remain permanently
• Visiting the United States as a tourist or student
• Entering the United States as a refugee
• Obtaining U.S. citizenship
• Options if facing deportation or removal
• How to find and work with an immigration lawyer

The Center also includes information and resources from relevant federal government agencies such as the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Department of Homeland Security).

"Remember that all of us are descended from immigrants and revolutionists," once stated Franklin D. Roosevelt. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people immigrate to the United States in hope of a better future. In addition, more than 27 million people - including business travelers, students and tourists - entered the U.S. in 2003 for short-term stays.

"Immigration law has become increasingly complex, with many new procedures following creation of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within the Department of Homeland Security," said Debbie Monroe, president and CEO of Thomson FindLaw. "Whether adopting a foreign child or obtaining a worker visa, navigating the necessary bureaucratic procedures can often be complicated and frustrating. The Immigration Law Center on FindLaw.com helps people, both in the United States and abroad, understand U.S. immigration law, the legal avenues available, and how and when to contact an attorney for assistance."

Because many immigration laws and procedures have changed in recent years, the help of an immigration lawyer is even more important today. The Immigration Law Center on FindLaw.com can help people find and work with an attorney in their area who is experienced in immigration law. The Center provides helpful tips for working with an attorney and easy access to West Legal Directory®, the Internet's largest directory of lawyers and law firms. West Legal Directory contains more than one million lawyers and legal professionals, and users can search by attorney or law firm name, practice specialty and location. The directory features profiles of lawyers and law firms, including details of their legal experience and expertise.

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About Thomson FindLaw
Thomson FindLaw (www.findlaw.com) is the leading provider of online legal information and solutions for the legal community, businesses and individuals. According to comScore Media Metrix, a leading independent Web usage reporting service, the FindLaw.com Internet portal is the highest-trafficked legal Web site with 3.7 million unique monthly users - three times more than its closest competitor. The site provides comprehensive, plain-English legal information to businesses and individuals. These resources include West Legal Directory®, the Internet's largest directory of lawyers and legal professionals. FindLaw.com also offers comprehensive information, resources and services for law practice and legal career development, including free case law, an online career center, breaking legal news, newsletters, message boards, service directories, continuing legal education and legal search tools. In addition, Thomson FindLaw provides access to tools and services that help connect legal professionals with potential clients. Thomson FindLaw is a business within The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC).

About The Thomson Corporation
The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com), with 2003 revenues from continuing operations of $7.44 billion, is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers. Thomson provides value-added information, software tools and applications to more than 20 million users in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, higher education, reference information, corporate training and assessment, scientific research and healthcare. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson has approximately 38,000 employees and provides services in approximately 130 countries. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC).