by – Glen Palaca Hubahib, Esq.
In two days, the United States of America will have its consequential election. Will it be electing the first woman president or the return the Trump presidency? The race is very tight as shown by the dead heat national and battleground states polling. As was in the last two presidential elections, this will be decided in the battleground states of Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia where each candidate is within the polling margin of error. Neither candidate can afford to lose Pennsylvania as the road to 270 winning electoral votes becomes a tall order. Among the battlegrounds, the Quaker State has the largest nineteen electoral votes and now assumed as a bellwether of who will win. Trump carried the state by 0.7% in 2016, while Biden won it by 1.2% in 2020.
This electoral uncertainty underscores the stakes of voter turnout in the battleground states, where even a small shift in preference could alter the outcome on election day. All eyes remain on these critical swing states and the potential for last-minute shifts that could determine the next occupant of the White House.
In the same vein, the Philippines will have its midterm elections in six months. The stakes are high because it will be a referendum of the Marcos presidency. His hold in the Senate and House of Representatives is crucial on whether his would be a lame duck presidency. What we know this early is that the 2028 Presidential Election positioning is in full swing. Local politician becomes highly skilled acrobatic performing under the tune of the Platters’ “Great Pretender” only to sing the final piece of Cuomo’s “And I Love You So” at crunch time. That he was not loving with all his heart. There is a tectonic shift, allies become enemies in an instant. Erstwhile enemies are proud to be co-sleeping before sound down.
The world stage is trending into a multi-polar world. The BRICS+, the aggrupation of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa plus Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Ethiopia held its annual summit in Kazan, Russia saw ASEAN countries joining – Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. What is common on these ASEAN countries is that they are a smaller tiger who now wants to become a lion in the Savannah of the South China Seas.
The group is also powerful and influential because it accounts for 37.4% of global GDP, compared to the G7’s 29.3% and the former is also the most populous.
For the Philippines, well, we have “ayuda” this and “ayuda” that. And I’ll leave you the readers to fill in the blanks.
Now, we will continue on our road to immigration discussion. Hiring of teachers is currently in vogue for the United States as the latter is trying to catch up with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The First World understands that you cannot be Miss Universe to success. You need brain and skills.
J-1 Visa:
The J-1 visa is authorized for those who intend to participate in an approved program for the purpose of teaching, instructing, or lecturing, studying, observing, conducting research, consulting, demonstrating special skills, receiving training, or to receive graduate medical education or training. Employment is authorized for J-1 non-immigrants only under the terms of the program. The spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age are entitled to J-2 visa and are entitled to employment authorization. The petitioning employer or sponsoring agency are mostly School Districts in the United States. The teachers are normally placed in the elementary and high school STEM classes.
The term of the visa may not exceed 3 years. However, the sponsor may request an extension of 1 or 2 years. The downside of J visa is the two-year waiting period in your country of origin when applying for green card. For green card applicants who recently have a J visa, it is encouraged to consult a legal professional to avoid common mistakes.
[Note: Glen Palaca Hubahib is admitted to practice law in California and the Philippines. He also holds Electrical Engineering and MBA degrees. The article is for information only and is not legal advice. Send your comments to the author at hubahibg@gmail.com.]