“Language is the Skin of the Soul” --Positive Immigration Messaging that

Achieves Results

Angelo A. Paparelli, Esq.Managing Partner, Paparelli & Partners LLP, Irvine, CA and New York, NYwww.entertheusa.com949-955-5555

““Language is the Skin of the SoulLanguage is the Skin of the Soul””-- Fernando LFernando Láázaro Carreterzaro Carreter

Write to PersuadeKnow Your Audience

Introduce Your Purpose

Use an Explicit Structure

Follow a Logical Sequence

Offer Small, Easily Digested Pieces of Information

““Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted.Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted.””–– Jules RenardJules Renard

Write for Clarity

Explain grounds of eligibility using basic languageCover officer’s internal checklistPut claim in perspective and context

““Clarity. Clarity. Clarity. Clarity. Clarity. Clarity. When you become hopelessly mired in a sentence, it is best to stWhen you become hopelessly mired in a sentence, it is best to start fresh."art fresh."

-- StrunkStrunk & White & White

Write for Clarity

Start from the beginning

Don’t assume knowledge of your institution’s lexicon

Example:CalTech is not a UniversityPenn State is a private institution

““The secret of becoming a writer is to write, write and keep on wThe secret of becoming a writer is to write, write and keep on writing.riting.””–– Ken MacLeodKen MacLeod

Write for Impact

Get them to feel and thinkDear Consular Officer,

I hope you are well and enjoying the challenges that come with the territory. I’m writing you to provide a quality assurance opportunity and a chance to help in facilitating true love (which, as Shakespeare wrote, is often turbulent [“The course of true love never did run smooth.” – Lysander, A Midsummer Night’s Dream]).

The prolonged delay in security clearance has prevented this spouse from obtaining a visa. The couple is heartbroken over the long separation. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but a broken heart to me seems an emergency.

Regards,

Angelo A. Paparelli

Immigration Writing Tips

Write more like National Geographic than the Harvard Law Review

““My most important piece of advice to all you wouldMy most important piece of advice to all you would--be writers when you write, try to be writers when you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip." leave out all the parts readers skip."

–– Elmore Leonard Elmore Leonard

Immigration Writing Tips

Know Your PurposeThink like Steven Covey –“Begin with the end in mind”Know in advance what you’re trying to accomplish

"I always know the ending; that"I always know the ending; that’’s where I start." s where I start." -- Toni MorrisonToni Morrison

Immigration Writing Tips

Brainstorm before you compose by free associating all of your thoughts and putting them down in paper or digital form

““[Writing] begins as a private excitement of the mind." [Writing] begins as a private excitement of the mind." -- E. L. DoctorowE. L. Doctorow

Immigration Writing TipsGrab the reader’s attention, Briefly say what you want (the “ask”),Jump in with proof of eligibility, Summarize, and Restate the “ask” at the end.

ASK SUMMARIZE ASKEXPLAIN

““Writing is long periods of thinking and short periods of writingWriting is long periods of thinking and short periods of writing..””-- Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway

Immigration Writing Tips

Write in easily digested chunks with captions, bullets and numbered points aplenty

““I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter.I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter.””-- James MichenerJames Michener

Immigration Writing Tips

Structure your paragraphs logically and persuasively:

Use short, simple sentences Begin with a topic sentence Sequencing length and format of later sentences“Stitch” paragraphs with connecting words or phrasesEnd with emphasis

““Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recWrite while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of [her] ording of [her] thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with.thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with.””

-- Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau

Immigration Writing Tips

Persuade with visuals

““One picture is worth ten thousand words.One picture is worth ten thousand words.””-- Chinese proverb Chinese proverb

Immigration Writing TipsEnliven your writing with action verbs Use the active voice rather than stupefying your reader with the passive voice Example: “Flicka jumped over the gates” rather than “the gates were jumped over by Flicka”

““Don't say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her screamDon't say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream..””-- Mark TwainMark Twain

Immigration Writing Tips

Vary your sentence length and structureDelete unnecessary wordsDon’t repeat yourself, unless for emphasis

““I love revision. Where else can spilled milk be turned into ice I love revision. Where else can spilled milk be turned into ice cream?cream?””-- Katherine Patterson Katherine Patterson

Immigration Writing Tips

Don’t use too many adverbs (using words like “clearly” or “obviously” will generally weaken your argument) Use parentheses to enclose subordinate or distinct thoughtsPlace modifiers near the word to be modified

"Confident writers have the courage to speak plainly; "Confident writers have the courage to speak plainly; to let their thoughts shine rather than their vocabulary." to let their thoughts shine rather than their vocabulary."

--Ralph KeyesRalph Keyes

Immigration Writing TipsDo not abbreviate a possessive

NO: “the Department of State’s (“DOS”)”regulationYES: “the regulation of the Department of State (“DOS”)”

Encircle phrases appropriately, e.g., with parentheses or commas (always in pairs)

““There is nothing more useful and splendid than a dictionary There is nothing more useful and splendid than a dictionary as a plaything for children five years and older, [and] for goodas a plaything for children five years and older, [and] for good writers up to their hundredth year.writers up to their hundredth year.””

-- Gabriel Gabriel GarcGarcííaa MMáárquezrquez

Immigration Writing Tips

Don’t Use Instead UseHave Maintains

PossessesRetainsEnjoys Has achieved

Have to Need to

ShouldMust

You don't write because you want to say something, you write becYou don't write because you want to say something, you write because you've ause you've got something to say. got something to say. -- F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald

Immigration Writing Tips

PROOFREADWith your eyes not just with your spellchecker

"Proofread carefully to see if you any words out."Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.””-- Author UnknownAuthor Unknown

Immigration Writing Tips

EDIT, EDIT, EDIT Wait a while – then EDIT AGAIN

"The best writing is rewriting." "The best writing is rewriting." -- E.B. WhiteE.B. White

Immigration Writing Resources

Send an email requesting a list of Angelo’s writing resources to aap@entertheusa.com

““My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.in the best and simplest way.

-- Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway

The Petition

USCIS FORMS SUPPORTING DOCUMENTSCOVER LETTER

I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long onI didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead. e instead. ---- Mark TwainMark Twain

Introduce Your Institution

“Caltech, formally referred to as the California Institute of

Technology, is submitting this petition on behalf of...”

Briefly highlight the distinguished nature of your institution – this will add to the credibility of your petition

““Easy reading is damn hard writing.Easy reading is damn hard writing.””-- Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Petition – Cover Letter

“As described in detail below, Dr. Smith’s track record of

achievements has been recognized and acclaimed by

leading authorities worldwide.”

Introduce your purpose Be modest in presenting the beneficiary’s outstanding qualifications – examiners generally appreciate this approach

““I love being a writer.I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork.What I can't stand is the paperwork.””--Peter De Peter De VriesVries

The Petition – Cover Letter

Include table of supporting letter writers with:

1. Writer’s Name2. Professional Qualifications3. Compelling Quotes from Letter

Use Organized, Small Pieces of Information

““Believe one who has proved it. Believe an expertBelieve one who has proved it. Believe an expert””-- VirgilVirgil

The Petition – Cover Letter

Cover the Adjudicator’s Checklist

8 C.F.R. §204.5(i)(3)(i)(D)

8 C.F.R. §204.5(i)(3)(i)(B)

8 C.F.R. §204.5(i)(3)(i)(A)

“The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think.”

- Edwin Schlossbe

The Petition – USCIS Forms

Never leave an answer blank –use “N/A” or “None”

Toronto Ontario

Canada None

“ ‘[F]alsely make’ means to prepare . . . an application or document . . . in reckless disregard of the fact that [it] . . . fails to state a fact which is material to the purpose for which it was submitted.”

- Immigration and Nationality Act § 274C(f)

The Petition – USCIS Forms

Give a short answer and use “See Attached”

Responsible for researching new scientific developments in Environmental and Natural Resources. Please see attached Petitioner’s letter of support for additional job description.

Project Manager

2 2 2 2 2 2

“Incorporate by reference v. to include language from another document or elsewhere in a document by reference rather than repeat it.”

- Defined in www.thefreedictionary.com

The Petition – USCIS Forms

Never sign a petition unless you are sure the information is correct and all questions are answered

“Look before you leap.”- Aesop

The Petition –Supporting Evidence

Explain each document’s relevanceUse tabs to organize documents referenced in index

“What is written without effort is read without pleasure”- Samuel Johnson

Immigration Messaging

Internal & External Communications Should Offer Positive Messages:

“Reading [and writing] make . . . immigrants of us all [and] take us away from home, but, most important, [they] find . . . homes for us everywhere.”

- Hazel Rochman

Immigration Branding

Do Your Corporate Clients Communicate Clearly the Importance of Supporting Immigration Law Sponsorship to Current & New Employees?How Do You Communicate the Message?How Can You Improve the Message?

“Everywhere immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life.”- John F. Kennedy

Questions?