1 FEDERAL FILING STATUS Check Only One for Each Return2 CHECK IF on Federal Return Form

For the benefit of people who don’t have a lot of time to read, I’m going to list a short version of my proposals in bullet points after this paragraph. However, if you have the time, I strongly suggest reading this answer in its entirety because it explains the proposals in fairly granular detail. The proposals are nuanced because gun control is a complicated issue when looked at objectively.Standardize on a process which flags individuals in the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Database for a delay in the background check process when said individuals try to buy a gun. During the three day delay period, the FBI has the opportunity to investigate and take legal action against the individuals if necessary.Create a secure electronic background check system which is available to the public so individuals selling firearms to residents of the same state can know whether it is safe to proceed with a transaction.Require membership in the Civilian Marksmanship Program for the purchase of semiautomatic centerfire weapons and centerfire magazines with more than ten rounds of capacity.Create a national permitting process for carrying concealed handguns which overrides state laws.The Gun Control Act of 1968 mandated that manufacturers and commercial sellers of firearms had to obtain a Federal Firearms License (FFL). This was done under the guise of regulating interstate commerce, trade which crosses state lines. The federal government is generally not allowed to regulate intrastate commerce, trade which remains entirely within a state. In 1994, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act mandated that FFL holders had to perform a background check on any firearm transferred through the FFL to a individual who does not hold an FFL. In 1998, this process was streamlined into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).With that in mind, we’re going to look at how firearms are legally purchased currently so we can have a perspective on potential improvements to the process.When buying a gun through an FFL, buyers must fill out BAFTE form 4473. I strongly recommend readers view the form. Buyers must submit valid photo identification (usually a driver’s license) to the FFL holder to verify their identity and some of the information on their form 4473. There are three categories of firearm which can be bought through a standard FFL dealer: handguns, long guns (rifles and shotguns), and “other firearms”. Buyers must be 18 years of age to buy long guns and 21 years of age to buy handguns from an FFL. “Other firearms” are a weird category which includes receivers for firearms (which is generally the serialized portion of a firearm) or firearms which do not fit the legal definition of a handgun or long gun but are also not regulated by the National Firearms Act. If the “other firearm” can be made into a pistol, the buyer must be 21 years of age. After a buyer has completed their form 4473, the FFL holder calls NICS and relays the completed information to the FBI.Source: (NICS Process in Motion for the Gun Buyer Video Transcript)The FBI runs the information through the NICS database. If the buyer’s provided information has matches within the NICS database, this will generate a “hit”. At the moment, hits include indictments and convictions for felonies, indictments and convictions for domestic violence, indictments and convictions for other crimes which are punishable by one or more years of imprisonment, known fugitives, dishonorable discharges, adjudications which determined an individual to be mentally defective, restraining orders for children or intimate partners, renouncements of citizenship, unlawful users of controlled substances, illegal aliens, and resident aliens who do not meet very specific criteria.If no hits in the NICS database are generated, the FFL is told to “proceed” and the FFL may complete transferring the firearm at the business’s discretion. If the buyer’s provided information generates a hit, the call will be transferred to an FBI employee who will review the information and determine whether the hit matches the rest of the buyer’s provided information. If the hit is valid and the buyer is a prohibited purchaser, the FFL will be told to “deny” the transfer. If the FBI employee determines the hit is invalid, the FFL will be told to “proceed”. If the FBI employee can not immediately determine the validity of a hit, the FFL will be told to “delay” the transfer and the FBI will do more research to determine the validity of a hit. At this point, the FBI is allotted three business days to tell the FFL to “proceed” or “deny”. If those three business days pass without a final judgement, the FFL may proceed with the transfer at their discretion. The system is set up this way so the FBI can not delay a buyer they can not prove is a prohibited possessor of firearms indefinitely, essentially amounting to a denial without due process of law. Nevertheless, some FFL holders maintain a policy of not proceeding with transfers which have do not receive a definite “proceed”; that is the business’s prerogative.If at any point in this process the FFL holder or its employees believes a buyer is purchasing a firearm on behalf of another person, then the FFL will deny the transfer independent of any judgement made by the FBI. Purchasing a firearm on behalf of another person is illegal.Now what about “internet gun sales”?Websites in the business of selling firearms are legally required to acquire an FFL. Since the website which holds an FFL can not visually verify a buyer’s identity, this means the firearms they sell are legally required to be transferred to an FFL near the buyer. At the FFL which facilitates the transfer, the buyer will be required to complete a form 4473 and go through a background check as described above.On auction sites which deal with firearms, buyers and sellers who do not hold FFLs will submit the information of an FFL near each party and arrange for the firearm to be transferred. The seller’s FFL will ship the firearm to the buyer’s FFL and once again the buyer will complete a form 4473 and go through a background check.The final category would be classified websites which allow firearms to be posted for sale. These are essentially the 21st century equivalent of posting a classified advertisement in a newspaper. In these cases, a buyer contacts the seller who posted the advertisement and the two parties enter negotiations. If the buyer and seller legally reside within the same state and are able to meet face to face to conduct a transfer, the firearm in question may be legally bought under federal law without a background check being conducted provided the seller does not have reason to believe the buyer is a prohibited possessor. If any of those conditions are not met, or if state law prohibits intrastate commerce in this fashion, then FFL holders must once again be involved. These conditions apply to all private person to person sales. One noteworthy quirk, under federal law, persons between the ages of 18 and 21 are not prohibited from purchasing a handgun through a private sale. This is in fact one of the very few ways citizens in this age group can exercise their constitutional right to possess handguns.What about gun shows?If a person buys a firearm from an FFL participating in a gun show (this constitutes the majority of firearm sales at gun shows) then a 4473 is filled out as normal. If a person is buying a firearm from a private party, laws regarding private sales apply. Think of gun shows simply as a way for people who might be interested in buying or selling firearms to all be in the same place at the same time. There’s nothing sneaky or tricky about them, they literally happen in convention centers and on fairgrounds. Local police and BATFE agents are always present at gun shows.Now that we have all that basic information out of the way, we can talk about actual changes to federal law.First let’s take a look at prohibiting suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms. We can all agree we hate terrorists, but they still have due process rights. Fortunately, the FBI is in charge of both the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) and the NICS database. Prospective gun buyers with records that produce a match in the TSDB could generate a hit in the NICS database. The FBI could then investigate the hit and, assuming the hit actually matched the buyer in question, determine whether or not to tell the FFL to delay the transfer. Within the current three day delay window, the FBI could bring the case before a judge. Should the judge find probable cause, the transfer could be legally halted. At this point the buyer should be notified and be interviewed as part of the investigation. If charges are appropriate, the FBI can file charges in a timely manner. Otherwise, the suspect should be allowed to go about their business without further interference. That puts a lot of burden on the FBI, but it isn’t supposed to be easy to legally strip citizens’ rights in the United States. Remember, the burden of proof always lies upon the accuser, not the defendant.One rather common gun control proposal in the United States is that of universal background checks on all firearm sales, including private intrastate sales. On a practical level, compliance and enforcement of a universal background check would be very difficult without some kind of national firearm registry linking specific firearms to their owners. No national firearm registry exists for regular rifles, shotguns, or pistols at the moment and it’s actually illegal to create one because of the Firearm Owners Protection Act passed in 1986. There remains a visceral fear of a firearms registry among many conservatives; the concerned parties believe that all firearm registries are nothing more than a precursor to the total confiscation of all firearms. This belief is objectively refuted because numerous firearm registries in multiple US states and democratic countries as well as a national registry on firearms regulated by the National Firearms Act exist and have not been precursors to a total confiscation of all firearms. However, many conservatives latch onto the words of a select handful of extremist politicians who espouse a desire for confiscation as proof that confiscation is the inevitable result of all registries.With all that being said, what might be feasible as an alternative to a universal background check is creating an online version of form 4473 so the public could voluntarily conduct background checks without going to an FFL. This is actually something most gun owners want because, at the moment, there’s no way of conducting a background check for a private intrastate sale in most states without involving an FFL. Involving an FFL introduces a financial disincentive because FFLs are businesses and usually charge for their services. I’ll propose the best system I’ve thought of so far which allows for minimal fraud and abuse.First, create a secure electronic variant of the 4473. It should include the buyer and seller information along with contact information for both parties. Once the form is completed, a unique confirmation number is sent out to both parties using the provided contact information. Both parties enter their confirmation numbers, then the form is submitted to the FBI and run through the NICS database. A single transaction number is generated for the NICS check and provided to the buyer and seller. The parties then call a phone number for a NICS automated line and enter the transaction number along with their unique confirmation numbers. This transfers the call to a live operator who examines the results of the NICS check performed for the transaction. The operator then tells the seller to “proceed”, “delay”, or “deny” just as they would with an FFL.The idea behind the whole system is that it allows for an effective background check to be done while offering a reasonable measure of privacy for the buyer. Sure, somebody could abuse the system if they wanted to put in enough effort, but they wouldn’t get very much information. It also removes a financial disincentive; it only costs individuals time to do a check like this and the check and be performed virtually anywhere, not just at FFL locations.Now, let’s discuss assault weapons and magazines which hold more than ten rounds. The problem with the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 was that it didn’t do anything except drive up prices on the magazines and weapons described by the ban. There was no measurable impact on crime during the ten years the Assault Weapons Ban was in effect.Here is how assault weapons were defined in 1994:Semi-automatic rifles able to accept detachable magazines and two or more of the following:Folding or telescoping stockPistol gripBayonet mountFlash suppressor, or threaded barrel designed to accommodate oneGrenade launcher mountSemi-automatic pistols with detachable magazines and two or more of the following:Magazine that attaches outside the pistol gripThreaded barrel to attach barrel extender, flash suppressor, handgrip, or suppressorBarrel shroud safety feature that prevents burns to the operatorUnloaded weight of 50 oz (1.4 kg) or moreA semi-automatic version of a fully automatic firearm.Semi-automatic shotguns with two or more of the following:Folding or telescoping stockPistol gripDetachable magazine.All of those things are cosmetic features that can be designed around. In fact, they frequently were and are designed around. Even today in states with more stringent feature based assault weapon bans, like California, there exist so called “featureless” firearms which are perfectly legal and not objectively worse for killing people than assault weapons. Now we could try an assault weapon ban again and again have no impact on crime… or we could recognize that semiautomatic centerfire weapons are undeniably the arms of choice in a militia. Police and military forces all over the world use semiautomatic (or fully automatic) centerfire weapons almost exclusively. As such, it makes more sense to more stringently regulate all semiautomatic centerfire weapons, not just a certain subset with specific cosmetic features. At the same time, we can breathe new life into the militia concept described by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, even make the militia well regulated.In the United States, we currently have an organization called the Civilian Marksmanship Program, a federally chartered corporation whose purpose is:To instruct citizens of the United States in marksmanship;To promote practice and safety in the use of firearms;To conduct competitions in the use of firearms and to award trophies, prizes, badges, and other insignia to competitors.Among numerous other things, the CMP sells M1 Garand rifles. The Garand is a .30–06 semiautomatic battle rifle roughly twice as powerful as common AR-15 or Kalashnikov rifles. The Garand was the primary infantry rifle of the US military during the Second World War and the Korean War. The CMP literally sells them so people can practice target shooting with a weapon of war.Image by Curiosandrelics - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, File:M1-Garand-Rifle.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsLet’s take a look at eligibility requirements for the CMP:REQUIREMENTS FOR PURCHASEBy law, the CMP can sell surplus military firearms, ammunition, parts and other items only to members of CMP affiliated clubs who are also U.S. citizens, over 18 years of age and who are legally eligible to purchase a firearm.PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP:You must provide a copy of a U.S. birth certificate, passport, proof of naturalization, or any official government document (When using a military ID to prove citizenship, must be an E5 or above) that shows birth in the U.S. or states citizenship as U.S.PROOF OF AGE:You must provide proof of age. Usually proof of citizenship also provides proof of age. In those cases where it may not, a driver’s license is sufficient.MEMBERSHIP IN CMP AFFILIATED ORGANIZATION:You must provide a copy of your current membership card or other proof of membership. This requirement cannot be waived. The CMP currently has over 2,000 affiliated organizations located in many parts of the country. CMP Club Member Certification Form- If your CMP affiliated club does not issue individual membership cards, please have the club fill out the CMP Club Member Certification Form and return it with your order.Membership in many of these organizations costs $25.00 or less and can be accomplished online. A listing of affiliated organizations can be found by clicking on our Club Search web page at http://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/inde.... If you have any difficulty in locating a club, please contact the CMP at 256-835-8455 or by emailing CMP Customer Service. We will find one for you. In addition to shooting clubs, the CMP also has several special affiliates. Membership in these organizations satisfies our requirement for purchase. These special affiliates include: Congressionally chartered veterans' organizations such as the VFW, AL, DAV, MCL, etc. U.S. Military services (active or reserves), National Guard, to include retirees. Professional 501(c)3 law enforcement organizations and associations such as the FOP, NAPO, NSA, etc. The Garand Collector's Association is a CMP Affiliated Club. You can download a Garand Collector's Association Application Form.Note: Club membership IS required for purchase of rifles, parts, and ammunition.Club membership is NOT required for instructional publications or videos or CMP memorabilia.MARKSMANSHIP OR OTHER FIREARMS RELATED ACTIVITY:You must provide proof of participation in a marksmanship related activity or otherwise show familiarity with the safe handling of firearms and range procedures. Your marksmanship related activity does not have to be with highpower rifles; it can be with smallbore rifles, pistols, air guns or shotguns. Proof of marksmanship participation can be provided by documenting any of the following:Current or past military service.Current or past law enforcement serviceParticipation in a rifle, pistol, air gun or shotgun competition (provide copy of results bulletin).Completion of a marksmanship clinic that included live fire training (provide a copy of the certificate of completion or a statement from the instructor).Distinguished, Instructor, or Coach status.Concealed Carry License.Firearms Owner Identification Cards that included live fire training. - FFL or C&R license.Completion of a Hunter Safety Course that included live fire training.Certification from range or club official or law enforcement officer witnessing shooting activity. Complete the CMP Marksmanship Form to signNow your range firing and the required marksmanship related activity for an individual to purchase from the CMP.No proof of marksmanship required if over age 60. Proof of club membership and citizenship required for all ages. NOTE: Proof of marksmanship activity is not required for purchase of ammunition, parts, publications or memorabilia.BE LEGALLY ELIGIBLE TO PURCHASE A FIREARM:The information you supply on your application will be submitted by the CMP to the FBI National Instant Criminal Check System (NICS) to verify you are not prohibited by Federal, State or Local law from acquiring or possessing a rifle. Your signature on the Purchaser Certification portion of the purchase application authorizes the CMP to initiate the NICS check and authorizes the FBI to inform CMP of the result. IMPORTANT: If your State or locality requires you to first obtain a license, permit, or Firearms Owner ID card in order to possess or receive a rifle, you must enclose a photocopy of your license, permit, or card with the application for purchase.As you can see, the CMP eligibility process is quite a bit more involved than the background check system we have now. It seems to have worked for keeping the powerful semiautomatic Garand rifles out of the hands of mass murderers. The last mass shooting on US soil that I know of which involved an M1 Garand was the Kent State massacre and that involved the Ohio National Guard shooting anti-war protesters, not civilians who were sold rifles through the CMP. I haven’t been able to find any records of crimes committed with guns sold through the CMP. I’m sure it has happened at one point in time or another, but the occurrence is so rare that there hasn’t been any documentation. My point is that the CMP has a really great track record in the United States for making sure guns don’t go to bad guys.Since the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 didn’t have any measurable impacts on crime and the CMP has great results, I propose we extend the CMP eligibility requirements to all semiautomatic centerfire firearms and centerfire magazines with more than ten rounds of capacity. This means only people who meet the listed criteria will be able to buy the types of weapons most useful in a militia which are also the weapons we primarily see used in mass shootings from an FFL. The proposal also effectively introduces a mandatory training and basic competency requirement before individuals can purchase semiautomatic centerfire weapons from a gun store. The inclusion of CMP eligibility for the purchase of centerfire magazine over ten rounds creates a strong incentive for existing gun owners and individuals who purchase firearms through private intrastate sales to get training and join the CMP if they want easy access to centerfire magazines over ten rounds.The word centerfire is really important because there is another class of firearms which use rimfire cartridges.A collection of rimfire and centerfire cartridges, left to right: .22lr (rimfire), .22WMR (rimfire), .357 magnum (centerfire), .30–06 Springfield (centerfire), 12 gauge shotshell (centerfire)Rimfire cartridges aren’t very powerful; they’re mostly used for small game hunting and target shooting. Most countries allow ownership of semiautomatic rimfire rifles with only basic licensing; countries like Canada and the UK don’t even have restrictions on magazine capacity for rimfire rifles. Could they be used by a mass shooter? Sure, anything could, but semiautomatic rimfire firearms just aren’t a threat compared to semiautomatic centerfire firearms or even non-semiautomatic centerfire firearms. Wounds caused by bullets fired from rimfire cartridges are almost always less severe than wounds caused by bullets fired from centerfire cartridges. Very precise shot placement is required for rimfire weapons to instantly kill a person and mass shooters are unlikely to take the time to precisely place their shots.Seen above are four rimfire rifles made by Marlin.Regulating firearms in this way allows new gun owners to hunt, shoot targets, and defend themselves using semiautomatic rimfire or manually operated firearms. If new gun owners want easy access to semiautomatic centerfire firearms which are useful in a militia context, they can join the CMP, effectively becoming a member of a well regulated militia, after demonstrating themselves to be competent and well trained.I have some final thoughts on the CMP related proposal before moving on to the next topic. CMP eligibility introduces additional layers of human interaction between people and semiautomatic centerfire weapons and centerfire magazines over ten rounds. Barring major advances in mental healthcare and adjudication in the United States, layers of human interaction are the best way for red flags to be raised about somebody who might want to kill large numbers of people with a firearm. Additional layers of human interaction also introduce a larger hurdle for straw purchasers, people who buy firearms for people who can’t pass background checks because they’re ineligible to own firearms. Additional layers of human interaction make law enforcement investigations slightly easier as well.At the moment, laws, standards, and permits for carrying concealed handguns vary wildly. Some states have no requirements while other states functionally don’t allow anybody except police officers to carry handguns in any way. While the percentage of the US population which actually carries handguns regularly, concealed or openly, is relatively small, those who do carry handguns regularly can often face great legal peril for no particularly good reason when crossing state lines. At the same time, it would be good for the public to know that people carrying concealed handguns are actually competent and not a hazard to the public. In essence, a balance would be preferable to the extremes which currently exist.I propose creating an national permit for carrying concealed handguns in any state. Police officers already enjoy something similar to this. The permitting process should include a standardized class which can be taught by police officers or other qualified instructors. Before attending the class, applicants should undergo a background check. Among other things, the class should cover the legal use of deadly force, safe firearms handling practices, and conflict deescalation practices. Then applicants should be given a written test on the subjects. If the applicants pass, they should then undergo a practical handgun handling and shooting competency test. If applicants are able to both handle handguns safely and shoot accurately, they will then be issued a carry permit which is valid for a certain number of years; three to five years seems reasonable. If applicants fail either test then they go home without a permit and can retake the whole class the next time it is offered if they still wish to carry a concealed handgun.

Michael Cohen’s Days in PrisonIntakeMichael Cohen will self report and surrender to Federal prison on May 6, 2019. Most probably no later than 2 PM. If he misses the deadline, he will be considered a fleeing felon. US Marshals will come after him with a warrant.Most likely, he will step in through the front door of the Federal Correctional Institute in Otisville, New York. FCI Otisville was requested by Cohen’s attorneys and recommended by the Judge in Cohen’s sentencing memorandum.Otisville is a Medium Security Prison with a detention center, and an adjacent Minimum Security Satellite Prison Camp, which is home to about 117 men. The Camp is where Cohen will serve his time.Traditionally, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) was not bound by Judges’ requests. But typically they would honor a Judge’s recommendation. The First Step Act, signed into law in December of 2018, now actually requires the BOP to assign a convicted felon to a facility within 500 driving miles of home.It is possible that due to his close association with the current President of the United States, and for his safety, the Bureau of Prisons may decide to assign Cohen to another facility rather than Otisville. We shall see.If Cohen ends up at Otisville, from my personal experience, there will probably be many lawyers serving time there. As well as doctors, politicians and business executives. Michael Cohen should have plenty of company and feel right at home. He’s going to be with a lot of people just like him.FCI Otisville meets the needs of a Jewish inmate population, offering Seders in the cafeteria among other accommodations. In general, Low Security Prison Camps are not as restrictive as higher security prisons. But contrary to popular belief, they are by no means “Club Fed”. In the final analysis, it’s a Federal prison.Doors are locked and Cohen doesn’t have the key.Cohen will probably enter through the same door visitors and guests use to enter the prison. He will have to surrender any jewelry and other personal effects, except for a wedding ring, and religious artifacts such as a mezuzot, and for Christians, a chain with a cross. Other religious artifacts, such as kufis, headbands, yarmulkes and other materials will be available for purchase in the prison commissary.But what he can bring in, including money, will be entirely up to the particular prison and intake corrections officer (CO). That will be Cohen’s first encounter with BOP authority and rule. Nothing after this first encounter has to or will make any logical or humanistic sense. It just has to make BOP sense. Or even more restrictively, CO sense.Now, according to the FCI Otisville Inmate Handbook, Cohen is:INTRODUCTION — You are now in the custody and care of Federal Bureau of Prisons staff of the Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville, New York.Once he is escorted from the non-secure waiting room, through the heavy, imposing security door that can only be unlocked by COs behind bullet proof dark glass, his life changes. He moves from the free world, to a world where he has lost the vast majority of his freedoms.Many of the niceties of life, the little things he once enjoyed will be gone for the length of his stay. He may have researched all of this himself, or have been counseled by his white-collar crime specialist attorneys. Or he may have even purchased or been given a copy of The Federal Prison Handbook.Any and all of those sources will give you some idea of what is in store for you. But the fact is, you don’t know what you don’t know, and won’t, until you actually know.The proof is in the serving and living of a jail sentence…The rest of Cohen’s intake will go down like this:Fingerprinting, Photograph/Mug Shot, DNA SwabDisrobing — his clothing and shoes will be returned to a person and address of his choice — in my case my wife received the package with my clothing and shoes. She left the package unopened for 33 and 1/2 months. She could not bear to even look at it.Body search and cavity check. They don’t touch you, but you have to “drop trou’” and spread. A humiliating episode. The first of many.Assignment of ill fitting temporary clothing and shoes, plus bedding, towel and toiletries. He may not actually get any toiletries. They seem to “miraculously” disappear from intake.Otisville winters are cold. So the clothing may be warmer than a thin white t-shirt, skimpy pants and thin-soled sneakers like those issued during my intake. This temporary clothing will be all Cohen gets until the next time the Camp laundry opens, and until he is able to establish a prison account and purchase commissary items.Cohen will receive a cursory orientation and will be referred to or may even be provided a copy of the FCI Otisville Camp Admissions & Orientation Handbook. Click on that link for some interesting reading.After his intake process is completed you will be able to look up Michael Dean Cohen in the BOP Inmate Locator and find his inmate (Register) number, Prison location, age, race, and sex, and that all-important estimated release date. The actual date will be based on a number of factors that will play out during his sentence.You can look him up now, but this is what you will see:Michael Cohen’s BOP Record Locator Search ResultsHow do I know that is his actual record? The last 3 digits of his Register Number are for the Southern District of New York. And the number 86067 is an indication that he is a relatively new assignee. 86,066 have gone before him.Plus he is not in BOP custody yet, and his release date is unknown. Until he self surrenders and is processed, he won’t be in BOP Custody and his release date will remain “unknown”.With respect to his release date, the First Step Act provides for credits an inmate can earn while serving time. These credits can be used for early release to a Half Way House or to Home Confinement. It remains to be seen how this will impact Cohen’s sentence.After processing, Cohen will take his bedding and other things he was given, and will be walked over to the minimum security Camp by the CO where he will be assigned a bunk and left on his own. Now it will be up to him and his new “bunk mates” as to what happens next.Typical Living and Sleeping Accommodations in a Federal Minimum Security Prison CampFirst Afternoon and CountCohen will likely be assigned a bunk before the 4 PM daily count. He will have to learn how to make that bunk bed properly. It varies prison by prison. In the camp where I served the majority of my time the Warden insisted on “hospital corners”. Why? Recall what I said about BOP rules and logic. Just because.Here is more about daily counts from the Otisville Camp Prison Handbook:“Ordinarily, there are five counts during the week, and six counts on weekends and holidays. During the week, counts are held at 12 midnight, 3 AM, and 5 AM, 4 PM, 10 PM. On weekends and holidays, a 10 AM count is added. Notwithstanding this schedule, additional counts may occur at any time.”This is how the BOP determines that every one of the inmates they are responsible for is present and accounted. They count noses as their “fail safe” method ensuring no one has escaped. It is a manual count. No clickers, iPads, handhelds or anything even closely resembling the 20th or 21st century. No writing anything down until the entire count is complete.Yep. The CO goes down the rows of bunks counting, with index finger extended, out loud or under their breath: One, two, three. Sometimes they hold a pencil to point and count with. This is why you can’t talk during the count, lest you confuse the counting CO. It is easy to confuse COs. They are easily distracted and confused.During my stay with the BOP there were many counts that had to be redone in mid-count. Because the CO got confused or lost track. Maybe he or she (yes there are female COs in Male prisons) was thinking about all those inmate toiletries they had squirreled away in their locker and they lost concentration.I saw some recounts as well, after the total count, when the actual numbers didn’t match what was expected. As a result, the whole count had to begin from scratch. Pissed COs, and the inmates are pissed as well.So to provide the right “environment” for the COs you must stand for most of the counts, and remain totally silent. The midnight and 3 AM counts are the exception, since they are taken while you sleep. But your head must be uncovered and visible.What happens if you talk during a count? Besides confusing the CO? It will probably get you a strong warning and may even earn you a “shot”. This a black mark on your record. Shots are tracked by the BOP Prison Counselor.Too many “shots” and you end up in the Special Housing Unit (SHU) which is a much more restrictive area. It is indeed a special place.Too many of those SHU visits and you may end up being transferred to a higher security even more restrictive facility.Understatement: This would be a really bad thing!More on the special’ness of the Special Housing Unit later.Once the 4 PM count is over, Cohen will be able to have his first prison meal at the Camp Cafeteria. It will behoove him to have made some cursory acquaintances by then. Because there are inmate rules and norms, especially kitchen, cafeteria and food related. For instance, where you sit, and who you sit with.These are best learned from other inmates and by first hand careful observation. Not from having inadvertently and unknowingly violated them.Meals and FoodMeals at Otisville are served at the following times:Monday — FridayBreakfast 6:00 am Lunch 11:00 am Dinner 4:15 pmSaturday, Sunday, and HolidaysBreakfast 7:00 am Lunch 11:00 am Dinner 4:15 pmSupposedly the food at the Otisville Camp is “good”.I’ve eaten at 7 different prisons. Federal and State. I’m not a hardened criminal or anything like that. I just got to travel a lot BOP style. Did a lot of undesired travel on “Con Air” with US Marshal escorts toting shotguns and automatic weapons.The US Marshals are no laughing matter…As a result of my travels, I got a chance to sample the fare at many prison facilities. And I also got to eat quite a few bologna sandwiches.I’m not sure what other people’s definition of “good” is. I wouldn’t exactly label any of the Prison food I ate as “good”. Passable is as far as I would go. In some cases, the food is downright inedible.A rare exception was the food at the Strafford County Department of Corrections in Dover, New Hampshire, a privately run prison where I served 4 months. The food was surprisingly good. And plentiful.And the issue with prison food is not just the ingredients. It’s also the way the food is prepared. A few examples of both types of issues…Undersized chicken sold cheaply to the BOP because no other food distribution outlets will accept itBoiled canned collard greens, unseasoned and bitter. Served regularly. To this day I can’t even look at collard greens without gaggingMystery meat. No further comment neededWatery, unsalted canned green beansWatery coffee, often with grounds. In the camp I was in, coffee was made in a big stove top boiler and then siphoned off into plastic dispensersOn the plus side of food, prison breakfast is usually good. Cereal, oatmeal, and eggs on the weekend. Sometimes pancakes.Fruit is always a popular item. Bananas are highly prized, although not always offered on a daily basis. Apples are a regular offering. Oranges are frequent. At one prison where I served time, we had a 4 week run of Peaches that were huge, juicy and outstanding, I thought I was in heaven.And milk. Milk is always available. A good source of protein. I would drink 3 or 4 glasses a day for the protein. Especially important when I began to work out regularly and lose weight.Those inmates that can afford it, supplement cafeteria food with purchases from the commissary. They become Masters of the Microwave and can prepare tasty, if not downright elegant meals. Rice. Beans. Chicken. Salmon. Tuna. Mackerel. Beef.There is a Prison combo microwave meal called “Batch”, which is made up of rice, beans, a protein, such as chicken, beef or fish, and whatever spices can be purchased from the commissary or “borrowed” from the kitchen. It’s tasty.Some inmates make and sell “burritos” from the Batch. Price? One pouch of Tuna or Mackerel. Tuna and Mackerel pouches are prison currency. As are stamps.A haircut is usually one pouch of Tuna or Mackerel. Want your bed made up nice? With those hospital corners? A pouch.By the way, the burritos are awesome!Inmates without the culinary inclination and with the means, may “hire” another inmate to cook for them. Often times these meals made from commissary items are supplemented with contraband items either smuggled in to the prison or stolen from the cafeteria. Onions. Peppers. Chicken. Tomatoes. And the ever popular bananas.Though I was never inclined to hire a prison “Chef”, and could not afford one even if I had been, I’ve tasted meals cooked up by these entrepreneurs. Unbelievably good. Actually, incredible. I had a piece of prisoner made Flan once that rivaled any I’ve had in good Miami restaurants.Once during my time at FCI Miami, an inmate who was a former Chef at a well known Miami restaurant made me a meal to thank me for help I provided him. It was INSANELY good. I couldn’t believe what he had accomplished with just the Microwave. Even the presentation was great.Just to make clear though, I much prefer to dine on excellent food as a free man, at an actual restaurant, and with loved ones…First NightAfter Cohen eats his first BOP provided meal there will be a few hours for recreation, personal hygiene, hobbies, phone calls to family, letters, reading or sending emails, reading scripture, attending classes, listening to music, or engaging in personal reflection before the 10 PM count and lights out.However most likely, he will be too disoriented, unfocused and confused. Plus, his available resources will be severely limited to engage in any meaningful activity.As an example, since a portable radio is required to listen to Camp TVs, he will not have access to one unless someone lends it to him. Possible, but unlikely.He won’t be able to call anyone, including family members for at least several days. No telephone account and codes will have been established for him yet. And he won’t have any money in his account with which to pay for calls. Even if he brought cash with him, it was taken, to be deposited into an account under his name.Feeling altruistic? You can send money to Cohen’s account. He can buy Tuna and Mackerel pouches and get a haircut or have his clothes pressed for visits.Perhaps due to his “celebrity” status, many Camp inmates will seek Cohen out. Just to talk. Size him up. Or exploit and intimidate him. He’s going to be a hero to some, a goat to others, and an anti-Christ to the Trump supporters.He’ll have to eventually reconcile with all of this. Most assuredly, he will. It’s inevitable. Soon the celebrity status fades, and then Cohen will be old news.Tonight though, he is merely trying to make sense of it all. And to survive his first day and night. He is “trying on” this new persona. And slowly learning how to act, talk, adapt, behave. He is slowly processing and defining who THIS version of Michael Cohen is right now, and who he will become in the months to come.When the 10 PM count is over, the lights go out, he lays on that ridiculously thin mattress, and his head hits that BOP-issued poor excuse for a pillow, he will most likely have trouble falling asleep. He will stare at either the ceiling above if assigned the top bunk, or the bunk bottom directly above him.Reality has set in. And In prison, reality is a true and relentless bitch…First Wake UpHas Michael Cohen been an early riser throughout his life? Well, he is now.The day at Otisville Camp begins with a 5 AM count. Rise and shine. Stand at your bunk. Mouth shut. Until the count is over.Establishing a sustainable morning routine is essential. Typically you would want to have one for weekdays, and one for weekends. In my case, on weekdays, I was up, hygiene tasks done, dressed, out the door, and in line at the cafeteria. Not the first in line, but definitely not in the last 3/4 of the line.The weekend would necessitate a slightly different schedule, for reasons I will elaborate below.Breakfast at Otisville Camp starts at 6 AM. If there are bananas or other highly coveted items, you’d best be in line and in the cafeteria before they run out.Stand in line. File in once the doors are open. Walk your tray through the line. Get your breakfast. Sit with your usual crowd. Finish up and get out. Time for a few minutes to get the day together in your head and it’s time for “work”.Cohen’s WorkThe prison work day starts at 7:30 AM. Cohen most likely won’t have a job on his first day at the Otisville Camp. Jobs are assigned by Counselors. A Counselor is a glorified CO. I met very few Counselors that I would actually consider the counseling type. For the most part, in my experience, Counselors were arrogant, rude, ignorant, and mean spirited. But they wield immense power. Don’t piss off a counselor.So Cohen will most probably be given some busy work, such as policing the grounds, until the counselor is able to assign him to a work detail. Typical first work detail assignments for a newbie would be in the camp cafeteria.Entry level cafeteria tasks would include preparing the room for meals, washing trays and dishes, and cleaning up after meals are served. No cooking or meal prep at first. That is left to more experienced kitchen-assigned prisoners. Besides, Cohen doesn’t seem the type to want to cook.Cafeteria duty is not all bad, if the right CO is in charge. You tend to eat more and better than your fellow inmates. Although the early shift typically begins at 4 AM, to get the prep done. And that takes some getting used to.In my case, the FCI Miami Cafeteria CO was sadistic and cruel. And he treated the inmates in accordance with his mean streak. I could not wait to fulfill my cafeteria duty, and then move on to other prison jobs. Maybe Cohen will be lucky and get to skip that whole ordeal.First WeekCohen’s first week will be more of the same as his first day. Except that he will probably get issued his regular prison clothes (a nice Khaki color in Otisville), undergarments, shoes, and standard bed roll consisting of two sheets, 1 pillowcase, 2 towels, and 2 wash cloths.The undergarments leave a lot to be desired. Tin Miami, they were threadbare and stained. With worn out elastic. And plenty of holes. Maybe Otisville will be more fashion-conscious.Cohen will be well advised to purchase a few T-Shirts, underwear, socks and a towel at the Commissary. I could not afford to buy any of these until family and friends were able to put together funds and deposit them in my account.As such, I used the prison issued underwear and towels for about 6 months. This experience molds and shapes you. Especially if you have become accustomed to expensive clothing, custom shirts and suits, silk ties, bespoke shoes and the like.Cohen’s focus for this first week should be to settle in, get his financial account established and funds deposited so he can purchase essentials at the Prison commissary, make phone calls and send emails.He will have to establish phone privileges as well. This means he will have to list and register the numbers he wants to call with the Camp Counselor.Cohen will be allowed 300 calling minutes per month which can be used for either direct or collect calls. Any minutes remaining at the end of the month will not carry over to the next month. Extra minutes are given during months with major holidays.There is a 15 minute maximum per call and you must wait 30 minutes between calls. There is usually a line to use the telephones. After a call, it could be several hours before you can use the phones again. The cutoff is 10 PM every night. So typically, you are going to get one chance at a call per day.All calls are recorded and monitored by Prison administration so Cohen must be careful what he and the people he calls, say to each other. You don’t talk to your lawyer on a regular prison phone. Those calls are made with permission and in the counselor’s office.Cohen must track his phone time carefully. Once he exceeds the monthly 300 minute limit, he can make no more calls until the following month.Do the math…300 minutes per month in a 30 day month is 10 minutes of calling per day. It’s not hard to use up your time quickly, especially at first when separation anxiety sets in and you want to speak to many family members.By the way, each call Cohen makes is announced to the recipient as a call originating from an inmate at a Federal Correctional Facility. The called party must acknowledge and accept that call.If the recipient rejects the call, either by accident or on purpose, the called telephone number is taken off the allowed call list. Getting it re-established in the system will require a trip to the counselor’s office.First MonthBy now, Cohen will be receiving visits from people on his approved visitors list. He will need to place people on his list and request they be approved by the Camp Counselor. There is a limit. As I recall, no more than 12 visitors. The BOP will perform a background check and will vet the requested visitors before approving. This is a hassle for potential visitors.The whole VISITING experience is a big hassle.You’ve got to really want to visit someone who is serving time in a Federal prison to put up with the hoops you must jump through…Cohen will be allocated 12 visit points per month. A weekday visit is one point. weekend or holiday visits are 2 points. He must alternate weekend days, and can have no more than 4 weekend visits at 2 points each for a total of 8 points. That leaves 4 points for weekday visits. Cohen must keep track of this as well.You can’t just show up to visit someone in Federal prison as the mood strikes you…The BOP has no flexibility when it comes to these rules.That first visit will be a big milestone of Cohen’s prison stay to date.These are the FCI Otisville visiting hours. But as mentioned earlier, not both Saturday and Sunday. Prisoners are assigned a day that alternates. One week, it’s Saturday, the next week its Sunday, and so on.Monday 8:00 am — 2:45 pmFriday 8:00 am — 2:45 pmSaturday 8:00 am — 2:45 pmSunday 8:00 am — 2:45 pmHolidays 8:00 am — 2:45 pmIf Cohen is going to be like most inmates I served with, he will make sure to look his best for visits. Well groomed, Hair cut and combed. Clothes clean and pressed. With a small application of prison-approved fragrance oil (no alcohol, naturally).The goal is to put your loved ones at ease when they realize you are taking care of yourself and you exhibit a positive frame of mind.MailNo surprise, there are many rules. As you might well imagine.The most important rule to know — All mail, incoming and outgoing, is opened and read by a CO.This is how they control contraband, illicit photographs, questionable materials, and how they “snoop” on you.Mail is distributed at a daily/nightly mail call.If you are not there, you don’t get your mail until the next mail call. Some COs will relax these rules, and give you mail outside of mail call. Or even let someone collect it for you. I wouldn’t count on that, until you see it consistently practiced.What you can receive is tightly controlled.No surprise, there is an 8 page Bureau of Prisons policy on incoming publications. You can find it HERE . In most cases, certain types of publications, such as books and newspapers, and some magazines, can only be received if they are sent directly from a publisher or distributor.From the policy:At all Bureau institutions, an inmate may receive hardcover publications and newspapers only from the publisher, from a book club, or from a bookstore.The BOP states:Publications determined detrimental to the security, good order, or discipline of the institution or that may facilitate criminal activity, or are otherwise prohibited by law, will be excluded from Bureau facilitiesAnd their policy goes on to state:The Warden may not establish an excluded list of publications. This means the Warden shall review the individual publication prior to the rejection of that publication. Rejection of several issues of a subscription publication is not sufficient reason to reject the subscription publication in its entirety.Mail is important in prison, It is a vital way of keeping in touch with loved ones. And an important part of staying connected to what is going on in the outside world, through newspapers, periodicals, and books. And a major factor in staying busy, productive, educated and fulfilled.Suffice to say, Cohen won’t be able to assume he will be able to “legally” receive and read whatever he wants. There will be limits. Just one more in a long list of freedoms lost.Cohen’s “Permanent“ Prison JobMost certainly by this time, Michael Cohen will have landed his full time prison gig. He will be paid anywhere between 0 (yes, zero. Some jobs pay NOTHING) to 40 cents per hour, based on the job and where he is assigned.Although there are a few prisons that have Industry jobs that pay higher.Did you know there is a BOP policy for Inmate Work and Performance Pay? Of course there is.Cohen will most probably change jobs multiple times while serving his sentence. It is pretty common, especially since the first job or two is usually in one of the less desirable work environments.Suffice to say, he won’t be “making ends meet” in the style to which he is accustomed on Federal Inmate prison pay.Medical CarePerhaps I should title this section Lack of Medical Care. Although I found that most of the health care employees that work in the BOP have good hearts and want to do the right thing. The issue is, their hands are tied by policy and a lack of freedom, scarcity of medication, and very few actual treatments they can prescribe and dispense.The psychologists and drug program counselors that I met and worked with, were extremely dedicated and competent. So if Cohen has to address any of these types of issues, and the prison he is eventually sent to is staffed with these people, he will be in competent hands.However some of the doctors I encountered in the BOP are just plain hacks.Cohen should be careful what kinds of diagnoses he receives and remedies he is prescribed by BOP doctors.Run of the mill issues like hypertension and diabetes are dealt with in a pretty straightforward manner. Although I did see some diabetics experiencing wild swings in their blood sugar levels and being rushed out of their cells suffering from hypo or hyperglycemia.And the BOP does a decent job of ensuring that those inmates that suffer from dependency to substances get their daily doses of or whatever other medication they require. These are strictly controlled during “sick call”.If any other serious health issues are experienced by an inmate, they will usually be sent to a local hospital, clinic or specialist. This the rare exception, and is not easy to get accomplished. It usually takes persistence and consistent “noise” on the part of the inmate until the BOP doctor agrees.Some inmates who suffer from chronic conditions that are not treatable in a regular BOP prison medical facility may be transferred to a BOP special medical prison, such as Butner in North Carolina.Butner “is the Bureau’s largest medical complex, which operates a drug treatment program and specializes in oncology and behavioral science.[1]Among its inmates is Bernie Madoff. — from WikipediaButner, NC Federal Medical ComplexAt least at these types of facilities, an inmate can expect a higher level of medical care than they can get at a regular prison.Suffice to say, Cohen should do any and everything in his power to stay healthy and not require medical treatment beyond the more regular types of ailments. He should also look to the commissary for over the counter medications that are allowed for purchase and use to address any specific minor ailments.First YearThe first year tends to crawl by slowly. In Cohen’s case, with less than 3 years to serve, it will seem to move more quickly. Although each missed set of holidays while in prison tend to cause one to experience the slow ticking of the clock.As such, it will behoove Cohen to not “count the days”. Counting days is “counter productive” in prison. Not at all recommended. Your experienced and senior fellow Cons will tell you that immediately if they see you counting.You serve your sentence one day at a time. But you don’t count those days…If Cohen stays busy, occupying his waking hours with interesting and worthwhile activities, time will move briskly for him.Unless…he messes up…The SHUIf Cohen commits any violations, or earns enough “shots” even for minor infractions, he could serve time in the Special Housing Unit. This is a place akin to Solitary Confinement, although you will typically share a confined cell, complete with it’s own toilet and sink, with a fellow inmate.Just think for a brief moment about the logistics of a small, confined cell with a shared toilet which is out in the open and connected to the wash basin.2 Inmate SHU — It is Indeed SPECIAL!Private SHU Accommodations!A stay at the SHU also comes with a resplendent and complementary orange jumpsuit to differentiate Cohen from the regular population.No TV in the SHU. And a very limited supply of well worn paperbacks wheeled by once a week. You must select no more than two books through the pass through in the door.No magazines or newspapers are allowed.And you get a choice once a week between a shower, or recreational time. One or the other.But not both.Recreation time is an hour confined to chain link holding cells with no roof, within a concrete structure. You get to see a piece of sky while pacing back and forth.And the shower? Supervised the whole time by a CO. No privacy.The food is similar but not the same as the regular prison food. Plus it is cold by the time it gets to those in The SHU.I spent 2 weeks in the SHU. Needless to say, not at all an enjoyable experience.If Cohen stays within the rules, he will never experience the friendly confines of the Otisville SHU.He will fall into the rhythm of regular Federal prison life and just do his time.Perhaps he will begin working on that book we all know he is going to write!Fast Forward to the Last YearThat last year is a longish seeming stretch of time. Again, not focusing on time itself is a wise ting to do. If Cohen listens to his more successful fellow felons, in this last year of his sentence, he will intensify efforts towards activities, perhaps even involving himself in a few new ones.A new hobbyLearning a new skill (musical instrument, for example)Taking some additional coursesPicking up some additional books to readStepping up his exercise and physical activitiesPreparing a Life Plan — what to do with the rest of his lifeAs before, the trick is, to fill those days to the brim with stuff to do.Idle hands are the devil’s workshop…Last MonthIf Cohen has kept his nose clean all this time, he is in the home stretch. His good time calculation has reduced his sentence by a certain percentage, and he is not having to serve the entire 3 years. Soon, Prison staff will call him in to the office and provide him with a calculated release date for the halfway house. At this time, they will also tell him what facility he will be assigned to.Now he should be focusing on the following release-related activities:Preparing a plan for the immediate next 6 monthsLining up potential employmentFilling out required formsArranging for personal property to be mailed back — on his dimeDeciding what personal property to leave behind and give away to his inmate buddies — food, clothing, toiletries, headphones, radio, etc.Last DaysIt will be hard to focus as the magical date nears. Again, executing the items on his release To Do list should be his entire focus.Cohen needs to concentrate and keep his eyes focused squarely on the prize —Which is his RELEASE!Last NightI couldn’t sleep the night before my release. Understandable, right?This is probably the night Cohen gives away all his stuff.He will also say all of his goodbyes, and pledge to keep in touch.Except for a few rare exceptions, he most probably won’t.I have kept in touch with a handful of people I met during my time. We were there for each other, and I saw and continue to see them as reformed, contrite and positive people who have turned their lives around. It will be up to Cohen to make the decision as to who is worth keeping in touch with, and who is worth forgetting about forever.Day of ReleaseThe day of release is a whirlwind of activity. Cohen will probably be ready to go even before lights-on in anticipation of his departure from Otisville.He will bathe, and dress in the clothing he will wear to the half way house. Strip his bed and take it to the on duty CO. Empty his locker if he hasn’t already done so, and wait for his name to be called over the PA system, or for a CO to come get him.I distinctively remember how that went for me:“Fiallo. Report to the Main Building for Release.”Sweet music to my ears…Slaps on the back. Shaking of hands, and a short walk to the same place where the original intake was done. As I walked those steps, I never looked back. Cohen will probably do the same.Once in the main facility, the CO performs the following ritual:Form to be signedInstructions for reporting to the halfway house, including how much time you have been given to get thereInventory of anything you are taking with youEscorting to the main entrance by the CO, where it is verified that you are who you are supposed to beThen that massive iron door is opened, and you step outAnd Cohen is finally out…Again, I never looked back, and most probably, neither will Cohen.Whoever is picking him up will meet him in the parking lot where a happy reunion outside the confines of the BOP, will take place. And he is off to the half way house.In my case, I had enough time to first stop home and greet family before the eventual trip to the halfway house.Releases vary from prison to prison. A lot will depend on Cohen’s actual and specific circumstances. But how I described is probably how it will go down.Half Way HouseHalf-Assed House, or Prison Lite, is what I’ve heard these facilities called by the residents.I’m honestly trying to be very objective here.Half Way Houses are designed to facilitate re-entry from the stark reality of prison to the “real” reality of street life.They go by other fancy names as well. Such as Residential Re-entry Facility.An Actual Residential Re-Entry FacilityFrom Wikipedia:In criminology the purpose of a halfway house is generally considered to be that of allowing people to begin the process of reintegration with society, while still providing monitoring and support. This type of living arrangement is often believed to reduce the risk of recidivism or relapse when compared to a straight release directly into society.From the artificial reality of prison life to the real reality of normal life…In reality, the Half Way House is not that much different than prison. In fact, you can argue that it is worse, because in many cases, the people having dominion over you are for the most part, minimum wage employees who can’t get any kind of real law enforcement jobs. And there is little to no real or valuable support and assistance for residents to aid in their re-entry.Some of the workers lord their positions over the residents constantly and treat them like second class citizens. I would submit that this is counterproductive to creating an environment where someone who has served their sentence can successfully re-enter society.That being said, I don’t know how Michael Cohen will fare with his half way house experience. I am sure there are some half way houses in this country that do a great job. In my experience, talking to many inmates and looking at the facts as objectively as possible, many do not.Typical Half Way House Sleeping ArrangementsThis is probably what Cohen will experience:His entire stay will be closely monitored. That, they do a great job atLeaving for work, arriving at work, leaving work to return, and arriving back will be tracked and loggedCohen will not be allowed any stops to and from work, without express written permissionHe will not be allowed to go out to lunch while at work. He will take a lunch packed and provided by the halfway houseCohen’s work supervisor at his first job, will be initially interviewed and will also be periodically asked how Cohen is doingHe will be periodically checked up on at the job by a halfway house employee, in personCohen will have an assigned Half Way House work detail, in addition to his regular day job — kitchen detail, cleaning bathrooms, general cleaning, yard work, etc.He will eat three square meals a day at the Half Way House until he is placed on home confinementCohen will have to get permission and formal approval for any other “excursions”, such as — haircuts, doctor’s visits, trips to the DMV or Social Security Office — the time it will take to get there and back will be calculated and Cohen will be tracked and expected to call in when he arrives, and when he leaves to returnCohen will have to “drop urine” on demand. Even after home confinement, when called, he will have a prescribed amount of time to return and “drop”Cohen will be subjected to breathalyzer tests — usually upon returning. Alcohol is strictly forbidden while under Half Way House jurisdictionCohen will experience random searches for contraband, which is any item or material not allowed in your possession by the Half Way House. His locker will be “tossed” while he is away.Most likely, Cohen will not be allowed to have a cell phone while at the Half Way House. His specific facility may have relaxed this ruleA monthly financial statement will need to be prepared and submitted by Cohen, detailing income and expenses. The Half Way House takes 20% of his gross pay every weekFamily visits will be administered similar to when in prisonCounseling sessions will most likely be prescribed and are mandatoryCohen won’t be allowed to drive unless his license is current and he has a clean record. He will have to show proof of insurance, and that he owns the vehicle, or that the owner has allowed him to use it. The car will be thoroughly inspected, and will undergo random inspections as wellCohen will meet with his probation officer at least once during his Half Way House timeOn the plus side, the food in the halfway house will most probably be good, although not necessarily plentiful. After all, there are many mouths to feed.A Half Way House Food Line — this one was good!Residents BewareAny violations of rules may result in his Half Way House term being violated and he will be returned to prison to serve the remaining time.One Saturday morning, as I was having breakfast at the Half Way House before being released to home confinement, the US Marshals showed up. They took one of the guys at our table back to prison, in handcuffs, to serve out the remainder of his sentence. The Marshals were not happy campers and showed it. They’d much rather be chasing fugitives ala Tommy Lee Jones…His violation? He had stopped on his way back to the Half Way House from work to buy an ice cream cone.They mean business…Home ConfinementSoon after arriving at the Half Way House, Cohen should be doing all he can to receive “home confinement” status. Assuming his family agrees to take him back in the home (not always a slam dunk), this should be Cohen’s primary objective in order to reclaim some semblance of normalcy in his life.Half Way House time sucks. Big time.The quicker you leave, the better off you are.A job is the primary requirement to earn home confinement status. If he has one already lined up before he arrives, then he is “half way” home (excuse the intended pun).The other requirements are:Continue to obey all Half Way House and BOP rules. One needs to remember, even while at a Half Way House, you are still under BOP jurisdiction. You are serving out the last 6 (or less) months of your sentenceStay clean and soberAttend prescribed individual or group counseling sessions if applicableMaintain your work statusInstall a separate land line in your home with no call forwarding, so that the Half Way House can always signNow you. And you can’t “fool” them by forwarding that line to wherever you may “unauthorizedly” beReport to the Half Way House immediately when called for any reasonAnswer the separate land line when they call — in my case, they would call at least twice a day, every day, with one at 2 AM every morningPay the Half Way House 20% of your pay once you start a job, for the duration of your termContinue to submit monthly financial statementsDo not associate with anyone having a criminal record. Report any encounter to the Half Way HouseReport any encounter with law enforcementDo not drive a motor vehicle unless you have been authorized to do soRequest written permission for any time to be away from home or work — including haircuts, attending religious ceremonies, or doctor visits. Once granted an excursion, you must abide by the times allotted for the trips. And you must call when you leave, call when you arrive, call again when you are departing for home, and call when you arrive homeAll of these restrictions and requirements continued for me even after I was put on home confinement. For the whole 6 months of my term. It’s possible that rules have changed or have been relaxed by the time Cohen begins his home confinement.Back to the Real worldMichael Cohen was disbarred by the New York state Supreme Court in Manhattan on February 28th. Having lost his law license, he will most probably never get it back and will no longer be able to practice his trade. He could try, but chances are, he will not prevail.I know many disbarred attorneys under similar circumstances, that have tried to get their licenses reinstated. Despite obtaining many letters of support from other attorneys and people in the community, they have not succeeded.Life after a felony conviction is different. Obvious, right? There are many things you most definitely won’t ever be able to do, and others that you can’t do, either temporarily, or until some action is taken to remove the restriction.For example:Voting — some states allow felons to vote, others require a petitionOwning a gun — at the present time, only a Presidential pardon or commutation can restore this Constitutional rightHolding certain offices — I don’t know the specifics of his sentence, but he may not be able to run for, or hold certain offices. The terms of my conviction bar me from ever becoming a Corporate officer or serving as a member of the board for a public companyBeing hired by certain companies — some opportunities will be forever closed to you. Some companies maintain a policy of not employing convicted felons. Period.Some will tell you that a felony conviction does not immediately disqualify you, but the reality is, you get nowhere when you try to seek employment with these companiesRejection by social or community groups, associations, and clubsDisapproval for certain financial transactions or for creditAs he faces these, and encounters other difficulties related to the stigmatization associated with being a convicted felon, he will be serving the other terms of his conviction.Being snubbed by former acquaintances and “friends” is something else Cohen should be prepared for. There are people that were close “friends”, of the fair weather variety, while you were flying high. Now they won’t have anything to do with you. For the most part, Cohen will be better off not having these kinds of people as “friends”.The terms of Cohen’s sentence includes a probationary period where he will have to report weekly to a parole officer, more commonly, a Probation Officer.Missouri Department of Corrections — A PO Meeting With a ParoleeAnd let’s not forget about the $1.39 million in restitution, $500,000 in forfeiture and $100,000 in fines. Those are obligations he must meet, if he hasn't already.By the way, during the time he is BOP custody, Cohen will most assuredly have to make agreed upon restitution payments. These will be taken out of his commissary account.Cohen’s probationary period was set at three years of supervised release. This time will be overseen by Cohen’s assigned US Probation Officer. It is likely that he will have different POs during his supervised release period.He may have community service to perform as well. I was sentenced to 200 hours of community service which took me a year and a half to complete.At the end of the first year, if he has kept all the rules and the Probation Officer has no objections, Cohen could apply for a shorter Probationary Period. There are no guarantees of getting that approved.During the probationary period, Cohen will continue to file financial reports, and must also report any encounter with law enforcement and with other convicted felons. He may also be required to attend prescribed group or individual counseling.To maintain good standing with his “PO” during the entire period, he will have to continue to be gainfully employed.It’s important to note that a violation could land him in jail, potentially to serve out the rest of his probationary period. For example, if Cohen were to lose his job, he would have to find alternative employment rather quickly or risk violating the terms of parole, and ending up in prison again.Cohen should do every and anything he can to stay on the narrow path and on the good side of his PO.Where the Rubber Meets the RoadFor Cohen, this is complete transition time now. The end game.A new life. Unless he forgot all about what earned him a prison sentence in the first place, he will have made or at least begun the transition from high flying huckster lawyer/fixer to convicted felon while serving his sentence.If he didn’t change his ways, his prison stay definitely will afford him the opportunity to keep shucking and jiving, bragging, wheeling and dealing, continuing to be a total asshole, and to actually refine and hone these skills.If he has the right attitude and resolve, the full transition he has to make is from Federal Inmate to regular human being.Is he capable of that?We are all capable. But for numerous reasons, some of us succeed and some of us fail. We continue the same foolhardy mistakes over and over.Groundhog day…Given the high rate of recidivism among Federal Felons (anywhere from 16% to over 80% depending on factors such as age, education and type of crime), some fall again. And they return to the warm, cozy confines of jail.It will be up to Cohen, and Cohen alone which way his life goes, and which path he decides to take.In the end, perhaps now, Michael Cohen will find peace.Finding that peace is totally up to him.Just like it was to me…“It is the bungled crime that brings remorse.” ― P.G. WodehouseThis is how Michael Cohen will experience prison…Visit my blog at Enrique Fiallo – Mediumor my web site at The Way - Practical and Simple Life Coaching

Employers have no means of verifying whether or not a SSN is legitimate. The INS form that employers must keep on file is little more than an exercise is paper compliance since there is no one who sees the documents other than the employer. The glitch is that people who have fake IDs/SSNs sometimes get a number that belongs to a REAL individual. Then the IRS steps in because the W-2 that is issued to a worker doesn't match the amount of money sent to the government for withholding taxes. For workers who are paid as "independent contractors" another form is submitted by contract "employers". The copy of that is also part of the individual's IRS 1040 tax return. The forms the worker must file must match up with the forms the employer must file.  The reality is that in many cases, it is not ICE, the illegal worker must fear, but the IRS. Most famous major criminals do not get arrested for robbery, murder etc, but get caught by the IRS for unreported income. Al Capone was one of the most famous - he was jailed for income tax evasion. The IRS will look at possessions compared to income - how did you pay for those towels if you didn't work? And the jewelry? And the shoes? Car?Once the IRS is involved, ICE can and does get involved - a person who overstayed a visa can be permanently barred from returning to the USA for not reporting income...

We’re going to examine homicide statistics in the United States from 2010 to 2014. It’s a recent five year span which should be proportionately representative of the present and the period doesn’t contain any particularly large statistical anomalies. In this context, it’s important to note that murder is specifically defined as the willful, unlawful killing of another person. Murder is distinct from justifiable homicide which involves the willful, lawful killing of a felon by a law enforcement officer or private citizen.[1]Seen below is a table showing the number of murders in the United States categorized by weapon:Image by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Expanded Homicide Data Table 8)One of the striking things about those statistics is the disproportionately large number of murders committed using handguns. That number is consistently more than twice that of every other single category of weapon and every other category of firearm combined (even assuming the category “Firearms, type not stated” excluded all handguns, which it most certainly does not).The disproportionate use of handguns in murders isn’t unique to the United States either. In most nations where handguns are in widespread circulation, they are the weapon of choice in murders. In most nations where handguns are not in widespread circulation, knives are the weapon of choice in murders. The prevalence of both handguns and knives as murder weapons can be reasonably assumed to be the result of both weapon types being convenient and easily accessible during an argument or concealable enough to allow a murderer to get fairly close to a victim. This assumption is reasonably well supported by the available data outlining the circumstances of murders.[2] However, an important difference between knives and handguns is that knife attacks are substantially less likely to result in a fatality than attacks using handguns. It’s also much easier to block or run away from a knife than a handgun.Things get even more interesting though when we look at justifiable homicide data.Image by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Expanded Homicide Data Table 14)Image by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Expanded Homicide Data Table 15)The numbers for law enforcement aren’t especially surprising because virtually every officer in the United States carries a handgun on a daily basis. It makes perfect sense that the bulk of justifiable homicides by law enforcement officers are performed using handguns. Likewise, it’s not surprising that the bulk of justifiable homicides by private citizens are performed using handguns given the prevalence and convenience of handguns. What is surprising is just how few justifiable homicides happen in comparison to murders. It would seem the common narrative that good guys with guns frequently kill bad guys with guns is grossly overamplified by proponents for gun ownership.However, it can be said with accuracy that many self defense cases involving guns do not end in a justifiable homicide. Unfortunately, there is no solid statistical data on just how many people defend themselves with guns every year. Research conducted by organizations biased towards gun ownership consistently use statistically unsound methods which result in estimates of multiple millions of defensive gun uses each year. Research conducted by organizations which use statistically sound methods results in yearly estimates in the 60,000–80,000 range, but the scope of the research may be too narrow and therefore omit a statistically signNow number of defensive gun incidents.What good statistical data is available for is the number of robberies and aggravated assaults involving firearms. There are consistently around 120,000 robberies involving firearms every year and usually over 140,000 aggravated assaults involving firearms every year. Although the firearms used in these robberies and aggravated assaults are not broken down by type, there’s no reason to believe that the distribution would appear signNowly different than that seen in homicide. In other words, it seems most likely that the type of firearm most commonly seen in these non-fatal violent crimes is a handgun.Image by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Table 15)Image by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Table 15)Regardless of the statistical frequency of non-lethal defensive gun use, it is readily apparent to me that the illegal use of handguns is a signNow problem in the United States.Furthermore, it’s my experience that handguns are categorically the worst defensive firearms available. The problem isn’t that they can’t make holes that incapacitate people, they’re all clearly quite capable of that. The problem is that handguns are extraordinarily difficult for most people to shoot accurately in any conditions which remotely resemble a lethal confrontation because handguns can only be aimed using a single point of contact, the grip. It requires an asinine level of training to become competent in shooting a pistol under stress.By contrast, long guns, rifles and shotguns, can be shot much more accurately because the user can hold on to the grip with their firing hand, plant the buttstock against their firing shoulder, and stabilize the long gun with their non-firing hand by holding on to the forend. Those three points of contact make it quite possible for relatively new users to accurately shoot long guns with relatively little training and press long guns into defensively usage easily.So when people advocate for handguns as defensive weapons, I become highly skeptical about the credibility of those claims. The only things handguns are good at are being compact and convenient. Long guns are superior in every other way. In military combat where handguns and long guns are both convenient and available, you will always find that long guns are the cause of nearly all non-explosive related casualties and handguns cause so few casualties that they’re almost not statistically signNow. Handgun accuracy among law enforcement officers, people ostensibly trained and competent in the use of handguns, is statistically abysmal. Essentially what I’m saying is that the reverence for handguns in the United States is severely misplaced and not grounded in reality.So what should be done about handguns in the United States?If you look at the weapons regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934, the list is perplexing without historical context. Placing controls on machine guns makes sense from a public safety standpoint because machine guns fire immense volumes of bullets in a short period of time. Regulating silencers seems like an obvious attempt to prevent gunshots from going unnoticed when guns are fired illegally. Meanwhile, somewhat concealable firearms like short barreled rifles and shotguns have regulations placed on them while even more concealable handguns are unregulated.If you read through the 1934 congressional hearings on the National Firearms Act (NFA),[3] you’ll find that handguns were very much intended to be regulated in a similar manner to short barreled shotguns in the original legislation. Interestingly, when asked about dropping pistols from the NFA in favor of increased regulations on machine guns or sawed-off shotguns, the Attorney General of the United States in his testimony explicitly warned “I think it would be a terrible mistake to adopt any half-way measures about this. I think the sooner we get to the point where we are prepared to recognize the fact that the possession of deadly weapons must be regulated and checked, the better off we are going to be as a people.” In the end though, handguns weren’t regulated by the NFA. I happen to think that statistics have proven the Attorney General correct some 84 years later.At this point, I very much believe that handguns can and should be regulated like short barreled shotguns under the NFA. I believe that one of the major problems with various incarnations of the “Assault Weapons Ban” is that said laws are inherently not retroactive and do nothing about existing weapons. This is not the case in regards to guns regulated by the NFA; all firearms described by the NFA, with the exception of antiques, must be registered with the federal government.In order to come into possession of an NFA firearm, normally an individualmust obtain approval from the ATF, pass an extensive background check to include submitting a photograph and fingerprints, fully register the firearm, receive ATF written permission before moving the firearm across state lines, and pay a tax.[4]Although legislating that existing handgun owners must register their handguns under the NFA sounds complex, it really isn’t and our existing legal code is already set up for adding new classes of firearms to the National Firearms Act with nothing more than simple legislation. The following provisions are buried within the Internal Revenue Code:[5]Section 207 of Pub. L. 90–618, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that:“(a) Section 201 of this title [enacting this chapter] shall take effect on the first day of the first month following the month in which it is enacted [October 1968].“(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) or any other provision of law, any person possessing a firearm as defined in section 5845(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] (as amended by this title) which is not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record shall register each firearm so possessed with the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate in such form and manner as the Secretary or his delegate may require within the thirty days immediately following the effective date of section 201 of this Act [see subsec. (a) of this section]. Such registrations shall become a part of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record required to be maintained by section 5841 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended by this title). No information or evidence required to be submitted or retained by a natural person to register a firearm under this section shall be used, directly or indirectly, as evidence against such person in any criminal proceeding with respect to a prior or concurrent violation of law.“(c) The amendments made by sections 202 through 206 of this title [amending sections 6806 and 7273 of this title, repealing sections 5692 and 6107 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] shall take effect on the date of enactment [Oct. 22, 1968].“(d) The Secretary of the Treasury, after publication in the Federal Register of his intention to do so, is authorized to establish such period of amnesty, not to exceed ninety days in the case of any single period, and immunity from liability during any such period, as the Secretary determines will contribute to the purposes of this title [adding this chapter, and sections 6806 and 7273 of this title, repealing sections 5692 and 6107 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section].”This means that the Secretary of the Treasury can at any time authorize an amnesty period in which owners of unregistered (read as illegally possessed) NFA firearms can register those firearms and never be prosecuted for anything related to those firearms. Additionally, while normal NFA registrations require a $200 tax, there is no requirement for a tax to be imposed on amnesty registrations, so there is no legally mandated financial disincentive. Although there hasn’t been an amnesty since 1968, the last one was implemented for the purposes of getting war trophy machine guns registered and was wildly successful. Everybody who registered their previously illegal (and in some cases outright stolen) machine gun got to keep their registered gun and the government got to know where more machine guns were to help with record keeping.There are several effects that regulating handguns under the NFA would have:Everybody who isn’t irrationally paranoid about the federal government confiscating guns would register during the amnesty period and be fine.People who are irrationally paranoid about the federal government confiscating guns and refuse to register could be prosecuted for NFA violations piecemeal as they became noticed.Straw purchases for new handguns would virtually disappear because NFA requirements are signNowly more stringent than normal and link specific people to specific guns. Straw purchases are cases in which people buy guns for other people who can’t pass a background check.The black market for handguns will shrink and prices for black market handguns will rise as handguns are inevitably removed from circulation and fewer handguns flow into the black market as replacements due to a severe reduction in straw purchases.If future executives and lawmakers actually wanted to keep handgun buying constituents happy, those executives and lawmakers would have to properly and adequately fund the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives if they wanted the NFA approval process to work in a timely manner. This would have the additional positive side effect of allowing the BATFE to better enforce all laws instead of being hamstrung by wholly inadequate funding. Finally, since NFA regulation has historically proven to decrease the frequency in which regulated firearms are used in crime, it is reasonable to assume that the frequency of handgun usage in criminal activity would decrease over time.Although I don’t think regulating handguns in this manner would see popular support, there are several regulations which I do think would see popular support.The Gun Control Act of 1968 mandated that manufacturers and commercial sellers of firearms had to obtain a Federal Firearms License (FFL). This was done under the guise of regulating interstate commerce, trade which crosses state lines. The federal government is generally not allowed to regulate intrastate commerce, trade which remains entirely within a state. In 1994, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act mandated that FFL holders had to perform a background check on any firearm transferred through the FFL to a individual who does not hold an FFL. In 1998, this process was streamlined into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).With that in mind, we’re going to look at how firearms are legally purchased currently so we can have a perspective on potential improvements to the process.When buying a gun through an FFL, buyers must fill out BAFTE form 4473. I strongly recommend readers view the form. Buyers must submit valid photo identification (usually a driver’s license) to the FFL holder to verify their identity and some of the information on their form 4473. There are three categories of firearm which can be bought through a standard FFL dealer: handguns, long guns (rifles and shotguns), and “other firearms”. Buyers must be 18 years of age to buy long guns and 21 years of age to buy handguns from an FFL. “Other firearms” are a weird category which includes receivers for firearms (which is generally the serialized portion of a firearm) or firearms which do not fit the legal definition of a handgun or long gun but are also not regulated by the National Firearms Act. If the “other firearm” can be made into a pistol, the buyer must be 21 years of age. After a buyer has completed their form 4473, the FFL holder calls NICS and relays the completed information to the FBI.Source: (NICS Process in Motion for the Gun Buyer Video Transcript)The FBI runs the information through the NICS database. If the buyer’s provided information has matches within the NICS database, this will generate a “hit”. At the moment, hits include indictments and convictions for felonies, indictments and convictions for domestic violence, indictments and convictions for other crimes which are punishable by one or more years of imprisonment, known fugitives, dishonorable discharges, adjudications which determined an individual to be mentally defective, restraining orders for children or intimate partners, renouncements of citizenship, unlawful users of controlled substances, illegal aliens, and resident aliens who do not meet very specific criteria.If no hits in the NICS database are generated, the FFL is told to “proceed” and the FFL may complete transferring the firearm at the business’s discretion. If the buyer’s provided information generates a hit, the call will be transferred to an FBI employee who will review the information and determine whether the hit matches the rest of the buyer’s provided information. If the hit is valid and the buyer is a prohibited purchaser, the FFL will be told to “deny” the transfer. If the FBI employee determines the hit is invalid, the FFL will be told to “proceed”. If the FBI employee can not immediately determine the validity of a hit, the FFL will be told to “delay” the transfer and the FBI will do more research to determine the validity of a hit. At this point, the FBI is allotted three business days to tell the FFL to “proceed” or “deny”. If those three business days pass without a final judgement, the FFL may proceed with the transfer at their discretion. The system is set up this way so the FBI can not delay a buyer they can not prove is a prohibited possessor of firearms indefinitely, essentially amounting to a denial without due process of law. Nevertheless, some FFL holders maintain a policy of not proceeding with transfers which have do not receive a definite “proceed”; that is the business’s prerogative.If at any point in this process the FFL holder or its employees believes a buyer is purchasing a firearm on behalf of another person, then the FFL will deny the transfer independent of any judgement made by the FBI. Purchasing a firearm on behalf of another person is illegal.Now what about “internet gun sales”?Websites in the business of selling firearms are legally required to acquire an FFL. Since the website which holds an FFL can not visually verify a buyer’s identity, this means the firearms they sell are legally required to be transferred to an FFL near the buyer. At the FFL which facilitates the transfer, the buyer will be required to complete a form 4473 and go through a background check as described above.On auction sites which deal with firearms, buyers and sellers who do not hold FFLs will submit the information of an FFL near each party and arrange for the firearm to be transferred. The seller’s FFL will ship the firearm to the buyer’s FFL and once again the buyer will complete a form 4473 and go through a background check.The final category would be classified websites which allow firearms to be posted for sale. These are essentially the 21st century equivalent of posting a classified advertisement in a newspaper. In these cases, a buyer contacts the seller who posted the advertisement and the two parties enter negotiations. If the buyer and seller legally reside within the same state and are able to meet face to face to conduct a transfer, the firearm in question may be legally bought under federal law without a background check being conducted provided the seller does not have reason to believe the buyer is a prohibited possessor. If any of those conditions are not met, or if state law prohibits intrastate commerce in this fashion, then FFL holders must once again be involved. These conditions apply to all private person to person sales. One noteworthy quirk, under federal law, persons between the ages of 18 and 21 are not prohibited from purchasing a handgun through a private sale. This is in fact one of the very few ways citizens in this age group can exercise their constitutional right to possess handguns.What about gun shows?If a person buys a firearm from an FFL participating in a gun show (this constitutes the majority of firearm sales at gun shows) then a 4473 is filled out as normal. If a person is buying a firearm from a private party, laws regarding private sales apply. Think of gun shows simply as a way for people who might be interested in buying or selling firearms to all be in the same place at the same time. There’s nothing sneaky or tricky about them, they literally happen in convention centers and on fairgrounds. Local police and BATFE agents are always present at gun shows.Now that we have all that basic information out of the way, we can talk about actual changes to federal law.First let’s take a look at prohibiting suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms. We can all agree we hate terrorists, but they still have due process rights. Fortunately, the FBI is in charge of both the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) and the NICS database. Prospective gun buyers with records that produce a match in the TSDB could generate a hit in the NICS database. The FBI could then investigate the hit and, assuming the hit actually matched the buyer in question, determine whether or not to tell the FFL to delay the transfer. Within the current three day delay window, the FBI could bring the case before a judge. Should the judge find probable cause, the transfer could be legally halted. At this point the buyer should be notified and be interviewed as part of the investigation. If charges are appropriate, the FBI can file charges in a timely manner. Otherwise, the suspect should be allowed to go about their business without further interference. That puts a lot of burden on the FBI, but it isn’t supposed to be easy to legally strip citizens’ rights in the United States. Remember, the burden of proof always lies upon the accuser, not the defendant.One rather common gun control proposal in the United States is that of universal background checks on all firearm sales, including private intrastate sales. On a practical level, compliance and enforcement of a universal background check would be very difficult without some kind of national firearm registry linking specific firearms to their owners. No national firearm registry exists for regular rifles, shotguns, or pistols at the moment and it’s actually illegal to create one because of the Firearm Owners Protection Act passed in 1986. There remains a visceral fear of a firearms registry among many conservatives; the concerned parties believe that all firearm registries are nothing more than a precursor to the total confiscation of all firearms. This belief is objectively refuted because numerous firearm registries in multiple US states and democratic countries as well as a national registry on firearms regulated by the National Firearms Act exist and have not been precursors to a total confiscation of all firearms. However, many conservatives latch onto the words of a select handful of extremist politicians who espouse a desire for confiscation as proof that confiscation is the inevitable result of all registries.With all that being said, what might be feasible as an alternative to a universal background check is creating an online version of form 4473 so the public could voluntarily conduct background checks without going to an FFL. This is actually something most gun owners want because, at the moment, there’s no way of conducting a background check for a private intrastate sale in most states without involving an FFL. Involving an FFL introduces a financial disincentive because FFLs are businesses and usually charge for their services. I’ll propose the best system I’ve thought of so far which allows for minimal fraud and abuse.First, create a secure electronic variant of the 4473. It should include the buyer and seller information along with contact information for both parties. Once the form is completed, a unique confirmation number is sent out to both parties using the provided contact information. Both parties enter their confirmation numbers, then the form is submitted to the FBI and run through the NICS database. A single transaction number is generated for the NICS check and provided to the buyer and seller. The parties then call a phone number for a NICS automated line and enter the transaction number along with their unique confirmation numbers. This transfers the call to a live operator who examines the results of the NICS check performed for the transaction. The operator then tells the seller to “proceed”, “delay”, or “deny” just as they would with an FFL.The idea behind the whole system is that it allows for an effective background check to be done while offering a reasonable measure of privacy for the buyer. Sure, somebody could abuse the system if they wanted to put in enough effort, but they wouldn’t get very much information. It also removes a financial disincentive; it only costs individuals time to do a check like this and the check and be performed virtually anywhere, not just at FFL locations.Now, let’s discuss assault weapons and magazines which hold more than ten rounds. The problem with the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 was that it didn’t do anything except drive up prices on the magazines and weapons described by the ban. There was no measurable impact on crime during the ten years the Assault Weapons Ban was in effect.Here is how assault weapons were defined in 1994:Semi-automatic rifles able to accept detachable magazines and two or more of the following:Folding or telescoping stockPistol gripBayonet mountFlash suppressor, or threaded barrel designed to accommodate oneGrenade launcher mountSemi-automatic pistols with detachable magazines and two or more of the following:Magazine that attaches outside the pistol gripThreaded barrel to attach barrel extender, flash suppressor, handgrip, or suppressorBarrel shroud safety feature that prevents burns to the operatorUnloaded weight of 50 oz (1.4 kg) or moreA semi-automatic version of a fully automatic firearm.Semi-automatic shotguns with two or more of the following:Folding or telescoping stockPistol gripDetachable magazine.All of those things are cosmetic features that can be designed around. In fact, they frequently were and are designed around. Even today in states with more stringent feature based assault weapon bans, like California, there exist so called “featureless” firearms which are perfectly legal and not objectively worse for killing people than assault weapons. Now we could try an assault weapon ban again and again have no impact on crime… or we could recognize that semiautomatic centerfire weapons are undeniably the arms of choice in a militia. Police and military forces all over the world use semiautomatic (or fully automatic) centerfire weapons almost exclusively. As such, it makes more sense to more stringently regulate all semiautomatic centerfire weapons, not just a certain subset with specific cosmetic features. At the same time, we can breathe new life into the militia concept described by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, even make the militia well regulated.In the United States, we currently have an organization called the Civilian Marksmanship Program, a federally chartered corporation whose purpose is:To instruct citizens of the United States in marksmanship;To promote practice and safety in the use of firearms;To conduct competitions in the use of firearms and to award trophies, prizes, badges, and other insignia to competitors.Among numerous other things, the CMP sells M1 Garand rifles. The Garand is a .30–06 semiautomatic battle rifle roughly twice as powerful as common AR-15 or Kalashnikov rifles. The Garand was the primary infantry rifle of the US military during the Second World War and the Korean War. The CMP literally sells them so people can practice target shooting with a weapon of war.Image by Curiosandrelics - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, File:M1-Garand-Rifle.jpg - Wikimedia CommonsLet’s take a look at eligibility requirements for the CMP:REQUIREMENTS FOR PURCHASEBy law, the CMP can sell surplus military firearms, ammunition, parts and other items only to members of CMP affiliated clubs who are also U.S. citizens, over 18 years of age and who are legally eligible to purchase a firearm.PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP:You must provide a copy of a U.S. birth certificate, passport, proof of naturalization, or any official government document (When using a military ID to prove citizenship, must be an E5 or above) that shows birth in the U.S. or states citizenship as U.S.PROOF OF AGE:You must provide proof of age. Usually proof of citizenship also provides proof of age. In those cases where it may not, a driver’s license is sufficient.MEMBERSHIP IN CMP AFFILIATED ORGANIZATION:You must provide a copy of your current membership card or other proof of membership. This requirement cannot be waived. The CMP currently has over 2,000 affiliated organizations located in many parts of the country. CMP Club Member Certification Form- If your CMP affiliated club does not issue individual membership cards, please have the club fill out the CMP Club Member Certification Form and return it with your order.Membership in many of these organizations costs $25.00 or less and can be accomplished online. A listing of affiliated organizations can be found by clicking on our Club Search web page at http://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/inde.... If you have any difficulty in locating a club, please contact the CMP at 256-835-8455 or by emailing CMP Customer Service. We will find one for you. In addition to shooting clubs, the CMP also has several special affiliates. Membership in these organizations satisfies our requirement for purchase. These special affiliates include: Congressionally chartered veterans' organizations such as the VFW, AL, DAV, MCL, etc. U.S. Military services (active or reserves), National Guard, to include retirees. Professional 501(c)3 law enforcement organizations and associations such as the FOP, NAPO, NSA, etc. The Garand Collector's Association is a CMP Affiliated Club. You can download a Garand Collector's Association Application Form.Note: Club membership IS required for purchase of rifles, parts, and ammunition.Club membership is NOT required for instructional publications or videos or CMP memorabilia.MARKSMANSHIP OR OTHER FIREARMS RELATED ACTIVITY:You must provide proof of participation in a marksmanship related activity or otherwise show familiarity with the safe handling of firearms and range procedures. Your marksmanship related activity does not have to be with highpower rifles; it can be with smallbore rifles, pistols, air guns or shotguns. Proof of marksmanship participation can be provided by documenting any of the following:Current or past military service.Current or past law enforcement serviceParticipation in a rifle, pistol, air gun or shotgun competition (provide copy of results bulletin).Completion of a marksmanship clinic that included live fire training (provide a copy of the certificate of completion or a statement from the instructor).Distinguished, Instructor, or Coach status.Concealed Carry License.Firearms Owner Identification Cards that included live fire training. - FFL or C&R license.Completion of a Hunter Safety Course that included live fire training.Certification from range or club official or law enforcement officer witnessing shooting activity. Complete the CMP Marksmanship Form to signNow your range firing and the required marksmanship related activity for an individual to purchase from the CMP.No proof of marksmanship required if over age 60. Proof of club membership and citizenship required for all ages. NOTE: Proof of marksmanship activity is not required for purchase of ammunition, parts, publications or memorabilia.BE LEGALLY ELIGIBLE TO PURCHASE A FIREARM:The information you supply on your application will be submitted by the CMP to the FBI National Instant Criminal Check System (NICS) to verify you are not prohibited by Federal, State or Local law from acquiring or possessing a rifle. Your signature on the Purchaser Certification portion of the purchase application authorizes the CMP to initiate the NICS check and authorizes the FBI to inform CMP of the result. IMPORTANT: If your State or locality requires you to first obtain a license, permit, or Firearms Owner ID card in order to possess or receive a rifle, you must enclose a photocopy of your license, permit, or card with the application for purchase.As you can see, the CMP eligibility process is quite a bit more involved than the background check system we have now. It seems to have worked for keeping the powerful semiautomatic Garand rifles out of the hands of mass murderers. The last mass shooting on US soil that I know of which involved an M1 Garand was the Kent State massacre and that involved the Ohio National Guard shooting anti-war protesters, not civilians who were sold rifles through the CMP. I haven’t been able to find any records of crimes committed with guns sold through the CMP. I’m sure it has happened at one point in time or another, but the occurrence is so rare that there hasn’t been any documentation. My point is that the CMP has a really great track record in the United States for making sure guns don’t go to bad guys.Since the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 didn’t have any measurable impacts on crime and the CMP has great results, I propose we extend the CMP eligibility requirements to all semiautomatic centerfire firearms and centerfire magazines with more than ten rounds of capacity. This means only people who meet the listed criteria will be able to buy the types of weapons most useful in a militia which are also the weapons we primarily see used in mass shootings from an FFL. The proposal also effectively introduces a mandatory training and basic competency requirement before individuals can purchase semiautomatic centerfire weapons from a gun store. The inclusion of CMP eligibility for the purchase of centerfire magazine over ten rounds creates a strong incentive for existing gun owners and individuals who purchase firearms through private intrastate sales to get training and join the CMP if they want easy access to centerfire magazines over ten rounds.The word centerfire is really important because there is another class of firearms which use rimfire cartridges.A collection of rimfire and centerfire cartridges, left to right: .22lr (rimfire), .22WMR (rimfire), .357 magnum (centerfire), .30–06 Springfield (centerfire), 12 gauge shotshell (centerfire)Rimfire cartridges aren’t very powerful; they’re mostly used for small game hunting and target shooting. Most countries allow ownership of semiautomatic rimfire rifles with only basic licensing; countries like Canada and the UK don’t even have restrictions on magazine capacity for rimfire rifles. Could they be used by a mass shooter? Sure, anything could, but semiautomatic rimfire firearms just aren’t a threat compared to semiautomatic centerfire firearms or even non-semiautomatic centerfire firearms. Wounds caused by bullets fired from rimfire cartridges are almost always less severe than wounds caused by bullets fired from centerfire cartridges. Very precise shot placement is required for rimfire weapons to instantly kill a person and mass shooters are unlikely to take the time to precisely place their shots.Seen above are four rimfire rifles made by Marlin.Regulating firearms in this way allows new gun owners to hunt, shoot targets, and defend themselves using semiautomatic rimfire or manually operated firearms. If new gun owners want easy access to semiautomatic centerfire firearms which are useful in a militia context, they can join the CMP, effectively becoming a member of a well regulated militia, after demonstrating themselves to be competent and well trained.I have some final thoughts on the CMP related proposal before moving on to the next topic. CMP eligibility introduces additional layers of human interaction between people and semiautomatic centerfire weapons and centerfire magazines over ten rounds. Barring major advances in mental healthcare and adjudication in the United States, layers of human interaction are the best way for red flags to be raised about somebody who might want to kill large numbers of people with a firearm. Additional layers of human interaction also introduce a larger hurdle for straw purchasers, people who buy firearms for people who can’t pass background checks because they’re ineligible to own firearms. Additional layers of human interaction make law enforcement investigations slightly easier as well.At the moment, laws, standards, and permits for carrying concealed handguns vary wildly. Some states have no requirements while other states functionally don’t allow anybody except police officers to carry handguns in any way. While the percentage of the US population which actually carries handguns regularly, concealed or openly, is relatively small, those who do carry handguns regularly can often face great legal peril for no particularly good reason when crossing state lines. At the same time, it would be good for the public to know that people carrying concealed handguns are actually competent and not a hazard to the public. In essence, a balance would be preferable to the extremes which currently exist.I propose creating an national permit for carrying concealed handguns in any state. Police officers already enjoy something similar to this. The permitting process should include a standardized class which can be taught by police officers or other qualified instructors. Before attending the class, applicants should undergo a background check. Among other things, the class should cover the legal use of deadly force, safe firearms handling practices, and conflict deescalation practices. Then applicants should be given a written test on the subjects. If the applicants pass, they should then undergo a practical handgun handling and shooting competency test. If applicants are able to both handle handguns safely and shoot accurately, they will then be issued a carry permit which is valid for a certain number of years; three to five years seems reasonable. If applicants fail either test then they go home without a permit and can retake the whole class the next time it is offered if they still wish to carry a concealed handgun.It’s worth noting that if my suggestion to regulate handguns under the National Firearms Act were ever implemented, creating a national permit for carrying concealed handguns would practically become a necessity. At the moment, written approval from the BATFE is required before crossing state lines with an NFA firearm. That system would not be sustainable in terms of labor costs and paperwork if handguns suddenly came under the purview of the NFA.Footnotes[1] Murder[2] https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the...[3] National Firearms Act[4] National Firearms Act - Wikipedia[5] U.S.C. Title 26 - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

There are two Internet verification options you can use to verify that your employee names and Social Security numbers (SSN) match Social Security's records. You can:Verify up to 10 names and SSNs (per screen) online and receive immediate results. This option is ideal to verify new hires.Upload overnight files of up to 250,000 names and SSNs and usually receive results the next government business day. This option is ideal if you want to verify an entire payroll database or if you hire a large number of workers at a time.While the service is available to all employers and third-party submitters, it can only be used to verify current or former employees and only for wage reporting (Form W-2) purposes.Why Should I Verify Names and SSNs OnlineCorrect names and SSNs on W-2 wage reports are the keys to the successful processing of your annual wage report submission.It's faster and easier to use than submitting your requests paper listings or using Social Security's telephone verification option.Results in more accurate wage reports.Saves processing costs and reduces the number of W-2c's.Allows Social Security to give the proper credit to your employees' earnings record, which will be important information in determining their Social Security benefits in the future.Want to find out someone's social security number? Social security number's aren't as hard to get as you may think. Many sites offer social security numbers to employers for identification verification. SSN's of deceased persons are also available to the public if you know where to look. Here are a few tips on how to find out someone's Social Security number.Step 1Obtain the true full name of the person's social security number that you are looking for. Many people use nicknames or completely different names entirely. A middle initial can also be important when identifying multiple people with the same first and last name.Step 2Search the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) online if you are looking for the social security number of someone who has passed away. This site is easy to search and contains almost every person who has died since the early 60's.Step 3Utilize E-Verify's service through the Web. E-Verify works in partnership with the Social Security Administration to provide social security number verification to qualified employers and agencies. E-Verify is free to use for employers to determine if a worker is eligible for employment in the U.S.If you are living in the US and making ends meet can be a problem at times, then you need to know about the special program of the government which is established just to help those in need. Do you know what Social Security is? What is the meaning of Social Security and the concept? Well, if you are looking for answers for these questions and many more then you have landed on the right page. Everything you need to know about it is below.Requesting a Social Security Card Replacement can be a tedious process that involves visits to a local Social Security Administration office and hours standing in long lines to process a request. You could waste your entire work day at the SSA office in order to complete your application, and your card would only arrive in about 14 days.If your Social Security Card has been lost or stolen, if you need a copy or duplicate of your card, if you need a new card, or even a card name change, you can now mail in your application. You will receive your Social Security Replacement Card within the same time frame as if applied in person, but won't waste your day at the SSA office. But reading through endless instructions and filling out government forms can be a complicated process in which errors and mistakes can easily happen.In order to make your life simpler, we have developed a system that allows you to apply for a Social Security Card through an online application consisting of a simplified and intuitive questionnaire that adapts itself to your specific situation, thus helping you avoid mistakes that could potentially delay or cancel your request.If you do not receive benefits, you can:New! Request a replacement Social Security card if you meet certain requirements;New! Check the status of your application or appeal.Get your Social Security Statement, to review:Estimates of your future retirement, disability, and survivors benefits;Your earnings once a year to verify the amounts that we posted are correct; andThe estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid.Get a benefit verification letter stating that:You never received Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicare; orYou received benefits in the past, but do not currently receive them. (The letter will include the date your benefits stopped and how much you received that year.); orYou applied for benefits but haven’t received an answer yet.If you receive benefits or have Medicare, you can:New! Request a replacement Social Security card if you meet certain requirements;New! Report your wages if you work and receive Disability Insurance benefits;Get your benefit verification letter;Check your benefit and payment information and your earnings record;Change your address and phone number;Start or change direct deposit of your benefit payment;Get a replacement Medicare card; andGet a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for tax season.At Social Security, protecting your personal information is more important than ever. We continue to evaluate and improve our robust cyber-security program to safeguard your information. The thing is, we can’t do it alone. You can help us secure your information by taking one of these steps:Open your personal my Social Security account. A my Social Security account is your gateway to many of our online services. Create your account today and take away the risk of someone else trying to create one in your name, even if they obtain your Social Security number.If you already have a my Social Security account, but haven’t signed in lately, take a moment to login to easily take advantage of our second method to identify you each time you log in. This is in addition to our first layer of security, a username and password. You can choose either your cell phone number or your email address as your second identification method. Using two ways to identify you when you sign on will help protect your account from unauthorized use and potential identity theft. If you suspect identity theft, report it to our Office of the Inspector General and visit Identity Theft Recovery Steps.If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, and if you don’t want to do business with Social Security online, you can use our Block Electronic Access You can block any automated telephone and electronic access to your Social Security record. No one, including you, will be able to see or change your personal information on the internet or through our automated telephone service. If you block access to your record and then change your mind in the future, you can contact Social Security and ask us to unblock it after you prove your identity. This resource is available to certain victims of identity theft and those who need extra security.We will continue to do our part to protect what’s important to you. And we’ll continue to advise you on how to protect yourself.How could you possibly "forget" your Social Security number?You'd have numerous tax documents with it on it, an employment application and an I-9 immigration form; and you would have had to file either background checks for renting or for work. You also need your SSN to open a bank account in the United States.Sorry...but short of an elderly person experiencing Alzheimer's or dementia the odds of not knowing your Social Security number or where to find it in your own residence or at work are so improbable that this question is almost certainly an attempt at social engineering.Started in 1935, Social Security is a federal program that provides economic help to the section of the public which needs it. People who can benefit from the Social Security program of the government are retired people, poor, disabled and others. During the great depression of the 1930s, the US Government signed the Social Security Act in an effort to provide a safety net for people going through financial crises. Though the great depression has ended a long time ago, the authorities have decided to keep the program running so as to provide the required financial support to people needing it.How Does It Work?In the US, employees as well as employers are required to pay Social Security taxes, and the funds raised through levying these taxes on the general public are provided as benefits to those in need. This way, workers of today pay the money that they will receive as benefits when they retire and so on. The Social Security benefits you receive are based on the amount of Social Security taxes you paid that are somewhat based on your income.What Are Social Security Benefits?The benefits offered by the Social Security Administration can be received in a number of ways, such as retirement benefits that you start receiving after you have signNowed the age of 62. In 2011, approximately 39 million people in the US received average monthly benefits of USD 1229 as retirement benefits. The US Social Security Administration also offers Disability benefits for people who have been disabled for at least five full months and their condition has rendered them unable to work. Furthermore, there is also a program for survivors which provides benefits for the widows and children of Social Security beneficiaries.Apart from these, there are also supplemental benefits that are available for people 65 years of age or older who have very limited financial resources and are disabled. Then there is also medicare which covered about 49 million people in 2011, making more than 550 billion US dollars in benefit payments.Well, now that you know what exactly Social Security is, what it entails and how it works, it is time for you to tell us what you think. Do you believe that the Social Security scheme of the US government is adequate or does it need further changes to be made for effective? Tell us through your comments below. We would love to hear from you.If you do not know your SSN (Social Security Number) and have lost your original card, you will need to visit your local Social Security Administration office - in person. To discuss your Social Security number or to obtain a replacement card, you will need certain documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include a U.S. birth certificate or a U.S. passport.An acceptable document must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying information (date of birth or age) and preferably a recent photograph. For example, as proof of identity, Social Security must see your:U.S. driver's license;State-issued non-driver identification card; orU.S. passport.If you do not have one of these specific documents or you cannot get a replacement for one of them within 10 days, SSA will ask to see other documents, including:Employee identification card;School identification card;Health insurance card (not a Medicare card); orU.S. military identification card.If you come across a site that is displaying anyone’s Social Security number or Medical Records, you need to report them for internet crime because they hacked private information or bought data that was hacked and sold to sites like which exist primarily to perpetrate or promote fraud and identity theft. If you are hunting for Social Security numbers instead of just using your own, you can also be held responsible for attempted fraud or identity theft if you try to use it. There really is no honor among thieves, so don’t set yourself up for that to come haunt you. The political issues that are all over the news for the last 12 months and even beyond is all about illegal hacking and look at the widespread ill effects that is having.There are reputable sites for looking up someone’s background for your own protection or for employment purposes that do not advertise they can give you Social Security numbers, they do not have them. You cannot get your own Social Security number online, even on the SSA website signed into your account, as it is private and blocked save for the last four. It is protected information and not even listed on the web. Of course with Equifax’s last irresponsible hoopla, over 143 million people are up a creek without a paddle and totally screwed for life because you can’t just up and change your identity whenever you want like you change your passwords or screen names.When you go in person to your local office they may be able to assist you to find your number that day, if you have at least two forms of accepted ID, meaning originalorcertified by issuer documentation, your father’s social security number, or other forms of ID. signNowd documents are NOT accepted in any case. You must be able prove your identity beyond any doubt to get that number. If you try to apply for a second Social Security number they will also assume fraud and you’ll have a headache. If you are attempting to get your Social Security card replaced by mail you will have to fill out the correct forms from SSA and send your original or certified by issuer. They will not take copies or signNowd forms. Your identification documents will be returned to you once they have reviewed them.You also will have an extremely hard time changing your Social Security number once issued. The number you are issued belongs to you for eternity, even after you die, that number stays attached to you—they do not re-use a number. It will just about take a legal order and proof for the reason you want to change it. All of your work history is attached to your number and changing it is not allowed only for reasons like witness protection or in certain cases of domestic violence. There are only one or two reasons they will issue a new number and losing your card is not one of them. Head into your local SSA office with acceptable forms of identification and apply for a replacement card—pretty simple and above board.Any old joe without a legitimate business and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot just go to Social Security and get your number without being registered as a legitimate business entity. You cannot type a persons name into a search box and access someone’s records that are not your own. You will have to show proof of your business along with submitting all requested documentation. You will need your own Social Security number just to complete this registration too as well as a stack of paperwork.Sites that advertise that they have everyone’s social security number are scams and will gladly take your money and not give you an SSN. Read their terms of use, they are not responsible for any information you get from their site. They need to be reported for internet fraud. Things like just type in a name and a state and you’ll have access to medical records, work history and earnings statements are simply not speaking the truth. If you hear that or someone tells you that, I’d run fast away from the fraud ans prison.Is this Service Completely Legal?Using our service is legal as soon as you have a valid purpose. You must have a valid purpose like debt recovery, child support, 1099 filling, etc. We may contact you and request supporting documents after you complete the order.How Does it Work?Complete your order in 3 easy steps.Step 1: Enter Subject and Your Information. Step 2: Review and Continue. Step 3: Finalize Your Order.You will receive the Report in 5 business days via e-mail.If we can not find your subject’s social security number, we will refund your money back.What is included in Find Social Security Number Service Report?Subject’s Full Social Security Number, SSN Issue Date, SSN Issue State, Other People used that SSN and More.Digi: You cannot find your SSN online.Other writers have provided you all the information to recover your SSN.Tip: When planning to go into your local SS office, avoid the 1st of the month. Supplementary Security Income (SSI) checks come out on the 1st. Local SS offices are often jammed w/desperate SSI recipients who did not receive their SSI checks.Also, arrive early in the day and bring tablet, smart phone, good book or other personal entertainment. Social Security offices are busy places at the best of times. The staff, however, really try to be helpful. Your business will be simple and they’ll be grateful for that. You won’t be dealing with a faceless bureaucrat.If you come across a site that is displaying anyone’s Social Security number or Medical Records, you need to report them for internet crime because they hacked private information or bought data that was hacked and sold to sites like which exist primarily to perpetrate or promote fraud and identity theft. If you are hunting for Social Security numbers instead of just using your own, you can also be held responsible for attempted fraud or identity theft if you try to use it. There really is no honor among thieves, so don’t set yourself up for that to come haunt you. The political issues that are all over the news for the last 12 months and even beyond is all about illegal hacking and look at the widespread ill effects that is having.There are reputable sites for looking up someone’s background for your own protection or for employment purposes that do not advertise they can give you Social Security numbers, they do not have them. You cannot get your own Social Security number online, even on the SSA website signed into your account, as it is private and blocked save for the last four. It is protected information and not even listed on the web. Of course with Equifax’s last irresponsible hoopla, over 143 million people are up a creek without a paddle and totally screwed for life because you can’t just up and change your identity whenever you want like you change your passwords or screen names.When you go in person to your local office they may be able to assist you to find your number that day, if you have at least two forms of accepted ID, meaning originalorcertified by issuer documentation, your father’s social security number, or other forms of ID. signNowd documents are NOT accepted in any case. You must be able prove your identity beyond any doubt to get that number. If you try to apply for a second Social Security number they will also assume fraud and you’ll have a headache. If you are attempting to get your Social Security card replaced by mail you will have to fill out the correct forms from SSA and send your original or certified by issuer. They will not take copies or signNowd forms. Your identification documents will be returned to you once they have reviewed them.You also will have an extremely hard time changing your Social Security number once issued. The number you are issued belongs to you for eternity, even after you die, that number stays attached to you—they do not re-use a number. It will just about take a legal order and proof for the reason you want to change it. All of your work history is attached to your number and changing it is not allowed only for reasons like witness protection or in certain cases of domestic violence. There are only one or two reasons they will issue a new number and losing your card is not one of them. Head into your local SSA office with acceptable forms of identification and apply for a replacement card—pretty simple and above board.Any old joe without a legitimate business and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot just go to Social Security and get your number without being registered as a legitimate business entity. You cannot type a persons name into a search box and access someone’s records that are not your own. You will have to show proof of your business along with submitting all requested documentation. You will need your own Social Security number just to complete this registration too as well as a stack of paperwork.Sites that advertise that they have everyone’s social security number are scams and will gladly take your money and not give you an SSN. Read their terms of use, they are not responsible for any information you get from their site. They need to be reported for internet fraud. Things like just type in a name and a state and you’ll have access to medical records, work history and earnings statements are simply not speaking the truth. If you hear that or someone tells you that, I’d run fast away from the fraud ans prison.FAQ1 Why is there a charge for the service? The SSA provides free forms.E-forms is a paid service that makes the process of filling out and filing government forms simpler and more convenient.Our service eliminates the process of reading through endless, hard to find complicated instructions, and eliminates the necessity of standing in line at the Social Security office.By using e-forms you avoid common mistakes that could potentially delay or even cancel your application.Think of it as filing your tax return. While you may download IRS forms and fill them out yourself, most Americans rather have the help of an accountant or prefer to use a software application in order to make sure all information is submitted correctly, thus avoiding costly mistakes.2 Application InformationWhere is my new social security card?To receive a new social security card, you must mail your Social Security application package along with the required supporting documents.Your e-package includes the filled-out, ready to be mailed SS5 form, list of acceptable documents for each situation, detailed instructions and a prepaid mailing label addressed from you to your correct local Social Security Office.After mailing your package you will receive your new Social Security card and supporting documents at your mailing address within 10 to 14 business days.Please note that you will first receive the new card, then the supporting documents.Why do I have to mail documents with the SS5 form?The SSA needs to attest that you are in fact the person you say you are. In order to avoid fraud and identity theft, you must submit original documents. This is for your own protection.3 Application ProcessDo I have to fill out Race information?Race is an option, not a required information, and we can not maintain it in our database. You may check the box if you wish so.Can I request a new SS number for someone other than a child?According to SSA regulations, only children under 12 years of age may request a new number by mail. Anyone older than 12 requesting a first SS number must apply in person.4 Application StatusHow long until I receive receive my card?You will receive your new social security card along with the supporting documents at the mailing address listed on your application. It may take up to 10-14 business days for your new card to be delivered. Actual delivery time dependes on you local Social Security office.Please note that you will first receive your new social security card and then you will receive your supporting documents a few days after.5 BillingThe price for the e-package is $38Your order will be treated with priority and your e-package will be ready immediately.Can I get a refund after I sent my order?If your order has been processed and you are not satisfied with the service, you may request a refund:If you request a refund within 3 days of placing you order, your purchase will be refunded, as long as you have not used the pre paid label or received filing instructions by phone or e-mail.No refunds will be granted after 3 days of the purchase date.Refunds are given in the same manner in which user completed the order. Additionally, if the payment method that was used to pay for the transaction is no longer valid, canceled or stops working for any reason, Site will not be responsible if you can not receive reimbursement for reasons of closure, cancellation or any reason to limit the operation of payment method.Please consult our Terms and Conditions for more detailed information about cancellations and refunds.How long does it take for a refund to be posted?A refund posts back into your account within 3-4 business days after the refund is issued.If you have received confirmation of your refund from e-forms and the refund has not appeared on your statement after 3-4 business days, please contact your bank for more information.6 Required DocumentsIn order to prevent fraud and to protect you against Identity Theft, the SSA requires that you send original documents in order to prove that you are who you claim to be. The SSA will only accept original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency.How I can get certified copies?You can request a copy of your Driver’s License online at your local DMV.What types of documents are accepted?Acceptable DocumentsIf you are a US Born Citizen, and have been issued a previous card as an American citizen, you only need to show proof of identity.To prove your identity you need to send a Driver’s License, a State issued non driver’s ID, or a US Passport.If you were not born in the US or are not a US Citizen, you must provide proof of both identity and citizenship.Please check e-forms-us/docs for a complete list of acceptable documents.7 Our servicesWho is E-forms?E-forms is an online application preparation service. We simplify the SS5 application process through an intuitive questionnaire. Based on your answers, we generate a pre-filled SS5 form, ready to print, sign and mail.In addition, we also provide you with the exact address of where to mail your package (it varies by home address).Also, we provide detailed instructions and a complete list of acceptable documents for each different situation.This online process allows you to avoid going to your local SSA office and waiting in line – even if you visit the local office to apply in person, you won’t be issued a card right away. All SS cards are sent by US mail.Steps to the application process:Step 1: Answer the customized questionsStep 2: Sign your filled out SS5 form.Step 3: Attach your supporting documents and mail your packet to the Social Security Administration using the pre paid USPS label.Step 4: Receive your card in the mail in 10-14 business days8 PrivacyWhat happens to my personal information?E-forms uses the most advanced 256 bit encryption technology to protect your information.After you complete the process and the package is sent to you, your Social Security number is deleted from our files. Only the last four digits are stored for identification purposes.We do not store credit card numbers or any of your financial information.

There are two Internet verification options you can use to verify that your employee names and Social Security numbers (SSN) match Social Security's records. You can:Verify up to 10 names and SSNs (per screen) online and receive immediate results. This option is ideal to verify new hires.Upload overnight files of up to 250,000 names and SSNs and usually receive results the next government business day. This option is ideal if you want to verify an entire payroll database or if you hire a large number of workers at a time.While the service is available to all employers and third-party submitters, it can only be used to verify current or former employees and only for wage reporting (Form W-2) purposes.Why Should I Verify Names and SSNs OnlineCorrect names and SSNs on W-2 wage reports are the keys to the successful processing of your annual wage report submission.It's faster and easier to use than submitting your requests paper listings or using Social Security's telephone verification option.Results in more accurate wage reports.Saves processing costs and reduces the number of W-2c's.Allows Social Security to give the proper credit to your employees' earnings record, which will be important information in determining their Social Security benefits in the future.Want to find out someone's social security number? Social security number's aren't as hard to get as you may think. Many sites offer social security numbers to employers for identification verification. SSN's of deceased persons are also available to the public if you know where to look. Here are a few tips on how to find out someone's Social Security number.Step 1Obtain the true full name of the person's social security number that you are looking for. Many people use nicknames or completely different names entirely. A middle initial can also be important when identifying multiple people with the same first and last name.Step 2Search the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) online if you are looking for the social security number of someone who has passed away. This site is easy to search and contains almost every person who has died since the early 60's.Step 3Utilize E-Verify's service through the Web. E-Verify works in partnership with the Social Security Administration to provide social security number verification to qualified employers and agencies. E-Verify is free to use for employers to determine if a worker is eligible for employment in the U.S.If you are living in the US and making ends meet can be a problem at times, then you need to know about the special program of the government which is established just to help those in need. Do you know what Social Security is? What is the meaning of Social Security and the concept? Well, if you are looking for answers for these questions and many more then you have landed on the right page. Everything you need to know about it is below.Requesting a Social Security Card Replacement can be a tedious process that involves visits to a local Social Security Administration office and hours standing in long lines to process a request. You could waste your entire work day at the SSA office in order to complete your application, and your card would only arrive in about 14 days.If your Social Security Card has been lost or stolen, if you need a copy or duplicate of your card, if you need a new card, or even a card name change, you can now mail in your application. You will receive your Social Security Replacement Card within the same time frame as if applied in person, but won't waste your day at the SSA office. But reading through endless instructions and filling out government forms can be a complicated process in which errors and mistakes can easily happen.In order to make your life simpler, we have developed a system that allows you to apply for a Social Security Card through an online application consisting of a simplified and intuitive questionnaire that adapts itself to your specific situation, thus helping you avoid mistakes that could potentially delay or cancel your request.If you do not receive benefits, you can:New! Request a replacement Social Security card if you meet certain requirements;New! Check the status of your application or appeal.Get your Social Security Statement, to review:Estimates of your future retirement, disability, and survivors benefits;Your earnings once a year to verify the amounts that we posted are correct; andThe estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid.Get a benefit verification letter stating that:You never received Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicare; orYou received benefits in the past, but do not currently receive them. (The letter will include the date your benefits stopped and how much you received that year.); orYou applied for benefits but haven’t received an answer yet.If you receive benefits or have Medicare, you can:New! Request a replacement Social Security card if you meet certain requirements;New! Report your wages if you work and receive Disability Insurance benefits;Get your benefit verification letter;Check your benefit and payment information and your earnings record;Change your address and phone number;Start or change direct deposit of your benefit payment;Get a replacement Medicare card; andGet a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for tax season.At Social Security, protecting your personal information is more important than ever. We continue to evaluate and improve our robust cyber-security program to safeguard your information. The thing is, we can’t do it alone. You can help us secure your information by taking one of these steps:Open your personal my Social Security account. A my Social Security account is your gateway to many of our online services. Create your account today and take away the risk of someone else trying to create one in your name, even if they obtain your Social Security number.If you already have a my Social Security account, but haven’t signed in lately, take a moment to login to easily take advantage of our second method to identify you each time you log in. This is in addition to our first layer of security, a username and password. You can choose either your cell phone number or your email address as your second identification method. Using two ways to identify you when you sign on will help protect your account from unauthorized use and potential identity theft. If you suspect identity theft, report it to our Office of the Inspector General and visit Identity Theft Recovery Steps.If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, and if you don’t want to do business with Social Security online, you can use our Block Electronic Access You can block any automated telephone and electronic access to your Social Security record. No one, including you, will be able to see or change your personal information on the internet or through our automated telephone service. If you block access to your record and then change your mind in the future, you can contact Social Security and ask us to unblock it after you prove your identity. This resource is available to certain victims of identity theft and those who need extra security.We will continue to do our part to protect what’s important to you. And we’ll continue to advise you on how to protect yourself.How could you possibly "forget" your Social Security number?You'd have numerous tax documents with it on it, an employment application and an I-9 immigration form; and you would have had to file either background checks for renting or for work. You also need your SSN to open a bank account in the United States.Sorry...but short of an elderly person experiencing Alzheimer's or dementia the odds of not knowing your Social Security number or where to find it in your own residence or at work are so improbable that this question is almost certainly an attempt at social engineering.Started in 1935, Social Security is a federal program that provides economic help to the section of the public which needs it. People who can benefit from the Social Security program of the government are retired people, poor, disabled and others. During the great depression of the 1930s, the US Government signed the Social Security Act in an effort to provide a safety net for people going through financial crises. Though the great depression has ended a long time ago, the authorities have decided to keep the program running so as to provide the required financial support to people needing it.How Does It Work?In the US, employees as well as employers are required to pay Social Security taxes, and the funds raised through levying these taxes on the general public are provided as benefits to those in need. This way, workers of today pay the money that they will receive as benefits when they retire and so on. The Social Security benefits you receive are based on the amount of Social Security taxes you paid that are somewhat based on your income.What Are Social Security Benefits?The benefits offered by the Social Security Administration can be received in a number of ways, such as retirement benefits that you start receiving after you have signNowed the age of 62. In 2011, approximately 39 million people in the US received average monthly benefits of USD 1229 as retirement benefits. The US Social Security Administration also offers Disability benefits for people who have been disabled for at least five full months and their condition has rendered them unable to work. Furthermore, there is also a program for survivors which provides benefits for the widows and children of Social Security beneficiaries.Apart from these, there are also supplemental benefits that are available for people 65 years of age or older who have very limited financial resources and are disabled. Then there is also medicare which covered about 49 million people in 2011, making more than 550 billion US dollars in benefit payments.Well, now that you know what exactly Social Security is, what it entails and how it works, it is time for you to tell us what you think. Do you believe that the Social Security scheme of the US government is adequate or does it need further changes to be made for effective? Tell us through your comments below. We would love to hear from you.If you do not know your SSN (Social Security Number) and have lost your original card, you will need to visit your local Social Security Administration office - in person. To discuss your Social Security number or to obtain a replacement card, you will need certain documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include a U.S. birth certificate or a U.S. passport.An acceptable document must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying information (date of birth or age) and preferably a recent photograph. For example, as proof of identity, Social Security must see your:U.S. driver's license;State-issued non-driver identification card; orU.S. passport.If you do not have one of these specific documents or you cannot get a replacement for one of them within 10 days, SSA will ask to see other documents, including:Employee identification card;School identification card;Health insurance card (not a Medicare card); orU.S. military identification card.If you come across a site that is displaying anyone’s Social Security number or Medical Records, you need to report them for internet crime because they hacked private information or bought data that was hacked and sold to sites like which exist primarily to perpetrate or promote fraud and identity theft. If you are hunting for Social Security numbers instead of just using your own, you can also be held responsible for attempted fraud or identity theft if you try to use it. There really is no honor among thieves, so don’t set yourself up for that to come haunt you. The political issues that are all over the news for the last 12 months and even beyond is all about illegal hacking and look at the widespread ill effects that is having.There are reputable sites for looking up someone’s background for your own protection or for employment purposes that do not advertise they can give you Social Security numbers, they do not have them. You cannot get your own Social Security number online, even on the SSA website signed into your account, as it is private and blocked save for the last four. It is protected information and not even listed on the web. Of course with Equifax’s last irresponsible hoopla, over 143 million people are up a creek without a paddle and totally screwed for life because you can’t just up and change your identity whenever you want like you change your passwords or screen names.When you go in person to your local office they may be able to assist you to find your number that day, if you have at least two forms of accepted ID, meaning originalorcertified by issuer documentation, your father’s social security number, or other forms of ID. signNowd documents are NOT accepted in any case. You must be able prove your identity beyond any doubt to get that number. If you try to apply for a second Social Security number they will also assume fraud and you’ll have a headache. If you are attempting to get your Social Security card replaced by mail you will have to fill out the correct forms from SSA and send your original or certified by issuer. They will not take copies or signNowd forms. Your identification documents will be returned to you once they have reviewed them.You also will have an extremely hard time changing your Social Security number once issued. The number you are issued belongs to you for eternity, even after you die, that number stays attached to you—they do not re-use a number. It will just about take a legal order and proof for the reason you want to change it. All of your work history is attached to your number and changing it is not allowed only for reasons like witness protection or in certain cases of domestic violence. There are only one or two reasons they will issue a new number and losing your card is not one of them. Head into your local SSA office with acceptable forms of identification and apply for a replacement card—pretty simple and above board.Any old joe without a legitimate business and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot just go to Social Security and get your number without being registered as a legitimate business entity. You cannot type a persons name into a search box and access someone’s records that are not your own. You will have to show proof of your business along with submitting all requested documentation. You will need your own Social Security number just to complete this registration too as well as a stack of paperwork.Sites that advertise that they have everyone’s social security number are scams and will gladly take your money and not give you an SSN. Read their terms of use, they are not responsible for any information you get from their site. They need to be reported for internet fraud. Things like just type in a name and a state and you’ll have access to medical records, work history and earnings statements are simply not speaking the truth. If you hear that or someone tells you that, I’d run fast away from the fraud ans prison.Is this Service Completely Legal?Using our service is legal as soon as you have a valid purpose. You must have a valid purpose like debt recovery, child support, 1099 filling, etc. We may contact you and request supporting documents after you complete the order.How Does it Work?Complete your order in 3 easy steps.Step 1: Enter Subject and Your Information. Step 2: Review and Continue. Step 3: Finalize Your Order.You will receive the Report in 5 business days via e-mail.If we can not find your subject’s social security number, we will refund your money back.What is included in Find Social Security Number Service Report?Subject’s Full Social Security Number, SSN Issue Date, SSN Issue State, Other People used that SSN and More.Digi: You cannot find your SSN online.Other writers have provided you all the information to recover your SSN.Tip: When planning to go into your local SS office, avoid the 1st of the month. Supplementary Security Income (SSI) checks come out on the 1st. Local SS offices are often jammed w/desperate SSI recipients who did not receive their SSI checks.Also, arrive early in the day and bring tablet, smart phone, good book or other personal entertainment. Social Security offices are busy places at the best of times. The staff, however, really try to be helpful. Your business will be simple and they’ll be grateful for that. You won’t be dealing with a faceless bureaucrat.If you come across a site that is displaying anyone’s Social Security number or Medical Records, you need to report them for internet crime because they hacked private information or bought data that was hacked and sold to sites like which exist primarily to perpetrate or promote fraud and identity theft. If you are hunting for Social Security numbers instead of just using your own, you can also be held responsible for attempted fraud or identity theft if you try to use it. There really is no honor among thieves, so don’t set yourself up for that to come haunt you. The political issues that are all over the news for the last 12 months and even beyond is all about illegal hacking and look at the widespread ill effects that is having.There are reputable sites for looking up someone’s background for your own protection or for employment purposes that do not advertise they can give you Social Security numbers, they do not have them. You cannot get your own Social Security number online, even on the SSA website signed into your account, as it is private and blocked save for the last four. It is protected information and not even listed on the web. Of course with Equifax’s last irresponsible hoopla, over 143 million people are up a creek without a paddle and totally screwed for life because you can’t just up and change your identity whenever you want like you change your passwords or screen names.When you go in person to your local office they may be able to assist you to find your number that day, if you have at least two forms of accepted ID, meaning originalorcertified by issuer documentation, your father’s social security number, or other forms of ID. signNowd documents are NOT accepted in any case. You must be able prove your identity beyond any doubt to get that number. If you try to apply for a second Social Security number they will also assume fraud and you’ll have a headache. If you are attempting to get your Social Security card replaced by mail you will have to fill out the correct forms from SSA and send your original or certified by issuer. They will not take copies or signNowd forms. Your identification documents will be returned to you once they have reviewed them.You also will have an extremely hard time changing your Social Security number once issued. The number you are issued belongs to you for eternity, even after you die, that number stays attached to you—they do not re-use a number. It will just about take a legal order and proof for the reason you want to change it. All of your work history is attached to your number and changing it is not allowed only for reasons like witness protection or in certain cases of domestic violence. There are only one or two reasons they will issue a new number and losing your card is not one of them. Head into your local SSA office with acceptable forms of identification and apply for a replacement card—pretty simple and above board.Any old joe without a legitimate business and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot just go to Social Security and get your number without being registered as a legitimate business entity. You cannot type a persons name into a search box and access someone’s records that are not your own. You will have to show proof of your business along with submitting all requested documentation. You will need your own Social Security number just to complete this registration too as well as a stack of paperwork.Sites that advertise that they have everyone’s social security number are scams and will gladly take your money and not give you an SSN. Read their terms of use, they are not responsible for any information you get from their site. They need to be reported for internet fraud. Things like just type in a name and a state and you’ll have access to medical records, work history and earnings statements are simply not speaking the truth. If you hear that or someone tells you that, I’d run fast away from the fraud ans prison.FAQ1 Why is there a charge for the service? The SSA provides free forms.E-forms is a paid service that makes the process of filling out and filing government forms simpler and more convenient.Our service eliminates the process of reading through endless, hard to find complicated instructions, and eliminates the necessity of standing in line at the Social Security office.By using e-forms you avoid common mistakes that could potentially delay or even cancel your application.Think of it as filing your tax return. While you may download IRS forms and fill them out yourself, most Americans rather have the help of an accountant or prefer to use a software application in order to make sure all information is submitted correctly, thus avoiding costly mistakes.2 Application InformationWhere is my new social security card?To receive a new social security card, you must mail your Social Security application package along with the required supporting documents.Your e-package includes the filled-out, ready to be mailed SS5 form, list of acceptable documents for each situation, detailed instructions and a prepaid mailing label addressed from you to your correct local Social Security Office.After mailing your package you will receive your new Social Security card and supporting documents at your mailing address within 10 to 14 business days.Please note that you will first receive the new card, then the supporting documents.Why do I have to mail documents with the SS5 form?The SSA needs to attest that you are in fact the person you say you are. In order to avoid fraud and identity theft, you must submit original documents. This is for your own protection.3 Application ProcessDo I have to fill out Race information?Race is an option, not a required information, and we can not maintain it in our database. You may check the box if you wish so.Can I request a new SS number for someone other than a child?According to SSA regulations, only children under 12 years of age may request a new number by mail. Anyone older than 12 requesting a first SS number must apply in person.4 Application StatusHow long until I receive receive my card?You will receive your new social security card along with the supporting documents at the mailing address listed on your application. It may take up to 10-14 business days for your new card to be delivered. Actual delivery time dependes on you local Social Security office.Please note that you will first receive your new social security card and then you will receive your supporting documents a few days after.5 BillingThe price for the e-package is $38Your order will be treated with priority and your e-package will be ready immediately.Can I get a refund after I sent my order?If your order has been processed and you are not satisfied with the service, you may request a refund:If you request a refund within 3 days of placing you order, your purchase will be refunded, as long as you have not used the pre paid label or received filing instructions by phone or e-mail.No refunds will be granted after 3 days of the purchase date.Refunds are given in the same manner in which user completed the order. Additionally, if the payment method that was used to pay for the transaction is no longer valid, canceled or stops working for any reason, Site will not be responsible if you can not receive reimbursement for reasons of closure, cancellation or any reason to limit the operation of payment method.Please consult our Terms and Conditions for more detailed information about cancellations and refunds.How long does it take for a refund to be posted?A refund posts back into your account within 3-4 business days after the refund is issued.If you have received confirmation of your refund from e-forms and the refund has not appeared on your statement after 3-4 business days, please contact your bank for more information.6 Required DocumentsIn order to prevent fraud and to protect you against Identity Theft, the SSA requires that you send original documents in order to prove that you are who you claim to be. The SSA will only accept original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency.How I can get certified copies?You can request a copy of your Driver’s License online at your local DMV.What types of documents are accepted?Acceptable DocumentsIf you are a US Born Citizen, and have been issued a previous card as an American citizen, you only need to show proof of identity.To prove your identity you need to send a Driver’s License, a State issued non driver’s ID, or a US Passport.If you were not born in the US or are not a US Citizen, you must provide proof of both identity and citizenship.Please check e-forms-us/docs for a complete list of acceptable documents.7 Our servicesWho is E-forms?E-forms is an online application preparation service. We simplify the SS5 application process through an intuitive questionnaire. Based on your answers, we generate a pre-filled SS5 form, ready to print, sign and mail.In addition, we also provide you with the exact address of where to mail your package (it varies by home address).Also, we provide detailed instructions and a complete list of acceptable documents for each different situation.This online process allows you to avoid going to your local SSA office and waiting in line – even if you visit the local office to apply in person, you won’t be issued a card right away. All SS cards are sent by US mail.Steps to the application process:Step 1: Answer the customized questionsStep 2: Sign your filled out SS5 form.Step 3: Attach your supporting documents and mail your packet to the Social Security Administration using the pre paid USPS label.Step 4: Receive your card in the mail in 10-14 business days8 PrivacyWhat happens to my personal information?E-forms uses the most advanced 256 bit encryption technology to protect your information.After you complete the process and the package is sent to you, your Social Security number is deleted from our files. Only the last four digits are stored for identification purposes.We do not store credit card numbers or any of your financial information.

After having lived through the horror of my own immigration process, and seeing countless other people making the same mistake, I thought its better to lay out the most effective, easy to understand and follow, approach to Canadian immigration.Some basic info on Canadian ImmigrationFor all immigration purposes, the Canadian Govt. has developed a really good website that you’ll need at every step of the application here on - Immigrate to Canada. Thanks to this website, you don’t need an attorney or consultant.Canada offers multiple channels for immigration, that you can make use of:Express Entry: Most popular and fastest immigration route, run by the Federal govt.. Meant for skilled people. Manages three economic immigration programs:Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) - Skilled workers with foreign experience. All professionals in sales, marketing, IT, finance, legal, medicine, etc. fall under this category.Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) - People qualified in a skilled trade with foreign experience. Chefs, bakers, equipment operators, etc. fall under this category.Canadian Experience Class (CEC) - Skilled workers who have Canadian work experience.Provincial Nominee: Second most popular channel. Meant for people who do not have sufficient score to clear Express Entry. Run by each individual province. Program opens on ad-hoc basis. If you get nominated, then you must spend 2 years in the province, before you can move to any other province.Family Sponsorship: Existing permanent residents can sponsor their relatives, including their spouse, partner, children, parents, grandparents, and others to immigrateQuebec-selected skilled worker: Immigration program run separately by the province of Quebec. Meant for people who want to live in Quebec specifically.Start-up Visa: Have a start-up idea and can bring in local jobs? Canada will give you a PR, if your idea is accepted by a designated organization and implemented.Self-Employed: Can contribute culturally or in athletics to Canada.Atlantic Immigration Pilot: Immigrate by graduating from a school or working in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland and Labrador. This program is meant to boost the economies of Atlantic provinces that usually don’t see much immigration influx.RefugeesMajority of the applicants apply via Express Entry, Provincial Nomination or Family Sponsorship. For this answer, I’ll focus exclusively on Federal Skilled Worker Program.Canadian immigration is entirely points based. Every applicant is awarded fixed points for their education, age, language abilities, marital status, spouse’s qualifications, etc. The system that awards these points is called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).Every month, the Canadian Immigration Agency - IRCC, announces a cut-off score. All applicants with CRS score above this cut-off receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence. The ones that don’t qualify remain in the pool.STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE TO APPLY FOR CANADIAN PRSTEP 1: Check your eligibility (Cost: Free, Time: 10 mins)Use this quick online tool from the Canadian Govt. to check if you are eligible to apply. Do you want to come to Canada, or extend your stay? Scoring Criteria >> Eligibility to apply as a Federal Skilled Worker (Express Entry).STEP 2: Gauge your chances early (Cost: Free, Time: 15 mins - 2 hours)If you are eligible to apply, then I strongly recommend you to check your CRS score with your info and hypothetical scores for IELTS >> Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) tool: skilled immigrants (Express Entry). At this stage, there are some important factors that will adversely affect your application:IELTS score: You need to score at least 8–7–7–7 (Listening, reading, writing, speaking respectively), to sufficient points to compete in the pool. Anything less than this, will cost you tonnes of points.Education: If you have a Bachelor/Masters, do some background research to check if World Education Services (WES), the authority that will assess your educational qualifications, will consider your university degree equivalent to a Canadian Bachelors/Masters. Reason why I say this is because if you have a Masters from a tier 3 college, and if WES does not find it equivalent to a Canadian degree, then you will end up being recognized as an applicant with only a Bachelors degree, losing crucial points in the process. Doing this check at this stage will save you a lot of money and trouble.Age: Every year beyond the age of 30, applicants will lose 5 points. So if you are planning to apply at a later date, then be sure to keep this mind.Work Experience: While claiming for work experience, note that Canada assumes that you have always worked in the same job classification, as denoted by your NOC code. If you were a Marketer for 3 years, and an Interior Designer for 2 years, then you cannot claim a combined work experience of 5 years. Choose whichever experience you want to claim, and stick with that corresponding NOC throughout your application.Spouse: It is not mandatory to have your spouse take the IELTS and verify their educational credentials. But if your CRS calculator shows you with points in the range of 400–430, then consider entering hypothetical IELTS scores for your spouse, and also entering their educational credentials.Try multiple permutations and combinations of the above factors in the CRS tool before you even begin your PR journey. Now, go through the CRS draws announced in the past few months with this link >> Express Entry rounds of invitations. This will help you get an idea about where you currently stand.For e.g., for this entire year, the draws have always been around 440–445. So look for a hypothetical CRS configuration that will help you score more than this cut-off.Everyone with a CRS score of 400+ should proceed to the next step. Others who aren’t scoring as much, should do a little bit more research and consider alternative immigration methods.Protip: I suggest taking a free mock IELTS test to actually check how much you score. Your entire application may rest on the laurels of your language abilities, so I would give particular attention to this.Another ProTip: If your spouse is younger than you, or has higher educational credentials, then please let them be the primary applicant instead.STEP 3: Educational Credentials Assessment (Cost: INR 20,000 per person, Time: 30–45 days)Dipak has an excellent step-by-step process on how to do this >> Dipak Maheshwari's answer to What is the process to get Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for Canada PR from WES? This assessment will take you approximately one month, so get started at the earliest. Some things to keep in mind:I chose the express shipment via UPS at CAD 85 to receive the document. People who have chosen the cheapest delivery option have had mixed results. So take your chances.I also chose to have my university send the transcripts and degree certificates directly to WES, with the reference number mentioned. Works flawlessly, saves time.STEP 4: Take the “IELTS General Training” test (Cost: INR 11,500 pp, Time: depends on test date availability)While you initiate the WES ECA process, also start looking for available IELTS test dates in your city. Considering the heavy demand for IELTS for both immigration and education, test dates are at least 20 days away in many cities around the world. Having said that, I strongly suggest that you take a test date that’s at least 30 days away to give you ample time to prepare for the test.ProTip: Some tips to score well on your IELTS examSTEP 5: Start saving money in your bank account as Proof of FundsAs part of the PR process, Canadian immigration rules require you to have sufficient funds to manage your living expenses when you first arrive. Through the PR process, applicants need to prove that they have the necessary funds in their bank account. For more details on the amount, type of funds, etc >> Proof of funds - Skilled immigrants (Express Entry)In case you don’t have the sufficient funds, consider saving the required funds in your bank account at the same time you decide to apply for PR. Its best to show a gradual accumulation of funds in your account, rather than sudden, bulk transfers.ProTip: If you have a salary account, maintain the account balance with every monthly salary credit. Use your spouse’s income for other expenses.STEP 6: Create your Express Entry profile (Cost: Free, Time: 1 hour)After you have received your ECA and IELTS reports, go ahead and create an express entry profile. IRCC has a fantastic and easy to understand guide on creating your Express Entry profile. Submit an Express Entry profile: Online form. Submit your application. You’ll receive a confirmation via email, and within the application inbox inside the CIC portal. You’ll also receive the CRS score that the system has given you, and will be placed in the Express Entry pool.From here on, keep a close eye on the draws announced by IRCC. If your CRS score clears the cut-off, then you will receive an Invitation to Apply within 24–48 hours, via email.In case the cut-off appears to be far beyond your signNow, and if you feel there is nothing more you can do to add more points to your profile, then consider applying for Provincial Nomination Programs instead. Am not an expert in PNP process, but you can seek help through a legion of fellow applicants over at CanadaVisa forums >> Provincial Nomination Program ImmigrationSTEP 7: Post-ITA Documentation (Cost: INR 10,000 pp, Time: 60 days)Congratulations on receiving your ITA! You have now successfully completed the major hurdle of your immigration journey. All that is left now is to provide the documentation expected of you within the time limit, and if everything is in order, you’ll receive your PR confirmation.The documents you will need to prepare at this stage are:Medical Exam at a IRCC authorized center. (INR 8500 per person in metros)Police Clearance Certificate from Passport Seva Kendra (INR 500 per person) >> (How to get a PCC)If you have lived in a foreign country for more than 5 months cumulatively, then you will have to procure a police clearance from those authorities. This can take a while, so get started on this first. (Note: IRCC says 6 months, but I have seen people with 5 months of stay also being asked for PCC)Reference letter from employer. (More Details)Bank Statement & Digital PhotosSTEP 8: Application Submission and PPR (Cost: INR 50,000 pp, Time: None)After having prepared the documents, you need to submit these in the system and make the final payments.INR 26,250 - Application Processing fee: CAD 550 per personINR 23,400 - Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): CAD 490 per person ~ (Note: this can also be paid when you are landing in Canada)INR 7160 - Dependent Child: CAD 150 per childIf you have successfully paid your fees and submitted the application, you’ll receive an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AoR) via email and within the application inbox.From here on, all you need to do is wait for an email from IRCC requesting your passport. Among the immigration community, this is called PPR - passport request. At this stage, you can be 99% sure that your PR has been confirmed. Once you receive this email, you visit the nearest VFS Global center, submit your passport and photos, and await for the final visa stamping.ProTip: Paying your RPRF will reduce the processing time by 4–7 days.STEP 9: Pre-arrival and landingAlthough you have received the PR confirmation in Step 8, the process is not yet officially concluded. One year from the date of your medicals, your immigration visa will expire. Within this time, you and your dependents must enter Canada by Flight or car at the border crossing, and complete the formalities. >> Sandeep's answer to What are the first steps after signNowing Canada?ProTip: Signup with settlement agencies like SOPA or PlanningForCanada that will help you with orientation and other useful information. Also plan to land 3 months after receiving your PR.This concludes the step-by-step process for obtaining a Canadian PR. All the best, folks!P.S. Veteran immigrants, please feel free to correct or enrich this answer based on your experience.Follow our story on our blog LockStockCanada.com

Want to find out someone's social security number? Social security number's aren't as hard to get as you may think. Many sites offer social security numbers to employers for identification verification. SSN's of deceased persons are also available to the public if you know where to look. Here are a few tips on how to find out someone's Social Security number.Step 1Obtain the true full name of the person's social security number that you are looking for. Many people use nicknames or completely different names entirely. A middle initial can also be important when identifying multiple people with the same first and last name.Step 2Search the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) online if you are looking for the social security number of someone who has passed away. This site is easy to search and contains almost every person who has died since the early 60's.Step 3Utilize E-Verify's service through the Web. E-Verify works in partnership with the Social Security Administration to provide social security number verification to qualified employers and agencies. E-Verify is free to use for employers to determine if a worker is eligible for employment in the U.S.If you are living in the US and making ends meet can be a problem at times, then you need to know about the special program of the government which is established just to help those in need. Do you know what Social Security is? What is the meaning of Social Security and the concept? Well, if you are looking for answers for these questions and many more then you have landed on the right page. Everything you need to know about it is below.If you do not receive benefits, you can:New! Request a replacement Social Security card if you meet certain requirements;New! Check the status of your application or appeal.Get your Social Security Statement, to review:Estimates of your future retirement, disability, and survivors benefits;Your earnings once a year to verify the amounts that we posted are correct; andThe estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid.Get a benefit verification letter stating that:You never received Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicare; orYou received benefits in the past, but do not currently receive them. (The letter will include the date your benefits stopped and how much you received that year.); orYou applied for benefits but haven’t received an answer yet.If you receive benefits or have Medicare, you can:New! Request a replacement Social Security card if you meet certain requirements;New! Report your wages if you work and receive Disability Insurance benefits;Get your benefit verification letter;Check your benefit and payment information and your earnings record;Change your address and phone number;Start or change direct deposit of your benefit payment;Get a replacement Medicare card; andGet a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for tax season.At Social Security, protecting your personal information is more important than ever. We continue to evaluate and improve our robust cyber-security program to safeguard your information. The thing is, we can’t do it alone. You can help us secure your information by taking one of these steps:Open your personal my Social Security account. A my Social Security account is your gateway to many of our online services. Create your account today and take away the risk of someone else trying to create one in your name, even if they obtain your Social Security number.If you already have a my Social Security account, but haven’t signed in lately, take a moment to login to easily take advantage of our second method to identify you each time you log in. This is in addition to our first layer of security, a username and password. You can choose either your cell phone number or your email address as your second identification method. Using two ways to identify you when you sign on will help protect your account from unauthorized use and potential identity theft. If you suspect identity theft, report it to our Office of the Inspector General and visit Identity Theft Recovery Steps.If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, and if you don’t want to do business with Social Security online, you can use our Block Electronic Access You can block any automated telephone and electronic access to your Social Security record. No one, including you, will be able to see or change your personal information on the internet or through our automated telephone service. If you block access to your record and then change your mind in the future, you can contact Social Security and ask us to unblock it after you prove your identity. This resource is available to certain victims of identity theft and those who need extra security.We will continue to do our part to protect what’s important to you. And we’ll continue to advise you on how to protect yourself.How could you possibly "forget" your Social Security number?You'd have numerous tax documents with it on it, an employment application and an I-9 immigration form; and you would have had to file either background checks for renting or for work. You also need your SSN to open a bank account in the United States.Sorry...but short of an elderly person experiencing Alzheimer's or dementia the odds of not knowing your Social Security number or where to find it in your own residence or at work are so improbable that this question is almost certainly an attempt at social engineering.Started in 1935, Social Security is a federal program that provides economic help to the section of the public which needs it. People who can benefit from the Social Security program of the government are retired people, poor, disabled and others. During the great depression of the 1930s, the US Government signed the Social Security Act in an effort to provide a safety net for people going through financial crises. Though the great depression has ended a long time ago, the authorities have decided to keep the program running so as to provide the required financial support to people needing it.How Does It Work?In the US, employees as well as employers are required to pay Social Security taxes, and the funds raised through levying these taxes on the general public are provided as benefits to those in need. This way, workers of today pay the money that they will receive as benefits when they retire and so on. The Social Security benefits you receive are based on the amount of Social Security taxes you paid that are somewhat based on your income.What Are Social Security Benefits?The benefits offered by the Social Security Administration can be received in a number of ways, such as retirement benefits that you start receiving after you have signNowed the age of 62. In 2011, approximately 39 million people in the US received average monthly benefits of USD 1229 as retirement benefits. The US Social Security Administration also offers Disability benefits for people who have been disabled for at least five full months and their condition has rendered them unable to work. Furthermore, there is also a program for survivors which provides benefits for the widows and children of Social Security beneficiaries.Apart from these, there are also supplemental benefits that are available for people 65 years of age or older who have very limited financial resources and are disabled. Then there is also medicare which covered about 49 million people in 2011, making more than 550 billion US dollars in benefit payments.Well, now that you know what exactly Social Security is, what it entails and how it works, it is time for you to tell us what you think. Do you believe that the Social Security scheme of the US government is adequate or does it need further changes to be made for effective? Tell us through your comments below. We would love to hear from you.If you do not know your SSN (Social Security Number) and have lost your original card, you will need to visit your local Social Security Administration office - in person. To discuss your Social Security number or to obtain a replacement card, you will need certain documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include a U.S. birth certificate or a U.S. passport.An acceptable document must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying information (date of birth or age) and preferably a recent photograph. For example, as proof of identity, Social Security must see your:U.S. driver's license;State-issued non-driver identification card; orU.S. passport.If you do not have one of these specific documents or you cannot get a replacement for one of them within 10 days, SSA will ask to see other documents, including:Employee identification card;School identification card;Health insurance card (not a Medicare card); orU.S. military identification card.If you come across a site that is displaying anyone’s Social Security number or Medical Records, you need to report them for internet crime because they hacked private information or bought data that was hacked and sold to sites like which exist primarily to perpetrate or promote fraud and identity theft. If you are hunting for Social Security numbers instead of just using your own, you can also be held responsible for attempted fraud or identity theft if you try to use it. There really is no honor among thieves, so don’t set yourself up for that to come haunt you. The political issues that are all over the news for the last 12 months and even beyond is all about illegal hacking and look at the widespread ill effects that is having.There are reputable sites for looking up someone’s background for your own protection or for employment purposes that do not advertise they can give you Social Security numbers, they do not have them. You cannot get your own Social Security number online, even on the SSA website signed into your account, as it is private and blocked save for the last four. It is protected information and not even listed on the web. Of course with Equifax’s last irresponsible hoopla, over 143 million people are up a creek without a paddle and totally screwed for life because you can’t just up and change your identity whenever you want like you change your passwords or screen names.When you go in person to your local office they may be able to assist you to find your number that day, if you have at least two forms of accepted ID, meaning originalorcertified by issuer documentation, your father’s social security number, or other forms of ID. signNowd documents are NOT accepted in any case. You must be able prove your identity beyond any doubt to get that number. If you try to apply for a second Social Security number they will also assume fraud and you’ll have a headache. If you are attempting to get your Social Security card replaced by mail you will have to fill out the correct forms from SSA and send your original or certified by issuer. They will not take copies or signNowd forms. Your identification documents will be returned to you once they have reviewed them.You also will have an extremely hard time changing your Social Security number once issued. The number you are issued belongs to you for eternity, even after you die, that number stays attached to you—they do not re-use a number. It will just about take a legal order and proof for the reason you want to change it. All of your work history is attached to your number and changing it is not allowed only for reasons like witness protection or in certain cases of domestic violence. There are only one or two reasons they will issue a new number and losing your card is not one of them. Head into your local SSA office with acceptable forms of identification and apply for a replacement card—pretty simple and above board.Any old joe without a legitimate business and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot just go to Social Security and get your number without being registered as a legitimate business entity. You cannot type a persons name into a search box and access someone’s records that are not your own. You will have to show proof of your business along with submitting all requested documentation. You will need your own Social Security number just to complete this registration too as well as a stack of paperwork.

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