Carbon Reduction Treaties and the World Trade Organization

Carbon Reduction Treaties and the World Trade Organization Trade and Climate Change: Proposal for Reconciling the WTO with Carbon-Reduction Treaties Executive Summary The relationship between climate change and the rules controlling the international players is an area that has elicited a lot of debate. Some of the trade agreements undermine the ability of governments to implement climate policies in their own countries. The fight for climate change is a battle for the policy makers in trade since if the conditions are not conducive for trade to happen; their profits will dwindle. Developing countries will have to suffer an extra cost on their exports if the playing field is not level with the international partners. All players in the provision of goods and services should price carbon emission costs correctly to ensure market efficiency. The policy and regulatory changes needed should affect both trade and climate change. This should be a global initiative and not just the leading partners. The effort and implement of proper policies by one party will not be sufficient, as their action will be watered down by the activities by the others. This p aper looks at the effects climate change has had on business at the local and international level. It also looks at ways in which the World Trade Organization rules and regulations conflict with International conventions on climate change, especially carbon emission reduction. Finally, I attempt to make proposals on how this problem of climate change could be resolved without necessarily causing an imbalance in the markets. Trade and Climate Change: Proposal for Reconciling the WTO with Carbon-Reduction Treaties Introduction Free trade could improve the welfare of many countries. This is rarely achievable though since countries have varying economic powers. They get into trade agreements with neighbors and have a sort of exchange of resources. These relationships are usually a give and take with the politics playing a major role. The inter-relation between climate change and international trade has gravely impacted developing countries. Much emphasis has not been given to provide a solution to a combined effort to reduce the effects of global warming caused by human intervention. Our actions now have far-reaching consequences and will affect generations to come.   In the quest to meet the needs of our respective countries, we are depleting the natural resources and poisoning the environment. This paper will attempt to highlight the potential areas of conflict between various economic interests and the interventions proposed by the trade partners and advocacy groups such as Wort Trade Organizations (WTO). Background The world stands at a crucial juncture with respect to global economic policy development. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been formulated through global governance to bring forth a new perception of the issue of climate change to protect the earth’s economy, the human race and the environment (Edouard & Bernstein, 2016). Carbon-Reduction Treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change together with the SDGs are examples of currents ways through which world leaders have come together for the sake of saving the world economy by agreeing to join forces and tackle carbon emissions with one voice. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a body of International partners who have come together to engage on matters concerning the world’s climate. It started as a call to countries to limit global temperatures and control climate changes and working towards the impact of already existing effects of climate change (Park, 2016). The Paris Climate Agreement is an accord within the (UNFCCC) was adopted in December 2015. This Agreement deals with greenhouse gas emission mitigation, adoption and finance commencing 2020.   The agreement was negotiated by 196 parties and signed by 195 members. The Paris Agreement reached an agreement in 2015 where the signatories concurred to restrict global warming ‘well below 2 °C and to pursue further reduction of these temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius (Raes, Liao, Chen & Seinfeld, 2010). Each country is expected to formulate policies and implement them the best way they see fit and finally report to the UNFCCC on their contribution towards mitigation of global warming. They agreed not to set any enforcement mechanisms of this agreement, but they would at the minimum be expected to go beyond earlier set targets. This stance was adopted after it was found impossible to ensure compliance under the Kyoto Protocol (Gupta, 2014). The concerns about this Agreement are that the current pledges by countries are not going to meet the required quota to meet the global target. Countries are not yet effecting policies to ensure carbon dioxide reduction emissions. The lack of an enforcement mechanism means nothing can be done to anyone who fails to implement policies of engage in activities that are geared towards environmental protection. The agreement was just a promise by the heads of state with no legal binding effect. No sanctions such as carbon tax can be imposed on one for failure of compliance (Park, 2016). Private investors are to take up the role of meeting the Sustainable Development Goal No.13 on ensuring action concerning climate change and its impact (Goal 13 .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform, 2017). This involves low carbon ventures and clean technology. The government’s role in this instance would be limited, and hopefully, the conditions in the business environments in the countries would be conducive. The existing trade agreements are of two kinds: Regional Trade Agreements (RTA) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTA). The RTAs are reciprocal agreements between partners. They include customs unions, free trade agreements, etc. PTAs are unilateral preferences that mean the developed countries are given preferential tariffs on their imports from the LCDs and other non-reciprocal preferential systems. The most significant area of conflict between the rules in these trade agreements and climate change is the status of border tax adjustment within WTO’s General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). At the moment there is no carbon pricing to enable meeting of the objectives of climate change under UNFCCC principles (Park, 2016). Strategies to combat climate change suggested by partners are many and varied such as: (1) imposing carbon tax or border tax adjustment. These tax caps are to offset any adverse effects of capping carbon dioxide releases into countries that are not executing the Kyoto protocol. (2) Increased reliance on renewable energies thereby reducing pollution and emission of gases into the atmosphere; and offering inducements for energy efficiency and preservation; (3) lowered subsidies for fossil fuels; and (4) transnational transmissions, so developing countries shun burning coal (Park, 2016). Effects of Climate Change on Business Rapid climate adjustment threatens the global economy not so much for the current generation but for future generations. Under the earlier discussed treaties, countries are expected to meet their targets through national intervention. Their efforts are monitored and recorded in the International Transaction Log by the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Secretariat to ensure compliance with the protocol. The Kyoto Protocol presented 3 market-based instruments to realize the targets by members (Mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol). These instruments would motivate sustainable growth through skill transfer and investment; remove carbon in an affordable manner and inspire the privately owned businesses and unindustrialized nations to support the decline struggle. These mechanisms included Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); Joint Implementation (JI), and Emissions Trading (ET) (Goal 13 .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform, 2017). A recent study by James Hansen and other co-authors indicated that the glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica could be melting faster than had earlier been predicted. This would mean that within 50 years, the sea levels would rise by 10–20 feet (2015). This means that coastal cities and countries such as New York, Haiti, etc. would suffer tremendously. This is just a simple example of what climate change can do to a country. This is the reason why in 2015, the Conference of Parties (COP21) met in France to discuss International Trade in the face of climate change. The expectation was that these partners would nurture development, create businesses and improvement progress. Developing countries that still rely on the natural habitat for their existence are being affected by global warming, therefore, perpetuating more poverty. This leaves them impoverished since they will not produce any resources to engage in trade.   For example, in Africa, tourism is the main source of income for the countries with tourists visiting from all over the world to see wild animals in their natural habitat. Due to the effects of climate change, there are wildfires and drought that ravage them killing the animals discouraging sightseers. The down at the African Coast of Indian Ocean, the fish stock has gone down due to overfishing and the fact that the sea temperatures have increased, it is no longer possible to support the once attractive marine life (Reiter, 2015). Most of the African nations rely on agriculture for cash crops. This is slowly changing, as there has been a massive loss of biodiversity experienced. Not only will these countries find it difficult to feed their people, they will have nothing to trade with in exchange for the good and services they lack. For instance, the Tanzanian coast which is a central port for trade within the East African community is expected to rise by 70 centimeters by 2070. This would mean the government revenue will be affected and so will service delivery to the people. Reconciling the WTO with Carbon-Reduction Treaties In 2010, parties to the Multilateral Conventions (WTO, UNFCCC) were unable to reach consensus on reduction of emissions of heat-trapping gases at the Copenhagen climate conference and at the WTO Doha Round in 2001 since they involved complex issues. The issue of cross-linking concessions did not make the discussion easier. There are those scholars who believe that climate change is brought about by countries failing to observe the environmental cost of production, therefore, the society bears the brunt of these actions. There exists monopolies appear as a result of the absence of intervention or if they do not provide a conducive business environment. At the international level, however, market failure leads to a dysfunctioning world economy. As a result of the failure of the Doha and Copenhagen meetings, the U.S and the European Union blamed China and India whom they say are the main emitters of CO2 for failing to commit to the reduction of the emissions under UNFCC (Hermwille, 2018). 3 Policy proposals were fronted as follows: BTAFU: BorderTax Adjustment based on Foreign Unrestricted Carbon Content BTADU: Border Tax Adjustment based on Domestic Unrestricted Carbon Content BTADE: Scenario Efficient Border Tax Adjustment A tax on Carbon would guarantee efficacy between producers from countries with high carbon taxes when compared to with no carbon dioxide emission (Hermwille, 2018). Other trade policy options would include the use of domestic and export subsidies to give national companies an upper hand over international companies. Subsidizing could lead to obligations and subsequently protracted proceedings through the WTO disagreement settlement procedures. If the governments then agree on rights and duties, countries with CO2 reduction policies and existing trade measures may be tempted to reaction as a result of imagined unfair price advantage from countries with policies on carbon reduction (Hermwille, 2018). There exist general exceptions provisions within WTO rules and agreement, which would ordinarily be considered inconsistent with mainstream obligations, which allow trade restrictions of trade to protect, e.g., animals, plants or health to safeguard finite natural resources. These processes can be implemented in a general manner avoiding tedious litigation (Hermwille, 2018). The parties could use the Trade-Related Investment Measures Agreement (TRIMS) as a discussed and resuscitated idea. There was a list of export limitations, trade balancing requirements and home-grown/ local content requirement. TRIMS were a handy trade agreements permitting under developed countries to safeguard their industries. It could be used to now protect industries which committed to reduction of CO2 and dubbed Green Trims ++ (Hermwille, 2018). TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) have exceptions which could be used to help the least developed countries to advance. Technology from developed countries that aid in carbon reduction could be acquired through the â€Å"compulsory licensing† clause making it easier for these countries (LDCs). TRIPS could be widened to include TRIPS++ (Hermwille, 2018). The other solution would be by using the Plurilateral agreements to combine three different sectors as follows:   a) energy (goods and services), b) environment (goods and services) and c) trade (Preferential Trade Agreements) and development (Aid-for-Trade, Enhanced Integrated Framework, TRTAs). This would enable the countries to align their trade and development interests to a green objective (Hermwille, 2018). The WTO’s Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement) may be applied to combat the excessive fossil fuel subsidies. This Agreement has general restrictions have previously not been effective in limiting fossil fuel subsidies since it has been seen as an expensive endeavor (Hermwille, 2018). Plausible Solutions to Climate Changes at National and International levels To end these problems, there has to be a concerted effort, especially by all actors both in developed and developing countries. Trade alterations, trade inducements or subsidizations that encourage wasteful and unsanctionable trade and industry activities must cease to exist. The predisposition to create new hurdles touching on renewables, comprising biofuels, needs to be addressed at the local and international level. Have strict requirements concerning the burden of trade measures, which tend to work against sustainable development goals. Doing away with fossil fuel subsidies such as tax breaks, loans, cheap land, etc. that encourages big corporations to deplete the non-renewable energy sources as opposed to investing in alternative energy sources.   Carbon emissions have increasingly gotten out of hand with the fossil fuels burning such as gas, oil or coal. Carbon dioxide is released into the air when these fuels are being produced. It should thereafter be re-absorbed by plants and animals, but it is too much in the atmosphere making the global temperatures rise. This is global warming. These players need to be incentivized to reduce carbon emissions. Trade and investments are important in making a difference in markets and spreading them. If the players could be allowed to engage in an open trading system, with agreed rules, the producers of fossil energy would increase on efficacy and reduce wastage. As shown in the below, low carbon investment may possibly be attained at domestic echelons through state intervention, industry players, civil societies, private sector etc. (International governance options to strengthen WTO and UNFCCC1, 2011) Source: (Saner, 2011) At the international level, International production organizations should go green. This should be felt at all levels of production and putting in place a verifiable process to ensure strict compliance of the final outcome or process. Multilateral agreements and covenants such as Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) have attempted to achieve this but with little success. Financial markets both local and international could be rewarded for investing in climate adaptation and mitigation. They could be compelled to have an environmental and social governance performance report. This will push them to perform in a more responsible way. Tariffs on environmental technologies should be abolished to encourage innovation of environmentally friendly technologies accessible to many. Wind turbines, solar panels are some of the examples that come to mind that would help developing countries. The Montreal protocol is viewed as one of the most successful multilateral environmental agreements ever. It has received funding from UNDP, UNEP, and the World Bank and spent this money through environmental conservation programs. The Clean Technology Fund is guided by UNFCC principles and finances clean technology transfers, which was to be used for financing technology transfers. These are all good actions by the World Bank, but this has not stopped them from also funding carbon-demanding projects in line with their normal procedures. These funds are in the form of loans so they will eventually have to be paid off at a steep cost especially to the developing countries. This cannot, therefore, be said to be a self-actualization of the Kyoto commitments. Conclusion To reconcile trade rules and climate policies would require the effort of all global partners including the Least Developed Countries. Governments must take it upon themselves to implement the proposals stated herein and other dictates in the WTO agreements. Bearing in mind that WTO is no longer an efficient negotiating partner, countries should engage in regional, bilateral or Plurilateral agreements that support their policies on climate change but at the same time do not stifle international change. A balance can be found where positive climate provisions could find their way in trade policies and vice versa. References Edouard, L., & Bernstein, S. (2016). Challenges for Measuring Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.  African Journal Of Reproductive Health,  20(3), 45-54. http://dx.doi.org/10.29063/ajrh2016/v20i3.9 Goal 13 .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. (2017).  Sustainabledevelopment.un.org. Retrieved 22 April 2018, from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg13 Gupta, A. (2014). Clean development mechanism of Kyoto Protocol.  International Journal Of Climate Change Strategies And Management,  6(2), 116-130. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijccsm-09-2012-0051 Hermwille, L. (2018). Making initiatives resonate: how can non-state initiatives advance national contributions under the UNFCCC?.  International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law And Economics. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10784-018-9398-9 Park, D. (2016).  Legal issues on climate change and international trade law. Springer. Raes, F., Liao, H., Chen, W., & Seinfeld, J. (2010). Atmospheric chemistry-climate feedbacks.  Journal Of Geophysical Research,  115(D12). http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2009jd013300 Reiter, J. (2015).  What does climate change mean for the future of trade?.  World Economic Forum. Retrieved 22 April 2018, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/12/what-does-climate-change-mean-for-the-future-of-trade/ Saner, R. (2011).  International governance options to strengthen WTO and UNFCCC. Retrieved from http://www.diplomacydialogue.org/images/files/20110611-International%20governance%20options%20to%20strengthen%20WTO%20and%20UNFCCC.pdf

Maritime Law Final Exam Essay

1.For the past two decades, a number of issues have surfaced on the international scene regarding successive ruthless dictatorships which have been committing egregious and widespread violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in over 60 states. In light of the United Nations Charter and the aims of that international body, it has been suggested to the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization to bring about a new convention addressing human rights and accountability for such crimes committed by states and their regimes. It is expected that states will sign and ratify the newly introduced convention to be entitled International Human Rights Convention. You are the government appointed United Nations Representative for the state, Genocidia. The President of Genocidia has been recently inaugurated and is not experienced in the process of ratification of conventions. In fact, Genocidia had only ratified 4 conventions, these being since you were appointed to your present post. You have received a letter from the President of your state requesting that you prepare a detailed presentation on the ratification process and present this at a meeting to be held next week. The other Ministers of State will be in attendance. You are also asked to prepare a written version of your presentation explaining the entire process from the point that the suggestion is made to the committee to point where the convention comes into force; explaining the differences between the steps and what each action signifies, such as signature as opposed to ratification. Prepare the written version of your presentation. (15 marks) 2.One of the vessels under your management has sailed from South America to the United States. Four days after sailing a stowaway is found hiding in one of the lifeboats. Discuss TEN actions you would instruct the master to take following the discovery of the stowaway. (15 marks) 3.In the case of R. v. City of Sault Saint Marie [1978]40 Can. Crim. Cas. (2d) 353 (S.C.C.), Dickson J. of the Supreme Court of Canada held at page 363 that – â€Å"Public welfare offences †¦ lie in a field of conflicting values. It is essential for society to maintain, through effective enforcement, high standards of public health and safety. Potential victims of latently pernicious activities have a strong claim to consideration. On the other hand, there is a generally held revulsion against punishment of the morally innocent.† Discuss the above statement using the relevant international laws currently in place to advise on the issues that may arise in relation to the characterization of an offence under national legislation giving effect to the following provision in Regulation 3 of MARPOL73/78, Annex I: â€Å"REGULATION 3 General Exceptions Regulations of this Annex shall not apply to: (a) any emission necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of a ship or saving life at sea; or (b) any emission resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment: ( i ) provided that all reasonable precautions have been taken after the occurrence of the damage or discovery of the emission for the purpose of preventing or minimizing the emission; and (ii) except if the owner or the master acted either with intent to cause damage, or recklessly and with knowledge that damage would probably result.† (15 marks) 4.†The strait of Polipa, bordered by the State of Andonia, is one of the world’s busiest straits used for international navigation. To get to their fishing grounds, distant-water fishing vessels flagged in the State of Bellotia have to pass through the territorial sea and exclusive economic zone of Andonia and the archipelagic waters of the Republic of Calcali. Moreover, a neighbour of Andonia, the State of Dordora, which is a landlocked State, transports hazardous waste from its territory to reprocessing plants in the Kingdom of Epitam by ships flagged in the State of Flitona. These ships pass through the exclusive economic zones of Andonia and Calcali. As a result of such intense activity through the strait, pirates have started operating in the region. You should note that Andonia, Bellotia, the Republic of Calcali, and the Kingdom of Epitam are States Parties to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Dordora and Flitona are not Parties to the Convention. Please note that the words â€Å"ships† and â€Å"vessels† are synonymous. Please answer the following questions: 1.What are the rights and duties of Bellotia to ensure that it’s fishing vessels can exercise freedom of fishing, and their rights of innocent passage and transit passage? 2.What are the rights and duties of Andonia, the Republic of Calcali, Dordora, and the Kingdom of Epitam to ensure that the vessels of Flitona can exercise their freedom of navigation, and their rights of archipelagic sea lane passage and transit passage? 3.What are the rights and duties of Andonia, the Republic of Calcali and the Kingdom of Epitam to protect themselves from the risks of pollution from the vessels? (15 marks) END OF PAPER

The Use and Applications of Mental Imagery - 1034 Words

Introduction The imagination is a very powerful tool to change the way we think, act and live our lives, but it can be a tool for good and bad. Sometimes we think of imagination as something that is relegated to children, but we imagine things all the time when we come up with a new idea or just think about what will happen next, unfortunately this can cause a lot of stress, as we imagine everything that can go wrong and how we may fail. This response may be a defense, but it can be very harmful in modern society as modern â€Å"threats† usually do not involve running from a tiger, so the adrenaline will not help. History visualizations have been used by very many cultures throughout history all over the world for healing. This form of healing failed to become popular in western culture after loosing some credibility during the renascence. It made a come around however after the introduction of psychology . A early psychologist named Carl Jung used a form of visualization to help his patients overcome recurring nightmares and their physical symptoms. Clinical Psychology eventually adopted the use of imagination for treatments for things like systematic desensitization which is when you imagine positive images to help override stress and fear. its also used in diagnostic tests for example the ink blot test. Healing two journals one by Yale University and the other by Marquette University have produced studies using mental imagery as a complimentary tool for everything fromShow MoreRelatedVisual Mental Imagery and the Average Subject Essay1133 Words   |  5 Pagesof Visual Mental Imagery (VMI) will be utilized in order to exemplify and discuss these different measures. The next section will introduce VMI with a definition and a brief history, however, because it is not the main focus of the essay it will be kept very concise. 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10 cosas que debes saber sobre formularios del USCIS

Para ser exitoso en peticiones o solicitudes al Servicio de Inmigracià ³n y Ciudadanà ­a   (USCIS) es fundamental llenar correctamente el formulario que corresponda, segà ºn el caso. Para ello, este artà ­culo brinda importante informacià ³n en 10 puntos bà ¡sicos sobre quà © se debe hacer, quà © consejos seguir para evitar problemas graves y cà ³mo hacer un seguimiento de los trà ¡mites una vez que se envà ­a el formulario.   10 cosas que debes saber sobre los formularios del USCIS 1. Las planillas del USCIS son gratuitas y se pueden obtener directamente en la pà ¡gina oficial. Hay decenas de formularios y se debe elegir la correcta, segà ºn el tipo de informacià ³n, peticià ³n o solicitud que se quiere hacer.   En ese enlace anterior se accede a todos los formularios. Para descargarlos es necesario tener adobe reader, el programa que permite abrir archivos pdf. Tambià ©n se pueden buscar por su nombre, que està ¡ siempre conformado por una letra o unas letras (AR, EOIR, G, I, N) seguido por un guià ³n y a continuacià ³n un nà ºmero. Dependiendo del formulario en ocasiones es posible realizar el trà ¡mite online, por ejemplo, para notificar el cambio de domicilio es posible descargar el formulario AR-11 en forma de archivo pdf o tambià ©n cumplir con esa obligacià ³n directamente por internet. Lo que es importe es no enviar doblemente la misma peticià ³n, una por cada medio. 2. Enviar siempre la à ºltima edicià ³n de la planilla. Frecuentemente el USCIS modifica los formularios cambiando alguna pregunta o requisito. Es muy importante fijarse en la fecha que pone expires (expiracià ³n) en la parte superior derecha del formulario.   El mejor consejo es siempre obtener el formulario justo el dà ­a en que se va a completar y asà ­ evitar enviar uno que ha quedado viejo y, por consiguiente, el USCIS no lo va a aceptar. 3. Las planillas deben llenarse en tinta negra. Ademà ¡s, deben estar firmadas a mano por el solicitante de la informacià ³n, solicitud o peticià ³n. A este à ºltimo punto existen dos excepciones. En primer lugar cuando se trata de un menor de 14 aà ±os, en cuyo caso debe firmar uno de los padres o guardià ¡n legal. En segundo lugar, en el caso de personas declaradas judicialmente como incapacitadas, en cuyo caso debe firmar en su nombre su guardià ¡n legal. 4. Es muy importante leer las instrucciones de cà ³mo llenar la planilla ya que allà ­ explican informacià ³n relevante como quà © documentos deben acompaà ±arse al envà ­o el formulario. En este punto hay que tener en cuenta que se envà ­an siempre fotocopias legibles, excepto en los casos en los que expresamente se pide que se envà ­e un documento original. El USCIS puede en cualquier momento solicitar ver dicho documento. Tener en cuenta que si se envà ­a un original, como por ejemplo un pasaporte, el USCIS no lo regresa automà ¡ticamente y habrà ­a que pedirle el retorno oficialmente con su debido formulario. Ademà ¡s, si cualquier documento adicional que es necesario adjuntar està ¡ en un idioma que no es inglà ©s, debe traducirse a ese idioma e incluirse una carta que certifique la traduccià ³n. 5. Mentir expresamente o mediante un omisià ³n es un formulario migratorio es una violacià ³n migratoria y podrà ­a dar lugar a problemas graves. Antes de caer en la tentacià ³n de mentir, consultar con un abogado reputado y entender bien las consecuencias. 6. La tramitacià ³n de casi todos los formularios del USCIS cuestan dinero, aunque hay algunos que son gratuitos. Ademà ¡s, es posible solicitar la exencià ³n del pago segà ºn el tipo de formulario y teniendo en cuenta las circunstancias del solicitante. Es importante verificar esta informacià ³n porque podrà ­a dar lugar a importantes ahorros. Por otro lado, tener en cuenta que no tener dinero no es causa razonable para no enviar un documento al USCIS cuando hay obligacià ³n de hacerlo dentro de un plazo. Por ejemplo, si un novio de ciudadana ingresa a Estados Unidos con una visa K-1, se casan antes de 90 dà ­as pero a continuacià ³n no se solicita la green card por ajuste de estatus porque no se tiene dinero para la cuota, ahà ­ hay un problema muy gordo. 7. Cualquier persona puede llenar el formulario del USCIS por sà ­ misma. Lo importante es que entienda todo lo que pide el formulario y las condiciones. No es aconsejable dejarse llevar por el consejo de amigos o familiares o proceder a llenar la planilla cuando no se comprende todo el trà ¡mite que se inicia. Por otro lado, si se cuenta con un abogado o un representante acreditado, debe cumplimentarse la planilla G-28. Es importante elegir un buen abogado, honesto, con conocimientos y que està © pendiente de las fechas de los casos y de envà ­o de documentos. Conviene desconfiar de todas las personas que ofrecen milagros o que aseguran conocer a una persona dentro del sistema que resuelve problemas a cambio de dinero. Eso, ademà ¡s de ser un delito, es un fraude. 8. Completar solo la parte del formulario que aplica. Algunos documentos sirven para situaciones variadas. Es fundamental que cada uno responda y complete sà ³lo la parte que le corresponde. Por ejemplo, el I-131Application for Travel document, sirve como permiso de reentrada a los Estados Unidos para residentes permanentes, como documento de viaje para refugiados y como advance parole para extranjeros que en el momento de solicitarlo se encuentran fà ­sicamente en Estados Unidos.   Por otro lado, otro problema de confusià ³n puede surgir porque no se elige la variedad correcta de planilla segà ºn la peticià ³n que se quiere hacer. Por ejemplo, el I-129 tiene cuatro modalidades, el I-129, el I-129CW, I-129F e I-129S y sirve para propà ³sitos tan dispares como pedir a un trabajador extranjero o solicitar una visa para el prometido de un ciudadano americano. Es importante no solo elegir el formulario correcto sino tambià ©n completar sà ³lo las categorà ­as que aplican al beneficio que se pide. Y dentro de à ©stas, si alguna respuesta es ninguno contestar NONE y si es No Aplica, por ejemplo en el caso de pedir nombre de cà ³nyuges anteriores cuando se trata de una persona que no los ha tenido, escribir N/A. 9. A la hora de enviar el formulario junto con la documentacià ³n de apoyo y el pago de la cuota al lugar que se indica en las instrucciones se da la opcià ³n de un envà ­o por correo ordinario o por servicio de mensajerà ­a. Cualquiera de los dos es và ¡lido pero, en general, da mayor confianza este à ºltimo servicio por deja constancia de la fecha de entrega. Sin embargo, no es necesario ni obligatorio. 10. Es posible hacer un seguimiento de dà ³nde està ¡n los papeles y cà ³mo va la tramitacià ³n a travà ©s de diferentes medios, desde por internet a llamadas por telà ©fono al Servicio al Cliente del USCIS una vez que se tiene el cà ³digo que identifica al caso. A tener en cuenta En una situacià ³n como la actual es importante que los migrantes en situacià ³n de indocumentados no se presenten voluntariamente en ninguna oficina migratoria ni para recabar informacià ³n ni como acompaà ±antes. Si han sido citados es recomendable presentarse con un abogado. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.