移民费用持续上涨, 2020年10月2日生效

USCIS fee hikes will make immigration and naturalization unaffordable.

美国移民局发布了最终法规提高某些移民福利的申请费用。该规则将于2020年10月2日生效(原文于此)。最终法规将对各种移民的申请费平均提高20%,限制费用豁免,并且为某些移民要求增加了新费用。移民局表示,由于其当前的预算资金短缺,这是不得不进行的措施。总而言之,美国移民正在大幅度增加费用,为庇护申请增加了新的$50费用,限制了费用减免,对当前在线提交的表格略有折扣,即便申请人有 同时提交的绿卡申请表格,移民局也将要收取工卡和旅行证的费用。以下是重要要点总结:

费用减免难上加难

自10月2日起,移民局另外限制了可享受费用豁免的人群。只有VAWA自诉人,T非移民,U非移民,某些受虐配偶和子女,TPS申请人,SIJS申请人以及阿富汗/伊拉克特殊移民将有资格获得费用减免。

除了消除费用豁免,移民局还大大缩小了获得费用豁免的标准。 目前,申请人可以根据经济困难或收入达到或低于联邦贫困线收入指南的150%的资格获得费用减免。 但是,在新规生效之后,只有收入低于或低于联邦贫困线125%的人才有资格。最后,符合费用减免条件的申请人必须提交I-912表格,以及所需的证明文件,即税务记录,W-2表格或证明收入的特定文件。

绿卡调整身份需另外缴纳工卡和旅行证费用

与绿卡I-485表格同时提交或在移民局等待处理的时候,移民局现在需要分别为I-765和I-131表格收取申请费用。 新规之前,绿卡调整身份的申请者可以无偿提交工卡和回美证申请,而无需支付额外费用。情况将不再如此。 正在申请绿卡过程中的个人,如果需要办理工卡或回美证的个人,必须另外支付550美元的I-765工卡申请费用以及590美元提交I-131旅行证件的申请。

移民局另外取消了14岁以下与父母一起申请的孩子的I-485绿卡申请费减免。 新规之前,14岁以下的儿童仅需支付750美元即可提交I-485绿卡申请费用(当孩子与父母同时提交时)他们现在将支付全额费用1,130美元。另外需要另外的工卡I-765表格(550美元)和回美证I-131表格(590美元)的费用,从而将I-485绿卡小孩的申请的总费用增加一倍以上至2,270美元。

庇护也要收费

移民局为庇护申请人设立了新的申请费。 美国公民及移民服务局将为I-589表格收取50美元的备案费。对于在陪审过程中无人陪伴的未成年人的庇护费,有一个例外情况。 美国将加入伊朗,斐济和澳大利亚,成为147个条约签署国中收取庇护费用的国家。如果庇护的主要申请人庇护通过,以后申请绿卡将会得到50美元的费用减免。

工签种类细化费用上涨

I-129表格非移民工人申请将被细化为不同类别,根据类别缴纳费用。原先的460美金基础费用将被取代。I-129H1 新的费用为 555美金。 I-129H2A将涨到 850美金, I-129H2B 将涨到715美金. I-129L 也涨到805 美金.

总体申请费用上涨

移民局大幅提高大多数移民申请的申请费,并将开始对从未交纳费用的申请收取费用。 该费用规定将大大增加申请多项移民福利的成本。例如,N-400表格(入籍申请)的申请费将增加80%以上,使个人申请公民身份的费用超过1,100美元。 N-336表格(入籍否决的听证请求)的申请费增加了近150%,达到1,725美元。 尽管几乎所有费用都增加了,但移民局名义上减少了一些费用,尤其是在线申请将享受10美金的打折。

总统最新禁令将暂缓工作签证的个人入境美国

工签美国入境禁令

川普总统新公告概述了对外国工人临时签证的一些新限制。总统说冠状病毒对美国的经济冲击很大,迫使移民局不得不采取更多措施来保护美国人的工作。新公告最重要的一点是:至少要等到2021年一月份,很多访问学者以及各种工人都将被禁止来美国。新公告禁止了一下人群入境美国:

  1. H-1B 或 H-2B 签证,以及随行的家属;
  2. 实习生,访问学者互惠生或暑期工作旅行计划的范围内的 J 签证,以及随行家属;和
  3. L 签证,以及随行家属。

被禁人群不包括治疗新冠病人的医疗人员或进行新冠研究以帮助美国抗击新冠的研究人员。该公告将禁止目前在美国境外的和尚未获得有效的签证的个人。

该公告不适用于美国绿卡持有者以及美国公民配偶或子女。另外,对美国食品供应链至关重要的临时劳工或服务的个人也被豁免。

新公告立即生效直到2020年12月31日到期。这项禁令实际意义是什么? 我们建议所有拿着 OPT的,已经申请 H-1b 的小伙伴们目前不要出入境。如果这中间有衔接失误必须要到境外 stamping,也需要重修考虑是否值得返校修课指导明年开春为止。

美国移民局新规将影响庇护者的工卡

美国公民及移民服务局(移民局)在2020年6月22日发布了一项新的法规,禁止大多数寻求庇护者获得工作许可。这将成为在美国寻求庇护的人的新障碍。 新规将于8月25日生效。

移民局今天的新规目的是阻止外国人非法进入美国,以获取就业许可文件(工卡)为由而提出草率的庇护申请。新规不会改变庇护申请资格。该规则源于2019年4月29日的《关于加强边境安全和恢复移民体系完整性的附加措施的总统备忘录》,该备忘录强调,美国的政策是安全有序地管理人道主义移民计划,并迅速拒绝给没有资格的人的福利。

移民局表示新规旨在恢复庇护系统的完整性,并打击以工卡为主要目的庇护申请。新规主要内容为下:

  1. 取消在入境之前一年内未提交庇护的人的就业许可;
  2. 取消非法进入美国的人的未决的庇护申请获得就业许可;
  3. 禁止任何有犯罪行为的人的获得就业许可;
  4. 将庇护申请人的申请等待时间从150天延长至365天;
  5. 限制就业授权有效期最长为两年;
  6. 如果庇护被拒,就业许可将自动终止。

有关更多信息,请阅读最终规则,该规则定于6月26日在《联邦公报》上发布。点此阅读全文。

关于川普美国庇护制度新提案,您需要了解什么?

川普政府庇护新提案将重新编写美国庇护法律,大力打击庇护寻求人员,否决率前所未闻。

川普政府在6月11日宣布了新的庇护系统的提案(全文见此),持续打击现行美国庇护的流程以及通过率。提案中的规则对庇护施加了近十个新的限制,几乎重新编写美国庇护法从而将大多数寻求庇护的人排除在外。如果这些规则生效,美国将不再称自己是为被迫害者提供庇护的国家。新的提案有哪些是我们需要了解的呢?

该提案将适用于谁?

该提案将适用于在美国寻求庇护的任何人,无论他们如何进入该国。与先前针对南部梅墨西哥边界的规定不同,新提案甚至会影响持有效签证飞往美国并随后寻求庇护的人。此项提案也可能影响已经申请庇护单案件未收到最终裁决的人。目前有超过30万人正在美国公民身份和移民服务(USCIS)的证避局等待庇护申请的最终裁决或者面试。另外有数十万人的庇护案件正在移民法院审理。所有未收到最终裁决的案子都可能被牵连。

该提案的新障碍是什么?

提案指示移民法官和庇护官员拒绝向以下人员提供庇护:

  1. 在到达美国之前途径至少两个国家,或者在到达美国之前已在另一个国家中停留了至少14天。
  2. 曾经没有缴纳税款,迟缴税款或没有向国税局报告任何收入。
  3. 在申请庇护之前在美国非法停留一年以上的。
  4. 该提案还包括其他几项庇护标准。指示移民法官在决定是否准予庇护时,将一个人的非法入境美国的行为作为“重大不利因素”。
  5. 该提案还为宣布如果庇护申请的申请表被发现为“恶意造假”, 该申请人将永远不会在美国获得任何其他移民福利。

由于这些原因被拒绝庇护的个人仍然有资格获得《禁止酷刑公约》以内规定的保护 (Convention Against Torture) 或者驱逐令的延缓(withholding of removal)。但是,该提案也使得这两种形式的的胜诉概率难上加难。

该提案将如何改变庇护法?

川普政府的新提案比美国政府以前任何更改庇护法的提案都更加严厉。该提案将重新定义“迫害”的含义,从而将“迫害”的定义提高到涵盖“极端”伤害。这是一个比当前标准更高的标准。

川普政府还希望重新定义因“特定社会成员身份” (social group)或“政治见解” (political opinion)而受到迫害的含义。许多曾是 MS-13 或其他跨国犯罪组织的受害者的中美洲人以前曾因此而获得庇护。拟议的提案将取消反对帮派或恐怖组织有关的“特定社会团体”的庇护资格。该提案还将彻底禁止基于性别的庇护申请。即使是逃离伊斯兰国 (ISIS)手中的性奴役的妇女也不得辩称她们“由于性别而受到迫害”。

该提案还重新定义了“已在第三国定居”的含义。新的定义使得任何只要有可能在第三国定居的人都可能被拒申请。即使在申请人不知情的情况下,被拒也是一种可能性。申请人必须以明提供有力证据他们无法搬迁到其他地方以避免遭受迫害。这是非常困难的标准。

该提案对庇护程序进行了哪些更改?

该规则对庇护程序进行了两项重大更改。

第一, 在边境寻求庇护的个人将不能进入全面的移民法院诉讼程序。取而代之的是,他们只能获得较狭窄的“仅庇护”法院程序。在这些程序中,即使他们有资格获得庇护以外的另一种形式的救济,也将不允许他们申请。

第二,该提案将允许法官在不进行听证会的情况下直接拒绝庇护申请。目前,法官必须允许庇护申请人就其案件出庭作证。但是根据新规定,法官可以宣布申请人没有在申请中提供足够的证据,并拒绝某人提供证据。对于没有律师的人而言,这一变化将尤其有害。也就是说如果您的案子没有足够的其实证据, 您将失去面试条件,从而导致案子直接被拒。

该提案的下一步是什么?

从6月15日星期一开始,人们将有30天的时间对提案做出评论(在此评论)。 30天的期限结束后,政府会在制定最终提案前考虑这些评论。 由于此过程可能非常漫长,因此该规则预计最早要到秋天才能生效。 如果这些提案规则生效,它们将代表我们所知道的庇护制度的终结。

总统宣告: 美国将暂停某些中国学生和研究人员的 F 和 J 签证

川普总统周五 (5月29号)宣称说中国当局利用一些中国学生,主要是研究生和博士后研究人员,来收集美国的知识产权。 因此,与中国人民解放军有当前联系或曾经与中国人民解放军有联系的,来自中国的本科以上的中国学生或研究人员极有可能被中国当局利用,需引起特别关注。 鉴于上述情况,川普总统宣布从 2020年6月1日开始,美国国务卿和国土安全部将严格审批申请 F (学生)或 J (访问)签证进入美国学习研究的中国学生。美国国务卿和国土安全部将有60天的时间审查自己内部的规章制度并向总统提供建议。

美国国务卿和国土安全部目前并没有详细的方案来执行川普总统的宣告,一般来说,移民局会按照每个案例的特殊情况进行审批,但也不排除根据技术专业而大量排挤中国学生的可能性。很多将会受影响的学科可能包括航空航天,生物生化,石化能源。

这项宣告将会影响很多正在准备秋季返校以及已经拿到了录取通知书在等待签证的留学生。即使持有效签证在手的学生也有可能在入境时被海关询问而拦截。使馆也有可能在学生返校前取消学生签证。  我们建议学生们留心之前签证时所留下的联系方式,因为这将是使馆的主要交流渠道。

川普总统的法令不影响美国绿卡, 美国公民或绿卡的配偶,美国军队成员以及配偶或子女,以及寻求庇护,难民身份的人员。白宫的原文在此

Can’t Travel, Visa Expires, What Do I Do Now?

A lot of people stuck abroad have experienced panicking moments in the past two weeks when flights are cancelled and borders are closed due to the #COVID-19 shutdown. In March, 2020, the U.S. Department of State announced that immigrant (IV) and nonimmigrant visa (NIV) appointments at ALL Consulates are suspended due to coronavirus. Many countries are also restricting exiting and entering in order to control spread of the pandemic.
So what does this mean when my visa expires? 
These travel restrictions have made family unity and returning to work difficult, if not impossible. Employers are now in the dark with no specific return date for their valued employees and facing uncertainties as to their future needs. Since many visas have a maximum period allowed pursuant to regulation, consular officers do not have the authority to extend visa validity. However, the consular may be able to re-print a visa once travel becomes possible.
Consulates are able to re-issue a new visa provided that all supporting documents, such as police certificates, medical examinations, etc., have not expired. If the supporting documents have expired,  the applicant will be required to obtain new copies prior to the re-issuance of the new visa. Applicants will have to contact the consulate for the re-issuance and different consulate has different procedures. 
For people who are stuck in the U.S. either on valid visas or during grace period, but are not able to leave the U.S. to return to their home countries, options are also limited. Many have applied to extend or change their status using the Form I-539, but this also comes with a hefty fee. Others are banking on the fact that a brief overstay won’t be too problematic if it is limited to 180 days.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has filed a complaint against USCIS calling for the immediate suspension of immigration benefit deadlines and the maintenance of status for nonimmigrants in the U.S. in light of the pandemic, urging USCIS to extend its filing deadlines so that lawfully present foreign nationals in the United States can maintain status during the pandemic.
While we wait for the outcome of this lawsuit, we urge everyone to stay tuned and take care of yourselves. 

COVID 19 – Unemployment Benefits for Immigrant Workers

immigrant’s eligibility for unemployment benefits and consequences on green cards

Question: Do I, as an immigrant, qualify for unemployment benefits if the coronavirus (COVID-19) causes me losing my job?

Answer: Yes, however, immigrant workers must satisfy the same requirements for #unemployment. You must be unemployed due to no fault of your own, and you must have earned enough wages or worked enough hours in your “base period” to qualify. If you are currently employed or if you quit, then you are not eligible for unemployment benefits.  If your employer offers sick leave to address COVID-19 in lieu of layoffs, you cannot quit on your own volition to get unemployment benefits. If an employer shuts down operations temporarily and no work is available, you are eligible for unemployment.

Question: If I cannot go to work because I quarantined myself, can I get unemployment?

Answer: MaybeIf your employer allows you to work remotely and you choose not to accept that work, you are not qualify. If the employer requires you to stay home but did not offer work from home, then you might be eligible for benefits.

Question: How much is unemployment?

Answer: Depends on your state law and the reason why you cannot go to work. In addition, Pandemic Federal Unemployment Compensation  allows an additional  $600 on top of weekly unemployment benefits for up to four (4) months, not to exceed July 31, 2020.

Question: Does unemployment benefits hurt my green card #adjustment of status application in the future?

Answer: USCIS does not consider “unemployment” in the public charge inadmissibility determination because they are considered earned benefits through the person’s employment. Unemployment is a type of insurance that employers pay into. This isn’t taxpayer money, so it does not affect your green card.

Question: If I am undocumented, do I get #unemployment benefits?

Answer: If you are undocumented, chances are you do not have valid employment authorization or valid SSN, then you are not eligible for unemployment benefits.

Question: I applied for work authorization extension and have not yet received my new work card, can I get unemployment benefits?

Answer: If you have proof that you have applied for an extension, you might allowed to receive benefits. 

File unemployment with the Missouri Department of Labor here.

File unemployment with the Kansas Department of Labor here.

USCIS Service Fee Change Show 21 Percent Increase

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to adjust USCIS fees by an increase of 21 percent. Read the federal regulation here DHS claims that current USCIS fees leaves the agency a shortfall of $1.3 billion per year and the fee increase is necessary to recover the full operating costs.

USCIS says it has conducted small entity analysis based on a representative sample of the impacted population, The new rules introduce form changes as well as several new forms.

The most important forms with a fee increase are as follows:

Form No. Form Title Current Fee Proposed Fee Difference
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative $535 $555 $20
I-131 Application for Travel Document $575 $585 $10
I-131 Travel Document for an individual age 16 or older $135 $145 $10
I-131 I-131 Refugee Travel Document for a child under the age of 16 $105 $115 $10
I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant $930/585 $1,415 $830/ $485
I-212 Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the U.S. After Deportation or Removal $930 $1,040 $110
I-290B Notice of Appeal or Motion $675 $705 $30
I-360 Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant $435 $455 $20
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (certain applicants under the age of 14 years) $750 $1,120 $370
I-526 Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur $3,675 $4,015 $340
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status $370 $400 $30
I-589 Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal $0 $50 $50
I-600 Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative $775 $810 $35
I-601 Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility $930 $985 $55
I-601A Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver $630 $960 $330
I-751 Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence $595 $760 $165
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization $410 $490 $80
I-821D Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Renewal) $0 $275 $275
I-824 Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition $465 $500 $35
I-829 Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status $3,750 $3,900 $150
I-924A Annual Certification of Regional Center $3,035 $4,470 $1,435
I-929 Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant $230 $1,515 $1,285
N-300 Application to File Declaration of Intention $270 $1,320 $1,050
N-336 Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings $700 $1,755 $1,055
N-400 Application for Naturalization $640 $1,170 $530
N-470 Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes $355 $1,600 $1,245

This may prove to have significant financial consequences for several groups, including people who have previously been removed from the U.S. and is eligible to re-enter the U.S. (an $830 increase in fees), U visa family members (an $1,285 increase to qualify as U-1), people who seek to naturalize as U.S. citizens (a $530 increase) people whose naturalization have been denied and are seeking review (a $1,055 increase). We recommend that if you are eligible for the above filings, we need to get them in as soon as possible.

Forms that will becomes cheaper are as following:

Form No. Form Title Current Fee Proposed Fee Difference
I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card $455 $415 -$40
I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) $535 $520 -$15
I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker $700 $545 -$155
I-191 Application for Relief Under Former Section 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) $930 $800 -$130
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status $1,140 $1,120 -$20
N-600 Application for Certification of Citizenship $1,170 $1,015 -$155
N-600K Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 $1,170 $960 -$210
N-565 Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document $555 $545 -$10
  USCIS Immigrant Fee (consular processing green card fee) $220 $200 -$20
  Biometric Services Fee $85 $30 -$55
  Dishonored Payments (Returned Check Fee) $30 $0 -$30
I-910 Application for Civil Surgeon Designation $785 $650 -$135
I-817 Application for Family Unity Benefits $600 $590 -$10

The deceased fees, comparing to the increases, are minimal. In addition, DHS is proposing to separate Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, into several forms, including the following:

Form No. Form Title Current Fee Proposed Fee Difference
I-129CW (Proposed) Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker $460 $705 $245
I-129E&TN (Proposed) Application for Nonimmigrant Worker: E or TN Classification $460 $705 $245
I-129H1 (Proposed) Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: H-1 Classification $460 $560 $100
I-129H2A (Proposed) Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: H-2A Classification $460 $860 (named); $425 (unnamed) $400 (named)
I-129H2B (Proposed) Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: H-2B Classification $460 $725 (named); $395 (unnamed) $265 (named)
I-129L (Proposed) Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: L Classification $460 $815 $355
I-129MISC (Proposed) Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: H-3, P, Q, or R Classification $460 $705 $245
I-129O (Proposed) Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker: O Classification $460 $715 $255

If you have any reliefs pending and need assistance, we recommend everyone take the opportunities now.

EAD Automatic Extensions for Six TPS-Countries

El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan TPS EAD extension

DHS is automatically extending TPS Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) validity listed for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan through January 4, 2021. These EADs should have category code of A-12 or C-19. Read the automatic extension notice here.

What is TPS?

TPS is a temporary immigration benefit for certain countries suffering from on-going armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. It allows qualified individuals in the U.S. to stay here for a limited time period as ordered by the President. 

What are my rights at work?

Persons covered by TPS can receive the Employment Authorization Documents (EAD). TPS workers, like everyone else, have the right to provide their choice of valid documentation to demonstrate their identity and work authorization. An employer that treats TPS workers differently in the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify) based on the worker’s citizenship status or national origin may violate anti-discrimination laws.

Blanket Extension

When the government extends a country’s TPS,  USCIS sometimes issues a blanket extension of all expiring EADs for that country, to allow time for USCIS to issue new EADs. Such extension can be found here. If USCIS automatically extends your EAD, you do not have to show an I-797C with your EAD to keep working. An employer should not  ask for additional documentation to prove employment eligibility.

Renewal Application

If the government does not issue a blanket extension for TPS EADs, a TPS worker can apply for a renewal EAD, the worker can present the current TPS EAD with the I-797C receipt notice showing that USCIS received the EAD renewal application. This document combination is valid for 180 days after the original EAD expiration date, and are valid for employment eligibility verification purposes. 

USCIS Announced New Online Tool Calculates Fees

USCIS has launched a new Online Fee Calculator to assist applicants calculating the correct fee amount when filing their forms with USCIS.

USCIS’ Online Fee Calculator will determine the exact filing and biometric fees an individual needs to include with their forms and will have the most up-to-date fee information. When using the Online Fee Calculator, applicants select a form, or combination of forms, and answer a series of questions. The tool then calculates the correct fee amount that the filer must submit.

USCIS accepts payment via check, money order, or credit card with Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions.

If you need assistance with immigration, feel free to contact us at 913-717-7112 for a free consultation.