移民局2017年4月11日宣布，已经采用计算机随机选择过程或彩票选择足够的H-1B申请，以满足2017年度的65,000个一般类别 (Regular Cap) 和20,000个高级学位 (Master’s Cap) 的名额。移民局将拒绝并返还所有未选择以及重复的申请。 USCIS在4月3日开始的申请期间收到了199,000份H-1B申请。这一数字比去年申请期间的23.3万份申请减少了15.7％。虽然总体申请数量与去年相比有所减少，但今年是连续第五年USCIS在H-1B申请的第一周内就接受足够的申请。
尽管H-1B申请是经济改善工作机会提高的证据，但是今年提交的申请少了也并不奇怪。印度的一些信息技术公司之前就宣布，他们正在减少提交经验较少的H-1B工人人数，这意味着更多的工作将留在印度而不是迁往美国。另外，去年来说，有些小型信息技术公司面临审查，表示会提出较少的H-1B申请。其他的话，很多雇主被H-1B签证的限制所阻挠，可能更不愿意赞助来自美国学校的外国毕业生。
自1997年以来，H-1B上限已经达到了财政年度以来的每一年，除了上限暂时上调至195,000的几年之外。
TPS Recipient is Eligible to Adjust to LPR Status
The Ninth Circuit in Ramirez, et al. v. Brown, et al. found a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipient is deemed to be in lawful status as a nonimmigrant — and has thereby satisfied the requirements for becoming a nonimmigrant, including inspection and admission — for purposes of adjustment of status under INA §245(a). [read the opinion here 17033104]
Temporary protected status is a temporary immigration status to the United States, granted to eligible nationals of designated countries. It first requires a designation. When the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that a foreign state (or any part of a foreign state) faces an ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent aliens from returning safely, the Attorney General may designate that state (or part of the state) for TPS. USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in the United States.
The Ninth Circuit found that a TPS recipient is considered “inspected and admitted” under § 1255(a), and is eligible for adjustment of status because he also meets the other requirements.
Current TPS countries are:
| Designated Country | Most Recent Designation Date | Current Expiration Date | Current Re-Registration Period | Current Initial Registration Period | EAD Extended Through |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Salvador | March 9, 2001 | March 9, 2018 | July 8, 2016 – Sept. 6, 2016 | N/A | Sept. 9, 2017 |
| Guinea* | Nov. 21, 2014 | May 21, 2017 | N/A | N/A | May 20, 2017 |
| Haiti | July 23, 2011 | July 22, 2017 | Aug. 25, 2015 – Oct. 26, 2015 | N/A | July 22, 2016 |
| Honduras | Jan. 5, 1999 | Jan. 5, 2018 | May 16, 2016 – July 15, 2016 | N/A | Jan. 5, 2017 |
| Liberia* | Nov. 21, 2014 | May 21, 2017 | N/A | N/A | May 20, 2017 |
| Nepal | June 24, 2015 | June 24, 2018 | Oct. 26, 2016 – Dec. 27, 2016 | N/A | June 24, 2017 |
| Nicaragua | Jan. 5, 1999 | Jan. 5, 2018 | May 16, 2016 – July 15, 2016 | N/A | Jan. 5, 2017 |
| Sierra Leone* | Nov. 21, 2014 | May 21, 2017 | N/A | N/A | May 20, 2017 |
| Somalia | Sept. 18, 2012 | Sept. 17, 2018 | Jan. 17, 2017 – March 20, 2017 | N/A | Sept. 17, 2017 |
| Sudan | May 3, 2013 | Nov. 2, 2017 | Jan. 25, 2016 – March 25, 2016 | N/A | Nov. 2, 2016 |
| South Sudan | May 3, 2016 | Nov. 2, 2017 | Jan. 25, 2016 – March 25, 2016 | Jan. 25, 2016 – July 25, 2016 | Nov. 2, 2016 |
| Syria | Oct. 1, 2016 | March 31, 2018 | Aug. 1, 2016 – Sept. 30, 2016 | Aug.1, 2016 – Jan. 30, 2017 | March 31, 2017 |
| Yemen | March 4, 2017 | Sept. 3, 2018 | Jan. 4, 2017 – March 6, 2017 | Jan. 4, 2017 – July 3, 2017 | Sept. 3, 2017 |
Check USCIS website for the most up-to-date information.
从2011年7月开始，Kansas Department of Revenue堪萨斯州财政局 (KDOR)开始利用美国公民和移民局的“系统性外国人居停留权利审核” “Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement System” (SAVE)。 堪萨斯车管所 (DMV) 作为财政局的一部分，也会使用SAVE这个系统来确定你的身份。
第一步: 如果你想要考取或者跟换堪萨斯驾照的话，你首先需要去驾照考试站报名考试。所有考试站的位置可以在这里找到：http://www.ksrevenue.org/dmv-dlstations.html 每个考试站都独具特色。
第二步: 获得SAVE验证。如果您在美国有合法身份 – 工作签证，学生签证，政治避难申请人，绿卡持有者等等 – 你在考试站的时候， 你必须提交所有证明身份的，政府签发的原始文件，举例来说：
第三步：驾驶执照审查员将使用你的文件来确认你的合法身份。如果你的合法身份得到验证，你就可以参加考试了。如果你的合法身份未通过验证，你可以要求填写SAVE验证申请表（请在此下载：验证申请表）。填写好过后，你可以通过平邮方式向车管局提供用所有文件。你需要把表格填好后寄到SAVE，PO Box 2188，Topeka，KS 66601-2188或通过电子邮件的方式发至：LAWFUL.PRESENCE@KDOR.KS.GOV。车管局收到你的验证请求后，会通过邮件，电子邮件，或电话的方式，通知你可以去办理驾照了 。
办理驾照的时候，你同时需要带好可以证明你堪萨斯居住地址的信件。如果你改过名字的话，你需要带好法院文件显示名字更改。如果你是外州的驾照需要到堪萨斯来换取驾照的话，需要带好你的社安卡或者出生证明。
问：工卡申请了还没批下来可以换驾照吗？
答：一般来说是可以的。你需要把所有以上你具备的材料都复印好，如果你有任何移民局回执或者收据的话，一起寄到SAVE或者以电邮的形式给他们来确认你的合法身份。
问：工卡什么时候可以换，多少钱，多久可以拿到？
答：工卡一般可以在作废前90天内提出申请换取。 工卡的政府费用跟你的申请类别是有关的。例如，学生的OPT工卡需要缴费，庇护的首次工卡是免费的。现在来说的话，移民局需要最少75天来审批。 超过90天的并不罕见。在你收到回执条以后，你可以自己到USCIS的网站上查询审批进度。
问： 堪萨斯驾照很难考么？有中文么？
答：堪萨斯驾照首先有笔试，然后有路考。笔试的题目需要认真学习。有些问题还是很刁钻的。你有三次的笔试机会，如果你通不过的话，你必须要等待很久才能重新要求笔试。路考的话，关键在于成熟稳重，不要犯不该犯的小错误。实在紧张的话，我推荐提前实地演习，熟悉路况。我尚未听说堪萨斯州有中文试卷。如果有读者跟我的经验不同，欢迎分享。我会建议提前咨询你想去的那个考试站。路考可以携带翻译。其他州会有中文试卷，比如说加利福尼亚。每个州的法律都是不一样的。
问：驾照有效期多久？
答：这个跟你的身份是有关的。学生的驾照一般和I-20表的作废日期一致，其他的会跟工卡或者绿卡到期日期一致。如果你的驾照过期很久了再去换的话，根据你的过期时间长短，可能会让你重新考试的。牢记：无证驾驶是违法的。
问：游客身份可以办理堪萨斯州驾照？
我的经验是游客身份一般不能办理堪萨斯州驾照。一，游客的身份证明堪萨斯居民有挑战性。旅游签证的有效期只有6个月。二，而且你必须要有社会安全号码或者要有社安局出示的说明为什么你没有社安号码。三，是保险问题。保险购买一般也需要社安号。无保险开车是非法的。但是，我听说加利福尼亚车管局可以让游客办理驾照。
问：国际驾照有用么？
中国大陆居民是不可以办理国际驾照的。中国不是联合国1949年日内瓦道路交通公约的成员国。国际驾照就是有效驾照的翻译本，必须要跟驾照一起使用。国际驾照必须要在居住国办理。解释一下：如果你有美国驾照，你可以在美国办理国际驾照，然后去其他国家使用。但是你的中国驾照是不能用来在中国办理国际驾照的。即使你可以使用你的中国驾照租到车，但这并不是有法律效力的证件。开车不出事不遇到警察什么的自然没关系，万一出事或遇到较真的就比较麻烦。
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has brought back premium processing for certain CAP exempt petitions.
On April 3, 2017, USCIS halted premium processing of H-1B visa petitions, for up to six months. While H-1B premium processing is suspended, petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for a Form I-129. Prior to the halt, employers can request premium processing of H-1B petitions to ensure that USCIS will review the petition within 15 days at a cost of $1,225. Most non-premium processing types of H-1B petitions are currently averaging 6 to 8 months processing time. This suspension will apply to all H-1B regular cap and master’s cap petitions filed for the FY18 H-1B.
The only option for H-1B employers is that they may submit requests to expedite an H-1B petition if they meet the Expedite Criteria. The employer must meet one of these concerns concerns as “severe financial loss,” “emergency situation” or “humanitarian reasons.”
USCIS said the halt is necessary to adjudicate long-pending petitions before the high volume of incoming petitions. However, the plan may cause significant impact on the fee-funded USCIS’s revenue.
国土安全部秘书约翰·凯利本周发布了两份备忘录，执行川普总统关于边境安全 border security (memo-1) 和 境内执法 interior enforcement (memo-2) 的行政命令。除了川普总统承诺建造的边界墙以外，我们在未来几个月可能会看到大规模的执法行为，并扩大拘留和加速递解出境的过程。
以下是我总结的几点：
Maya King 律师事务所将随时通知您美国移民制度的最新变化。如果您或您的家人需要任何建议或帮助，请致电（913）717-7112 与我们联系，免费咨询。
Department of Homeland Security Secretary, John Kelly, releases two memorandums this week implementing President’s Trump’s executive orders on border security (memo-1) and interior enforcement (memo-2). Besides the border wall President Trump promised to build, we will likely to see massive enforcement effort in the upcoming months and scaled up detention and expedited removal.
Below are some of points I summarized:
The Law Office of Maya King will keep you informed about the newest changes in the complicated U.S. immigration system. If you or your family needs any advice or help, please call us at (913) 717-7112 for a free consultation.
Bar Removal of Immigrants Who Dream and Grow the Economy
We have seen a lot of legislations and executive orders being introduced in the past few weeks that are not so immigrant-friendly. Non-U.S. citizen are particularly worried about their future in this country. Among the concerned and confused are the 750,000 participants of the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
On January 12, 2017, the Senate and the House of Representatives separately introduced a bill called “Bar Removal of Immigrants Who Dream and Grow the Economy” or the “BRIDGE Act” [S. 128] (17021434) and [H.R. 496] (17021433). The BRIDGE Act authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant provisional protected presence for three (3) years. Provisional protected presence is granted if the alien—
(1) was born after June 15, 1981;
(2) entered the United States before attaining 16 years of age;
(3) continuously resided in the United States between June 15, 2007, and the date on which the alien files an application under this section;
(4) was physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and on the date on which the alien files an application under this section;
(5) was unlawfully present in the United States on June 15, 2012;
(6) on the date on which the alien files an application for provisional protected presence—
(7) has not been convicted of—
(8) does not otherwise pose a threat to national security or a threat to public safety.
Provisional protected presence looks extremely similar to DACA (except for a few word changes). A person qualifies for DACA is he or she:
(1) Was under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
(2) Came to the United States before reaching 16th birthday;
(3) Has continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
(4) Was physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
(5) Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012;
(6) Is currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and;
(7) Has not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor,or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.
If granted Provisional protected presence, the alien is not considered to be unlawfully present in the United States.
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) reported that “ICE has once again commenced targeted enforcement actions by reinstituting ‘Operation Cross Check’.” Arrests, raids, inspections are being reported across the country.
President Trump’s Executive Order on interior enforcement could potentially affect a broad range of individuals.
Currently, AILA reports the ICE targeted operations are focused on three populations:
If you or your loved ones are caught up in the ICE sweep, you need a competent and experienced immigration attorney to guide you through the complex immigration system. Call 913-717-7112 today for a free consultation.
美国移民律师协会（AILA）报告说，移民海关执法(ICE)已通过恢复行动交叉检查. ICE再次开始有针对性的执法行动。 川普总统关于内部执行的行政命令可能会有广泛影响涉及很多移民或者非法移民。据报道，美国全国各地都有逮捕，快速突击检查，和实地视察。
目前，美国移民律师协会报告移民海关执法的目标行动的重点是三种人群：
如果你或你的亲人被困在移民监狱中，你需要一个经验丰富的移民律师来指导你完成复杂的美国移民法律系统。 致电913-717-7112 | 免费咨询。
Section 3(c) of the Executive Order entitled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” (Jan. 27, 2017) DOES NOT apply to lawful permanent residents of the United States. Section 3(c) suspends for 90 days the entry into the United States of certain aliens from certain countries.
Read the White House memo here: 17020300
Options for Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI Program) enlistees in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) – whose entry has now been delayed or cancelled – have two potential options: (1) Deferred Action and/or (2) Naturalization.
Call 913-717-7112 today to find out about your options as an MAVNI enlistee. Our office has successfully helped many MAVNI enlistees obtain the necessary naturalization paperwork. If your BCT is delayed, you may still qualify to become a U.S. citizen.
