Tag: US Immigration

不能旅行，签证过期，我现在该怎么办？

在过去的两周里，由于＃冠状病毒 #COVID-19，许多国际航班被取消以及停运, 很多国家也关闭了国土边境从而阻止游客进出，这引起了许多困在国外的人们极度的恐慌。 2020年3月时候，美国国务院宣布，所有领事馆的移民（IV）和非移民签证（NIV）面试都被暂停。

那么，我的签证过期意味着什么呢？我要怎么办？

以上的旅行限制对很多人造成了极大的困扰。使家庭团聚以及重返工作岗位难上加难。很多家庭无法团圆，重大人生历程没有亲人陪伴。雇主们处于迷茫之中，由于其雇员没有具体的返回日期，雇主也无法预料的未来需求。许多的美国签证都有根据法规允许的最长期限，因此领事官员无权延长签证的有效期。但是，好消息在于，领事馆可以重新打印签证。

领事馆能够重新签发签证，前提是所有证明文件（例如无犯罪记录，体检等）均未过期。如果证明文件已过期，则要求申请人在重新签发签证之前获得新版本。不同的领事馆有不同的签证程序。申请人必须联系自己的领事馆要求重新签发签证。

对于持有有效签证或者在宽限期期间内滞留在美国但无法离开美国的人，例如旅游签证，学生签证，免签证访问人员等，许多人已经使用I-539表格申请延长或更改其身份，但这意味着申请人需要支付高额费用。其他人则认为，如果超期不超过180天，短暂的停留不会有太大问题。逼近不是每个人都可以承受高额的移民延期申请费用的。这些选择都是可以的。

美国移民律师协会（AILA）已针对美国公民及移民服务局（USCIS）提起申诉，呼吁由于＃冠状病毒，移民局应该立即暂停所有移民福利申请期限，并使得正当维持美国非移民身份的人自动延长其有效期限，以便在美国的外国公民可以维持身份。在我们等待这场诉讼的结果的同时，我们敦促大家保持关注并照顾自己。

 

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. 

联邦新政策出台，依赖政府福利会带来哪些影响？

传言中因为由于享受政府福利而被禁止移民的法规终于最终出台。这对于在纽约拿过白卡或者享受过 medicaid 的人来说将有哪些影响呢？尽管美国移民法并未明确定义“政府福利”一词，但自1999年以来，移民局指南将其解释为 “将有可能主要依赖于政府援助”或“需要长期政府承担的经济困境“的人群，也就是说无论是长期依赖的还是短期的政府援助，都有可能被列入这项法规之内。

首先我们需要了解的是这项法规将会造成的两个不同的结果。 一是可能会排除很多申请绿卡人（ground of inadmissibility）国土安全局（DHS）和国务院（DOS）主要实施美国移民法。 长期以来，美国移民法都有包含排除和驱逐条款。美国政府想要在财政上限制对贫困的移民的支出。 根据美国移民法，如果个人“随时有可能申请并获得联邦福利”，则可能被拒绝入境美国或得到绿卡身份。当个人申请调整为绿卡身份时，国土安全局的下属移民局 USCIS 会决定申请人是否“可能申请并获得联邦福利”。 在国外，当个人申请移民签证时，国务院领事官员作出这类决定。这是坚定个人移民是否达标的一个关口。

第二种可能性是“联邦福利”可能会被用来驱逐已经持有绿卡的人（ground of removability）。如果但是人在申请绿卡时没有报告自己接受过福利，则可能被移民局视为说谎从而被递解出境 。这也可能发生在拿着绿卡回国重新入境美国的人群。每一次你离开美国国土过后返还美国，海关都有权利问话。绿卡持有人也可能会因为过去获得过联邦福利而被从美国驱逐出境。 这项驱逐的理由一般很少被用，但目前来说没有人可以知道将来是否会成为递解移民出境的武器。

目前来说，唯一可能不受“联邦福利”限制的人群有以下

  • 难民和庇护人群；
  • 军人的配偶和子女；
  • U型或T型签证申请人；
  • U型或T型非移民申请调整身份；
  • VAWA自诉人，

这些类别的个人可免被免除。国务院在2018年1月对《外交事务手册》（FAM）进行了修订，以指示领事官员在面试签证申请人积极考虑更广泛的公共福利，无论是目前确定接受或是曾经接受过福利的个人都将可能被拒。 在2019年8月，Politico报纸报告了拒绝移民签证的原因，发现：“在过去一年中，来自所有国家/地区的申请人由于依赖政府的福利而被拒的人数大量增加。POLITICO获得的初步数据显示截止到7月29日，有12,179人由于依赖政府福利从而签证被拒—这使该部门的进度超过了去年的总数。2016财政年度，美国国务院仅以依赖政府福利的理由拒签了1033个人。 ”

2019年8月14日，美国公民及移民服务局发布了依赖政府福利的最终规则。该规则于2019年10月15日（美国东部时间）上午12:00生效。DHS仅将此规则应用于在生效日期或之后（或以电子方式提交）的申请和请愿书。 在规则生效之日已提交移民局的申请和请愿书（即已在规则生效日之前加盖邮戳，并已被移民局接受）将不受该规则约束。

遗孀的移民福利

如果提交 I-130 移民申请的申请人去世了，I-130 请愿书将自动被撤销. 因此，对于已经悲伤失去亲人的移民家庭来说，这真是雪上加霜。但是， 即使在请愿人去世后，我们有三种的补救措施一是的某些受益人和家庭成员仍可继续寻求移民福利。

三种可能的补救措施是：

  1. 美国公民遗孀的幸存者福利;
  2. 某些幸存亲属的其他福利;
  3. 以人道主义缘由来补救I-130申请。

这些补救措施，可能可以帮助某些家庭成员移民美国。否则他们将失去申请绿卡的机会。我们将详细的查看着三种补救措施。

1. 美国公民遗孀的幸存者福利;

美国公民的遗孀被列入直系亲属。 如果他们在美国公民申请人去世后两年内提交 I-360 遗孀自行申请或自动将已经提交的 I-130 自动转换为 I-360，则继续有资格移民 。 他们还必须表现出诚信婚姻，并证明他们没有再婚。申请人必须证明他们与美国公民合法结婚并且在申请时没有合法分居或离婚。 在通知美国公民移民局申请人死亡后，USCIS将自动将待审批准的 I-130 表格转换为I-360 遗孀表格自行申请。

遗孀和随行的孩子如果是 2009年10月28日前申请的I-130的受益人并且后来被批准为 I-360 的自我申请，则不会积累非法逗留时间 (unlawful presence). 但是如果遗孀没有之前申请的 I-130的话，会将被定为累计了非法逗留时间。 在美国非法逗留超过 180天的情况是三年不能入境美国的， 如果在美国逗留超过365天的话， 是10年不能入境美国的。这样的情况， 遗孀将必须有其他的合适亲属来申请豁免。

2. 某些幸存亲属的其他福利;

INA§204（l）涵盖了几类未决或批准的请愿书。 移民法第 204（l）条 不仅在请愿人去世时提供保护，而且在某些情况下，当主要受益人或其他主要申请人去世时也提供保护。以内的包括人群有：

  • 在请愿人去世时，待决或批准的I-130申请的主要受益人和随行的孩子;
  • 当主要受益人去世时，待审或批准的I-130申请的随行的孩子;
  • 当主要受益人去世时，待审或批准的I-140就业申请的随行的家属；
  • 当请愿人去世时，待审或批准的I-730难民/庇护相关请愿的受益人;
  • 当主要T或U签证受益人去世时，申请的随行的家属；
  • 主要庇护人员去世时， 随行的家属；

法规要求申请人在亲属去世时居住在美国并继续居住在美国。这些申请人在移民签证面谈时将有可能需要申请豁免。对于豁免的理由，美国公民及移民服务局将认定亲属的死亡是极端的困境。

3. 以人道主义缘由来补救I-130申请。

这种有限的救济只能由批准的请愿书的主要受益人提出要求。申请人可以直接向移民局提出人道主义补救要求。请愿人去世后，受益人应该先收集担保人的材料， 然后递交. 要求恢复人道主义的个人应提供以下证据:

  • 对美国家庭生活的影响，特别是对于受益人的美国亲属的打击；
  • 高龄或健康问题;
  • 例如政府处理时间异常冗长; 和
  • 任何其他有利的因素。

USCIS办公室在自行决定人道主义补救的请求。由于缺乏标准化表格，USCIS办公室决定很难预测。

结论

请愿人去世后，寻求移民的受益人面临着许多挑战。 根据每个人不同的情况，在美国公民请愿人去世后，美国公民配偶及其子女列为“直系亲属”，204（l）以下的保护或人道主义恢复可能使他们能够继续处理他们的案件。204（l）也为许多幸存者提供了广泛的报道。 同时来说，人道主义补救是一种有限的酌情救济，这些都可能是幸存者可以追求的唯一途径。

美国签证申请人须提交社交媒体网站平台的用户信息

U.S. visa applicants required to provide social media information

2019年5月31日，美国国务院更新了移民和非移民签证申请表的申请信息，包括社交媒体网站平台的用户信息。此更新仅适用于新的签证申请。

美国政府宣称收集这些额外的信息将将便于国土安全局审查申请人并确认他们的身份。社交媒体“用户信息”是个人在社交媒体网站平台上使用的任何名称，包括但不限于Facebook，Twitter和Instagram。如果申请人在过去五年中使用了签证申请中列出的任何社交媒体平台，签证上将需要相关的社交媒体“用户信息”。领事官员将用签证面谈和签证申请表格上面采集的社交媒体信息来确定申请人是否合格。

申请人必须提供列出的社交媒体网站平台上使用的所有的用户信息。如果签证申请人没有社交媒体帐户怎么办？签证申请人将需要回答与社交媒体相关的问题。 该表格允许申请人回答“无”。从未使用社交媒体的签证申请人不会因未能提供社交媒体而被拒绝。 申请人应尽可能完整和诚实地完成申请，以避免任何延迟处理。 如果未能在签证申请或签证面谈中提供准确和真实的答复，可能会导致拒绝签证。

本部门更新仅适用于签证申请人，而不适用于免签证的个人。领事官员将不会要求用户密码。领事官员不能根据申请人的种族，宗教，种族，国籍，政治观点，性别或性取向拒绝签证。 以下是所有社交媒体网站平台的清单

  • Ask.FM
  • Douban 豆瓣
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Myspace 我的空间
  • Pinterest
  • QZone(QQ) QQ空间
  • REDDIT
  • SINA WEIBO 新浪微博
  • TENCENT WEIBO 腾讯微博
  • TUMBLR
  • TWITTER 推特
  • TWOO
  • VINE
  • VKONTAKTE(VK)
  • YOUKU 优酷
  • YOUTUBE

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.

USCIS Updates Guidances and Policies for Benefits Applications

Be careful petitioners and applicants, your application for immigration benefits may be denied if you do not have all evidence to prove you are eligible. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) issued a new memo, to give its officers the right to deny visas if applications do not include all the necessary information when submitted.

CIS officers no longer need to first seeking additional evidence that might be needed to complete an application, or issuing a notice stating the intent to deny a request to adjudicate.

USCIS announced recently that it would also begin initiating removal/deportation proceedings against visa applicants who lack immigration status when their visa applications are denied.  For example, if you are are out of status when you applied for change of status, therefore, you are ineligible to change status, CIS will deny your application and start removal proceedings. Or you may be a F-1 student applying for the H-1b lottery, but due to all sorts of administrative delays, your H-1b is not adjudicate until your F-1 expired, and then unfortunately it gets denied and you are out of status. CIS can also place you in removal proceedings.

Despite CIS saying the new memos are “not intended to penalize filers for innocent mistakes or misunderstandings of evidentiary requirements,” it certainly feels that way. Immigration enforcement has always been the realm of ICE, not CIS. USCIS adjudications are often inconsistent and often arbitrary. Applicants have the choices to appeal CIS decision or to seek review, and such options will be lost.

DNA Testing Rules in Sibling Immigration Petition Cases

USCIS may suggest and accept DNA tests s evidence of a full-or half-sibling relationship

USCIS has updated its policy regarding direct sibling-to-sibling DNA testing. If USCIS determined primary evidence is unavailable or unreliable, USCIS may suggest and accept DNA test results from an American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) accredited lab as evidence of a full-or half-sibling relationship. In these cases, USCIS will consider DNA along with all evidence on record to determine if the requisite relationship exists.

A sibling relationship requires that the petitioner and beneficiary are, or once were, the children of at least one common parent. Primary evidence includes birth and marriage certificates. Secondary evidence includes medical records, school records, and religious documents. Affidavits sworn to by persons who were living at the time of and who have personal knowledge of the event to which they attest may also be accepted if certain conditions are met.

USCIS will consider results of DNA testing conducted by an AABB-accredited lab that reflect a 90 percent probability or higher that a full- or half-sibling relationship exists as probative evidence of the claimed relationship. Due to the variations within half-sibling relationship test results, any result for a half sibling below 90 percent will be deemed inconclusive. Where a result is inconclusive, an officer must continue to evaluate the remaining evidence in the totality of the circumstances. To the extent possible, DNA testing against the common parent(s) is encouraged.

兄弟姐妹移民申请案件DNA测试规则

美国移民局已更新其关于兄弟姐妹DNA测试的政策。 如果USCIS确定主要证据不可用或不可靠，USCIS可能会建议并接受AABB认可的实验室的DNA测试结果作为兄弟姐妹关系的证据。 在这些情况下，移民局将考虑DNA以及所有记录在案的证据，以确定申请人于受益人是否存在真实的兄弟姐妹关系。

兄弟姐妹关系的请愿者和受益人至少需要有一个共同父母。 主要证据包括出生和结婚证书。 次要证据包括医疗记录，学校记录和宗教文件。 亲戚朋友邻居也可以写信证明他们兄弟姐妹关系的了解程度。

美国移民局将考虑由AABB认证实验室进行的DNA测试结果，该结果必须反映90％或更高的兄弟姐妹关系概率，作为所声称关系的证明证据。由于半同胞关系测试结果的差异，任何半兄弟姐妹低于90％的结果都将被视为不确定证据。 如果结果不确定，美国移民局官员必须继续评估所有的剩余证据。在可能的范围内，移民局鼓励对共同父母进行DNA测试。

USCIS New Affirmative Asylum Interview Scheduling Order

USCIS will now schedule asylum interviews starting with newer filings and working back towards older filings.

USCIS announced that starting January 29, 2018, the Asylum Division will give priority to the most recently filed affirmative asylum applications when scheduling for interviews. For the original post, see https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-asylum/asylum/affirmative-asylum-interview-scheduling. The asylum scheduling bulletin has been taken down.

USCIS will give priority to recent filings. USCIS says to do so will reduce the incentive to file for asylum solely to obtain employment authorization. USCIS says if the cases are processed quicker, it will allow the government promptly place such individuals into removal proceedings. USCIS will now schedule asylum interviews in the following order of priority:

  • First priority: Applications that were scheduled for an interview, but the interview had to be rescheduled at the applicant’s request or the needs of USCIS.
  • Second priority: Applications that have been pending 21 days or less.
  • Third priority: All other pending affirmative asylum applications will be scheduled for interviews starting with newer filings and working back towards older filings.

In addition, Asylum office directors may consider, on a case-by-case basis, an urgent request to be scheduled for an interview if such request is submitted. Source: USCIS Website