USCIS Immigrant Fee Payment Moves to USCIS ELIS

USCIS Immigrant Fee Payment Moves to USCIS ELIS

USCIS Immigrant Fee Payment Moves to USCIS ELIS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services sent this bulletin at 05/20/2013 11:18 AM EDT

USCIS has moved the online payment of the USCIS Immigrant Fee to its Electronic Immigration System (USCIS ELIS). Customers must now pay the $165 USCIS Immigrant Fee using USCIS ELIS after they receive their immigrant visa package from the Department of State and before they depart for the United States. USCIS ELIS is easy to use and provides direct access to case status updates. New immigrants will also use USCIS ELIS to file future applications and petitions when they become available in the system.

This fee has been in place since Feb. 1, 2013. Immigrants who receive their visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad must pay the fee online. The fee allows USCIS to recover the cost of processing the immigrant visa package and other information as well as producing and delivering the permanent resident card after immigrant visa holders are admitted to the United States. Immigrants will soon be directed to the USCIS ELIS website to create an online account and pay the immigrant fee.

The fee does not apply to certain special immigrants and those entering the United States through the inter-country adoption programs.

The USCIS Immigrant Fee is a separate fee from the Department of State immigrant visa application.

USCIS - Temporary Protected Status Extended for Nicaraguans

USCIS - Temporary Protected Status Extended for Nicaraguans

Temporary Protected Status Extended for Nicaraguans Released Apr. 3, 2013 WASHINGTON— Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Nicaragua for an additional 18 months, beginning July 6, 2013, and ending Jan. 5, 2015. Current Nicaraguan beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS status must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period that runs from April 3, 2013, through June 3, 2013. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages beneficiaries to register as soon as possible once the 60-day re-registration period begins. Applications will not be accepted before April 3, 2013. The 18-month extension also allows TPS re-registrants to apply for a new employment authorization document (EAD). Eligible Nicaraguan TPS beneficiaries who request an EAD and meet the re-registration deadline will receive a new EAD with an expiration date of Jan. 5, 2015. USCIS recognizes that some re-registrants may not receive their new EADs until after their current EADs expire. Therefore, USCIS is automatically extending current TPS Nicaragua EADs that have a July 5, 2013, expiration date for an additional six months. These existing EADs are now valid through Jan. 5, 2014. To re-register, current TPS beneficiaries must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. TPS re-registrants must also submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, but no application fee is required if the re-registrant does not want an EAD.  Re-registrants do not need to pay the Form I-821 application fee, but they must submit the biometric services fee, or a fee waiver request, if they are 14 years or older. All TPS re-registrants applying for an EAD must also submit the Form I-765 application fee, or a fee waiver request. TPS applicants may request that USCIS waive any fees by filing a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or by submitting a personal letter requesting these fees be waived. Failure to submit the required filing fees or a properly documented fee waiver request will result in rejection of the entire TPS application. Applicants can download TPS forms for free from the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov/forms. Applicants can also request free TPS forms by calling USCIS toll-free at 1-800-870-3676. Additional information on TPS for Nicaragua, including guidance on the application process and eligibility, is available online at http://www.uscis.gov/tps. Further details on this extension of TPS for Nicaragua, including the application requirements and procedures, will appear in a Federal Register notice scheduled for publication on April 3, 2013. Applicants seeking information about the status of their individual cases can check My Case Status Online, or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833). For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

USCIS - Temporary Protected Status Extended for Hondurans

USCIS - Temporary Protected Status Extended for Hondurans

Temporary Protected Status Extended for Hondurans

Released Apr 3, 2013

WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Honduras for an additional 18 months, beginning July 6, 2013, and ending Jan. 5, 2015.

Current Honduran beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS status must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period that runs from April 3, 2013, through June 3, 2013. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages beneficiaries to register as soon as possible once the 60-day re-registration period begins. Applications will not be accepted before April 3, 2013.

The 18-month extension also allows TPS re-registrants to apply for a new employment authorization document (EAD). Eligible Honduran TPS beneficiaries who request an EAD and meet the re-registration deadline will receive a new EAD with an expiration date of Jan. 5, 2015. USCIS recognizes that some re-registrants may not receive their new EADs until after their current EADs expire. Therefore, USCIS is automatically extending current TPS Honduras EADs that have a July 5, 2013, expiration date for an additional six months. These existing EADs are now valid through Jan. 5, 2014.

To re-register, current TPS beneficiaries must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. TPS re-registrants must also submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, but no application fee is required if the re-registrant does not want an EAD. Re-registrants do not need to pay the Form I-821 application fee, but they must submit the biometric services fee, or a fee waiver request, if they are 14 years or older. All TPS re-registrants applying for an EAD must submit the Form I-765 application fee, or a fee waiver request.

TPS applicants may request that USCIS waive any fees by filing a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or by submitting a personal letter requesting these fees be waived. Failure to submit the required filing fees or a properly documented fee waiver request will result in rejection of the entire TPS application.

Applicants can download TPS forms for free from the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov/forms. Applicants can also request free TPS forms by calling USCIS toll-free at 1-800-870-3676.

Additional information on TPS for Honduras, including guidance on the application process and eligibility, is available online at http://www.uscis.gov/tps. Further details on this extension of TPS for Honduras, including the application requirements and procedures, will appear in a Federal Register notice scheduled for publication on April 3, 2013.

Applicants seeking information about the status of their individual cases can check My Case Status Online, or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833).

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

ID Required to enter JFK Federal Building

AILA NE President Vincent Lau has informed us that (until further notice) a photo ID will be required to gain entry to the JFK Federal Building in Boston.

Well, the immigration court is in JFK; and while I appreciate the need for additional security - there is a problem. Many people who are placed in removal proceedings have their ID confiscated by ICE. When they show up for court and are turned away - they will get a default judgement against them for not being present.

If you are a client of Drew Law Office and you do not have a photo ID please let us know. We will be monitoring the situation and can file motions to reopen in absentia removal orders if needed.

There isn't much we can do about the really long wait time to get into the building however... so be sure to arrive early.

A victory for Latino rights - eldiariony.com

A victory for Latino rights - eldiariony.com

https://ccrjustice.org/ourcases/aguilar-v-ice

An unprecedented settlement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent a loud and needed message: immigration agents cannot run roughshod over the rights of Latinos without consequences.

As of a result of the settlement reached yesterday, ICE must cough up $1 million to 22 Latino victims of warrantless raids. But what is far-reaching is that ICE must change its policies.

Among the court-ordered requirements: ICE agents must seek consent to enter or search a private residence. When the target is from a Spanish-speaking country, the agency must have Spanish-speaking officers available to seek that permission. They cannot conduct sweeps through a home without a real —not imagined or assumed— suspicion of danger.

CBP Announces Automation of Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record - Drew Law Office, pllc.

CBP Announces Automation of Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record - Drew Law Office, pllc.

CBP Announces Automation of Form I-94 Arrival/Departure RecordEliminates Paper Forms, Streamlines Admission Process
(Thursday, March 21, 2013)
Washington — U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced that it has submitted to the Federal Register a rule that will automate Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record to streamline the admissions process for individuals lawfully visiting the United States. Form I-94 provides international visitors evidence they have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. which is necessary to verify alien registration, immigration status, and employment authorization. The automation means that affected visitors will no longer need to fill out a paper form when arriving to the U.S. by air or sea, improving procedures and reducing costs. The change will go into effect 30 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register.
“Automation of the I-94 will increase efficiency and streamline the admission process,” said CBP Deputy Commissioner David V. Aguilar. “Once fully implemented, the process will facilitate security and travel while saving CBP an estimated $15.5 million a year.”

Travelers wanting a hard copy or other evidence of admission will be directed to www.cbp.gov/I94* to print a copy of an I-94 based on the electronically submitted data, including the I-94 number from the form, to provide as necessary to benefits providers or as evidence of lawful admission. ( www.cbp.gov/I94 )

As part of CBP’s work to bring advances in technology and automation to the passenger processing environment, records of admission will now be generated using traveler information already transmitted through electronic means. This change should decrease paperwork for both the officer and the traveler and will allow CBP to better optimize its resources.

*The www.cbp.gov/i94 website will be live 30 days after the rule is published to the Federal Register. ( www.cbp.gov/I94 )

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

I can't see how this could possibly go wrong -- 

2013 Poverty Guidelines (DHHS and USCIS) - Drew Law Office, pllc.

2013 Poverty Guidelines (DHHS and USCIS) - Drew Law Office, pllc.

2013 Poverty Guidelines (DHHS and USCIS)

posted Mar 20, 2013, 7:06 AM by Randall Drew

The Department of Health and Human Services publishes the Poverty Guidelines every year.  And every year USCIS takes way too long to publish their guidelines based on 125% of the  Poverty Guidelines. It has now been almost two months since the Federal Register Posting  and there is still no new form I-864P on the USCIS website. You might  think USCIS would  get some advance notice of the guidelines from DHHS and have the form ready ahead of time  -- they don't. So I have posted them here ... make sure you doublecheck my math (I rounded up)! 2013 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Persons in family/household    Poverty guideline.  (USCIS = 125%)         1                                    $11,490                    $14,363         2                                    $15,510                    $19,388         3                                    $19,530                    $24,413         4                                    $23,550                    $29,438         5                                    $27,570                    $34,463         6                                    $31,590                    $39,488         7                                    $35,610                    $44,513         8                                    $39,630                    $49,538 For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,020 for each additional person  then multiply by 1.25