Immigration News

MULTIPLE DUI WILL PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING A GREEN CARD

 

Today U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new policy guidance implementing two decisions from the attorney general regarding how two or more DUI convictions affect good moral character (GMC) requirements and how post-sentencing changes to criminal sentences affect convictions and sentences for immigration purposes.
On October 25, 2019, the attorney general decided in Matter of Castillo-Perez that two or more DUI convictions during the statutory period could affect an applicant’s good moral character determination. When applying for an immigration benefit for which GMC is required, applicants with two or more DUI convictions may be able to overcome this presumption by presenting evidence that they had good moral character even during the period within which they committed the DUI offenses. The term DUI includes all state and federal impaired-driving offenses, including driving while intoxicated, operating under the influence, and other offenses that make it unlawful for an individual to operate a motor vehicle while impaired.
Also on October 25, 2019, the attorney general decided in Matter of Thomas and Thompson that the definition of “term of imprisonment or a sentence” generally refers to an alien’s original criminal sentence, without regard to post-sentencing changes. Post-sentencing orders that change a criminal alien’s original sentence will only be relevant for immigration purposes if they are based on a procedural or substantive defect in the underlying criminal proceeding.
“In response to two decisions from the attorney general, USCIS has updated policy guidance on establishing good moral character for immigration purposes,” said USCIS Deputy Director Mark Koumans. “As the attorney general directed, this guidance enhances public safety by ensuring that USCIS adjudicators consider driving under the influence convictions with the appropriate standard of scrutiny.”

NEWS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that current beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under Syria’s designation who want to maintain their status through March 31, 2021, must re-register between Sept. 23 and Nov. 22, 2019.

Re-registration procedures, including how to renew employment authorization documents (EADs), have been published in the Federal Register and are available at uscis.gov/tps.

IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR E-1 AND E-2 TREATY VISAS FOR FRENCH CITIZENS

Effective August 29, 2019, the Department of State will issue E-1 and E-2 visas for French citizens with a maximum validity of 15 months.
This is a stark change from the previous 5 years validity that was accorded to this visa category. No explanations have been attributed for this drastic change.

Employment Authorization for Paroles New Regulation

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today issued policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address its discretion to grant employment authorization to foreign nationals who are paroled into the United States, including those who are otherwise inadmissible.
Certain foreign nationals may be paroled into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Parolees are not entitled to employment authorization solely because they are paroled into the United States, but instead must establish eligibility and apply for employment authorization. USCIS will only consider employment authorization for parolees when, based on the facts and circumstances of each individual case, USCIS finds that a favorable exercise of discretion is warranted.
“Directly addressing loopholes that encourage the exploitation of our immigration system is the only way forward,” said Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli. “Responsible stewardship of our discretionary authorities enhances our ability to provide relief to those who lawfully qualify for it. With that in mind, USCIS is taking action within its discretionary authority by only granting employment authorization to parolees after consideration of all relevant factors on a case-by-case basis. This decision is in response to the national emergency at the southern border where foreign nationals are entering the United States illegally, as well as based on a review of USCIS adjudicatory practices over the past few years.”
USCIS is taking action to strengthen affected programs, such as parole, within its discretionary authority. Through this update, USCIS is providing adjudicators with guidance specific to parole-based employment authorization focusing on officers’ discretion and responsibility to grant employment authorization only after careful consideration of all relevant factors on a case-by-case basis. The policy update aligns USCIS’ guidelines for issuing discretionary employment authorization based on parole with current immigration enforcement priorities.
USCIS continues to adjudicate all petitions, applications, and requests fairly, efficiently, and effectively on a case-by-case basis to determine if they meet all standards required under applicable laws and regulations.
This policy update does not affect individuals paroled into the United States under the International Entrepreneur Rule. Such parolees are authorized to work based on their parole under current Department of Homeland Security regulations governing the International Entrepreneur parole program.

New Trump Administration Rule Lets ICE Rapidly Deport Undocumented Immigrants Without Due Process

Under a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule, undocumented immigrants must prove their residency in the United States or they could face expedited deportation. In some cases, the expedited deportation could be carried out before the person has an opportunity to come before a judge. The Trump administration announced the fast track deportation process on July 22, 2019.

What is Fast Track Deportation?
In the past, fast track deportations were typically limited to individuals arrested within two weeks after crossing the border and within 100 miles of the border. The process has now been expanded to apply to anyone who has been in the United States illegally for less than two years, with very few exceptions. According to the DHS, the expedited removal process is another step the administration is taking to address the “ongoing crisis on the southern border.”

With the expedited removal process, ICE has broad powers to deport an individual without allowing that individual the opportunity to see an immigration judge. Depending on how quickly the person is deported, the person may not even have time to find an immigration lawyer.

The policy places the burden of proving that an individual has been in the United States for a minimum of two years on that person. In other words, if an individual does not carry detailed documentation at all times that prove he/she has been in the country for more than two years, he/she will be unable to challenge an expedited removal because he/she will not be allowed to obtain the proof before he/she is detained and deported.

 

Unfortunately, until the administration provides more guidance, agents arresting and detaining immigrants have extremely broad discretion in what they deem adequate proof that the person has been in the country for more than two years. In other words, the immigration officer is serving as the officer, prosecutor, and judge since the person is never allowed to enter a courtroom. Anyone deported under the expedited removal rule does not have the right to appeal the deportation.

Are There Exceptions to the Expedited Removal Rule?
Unaccompanied minors are not subject to the new rule. There is also an exception for immigrants who apply for asylum, claiming they fear persecution if deported. A credible fear hearing and determination on an asylum request could delay immediate deportation.

Texas Service Center to Begin Accepting Form I-129 for Certain H-1B Petitions

On May 20, 2019, the Texas Service Center will begin processing Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for certain H-1B cap-exempt petitions requesting:

A change in previously approved employment;
A change of employer;
Concurrent employment;
Amendments;
A continuation of previously approved employment without change with the same employer;
A change of status to H-1B; or
Notification to a U.S. Consulate or inspection facility (port of entry or pre-flight inspection).
This does not include H-1B petitions for cap-exempt entities, petitions that are cap-exempt based on a Conrad/Interested Government Agency (IGA) waiver under Immigration and Nationality Act Section 214(l), or petitions where the employer is located in Guam or the beneficiary will be performing services in Guam.

The Texas Service Center will share this workload with the California Service Center, Vermont Service Center, and Nebraska Service Center to balance workloads and provide flexibility as USCIS works towards improving processing times and efficiency.

Petitioners filing any of the above H-1B petitions should file their Form I-129 at the address indicated on the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker page. Starting July 19, 2019 , USCIS may reject any of these petitions that are filed at the wrong service center.

TN Pilot program for Canadians seeking J-1 nonimmigrant status

USCIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are extending the joint agency pilot program for Canadian citizens seeking L-1 nonimmigrant status under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) through April 30, 2020. Last year, the USCIS California Service Center and the CBP Blaine, Washington, port of entry (POE) announced this pilot program, which was scheduled to run from April 30, 2018, through Oct. 31, 2018, and was later extended for six months.

This pilot program allows, but does not require, Canadian citizens to request that USCIS remotely adjudicate their petitioning employer’s Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, or Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, prior to their arrival or when they arrive at the Blaine POE. USCIS continues to encourage these Canadian citizens and their petitioning employers to email public.engagement@uscis.dhs.gov with feedback on their experience with the pilot program.

The US Embassy Jerusalem, Tel Aviv Branch has confirmed that E-2 visa applications will be accepted as of Wednesday, May 1, 2019.

A formal ceremony marking this historic accomplishment is tentatively scheduled to take place on Monday, May 6, 2019, with Ambassador Friedman as the keynote speaker.  The Israel-America Chamber of Commerce  will sponsor the first US and Israel Treaty Investor Seminar immediately following the convocation, with participation from the US Consul, Tel Aviv Branch, and Director of the Israel Population and Immigration Authority. Further information may be found at https://www.e2visa.co.il/.

USCIS has launched an H-1B Employer Data Hub to provide information to the public on employers petitioning for H-1B workers

USCIS has launched an H-1B Employer Data Hub to provide information to the public on employers petitioning for H-1B workers. The data hub is part of USCIS’ continued effort to increase transparency in employment-based visa programs by allowing the public to search for H-1B petitioners by fiscal year (back to FY 2009), NAICS code, employer name, city, state, or ZIP code. This will give the public the ability to calculate approval and denial rates and to review which employers are using the H-1B program. Data for individual fiscal years is available to download on the H-1B Employer Data Hub Files page. To help the public use the data hub and understand the terminology in it, USCIS has also created the Understanding Our H-1B Employer Data Hub page.
USCIS will provide cumulative quarterly updates and annual releases of the data and it anticipates updating the H-1B Employer Data Hub quarterly. For example, data for the first quarter (October-December) of a fiscal year will be provided in April of that fiscal year.