Our association, AILA, has filed a lawsuit against the USCIS today requesting the court to order the USCIS to freeze all immigration deadlines for:
Initial applications
Responses to all Requests for Evidence or other responses due on or after March 1, 2020
Requests for extension of status, maintenance of status
Reprieve from any expiration of status or employment authorization;
Maintaining the status quo for purposes of eligibility for protection from removal, work authorization,
Updates Align with Board of Immigration Appeals Decision and Statute
Department to Temporarily Amend Certain H-2A Requirements During COVID-19 National Emergency
Release Date: April 15, 2020
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognizes that there are immigration-related challenges as a direct result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. USCIS continues to carefully analyze these issues and to leverage the resources to effectively address these challenges within USCIS's existing authorities. DHS also continues to take action to protect the American people and communities, and is considering a number of policies and procedures to improve the employment opportunities of U.S. workers during this pandemic.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that H-1B cap-subject petitions for fiscal year (FY) 2021, including those petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption, may now be filed with USCIS if based on a valid selected registration.
A petitioner is only eligible to file an FY 2021 H-1B cap-subject petition if they electronically registered the beneficiary in the H-1B registration process and USCIS selected the registration submitted for the beneficiary through the random selection process.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 2 April 2020
FAQs related to Covid Caronavirus:
Loss of job while in AOS I-485 period || Question from Employers about Payroll for H-1B and others L-1, E, etc. employees || Extension of B-1-B2 (tourist visas or business visas) ||
H-1B employee furlough's impact on green card and H-1B || Converting to B-1 B-2 status || H-1B denial || Changing H-1B home office location ||
Other FAQs: Accepting Unemployment Payments on nonimmigrant visas (H-1B, L-1, E visas, etc.) and/or on green card || Applying for green card for parents who are visiting/in the USA || H-1B lottery winner employee change of employers
April 16 Call, Discussion Topics and FAQs
Applying for tourist, visitors, B-1, B-2 to maintain status || Effect of take over on L-1 || EB-1C International Managers/Executive Green Card portability || I-140 revocation || Aged out disabled children || Losing job after AOS I-485 interview || H1b visa holders during COVID
Canadians living in USA || False claim to US Citizenship || Joint affidavit of support || Expired green card || Impact of NOIR on approved H-1B ||Maintaing H-1B during AOS
FAQs:
-B-1/B-2 visitors visa extension
-Effect of immigration proclamation/executive order on green cards
-H-1B furlough or temporary lay off
-Implications of the 240 days grace period
-I-485 pending laid off/AC21/Supplement J
Other topics of discussion:
-Public charge rule
-H-1-H4-H4 EAD extension concurrently
WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has re-designated Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and has extended the existing TPS designation for Somalia from Sept. 18, 2012 through March 17, 2014, allowing eligible nationals of Somalia to register or re-register for TPS in accordance with the Federal Register notice.
According to DOL updates as of 4/2/2012, they are working on PERM application filed in the following months:
Analyst Reviews: January 2012
Audits: September 2011
Reconsideration Requests to the CO: March 2011
Gov’t Error Reconsiderations: Current
Appointment: 9:40am
Arrived around 9:15am, there were about 50people in the waiting area, checked in with the receptionist, and sat down for my interview. 30mins, 45mins, 60mins, 90MINS went by still no one called my name. Finally someone around 11am called me, so walked all the way down to the other end of the hallway.
After the formalities, I was asked if I had brought anything that I hadn't already submitted, I handed him proof of selective service registration.
I was asked the following questions:
1. What is one promise you make when you become a USC?
Just wanted to share my timeline and some lessons learned. The whole process took a little over 6 months and now I'm a citizen of the United States of America.
Final Timeline:
06/06/11: Mailed N-400 (Dallas lock box) Priority Mail from NoVA
06/07/11: USCIS received date
06/23/11: NOA received, FP scheduled for 07/20/11
07/20/11: FP done - walk-in at scheduled time
08/19/11: YL received
11/14/11: Online change of status to testing and interview
11/16/11: IL received & Status changed twice
12/21/11: Interview
12/23/11: Oath ceremony