On August 3, 2020, USCIS issued a final rule changing its current fees, last updated in December 2016. There has been both increase and decrease of current fees. The average increase is 21% but some fees may have up to an 83% increase, such as naturalization application which is going from $640 to $1,170. The Department of Homeland Security claim this change is necessary to recover its cost of services.

USCIS is also adding new fees, separating fees by categories (such as Form I-129 nonimmigrant worker), differentiating costs from online and paper filing, and removing some fees exemptions. The new fees will be effective on 10/02/2020. Thus any case postmarked on or after this date will need to include the fees established by the final rule. (85 FE 46788, 8/3/20)

Below are examples of some of the changes. For a complete list of the fee changes please click final rule (PDF)

Immigration Benefit Request                       Current Fee      Final Fee       Change ($)       Percent Change
I-90 Application to Replace                                 $455                $405              -$50                    -11%
Permanent Resident Card (online filing)
I-90 Application to Replace                                 $455                $415              -$40                    -9%
Permanent Resident Card (paper filing)
I-129 H-1                                                             $460               $555                $95                    21%
I-129 L                                                                $460                $805                $345                  75%
I-129 O                                                               $460                $705               $245                    53%          
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (online filing)    $535                $550               $15                      3%    
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative(paper filing)      $535                $560               $25                      5%       
I-131 Travel document                                        $575                $590               $15                      3%      
I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker           $700               $555              -$145                  -21%
I-485  Adjustment of Status                                $1140              $1130             -$10                    -1%
N-400 Application for Naturalization                   $640               $1170              $530                    83%

Here’s What We Know
On April 22, 2020, President Trump issued a proclamation suspending the entry of any individual seeking to enter the United States. The proclamation goes into effect at 11:59 pm (ET) on April 23, 2020, for at least 60 days. It can be extended and modified.

Who does it affect?
Any individual seeking to enter the U.S. as an immigrant who:

• Is outside the United States on the effective date of the proclamation;
• Does not have a valid immigrant visa as of April 23, 2020; and
• Does not have a valid official travel document as of April 23, 2020, or issued on any date thereafter.

 
The following categories are not affected by the proclamation:

• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
• Spouses and children under the age of 21 of U.S. citizens, including prospective adoptees on an IR-4 or IH-4 visa
• Individuals, and their spouses and children, seeking to enter the U.S. on an immigrant visa as a physician, nurse, or other healthcare professional; to perform medical research or other work essential to combatting COVID-19 (as determined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS))
• Individuals applying for a visa to enter the U.S. pursuant to the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program
• Individuals who would further important U.S. law enforcement objectives (as determined by DHS and DOS)
• Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses and children
• Afghan and Iraqi nationals who were translators/interpreters or employed by the U.S. government and their spouses or children seeking entry pursuant to a Special Immigrant Visa
• Individuals whose entry would be in the national interest (as determined by DHS and DOS)

 
Nonimmigrant Visa Holders and Asylum Seekers Are NOT Prohibited from Coming to the U.S. by the Proclamation
Additional Considerations

• Routine visa services at all U.S. embassies and consular posts around the world have been suspended as of March 20, 2020. U.S. embassies and consulates continue to provide urgent and emergency visa services as resources allow. DOS intends to continue to process visa applications for farm workers and medical professionals assisting with COVID-19.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has temporarily suspended in-person services through at least May 3, 2020, but continues to accept and process applications and petitions, including applications requesting an extension or change of status.
• The U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico are closed for non-essential travel until at least May 20, 2020.
• With some exceptions, the entry of individuals who were present in China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the U.K., and Ireland, during the 14-day period before their attempted entry into the United States has also been suspended.
• The Proclamation requires a review of temporary visa programs within 30 days and recommendations to stimulate the U.S. economy and ensure “the prioritization, hiring and employment” of U.S. workers.

Given the current situation we are living, with Covid-19, known as Corona Virus, a lot of our clients are questioning whether they can apply for unemployment and how it may affect their status and future immigration.

In general, unemployment is not considered a public charge for the new public charge rule[1]. However it may be seen as a negative factor if you apply for a visa in the future.

As a visa holder, Am I eligible for unemployment benefits?

Some visa holders are eligible for unemployment while others are not.
If you are the principal visa holder ofE-2, L-1, H-1B, O-1, among others, you may not be eligible for unemployment benefits. The main reason being that a person needs to be readily available to accept employment when requesting the benefit and these visas restrict employment to the sponsoring employer.
However, immigrants holding a valid employment authorization (EAD) have no restriction to work, thus are eligible for unemployment benefits. Example are spouses of E-2 or L-1 visa holder, F-1 students with OPT. However, if the EAD is expired the person is no longer eligible for unemployment.

Note that aside the immigration status, the person must meet all other unemployment application criteria, which usually differs from state to state.
​
Click here for information on how to apply for unemployment benefits in Florida.


[1] Public charge fact sheet  https://www.uscis.gov/news/fact-sheets/public-charge-fact-sheet

This is the first year the USCIS has implemented a registration period prior to applying to H-1B cap subject, in a way to modernize the application and reduce paper file. The registration period was during the month of March 2020.

USCIS received that approximately 275,000 registrations were submitted, 46% of which were for prospective beneficiaries with advanced degree. The country origin of the majority of the beneficiaries were India with 67% and China with 13% of the registrations. 

On April 1st USCIS announced that notices of selected registrations have been mailed, and the H-1B application for the selected registrations may now be submitted. 

For more information visit USCIS.gov

​The school year is around the corner and parents all over the country are registering or have registered their kids to go back to school sometime next month.

The Public School system must accept students regardless of their immigration status. Thus, every year schools are filled with students who are U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or hold dependent status such as L-2, F-2, H-4, O-2, M-2, J-2, etc., and also the so called “undocumented immigrants” who have no immigration status at all.

However, in the last few years, we have encountered an increasing influx of families arriving in the U.S. as tourists holding B-1/B-2 visas, and registering their children in Public and Charter schools.  Often, unbeknownst to them, they are not only jeopardizing the status of their children, but also violating their own tourist visas and sometimes committing fraud in the eyes of the immigration enforcement agencies.

Time and again, we seat through consultations with intending immigrants who have already registered their kids in a charter school or a district public school while they are in tourist visas or while their change of status applications are pending.  Their stories are very similar, and go somewhat like this:  “But the Public School didn’t ask for our immigration status!!” or “The government entity just asked for an address in the U.S. and, we registered our children for that Charter school lottery” or “We told the school’s principal we were tourist, but she said we could still register our children.”

To all these parents, we sadly explain during a consultation, too often too late to avoid consequences, that the school system and the immigration system are two different entities. Although the public school system will not turn away any family based on their immigration status, a family who entered the country for leisure, will be deemed as violating their tourist status, and may be even charged with fraud in their intent when first entering the United States, if registering their kids in school.

Parents shall understand that the Schools System must accept a child of age with the right requirements to attend that school, regardless of their immigration status. Thus, it is crucial that our Schools start, at a minimum, informing families of the possible immigration consequences of registering their child while in a tourist status or pending change of status. This will allow families to make an informed decision as to whether registering their child in school.

The consequences of attending school while in a tourist status may range from denying a future change of status of the parents and family, to charging them with immigration fraud. If the latest, it will close the doors for any future immigration benefit, and the family will most likely be placed in immigration proceedings.

With little effort, Public schools could include one more form to their registration package informing families of the potential ramifications of registering to school while holding a tourist status. This, in turn, will not only help immigrant families make the informed decision as to whether register their kids to school, but also allow schools to devote their limited spaces and resources to our taxpayers.

If you have question about your immigration status or wish to consult with our firm, please contact us at 954-843-3494

USCIS announced today that current TPS beneficiaries under the Haiti designation must re-register between now and March 19, 2018 in order to extend their TPS and employment authorization until July 22, 2019,  the program is set to expire.
Current employment authorization cards will be extended automatically until July 21, 2018. 

Following a recent preliminary injunction order by the Court in January 2018, USCIS announced that is will continue to accept DACA renewal applications. New DACA applications will not be accepted and approved.
It is extremely important for a DACA beneficiary to renewal his or her DACA now, even if it is not expiring within the next 150 days. This may be the only chance to extend the DACA protection and employment authorization.