On Friday, July 31, 2020, DHS released their final rule on the changes to the USCIS fee schedule. Most of the USCIS fee changes are increases and for the first time a $50 fee for some Asylum seekers. These fees changes will take effect on Friday, October 2nd.
Link to the Final Rule on the USCIS fee changes, includes the new fee charts: Final Rule
Please visit the USCIS news release for more detailed information: USCIS Adjusts Fees to Help Meet Operational Needs
First, if you are feeling sick, please do not come to your schedule appointment at the USCIS office. Use the instruction on your appointment notice to reschedule.
Visitors must wear a mask that covers both the mouth and nose when entering facilities. Visitors may be directed to briefly remove their mask to confirm identity or take their photograph.
The USCIS will not allow you to enter a USCIS office if you are:
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The American Immigration Council (AIC) has released all fifty states and the District of Columbia, for a total of fifty-one updated state-by-state fact sheets highlighting immigration data and facts. These fact sheets highlight the demographic and economic impact of Immigrants in each state.
With national immigration policy being discussed, we thought that it would be a good time to provide some statistics on the Immigrant population in the United States as provided by this AIC research. Once a week we will be posting a blog with information on three states at a time. This week we will highlight; Nebraska, Nevada and New Hampshire!
The AIC has compiled research which shows that Immigrants are an essential part of each of these states’ economy, labor force and tax base. As our economy continues to grow, Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers and entrepreneurs. As United States economic continues to grow, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of each of these states.
Ask Ellis Video – 7/19/20 – USICS Update: Green Card Production Backlog, EAD Card Delays
Ombudsman’s Office is warning that delays continue and could get worst for some secure documents issued by the USCIS. The delays are being caused by the USCIS’s reduction of its capacity to print secure documents, such as Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Cards and Employment Authorization Documents (EAD). Many foreign nationals are facing delays of more than a month in receiving their approved LPR (often called a green card), and EADs that are normally issued and mailed within days of approval. Applicants are also experiencing extended delays in the time it takes USCIS to adjudicate these types of applications. These delays are impacting both foreign nationals and their US employers.
CIS Ombudsman’s Alert Statement reason for delays:
The original Presidential Proclamation 10052 was issued on June 22, the President signed Presidential Proclamation (P.P.) 10052, which extends P.P. 10014 through December 31, 2020. Presidential Proclamation 10052 suspends the entry the United States of certain additional foreign nationals who present a risk to the U.S. labor market during the economic recovery caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Then on Monday, June 29, the President signed an amended P.P. 10052 which details the exceptions to the proclamation.
USCIS Deputy Director for Policy, Joseph Edlow stated, “Monday’s presidential proclamation temporarily restricts certain categories of visas from being issued to protect jobs for American workers while our economy recovers from the effects of COVID-19. This does not affect those currently working in the U.S. on valid H-1B or similar visas. The proclamation also does not prevent individuals in possession of valid visas prior to the effective date of the proclamation from entering or re-entering the country, if they have been abroad, provided they have not otherwise rendered themselves inadmissible. The U.S. will continue to honor these already valid visas as we help American workers get back on their feet.”
Source of Information:
We wanted to find a new way to engage our reader base. Every other Friday, we will post the ten (10) best/most frequently asked questions received during the week from our h1bvisalawyerblog, Facebook, and Twitter readers. We will answer those questions and provide the Q&A on our H-1B Visa Lawyer Blog.
If you have a burning question, are seeking assistance with a difficult immigration related case, wish to discuss your views on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, DREAMers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, priority dates, the monthly visa bulletin, adjustment applications, etc., please contact us by submitting your question/comment/viewpoint in our comment box provided on our H-1B Visa Lawyer Blog.
Our next “Q & A Forum” will take place this Friday, July 31, 2020. Act now and submit your questions!
CIS Ombudsman’s Office is warning that delays continue and could get worst for some secure documents issued by the USCIS. The delays are being caused by the USCIS’s reduction of its capacity to print secure documents, such as Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Cards and Employment Authorization Documents (EAD). Many foreign nationals are facing delays of more than a month in receiving their approved LPR (often called a green card), and EADs that are normally issued and mailed within days of approval. Applicants are also experiencing extended delays in the time it takes USCIS to adjudicate these types of applications. These delays are impacting both foreign nationals and their US employers.
CIS Ombudsman’s Alert Statement reason for delays:
In June 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reduced its capacity to print secure documents, such as Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Cards and Employment Authorization Documents, after it ended a contract with an outside company responsible for printing these cards. According to USCIS, it intended to hire federal employees to replace the contractors; however, its financial situation resulted in a hiring freeze that has impacted the printing of these secure cards.
On Monday, July 21, 2020 the USCIS unveiled a newly designed uscis.gov website. The new design has a more open feel to help online visitors to use the already existing online tools and resources. The new website design was developed with the input from users and the public.
New USCIS.gov website features include:
USCIS has announced that they have been making improves to their online Multilingual Resources located on USCIS Web Page, “Multilingual Resource Center”! This page includes a pull-down list with more then twenty different languages to choose from, each covers a wide range of topics such as citizenship, Green Cards, employee verification, biometrics, how to report fraud and avoid immigration scams, and humanitarian programs.
Source of Information:
USCIS, 6/9/20, Web Page:
H1B Visa Lawyer Blog