Articles Posted in Immigration News

USCIS has raised its immigration filing fees effective October 2, 2020. Applications and petitions postmarked or filed on or after October 2, 2020, must include these new fees. Please note that USCIS will reject your submission if the fees are not correct!

New USCIS’ fees effective October 2, 2020:

Source of Information:

USCIS, 7/31/20, News Release:

USCIS Adjusts Fees to Help Meet Operational Needs

DHS Final Rule (PDF)

List of some of the Top News Stories related to USCIS fee Increases:

Forbes, 8/3/20:

New USCIS Immigration Fees Hit Businesses, Citizens And Students

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 2^nd.

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

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:

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:

• A new user-centered design, which allows visitors to easily find immigration information and options on any device;

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: