US Government Updates on Immigration.
The following are updates we get, sometimes on a daily basis. We will try to keep you informed, daily with any Gov't type updates that concern Immigration.
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ALERT From: USCIS
The following USCIS form(s) are being updated:
Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support 04/25/2022 09:18 AM EDT Edition Date: 04/25/22. Starting June 27, 2022, we will only accept the 04/25/22 edition. Until then, you can use the 02/13/19 edition.
Alert: To improve efficiency and reduce Form I-765 processing times for Form I-485 applicants, USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 from Forms I-131 filed at the same time.
To improve efficiency and reduce Form I-765 processing times for Form I-485 applicants, USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 from Forms I-131 filed at the same time. Effective Feb. 1, 2022, when possible, USCIS will adjudicate the request for employment authorization first and, if it is approved, we will issue an Employment Authorization Document without any notation about advanced parole. We will adjudicate the Form I-131 separately and, if it is approved, we will issue an Advance Parole Document.
Sent: 3/2/2022 2:10:23 PM US Mountain Standard Time
>> Subject: USCIS Expands Credit Card Payment Pilot Program to All
>> Service Centers
>>
>> As part of our credit card payment pilot program, the USCIS service
>> centers are now accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450,
>> Authorization for Credit Card Transactions [1], for all forms except
>> Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker [2], for H-1B and
>> H-2A petitions.
>>
>> At the end of the pilot, we will evaluate the results and determine
>> the next steps for expanding this payment option for other forms.
>> The goal of this pilot is to bring USCIS one step closer to
>> accepting digital payments using a credit card at all service
>> centers.
>>
>> We started [3], and then expanded [4], this program at the Nebraska
>> Service Center, and then further expanded the program to the Texas
>> [5], Vermont [6] and California [7] service centers.
>>
>> For more information, please see our Pay with a Credit Card [8]
>> page.
AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card
File Online
Most individuals can change their address in two ways:
Through your existing USCIS online account if you filed your form online; or
Filing Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card, online.
Filing Form AR-11 online will update your address on all pending applications, petitions, or requests that you include on the form. You do not need to mail a paper Form AR-11 if you use the change of address webpage unless you are a victim of domestic violence, trafficking, and other crimes, or if you have previously filed a Form I-751 abuse waiver. For more information on these special situations in which you must file a paper Form AR-11, see our Change of Address webpage. We strongly encourage you to update your address with USCIS to ensure you receive all correspondence and benefits from us in a timely manner and avoid possible delays related to your case. Changing your address with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will not change your address with USCIS, or the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) if you have an active or pending court case. Please update your address with both USCIS and USPS (and EOIR if you are in immigration proceedings).
Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, Information for Completing USCIS Forms
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issues Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, to aliens who are:
Admitted to the U.S.;
Adjusting status while in the U.S.; or
Extending their stay.
All persons need a Form I-94 except U.S. citizens, returning resident aliens, aliens with immigrant visas, and most Canadian citizens visiting or in transit. Air and sea travelers will be issued I-94s during the admission process at the port of entry.
A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer attaches Form I-94 to the nonimmigrant visitor’s passport upon entry to the U.S. The visitor must exit the U.S. on or before the departure date stamped on the Form I-94. This is the “Admit Until Date” on the electronic Form I-94. The Form I-94 number also is known as the Departure Number or Admission Record Number.
As of April 30, 2013, most Arrival and/or Departure records are created electronically upon arrival.
Visit CBP’s I-94, Travel Records for U.S. Visitors website to:
Apply for a new I-94 (land border travelers only);
Get your most recent I-94;
View travel history; or
See how much longer you can remain in the U.S. based on the terms of your admission.
If you cannot get your Form I-94 from the CBP website, you may file Form I-102, Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Record, with USCIS.
Related Links
Applying for Admission into United States
Arrival/Departure Forms: I-94 and I-94W
I-94 Fact Sheet (PDF)
I-94 Expiration Dates (PDF)
Questions and Information for the I-485 Interview
First of all, don’t get anxious just because U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sent you an appointment notice for an I-485 interview. Almost everyone must go through an interview during the adjustment of status process. In fact, there’s reason to get excited. The I-485 interview is likely the last step in your application process. If all goes well, you’ll be a permanent resident (green card holder) at the end of the interview.
Interviews are a standard part of the process after filing Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status. The I-485 interview is almost a certainty if you submitted an adjustment of status application on the basis of marriage. USCIS may waive the interview for some applicants with especially straight forward cases with strong evidence. But this is the exception.
Who Attends Adjustment of Status Interview
USCIS will generally schedule the interview at an office nearest you. In some areas of the country, this may require a long drive and an overnight stay. For family-based I-485 applications, USCIS generally requires both the applicant and petitioner to attend the I-485 interview. They will make a decision to waive the interview on a case-by-case basis. You can’t request USCIS to waive the interview, and you should always expect one for marriage-based applications. In some non-marriage based cases, USCIS may require only the applicant to attend the adjustment of status interview. However, USCIS does not require employers to attend interviews for employment-based I-485 applications.
Derivative applicants should also expect to attend. If you have a spouse and children that are applying for permanent residence based on your eligibility, they are known as derivative applicants and must appear regardless of the filing category.
Use of an Interpreter
An applicant who is not fluent in English may require the help of an interpreter for the I-485 interview. Also known as a translator, the interpreter should be a disinterested party. In other words, the interpreter should not have a clear bias. For example, the petitioner has a bias to see your application approved and is typically not a satisfactory interpreter. However, you don’t necessarily need to pay someone to translate. An immigration officer may exercise discretion to allow a friend of the applicant to act as interpreter. If the officer is fluent in the applicant’s preferred language, the officer may conduct the examination in that language without use of an interpreter.
The interpreter should take a valid, government-issued identity document and a prepared Form G-1256 (Declaration for Interpreted USCIS Interview) to USCIS on the day of the I-485 interview. The applicant and interpreter both sign Form G-1256 at the interview in front of the officer.
The USCIS officer may disqualify an interpreter provided by the applicant if the officer believes the integrity of the examination is compromised by the interpreter’s participation or the officer determines the interpreter is not competent to translate.
Items to Take to Interview
The USCIS appointment notice will include a list of items to take to your I-485 interview. Follow the directions on your appointment notice, but this list will get you prepared for the I-485 interview. You should expect to take the following items:
· A government-issued photo identification such as a passport (even if expired) but can also be any other government-issued photo ID like a driver’s license.
· Appointment notice (I-797C, Notice of Action) for your I-485 interview.
· A complete copy of your adjustment of status application package. In addition to Form I-485, have available any other forms (e.g. I-130, I-130A, I-864, I-131, I-765) you may have submitted.
· Originals of any supporting documents that you submitted to USCIS with the adjustment of status application. Especially important examples include birth, marriage and death certificates as well as divorce decrees (if applicable).
· Your passport (unless you are in certain categories such as refugee/asylum).
· Any other travel documents, for example your advance parole permit if you traveled while awaiting your interview.
· Doctor’s report from your required medical examination on Form I-693 (if you did not submit this report with the original adjustment application).
· If applying based on employment, an up-to-date employment verification letter from your employer, documenting continued employment at a specified salary.
· If applying based on marriage, copies plus originals of documents showing your shared life, such as a joint lease or mortgage, joint bank account or credit card statements, children’s birth certificates, and so on.
The USCIS officer will likely ask if you have any life changes that may affect your adjustment of status application. The officer is looking for anything that may change an answer on your application. Some examples include the birth of a child, new employer, or new address. If your changes include an arrest or other immigration issues, speak to an immigration attorney before attending your I-485 interview.
Typical Questions at an I-485 Interview
The typical adjustment of status interview lasts approximately 20 to 25 minutes. After introductions and swearing in, that doesn’t leave much time for questioning. It’s also not necessary to memorize answers to any questions. For the most part, the USCIS will ask you questions about your application and ask you to verify or explain certain answers. If you’ve truthfully answered questions on Form I-485, there’s no reason to be nervous or anxious.
For applicants that filed an adjustment of status application based on spousal relationship, the questions may get slightly more personal. USCIS wants confirmation that the marriage is bona fide. In other words, they will scrutinize the application more to make sure there’s no marriage fraud. But again, as long as you can be truthful, they are simple questions and answers.
Sample I-485 Interview Questions for Spouses
· How, when and where did you meet your spouse?
· Where and with whom did your spouse live when you met your spouse?
· Who lives at your address now?
· What is your spouse’s date of birth?
· Where did your spouse work when you met him/her?
· What type of work does your spouse do?
· What is your spouse’s work schedule?
· How much is your spouse’s salary?
· Are both spouses’ salaries deposited into the same bank account?
· What bank account do you use?
· Did your spouse have a car when you met? What model, color, etc?
· Are these the cars you and your spouse current drive?
· If not, when did you and/or your spouse change cars?
· If you now have cars, how much money is owed on them? How much is the monthly payment?
· When did you and your spouse decide to get married? Was there a proposal? Who proposed? When and where did it take place?
· Did you and your spouse live together prior to your marriage? Where and how long?
· When did you and your spouse move in together?
· When did you get married?
· If you had a celebration, what food/beverages were served?
· Did you and your spouse go on a honeymoon? If yes, where?
· Who pays the rent/mortgage? How is it paid? (Do you mail it? Hand-deliver it?)
· Where does your landlord live?
· How many sleeping rooms does your home have?
· Are all the sleeping rooms on the same side of the home?
· What size bed do you and your spouse have?
· Can you describe the pieces of furniture in your bedroom?
This is a small sampling of possible questions. In practice, USCIS may ask a wide variety of questions to help make a determination if you and your spouse have a bona fide marriage.
After the Interview
If everything goes well at your adjustment of status interview, the USCIS officer will approve your I-485 application. In some cases the officer may be able to place an “I-551 stamp” inside your passport. Regardless, USCIS will process the new green card and mail it to your address on record.
However, not all adjustment of status interviews end with a decision. The USCIS officer may tell you that you will receive a decision in the mail. Don’t be discouraged. This isn’t unusual.
It’s also possible that a USCIS officer cannot approve your case because additional evidence is required. If USCIS requests additional evidence, be certain to submit the documentation requested by the deadline issued. USCIS will send you a decision by mail.
If it’s been 90 days since your I-485 interview and you still don’t have a decision, call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 to schedule an Info Pass appointment. It’s important to follow up.
Subject: USCIS Creates New Webpage for Lockbox Filing Location Updates
We have created a new Lockbox Filing Location Updates page on our website for customers to keep track of updates we make to lockbox filing locations. You can use this page to easily see which lockbox form filing locations we have updated and when we made the update. We will update this page regularly, but we always encourage you to check the “Where to File” section of your form’s webpage for the most current information on where to mail your form. We periodically adjust filing locations among our lockbox facilities to balance our incoming workload for timely processing. To receive updates on these lockbox filing location changes, please subscribe to the “Forms Updates” GovDelivery distribution list. In addition to updating the new page, we will issue a GovDelivery email with each filing location update and announce each update through social media.
We recently updated the following USCIS form(s):
Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility 07/20/2021 08:52 AM EDT Starting 10/26/21, we will only accept the 7/20/21 version. Until then, you can use the 1/27/20 version. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
Petition for Alien Relative 07/20/2021 08:31 AM EDT Starting 10/26/21, we will only accept the 7/20/21 version. Until then, you can use the 2/13/19 version. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
For more information, please visit our Forms Updates page.
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