In order to ensure utilization of all
10,000 asylum adjustment numbers, a new
procedure for adjudicating these cases has been
developed for Fiscal Year 2002. Beginning with the
issuance of this memorandum, each field office may
adjudicate any case with a priority date of June 9,
1998 or earlier. A list of all known asylum
adjustment cases with a priority date of June 9, 1998
or earlier has been forwarded electronically. The
ADDE or OIC shall ensure that the cases are located
within their office. If other cases with the same
priority date are encountered, they may also be
adjudicated. Before a case may be adjudicated,
a number must be requested via e-mail from the
Nebraska Service Center. The request must include the
priority date,
A-number, FCO and any comments. No case may be
adjudicated unless
authorization is received via email from NSC. Before
requesting the authorization to adjudicate the case,
a determination must be made that the case is
complete, including a current fingerprint response
from the FBI. The case must be reviewed to
ensure that the individual is not eligible for
adjustment under another classification. All Copy 3s
of the I-181 must be sent to the NSC within 10 days
of adjudication, in order to properly
maintain the official count of asylum
adjustments.
In order to sustain control over the asylum
adjustment count, beginning on January 1, 2002, all
asylum adjustment cases pending in District offices
will be centralized at the Nebraska Service Center.
Cases that have had an interview but have a pending
request for evidence or cases that are pending a
denial, shall be maintained at the local office until
completion. All other cases must be sent to the
Nebraska Service Center. To facilitate the
achievement of this objective, cases should be
forwarded to Nebraska as expeditiously as
possible.
The Nebraska Service Center will issue fingerprint
notices and adjudicate the cases, unless a decision
is made that the case requires an interview. If an
interview is required, the case will be sent to the
office having jurisdiction over the applicant. That
office will complete the case and, if approved, will
request an authorization number from the Service
Center.