LATEST IMMIGRATION NEWS
Last updated: Saturday, March 31, 2001
Presentation © Copyright 1998-2001. VIKRAM BADRINATH, P.C. All rights reserved.
MARCH 2001
INS issues a press release in Spanish on implementation of Section 245(i) under the LIFE amendments.
INS issues a Q&A on implementation of section 245(i) under the LIFE amendments.
INS issues an interim final regulation governing the implementation of section 245(i) under the LIFE Act Amendments. In a change from past practice, INS will consider petitions filed as of the postmark date for these purposes. (66 FR 16383, 3/26/01)
INS seeks OMB approval for a revised Form I-129F, which it indicates will also be used for K-3 petitions for spouses and children of U.S. citizens. The revised form itself will be posted as soon as it is available. (66 FR 16497, 3/26/01)
DOS interim rule, with request for comments, on a new special immigrant visa classification for certain international broadcasting employees effective April 18, 2001. Immigrants are limited to 100 annually, excluding spouses and children. (66 FR 15349, 3/19/01)
Effective immediately the National Visa Center will be sending the I-864 and a new form, Choice of Address and Agent for Immigrant Visa Applicants (DS-3032), to the principal beneficiary of an immigrant visa petition.
DOS directs consular posts to issue full-validity visas to nonimmigrant visa applicants whenever possible and elaborates on the reasons why full-validity visas are preferred.
U.S. INS announces that it has approved 72,000 H-1B petitions against this year's quota. Although the INS statement does not mention it, most Service Centers are still processing H-1B cap cases filed December 2000 or earlier, so many existing filings are not included in this count.
EOIR announces that Paul Schmidt will step down as BIA chair, effective April 9. He will remain a member of the Board. Lori Scialabba will serve as Acting Chair until a replacement can be named.
INS instructs asylum office directors to develop procedures, to issue numbers, that will insure the confidentiality of asylum applicants. The local Asylum Offices are to call applicants by number, rather than name, when they appear for interview, pick-up, or processing.
INS has begun accepting applications for the renewal of EADs from individuals previously granted EADs in the Catholic Social Services, Inc. v. Ashcroft case. All individuals previously designated with a CS-1 classification are eligible for renewal.
180 Day Clock Matrix for Post-January 4, 1995 asylum cases indicates how INS works the clock. Text identifies situations where the asylum office policy is to make reasonable accomodations. INS maintains that the KLOK error rate is minimal.
State Dept. Visa Offices advises posts of the use of a new form for V visa applications. This form now available (see 58 kb PDF file).
State Dept. announces the use of a revised Form OF-156 for nonimmigrant visa applications. Posts may continue to use the old form until they run out. Form now available (see 200 kb PDF file - best copy available at this time).
All bills relating to immigration that have been introduced, considered or passed by the 107th Congress (2001-2002).
All bills relating to immigration that were introduced, considered or passed by the 106th Congress (1999-2000). All bills not signed into law must be reintroduced in the 107th Congress and will receive new bill numbers.
State Dept. announces the use of a revised Form OF-156 for nonimmigrant visa applications. Posts may continue to use the old form until they run out.
State Dept. Visa Office advises posts that the NVC will start sending letters to applicants who appear to be eligible for V visas.
Office of Refugee Resettlement is accepting applications for grants for treatment and services for torture survivors. (66 FR 13771, 3/7/01)
Registration for TPS for nationals of El Salvador, who have been continuously physically present since 3/9/01 and continuously resided since in the U.S. since 2/13/01, runs from 3/9/01 to 9/9/02. (66 FR 14214, 3/9/01)
State Dept. addresses visa issuance in the context of applicants who are utilizing the AC21 H-1B portability provisions.
DOL advises the SESAs of the anticipated increase in workload resulting from the April 30, 2001 245(i) deadline, and suggests some actions that the state agencies might take in anticipation of these filings.
Attorney General Ashcroft announces that Kevin Rooney, currently the Director of the EOIR, has been appointed Acting INS Commissioner, effective April 2.
President Bush announces that Salvadorans residing in the U.S. since 2/13/01 will be eligible for TPS. The application period will begin to run upon Federal Register publication, expected next week.
INS announces that Mary Ann Wyrsch, Acting Commissioner, has been appointed UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees. She will begin this position in April. It is not yet known who will become the next Commissioner or Acting Commissioner.
INS information sheet for adoptive parents regarding the Child Citizenship Act.
INS fact sheet on obtaining Certificates of Citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act.
INS fact sheet on the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, which enacts the provisions of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.
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