​New Naturalization Civics Test:

USCIS has revised the civics portion of the naturalization test. All applicants for naturalization who filed their N-400, Application for Naturalization on or after December 1, 2020, will be required to take the 2020 version of the civics test. 

For more information, visit The 2020 Version of the Civics Test page. New 128 Questions and Answers are here (PDF file), or here (online version). 

The revised civics test includes more questions that test the applicant’s understanding of U.S. history and civics (128 questions).

The revised test will not change the passing score, which will remain at 60%. Candidates must answer 12 questions correctly, out of 20 in order to pass.

USCIS will maintain the current guidelines for statutorily established special considerations for applicants who are 65 years old or older and have at least 20 years of lawful permanent resident status. These applicants will be asked 10 questions and must answer a minimum of 6 questions correctly in order to pass.

Applicants for naturalization with a filing date before 12/01/2020, are required to take the current 2008 version of the civics test.  

If you already filed your N-400, or will file it before December 1, 2020, you will take the current 2008 test.
​

• On November 2, 2020, a federal district court in Illinois has vacated the Department of Homeland Security/USCIS February 24, 2020 Public Charge Rule as a violation of administrative law.
• The court ruling prevents USCIS from applying the public charge rule nationwide starting today, November 2, 2020.
• USCIS is expected to issue guidance on the impact of the decision to applicants for adjustment of status and nonimmigrant changes and extensions of status, but has not yet done so.
• DHS is expected to appeal the court ruling, but the district court decision will remain in place while that appeal is pending.
• Today’s decision follows a string of judicial rulings regarding preliminary injunctions of the public charge rule, which concerned temporary bars to enforcement of the rule while several lawsuits continue. The most recent preliminary injunction ruling was the Second Circuit's September 11, 2020 decision, which allowed USCIS to resume applying the public charge rule nationwide while Second Circuit legal challenges are pending. Today’s Cook County decision is within the jurisdiction of the Seventh Circuit and is a final decision on the merits of the district court case. It therefore supersedes the September 11 decision, and will remain in place unless and until it is overturned by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals or by the U.S. Supreme Court.
• The legality of the public charge rule is being challenged in various jurisdictions. Disagreements among appeals courts could mean that the U.S. Supreme Court makes a final decision on whether the public charge rule is lawful.

Briefly in Russian:
2 ноября 2020 федеральный суд опять признал незаконным закон от 24 февряля 2020 о финансовой состоятельности Public Charge rule. USCIS не имеет право применять этот закон начиная с сегодняшнего дня.

Read the text of the decision here.

The Board of Immigration Appeals BIA has issued an important precedent decision in Matter of PAK, 28 I&N Dec. 113 (BIA 2020).

SUMMARY: Where there is substantial and probative evidence that a beneficiary’s prior marriage was fraudulent and entered into for the purpose of evading the immigration laws, a subsequent visa petition filed on the beneficiary’s behalf is properly denied pursuant to section 204(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1154(c) (2018), even if the first visa petition was denied because of insufficient evidence of a bona fide marital relationship.

Analysis: "The plain language of the statute and the regulation does not foreclose the application of the section 204(c) bar in cases where the prior visa petition filed on the beneficiary’s behalf was denied based on failure to establish a bona fide marital relationship, but the marriage had not been determined to be fraudulent.3 See Matter of R.I. Ortega, 28 I&N Dec. 9, 12 (BIA 2020) (stating that “[u]nder settled rules of statutory construction, we look first to the plain meaning of the language”). Instead, the broad phrasing and the absence of a temporal requirement suggest that section 204(c) may be applied based on a marriage fraud finding whenever it becomes evident that there is substantial and probative evidence of an attempt or conspiracy to enter into a marriage for the purpose of evading the immigration laws. Our prior precedent further supports this interpretation. In Matter of Kahy, 19 I&N Dec. 803, 804–05 (BIA 1988), we considered whether the District Director properly denied a subsequent visa petition under section 204(c) of the Act where the beneficiary’s ex-wife had indicated in a sworn statement that she agreed to marry him for $1,000 so he could remain in the United States, but she never actually sought an immigration benefit based on the fraudulent marriage because an unidentified person had forged her signature on the visa petition. Even though the beneficiary had not pursued an immigration benefit, we held that “where there is evidence in the record to indicate that the beneficiary has been an active participant in a marriage fraud conspiracy, the burden shifts to the petitioner to establish that the beneficiary did not seek nonquota or preference status based on a prior fraudulent marriage.” Id. at 806–07. Since the petitioner did not rebut the charge, we affirmed the denial of the visa petition. We similarly addressed the breadth of section 204(c) of the Act and the absence of a specific timeline for its imposition in Matter of Tawfik, 20 I&N Dec. at 168–69. In that case, the District Director revoked approval of the petitioner’s subsequent visa petition on the ground that the beneficiary had previously attempted to be accorded immediate relative status as the spouse of a United States citizen by reason of a fraudulent marriage. Id. at 166–67. In reviewing this determination, we stated that “[n]either section 204(c) of the Act nor the regulations specify . . . at what point” the determination of whether an alien has attempted or conspired to enter into a marriage for the purpose of evading the immigration laws may be made. Id. at 168. We also concluded that the Director “should not give conclusive effect to determinations made in a prior proceeding, but, rather, should reach his own independent conclusion based on the evidence before him.” Id. In that regard, we held that the approvability of the subsequent visa petition “will depend on a determination of whether there is, at present, sufficient evidence, inclusive of evidence relied upon in the determination of the first visa petition, to support the contention that the beneficiary’s previous marriage to a United States citizen was entered into for purposes of evading the immigration laws.” Id. at 168–69. Applying these standards, we found that the record lacked sufficient documentation to support the District Director’s conclusion that the beneficiary had entered into a fraudulent marriage, and we reversed the revocation of the visa petition. Id. at 169–70. The petitioner also contests the propriety of the Director’s finding that the beneficiary’s prior marriage was fraudulent. Evidence of a fraudulent marriage “must be documented in the alien’s file and must be substantial and probative.” Id. at 167. “[T]he degree of proof required for a finding of marriage fraud sufficient to support the denial of a visa petition under section 204(c) of the Act [is] higher than a preponderance of the evidence and closer to clear and convincing evidence.” Matter of P. Singh, 27 I&N Dec. 598, 607 (BIA 2019). Thus, “to be ‘substantial and probative,’ the evidence must establish that it is more than probably true that the marriage is fraudulent.” Id. “The application of the ‘substantial and probative evidence’ standard requires the examination of all of the relevant evidence and a determination as to whether such evidence, when viewed in its totality, establishes, with sufficient probability, that the marriage is fraudulent.” Id. In response to the Notice of Intent to Deny, the petitioner submitted a psychological report in support of her assertion that the beneficiary has memory problems, which she claims explain the discrepancies in his answers about his prior marriage. The Director provided reasons for discounting the psychological report. However, even crediting this evidence, the Director identified conduct of the couple after the marriage that, unrelated to any memory issues, indicates their subjective state of mind when they married. In particular, he concluded that the Summary of Findings detailing the September 21, 2012, site visit to the claimed marital residence establishes fraud. See id. at 609 (“Detailed reports from on-site visits and field investigations are especially important pieces of evidence that may reveal the presence of fraud.”). The Summary of Findings describes significant discrepancies in the accounts given by the beneficiary and his first wife regarding (1) whether and for how long the couple lived at the claimed marital residence; (2) their places and type of employment (and whether they, in fact, worked at the same store owned by the beneficiary’s father); and (3) the former wife’s living arrangements in Salem and the reasons why the beneficiary paid rent for her apartment there. Additionally, the record contains documentation of contradictions that arose during the beneficiary’s two visa interviews regarding how, when, and where he met his first wife, as well as how their relationship progressed to marriage. The petitioner submitted no new documentary evidence showing a joint life between the beneficiary and his first wife, apart from affidavits from the petitioner, the beneficiary, and the pastor who conducted the beneficiary’s ​first wedding ceremony. Affidavits of this nature, alone, “will generally not be sufficient to overcome evidence of marriage fraud in the record without objective documentary evidence to corroborate the assertions made by the affiants.” Id. The Director correctly conducted an independent determination based on the facts available when the petitioner filed the current visa petition. See Matter of Tawfik, 20 I&N Dec. at 168–69. In doing so, the Director permissibly relied on “relevant evidence, including evidence having its origin in prior [visa petition] proceedings involving the beneficiary.” Id. at 168. We conclude that the Director properly conducted an independent analysis of section 204(c)’s applicability in adjudicating the petitioner’s visa petition. In so doing, he did not erroneously equate the beneficiary’s first wife’s failure to prove the bona fides of their marriage with the beneficiary’s intent in entering into that marriage. III. CONCLUSION The fact that the visa petition filed by the beneficiary’s first wife was denied for failure to establish a bona fide marriage does not preclude the Director from denying the petitioner’s visa petition under section 204(c) of the Act. Moreover, having reviewed all the relevant evidence in its totality, we uphold the Director’s finding that there is substantial and probative evidence in the record that the beneficiary’s prior marriage was fraudulent and entered into for the purpose of evading the immigration laws. See Matter of P. Singh, 27 I&N Dec. at 607; Matter of Tawfik, 20 I&N Dec. at 167. We further conclude that the petitioner did not rebut this evidence when given the opportunity to do so. We therefore affirm the denial of the petitioner’s visa petition pursuant to section 204(c) of the Act."

​See text of the decision here.

​Since 2004, we specialize in VAWA self-petitions, Petition I-360, which can be used by an abused spouse of any gender (wife or a husband), a child or a parent of an abusive US citizen or permanent resident.

Our clients often ask us about VAWA approval rate.

Here is the data for 2018:

• VAWA self-petition by a spouse: 75% approval rate (25% denial rate)
• VAWA self-petition by a child: 35% approval rate (65% denial rate)
• VAWA self-petition by a parent: 27% approval rate (73% denial rate)

The petition is submitted on USCIS Form I-360 to Vermont Service Center. 
Current processing times are 16-21 months.

To schedule a consultation with an attorney, please email at [email protected] We speak English and Russian.

Briefly in Russian:

С 2004 года мы специализируемся в петициях на грин карту от жертв домашнего насилия, ВАВА петициях.

Очень часто наши клиенты спрашивают о статистике по делам ВАВА.

По официальной статистике от USCIS за 2018 год, они утвержлают 75% петиций для жен/мужей, 35 петиций для детей, и только 27% для родителей (жертв внутрисемейного насилия).

Время рассмотрения этой петиции от 16 до 21 месяца. Только один отдел в Вермонте занимается этими петициями. 

Для того чтобы связяться с адвокатом и получить юридическую консультацию по вашему делу, пишите нам на [email protected]

The State Department will begin accepting online registrations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery starting Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at noon EDT. Foreign nationals who wish to enter the lottery have until Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at noon EST to file online.

You can see the detailed DV Lottery 2022 instructions here.
The lottery site is here.

• Applicants from countries with high rates of U.S. immigration are not eligible to register.
  • This year, those born in the following countries are ineligible: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.
  • People born in Macau SAR and Taiwan can participate.
  • Those who cannot register because their country of birth is excluded may be able to qualify through a spouse who was born in an eligible country or, in certain circumstances, through a parent’s country of birth.
• Please note that the entrants must have a high school education (or equivalent) or at least two years of qualifying work experience.

• Entrants must submit an online form and a digital photo through the official DV lottery website. DV lottery applicants may include a spouse (same-sex or opposite-sex) and children in their entry.
• Only one entry is permitted per person. If there are multiple registrations on behalf of one person, all of them are disqualified.
• Applicants must carefully follow the State Department’s official lottery instructions. Lottery entries and digital photos that do not precisely conform to the instructions will be disqualified.
• For FY 2022, the principal applicant must enter information from his or her valid international travel passport unless the applicant is stateless, a national of a Communist-controlled country and unable to obtain a passport from the government of the Communist-controlled country, or the beneficiary of an individual waiver approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State.
• Once the application is accepted, applicants will receive a confirmation number, which can be used to check the status of their application.

The State Department chooses lottery winners by random computer selection. Results will be published starting May 8, 2021 through September 30, 2022, on the official DV lottery entry status website.
Foreign nationals can learn whether they were selected only by visiting the official DV website and entering their confirmation number. The State Department does not notify entrants by letter, e-mail, fax or telephone. The official website is the only legitimate source of lottery results.


DV lottery fraud is very common:

• Look out for deceptive lottery websites. The only authorized DV lottery website is located on the State Department website. The State Department does not use or authorize any outside individual or company to accept lottery applications or operate the lottery. There are many websites posing as official government sites or claiming to have State Department authorization. These sites should be avoided.
• The State Department does not charge a fee for lottery registrations. A website, individual, or company claiming there is a government fee to enter the lottery is fraudulent.
• If lottery assistance is needed, seek competent advice form an attorney or a lawyer. Applicants may use a lawyer or other representative to prepare a lottery registration, but they should be wary of commercial websites that claim to register applicants outside of the registration period or purport to be authorized by the State Department to accept registrations for a fee.
• Beware of lottery e-mails, letters or faxes that claim to be from the State Department. The State Department does not send e-mails, letters or faxes about the DV lottery. The official website is the only legitimate source of information about lottery results and the only place to submit a lottery registration.
• Don't send money or personal information to questionable individuals or companies.

On September 29, 2020, the court enjoined the October 2nd 2020 USCIS new fee increase rule, in its entirety, effective immediately.

The schedule of the existing USCIS filing fees remains in place on and after October 2, 2020!

As long as this preliminary injunction is in place, USCIS can’t raise the fees. USCIS will try to obtain a stay of the injunction from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and there’s no telling how long that will take or what the outcome will be.

Read more here

​The court decision is here

​USCIS had clarified that the old editions of the forms and applicants remain in place. All forms updates are published here.

Public Charge Update: On Sept. 11, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a decision that allows DHS to resume implementing the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility final rule nationwide.

The court decision stays the July 29, 2020, injunction, issued during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, that prevented DHS from enforcing the public charge final rule during a national health emergency.

USCIS will apply the public charge final rule and related guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volumes 2, 8 and 12, to all applications and petitions postmarked (or submitted electronically) on or after February 24, 2020. USCIS will use the date on the courier receipt as the postmark date.

It means that the Form I-944, Declaration of Self-Sufficiency was reinstated. The form is currently available online.

If the I-944 wasn't submitted during the period of injunction between 06/29/2020 to 09/11/2020, it will be required by USCIS.


https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/public-charge

USCIS is going to stay open! On Tuesday, August 25, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it would abandon plans to furlough more than 13,000 employees next week, temporarily averting a scenario that would have crippled the processing of applications for green cards, work permits, U.S. citizenship and other immigration benefits.
In a message to employees, Deputy USCIS Director for Policy said the agency was able to avoid furloughing nearly 13,000 or 73% of its workforce because its financial situation has "improved somewhat" since the spring, when the coronavirus pandemic fueled an unprecedented drop in applications. Unlike most other federal agencies, USCIS is largely funded through the fees it charges.
Though applications have increased in recent weeks, the agency is still projecting a budget shortfall heading into fiscal year 2021, which starts in October, and continue to require financial assistance from Congress.

USCIS is going to stay open!

We continue to prepare and file new petitions and applications with USCIS and process cases through the National Visa Center (NVC).. 

Briefly in-Russian:

25 августа 2020 было объявлено, что USCIS не будет временно увольнять 13 000 или 73% всех сотрудников, что планировалось из-за нехватки денег. Таким образом, USCIS остается открытым и не предвидится новых задержек в рассмотрения дел и заявлений.

USCIS Service Centers остаются открыты и новые дела принимаются на рассмотрение.
Мы продолжаем готовить и подавать новые петиции и заявления в USCIS и ведем дела в Национальном Визовом Центре (NVC).

​The new USCIS fees will be effective on October 3, 2020. 

While the average of the fee increases is just over 20%, fees for some of the most common petitions and applications will increase significantly. The overall cost for most Adjustment of Status (AOS) application filings will nearly double. USCIS will no longer bundle the AOS filing fee with the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole (AP)/Travel Document filing fees. As a result, instead of a filing fee of $1,225 for all three applications as a bundle, the fees for an initial filing of an AOS, plus EAD and AP filing fees, will total $2,270 (an increase of just over 85%).

Filing Fee Changes
Below are the filing fee changes for petitions and applications. The full list of fee changes can be found in the Final Rule, starting on Page 13.
Immigration Benefit Request
Current Fee
Final Fee
Change ($)
Change (%)

I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
$455
$415
($40)
-9 percent

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative
$535
$560
$25
5 percent

I-131 Application for Travel Document
$575
$590
$15
3 percent

I-485 Application for Adjustment of Status
$1,140
$1,130
($10)
-1 percent*

I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
$370
$400
$30
8 percent

I-589 Application for Asylum / Withholding of Removal
$0
$50
$50
N/A

I-612 Application for Waiver of Foreign Residence Requirement
$930
$515
($415)
-45 percent

I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
$595
$760
$165
28 percent

I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
$410
$550
$140
34 percent

N-400 Application for Naturalization
$640
$1,170
$530
83 percent

Biometric Fee
$85
$30
($55)
-65 percent

USCIS to Issue Revised Versions of Forms
In connection to this Final Rule, USCIS will publish revised versions of a number of common forms within 30 days, including Form I-129, Form I-131, Form I-765, Form I-589, Form I-600, and as mentioned above, Form I-912.

The US Consulates in Germany and Austria are beginning to offer limited visa services.
It was announced that the US Consulate in Germany will resume limited visa processing on July 20, 2020. At the moment, the Consulate will prioritize services for US citizens and residents of Germany. Third country nationals that do not reside in Germany may not yet apply for a visa. Furthermore, the Consulate also announced that in limited circumstances, travelers may now qualify for a national interest waiver exception to the Presidential Proclamation 9993 which prohibited non-exempt persons from traveling to the US if they spent any time in the Schengen area (and some other countries) within a 14 day period immediately prior to seeking to enter the US.
It is not yet clear which categories will be processed after July 20, 2020, and we are awaiting further clarification. It was announced that Munich will only be processing F/M and J visas (those J visas that are not excluded by one of the later Presidential Proclamations). Students require a current I-20 form that meets all requirements.
Just as encouraging is the announcement that it will now be possible for residents of Germany to apply for a national interest exception or waiver at a Consulate in Germany. Please note that even if one already has a valid visa, it will still be necessary to file an application to obtain an exception from the US Consulate. The following categories of travelers may possibly qualify for a national interest exception:

• Public Health: Travel as a public health or healthcare professional or researcher to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, or to continue ongoing research in an area with substantial public health benefit (e.g. cancer or disease research).
• Students: All students, and their dependents, traveling to the United States on an F or M visa to pursue a full course of study or on a J visa to participate in an exchange program as a bona fide student.
• Academics: All exchange visitors and their dependents traveling to the United States on J visas in the following categories: Professors, Research Scholars, Short Term Scholars, or Specialists.
• Investors: Travel in connection with investment or trade in the U.S. economy that generates a substantial economic impact. This can include investors and treaty traders with E visas and certain essential senior-level employees, and their dependents.
• Economic: Temporary travel that provides a substantial economic benefit to the U.S. economy, including:
  • Technical experts and specialists to travel to the US temporarily to install, service, maintain, or receive training for vessels, machinery and other specialized equipment used by U.S. and foreign firms with a substantial investment in the United States.
  • Senior-level managers and executives, and their dependents, who provide strategic direction necessary for the success of the company or venture.
  • Professional athletes, dependents, and essential staff who enter the United States to participate in major sporting events, which bolster the U.S. economy.

The U.S. Consulate in Austria has also resumed limited visa processing for citizens and residents of Austria provided that they qualify for a national interest exception. The Consulate in Vienna is now processing E, B, F, M and certain J visas for travelers that would qualify for a national interest exception. Unlike the US Consulate in Germany, the categories for a national interest exception are as stated in the relevant Presidential Proclamation and there is no separate list for possible exceptions.
Some other European Consulates are starting to resume limited visa services.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, USCIS extended the 60-day response flexibility to 09/11/2020. It applies to the following:

     • Requests for Evidence / RFE;
     • Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
     • Notices of Intent to Deny;
     • Notices of Intent to Revoke;
     • Notices of Intent to Rescind and Notices of Intent to Terminate regional investment centers;
     • Filing date requirements for Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA); and
     • Filing date requirements for Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion.

This flexibility applies to the documents listed above if the issuance date listed on the request, notice, or decision is between March 1, 2020 and September 11, 2020.

USCIS will consider a response to a request or notice listed above received within 60 calendar days after the response due date set in the request or notice before taking any action. USCIS will consider a Form I-290B or a Form N-336 received up to 60 calendar days from the date of the decision before we take any action.

For More Information, please visit uscis.gov/coronavirus .

U.S. Supreme Court Decision
On June 18, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decision in 2017 to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program violated the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) because it was implemented without the required Notice and Comment and without publication of a final rule.
DACA Overview
Eligible DACA recipients were brought to the U.S. as young children and grew up without legal status. In 2012, DHS granted them deferred enforcement action and employment authorization. There are 700,000 DACA recipients in the U.S. See further below for our DACA eligibility checklist.
Challenges With Timely Renewal of Work Authorization for DACA Employees
One of the challenges of the DACA-based employment authorization document (EAD) is that DHS does not grant automatic continuing work authorization merely because an extension was timely filed. Instead, an employee whose work authorization is based on DACA must have their new plastic EAD work permit in their hand the day before their current work authorization expires, or they must be temporarily laid off. This has caused a lot of disruption for employers and DACA employees.
DHS does encourage DACA recipients to file their DACA and EAD renewal at least 150 days prior to expiration. However, agency processing delays have still resulted in unintended terminations. Once approved by DHS, both the Deferred Action status and work authorization will be approved for up to 2 years at a time.
DACA Checklist and Eligibility
Requirements

• Entered the United States before age 16 and before June 15, 2007.
• Entered without inspection or did not have legal immigration status as of June 15, 2012.
• Continually physically present in the United States for at least five years as of June 15, 2012.
• Under age 31 as of June 15, 2012 (can file later as long as the age requirement was met as of this date).
• Be at least age 15 at time of application (there are some minor exceptions).
• Attending a U.S. high school, or graduated from a U.S. high school, or obtained a U.S. GED equivalent, or attending a career or vocational job training program, or honorable discharge from the U.S. military.
• Good moral character (and continuing beyond June 15, 2012).
• All criteria must have been met as of June 15, 2012.

On Monday, June 22, 2020, the Trump administration said that it was extending a ban on Immigrant Visas aka "green cards" issued outside the United States until December 31, 2020, and adding many nonimmigrant and work visas to the ban, including those used heavily by technology companies and multinational corporations (H-1B, L) and also H-2B, J-1.

The administration explained this ban a way to free up jobs in an economy reeling from the coronavirus. The ban is in effect since April 23, 2020. Original ban was for 60 days. New ban is valid until December 31, 2020.

The ban on new visas applies to H-1B visas, which are used by major American technology companies, and their immediate families, H-2B visas for nonagricultural seasonal workers, J-1 visas for exchange students and L-1 visas for managers of multinational corporations. There will be exemptions for food processing workers, which make up about 15% of H-2B visas.

The administration is proposing a new way of awarding H-1B visas, which are capped at 85,000 a year. The administration wants to award them by highest salary instead of by lottery.

Text of the June 22, 2020 Proclamation is here.   

.........................
Section 1.  Continuation of Proclamation 10014.  (a)  Section 4 of Proclamation 10014 is amended to read as follows:
“Sec. 4.  Termination.  This proclamation shall expire on December 31, 2020, and may be continued as necessary.  Within 30 days of June 24, 2020, and every 60 days thereafter while this proclamation is in effect, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Labor, recommend any modifications as may be necessary.”
(b)  This section shall be effective immediately.
Sec. 2.  Suspension and Limitation on Entry.  The entry into the United States of any alien seeking entry pursuant to any of the following nonimmigrant visas is hereby suspended and limited, subject to section 3 of this proclamation:
(a)  an H-1B or H-2B visa, and any alien accompanying or following to join such alien;
(b)  a J visa, to the extent the alien is participating in an intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel program, and any alien accompanying or following to join such alien; and
(c)  an L visa, and any alien accompanying or following to join such alien.
Sec. 3.  Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry.  (a)  The suspension and limitation on entry pursuant to section 2 of this proclamation shall apply only to any alien who:
(i)    is outside the United States on the effective date of this proclamation;
(ii)   does not have a nonimmigrant visa that is valid on the effective date of this proclamation; and
(iii)  does not have an official travel document other than a visa (such as a transportation letter, an appropriate boarding foil, or an advance parole document) that is valid on the effective date of this proclamation or issued on any date thereafter that permits him or her to travel to the United States and seek entry or admission.
(b)  The suspension and limitation on entry pursuant to section 2 of this proclamation shall not apply to:
(i)    any lawful permanent resident of the United States;
(ii)   any alien who is the spouse or child, as defined in section 101(b)(1) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1101(b)(1)), of a United States citizen;
(iii)  any alien seeking to enter the United States to provide temporary labor or services essential to the United States food supply chain; and
(iv)   any alien whose entry would be in the national interest as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees.
..........


​Read here.

Here and here.

​USCIS Provided COVID-19 Updates During a Conference Call on June 18, 2020:

1.  On June 18, 2020, I attended a conference call where USCIS representatives advised the attorneys and public about their new and updated post-Covid19 procedures.
2. The purpose of new procedures is to ensure safety of the USCIS personnel, staff, customers and visitors.
3. On June 4, 2020, USCIS local field office started to reopen. Offices will reopen depending on situation in the local community and existing safety concerns. USCIS is following CDC COVID-19 guidelines. It is expected that it will take at least several more weeks for the appointments to be rescheduled. Because the number of daily appointments will be significantly reduced, it will result in longer delays and wait time for an interview will be longer than before COVID-19 pandemic.
4. July 13, 2020 is an estimate when many ASC will reopen and biometrics will resume. Biometrics appointment will be available ONLY at the time and date in the appointment notice. Walk-ins will not be allowed. There will be much less people scheduled every day, so USCIS will have time to clean up and prepare for the next customer. USCIS will reschedule all cancelled Biometrics appointments unless they are deemed unnecessary. When mailing a new appointment notice, a biometrics worksheet will be mailed too. In the past, it was completed during the appointment. Now, the customers will be required to complete the worksheet and bring it with them to the appointment.
5. During pandemic, USCIS was able to reuse some biometrics if they were already on file (taken during previous applications) and the case was ready for adjudication.
6. Some USCIS offices (not consular sections) will start reopening in July 2020. It is expected that USCIS office in Rome will reopen in July 2020. It is expected that USCIS London office will be permanently closed.
7. Priority number one after reopening of the local USCIS offices will be Naturalization ceremonies.
8. Second priority is rescheduling cancelled adjustment of status or green card interviews.
9. Some employment-based green card interviews can be waived on a case-by-case basis and only if it is deemed unnecessary.
10. It is expected that all cancelled and delayed Naturalization ceremonies will be complete by the end of July 2020 (about 100,000 people are waiting).
11. Naturalization ceremonies will be very brief, there will be no big crowds, no family members or friends will be allowed to attend, no video, information will be given in printed format.
12. Asylum interviews will follow different format from other USCIS’ field office interviews.
13. When attending any USCIS appointment, customers are advised to bring their own blue or black pens, wear a face covering (face mask). People not wearing an appropriate face covering will not be allowed to enter. During the interview or biometrics appointment, customers can be asked to remove face covering for a brief period (to identify, to take photo).
14. Customers are advised not to arrive earlier than 15 minutes before an interview, or 30 minutes before naturalization interview.
15. Interpreters are not allowed to attend interviews at USCIS offices in person. Interpreters can interpret by phone.
16. Attorneys can attend in person or by phone.
17. Waiting room sitting will be limited. Number of appointments per day will be significantly reduced. There will be a COVID-19 specific screening for all customers
18. Customers and staff will be required to practice social distancing. The USCIS officer and an applicant can be in different rooms communicating via video call.
19. USCIS is advising all customers to use online tools for contacting USCIS, and to have online accounts.
20. USCIS advises customers who are feeling sick or unwell not to attend the interview, but to follow the instructions in the appointment letter to reschedule an appointment.

Each year, thousands of people arriving at the border or already in the United States apply for asylum, or protection from persecution. Those granted asylum can apply to live in the United States permanently and gain a path to citizenship and can also apply for their spouse and children to join them in the United States. This fact sheet provides an overview of the asylum system in the United States, including how asylum is defined, eligibility requirements, and the application process.

What is Asylum process in the United States? ​Read overview here.

Question: I was under Au pair J1-visa and finished two years of being an Au pair in the United States, and recently got married to a US citizen within my 30 days grace period. Will there be any conflict when I apply for a marriage-based green card?

Answer: Congratulations!

It should be okay, as long as you don’t have a two-year home residency requirement attached to your J-1 Au Pair visa.
​
Usually, au pair are not subject to sec. 212(e) requirement, but you should check your visa and J-1 paperwork before applying for a green card through adjustment of status based on marriage to a U.S. citizen.

Question/Вопрос:

Здравствуйте! Мой муж иммигрировал в США в декабре 2019 (воссоединение с сыном). В марте 2020 муж подал на воссоединение со мной(женой), и также ,,прицепом" по моей петиции идет моя назамужняя дочь которой 19,5 лет. Официально мы женаты 2 года. Есть ли у нас шанс воссоединиться в свете последних событий, в связи с указом Трампа, могут ли отменить воссоединение с гринкардхолдером, если так, то что будет с теми, кто уже подал петицию І-130? Заранее спасибо за ответ.
​
Answer/Ответ:

Добрый день!
Я понимаю, что сын вашего мужа американский гражданин. Сын подал петицию на отца, и ваш муж иммигрировал в США в декабре 2019. После получения грин карты он подал одну I-130 петицию на вас, и вы считаете, что ваша дочь включена в эту петицию.
Вашему мужу стоит проконсультироваться с адвокатом по поводу петиции на вашу дочь.
Что касается вашего вопроса об Указе президента и временном приостановлении иммиграции в США, включая вашу визовую категорию.
Этот запрет временный сроком на 60 дней. Когда этот период истечет, он может быть продлен. В любом случае, поданные петиции продолжают рассматриваться USCIS. Запрет на выдачу виз относится к посольствам и консульствам США, и пока является временным.
Всего доброго!
Мой овет опубликован тут 

Question: Can a US citizen who lives abroad obtain a green card for his brother and father who are living abroad?

Answer: Yes, a U.S. citizen son can petition for his father’s Green Card. The process normally takes a year/year and a half.

A U.S. citizen brother can petition for his brother’s Green Card as well. The process for most countries normally takes about 15 years. It could be longer for people born in some countries (Mexico and Philippines).

​You can start the immigration process even now during COVID-19 pandemic because the USCIS Service Centers are still open.

However, in order to complete the immigration process, a U.S. citizen petitioner will have to move back to USA or prove that he has immediate plans to relocate back to USA. It is also important to show that a U.S. citizen petitioner filed his tax returns with IRS, which would be required at the last stage in the immigration process for the Affidavit of Support.

Q: Is there any chance to reschedule an immigrant visa interview for the DV Lottery 2020? A visa interview was cancelled because of COVID-19.

A: A DV immigrant visa interview for FY 2020 must be rescheduled before September 30, 2020, and a visa has to be issued before September 30th, or the chance to immigrate through a Green Card lottery for this FY will be lost.

The embassies and consulates are currently closed because of COVID-19. If the case is pending at the U.S. embassy or Consulate, when they reopen, contact the consulate directly and without delay. They should be rescheduling everyone when they reopen. If the case is still at the NVC stage, you can contact NVC directly even now. NVC is currently open.

If you applied for adjustment of status and the case is pending at the local USCIS office,  USCIS will begin rescheduling soon. USCIS had previously announced that they plan to reopen local offices on or after June 4, 2020. This date might change.
​

The U.S. State Department temporary stopped issuing passports to the U.S. citizens due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with narrow exceptions for people who have a “qualified life-or-death emergency.”

In a statement published March 27, 2020, the State Department advised Americans to avoid all international travel due to the spread of COVID-19, unless someone is experiencing an emergency and needs to travel within 72 hours.

Situations that qualify as “life-or-death emergencies” include serious illnesses, injuries or deaths among members of a person’s immediate family that requires travel outside of the U.S., according to the statement.

Briefly in Russian:

Выдача американских паспортов приостановлена из-за коронавируса. Только в исключительных обстоятельствах паспорт может быть выдан.

Official U.S. Dept of State Passport Office site: posted more details here. 

​

Question/Вопрос: ВИЗА НЕВЕСТЫ И VAWA ПЕТИЦИЯ РЕБЕНКА.

Здравствуйте! Приехала в США по визе K1 с ребенком виза K2, я получила Гринкарту на 10 лет в 2019, американский муж все это время обманывал меня и говорил что подал документов на мою дочь, но неделю назад я нашла папку которую он прятал от меня все эти годы. Ребенку 17 лет сейчас, документы обещал подать уже завтра , но я вижу что у него маленький доход за год, всего 20000$. Боюсь что он опять обманет и подаст документы как обещал, но мне сказали что ему могут отказать потому что он не может выступить гарантом, так как маленький доход у него. Еще сказали что я тоже не могу подать документы на мою дочь так как я не имею работы Full time и медицинской страховки и тоже нет хорошего дохода. У дочки нет вообще никаких документов вообще, но она учится в школе. Не представляю что делать в этом случае. Подскажите пожалуйста!!!

Answer/Ответ: Добрый день!

Я вам сочувствую. Это сложная ситуация. Я понимаю, что вы подали на грин карту только на себя, и уже получили грин карту в 2019 и все еще замужем В тоже время на вашу малолетнюю дочь, которая приехала с вами по визе К-2, ничего подано не было и она проживает в США "без статуса". У нее нет даже SSN.

Вы никогда не настаивали или интересовались у мужа, почему на вашу дочь ничего не подано, и почему на интервью вызвали только вас, а не дочь?

Возможно, что ситуацию, которую вы описываете, это ситуация домашнего насилия - отказ подать документы, низко зарабатывающий супруг с антисоциальными тенденциями, мнгоголетний обман, вы не работаете и сидите дома (почему? муж настаивает, чтобы вы не работали?) и т.п. Домашнее насилие бывает в разных формах, и нередко люди привыкают к такой ситуации и терпят такую жизнь пока она не обостряется.

Если да, и нет возможности получить грин карту иначе, то иногда ребенок сама может подать петицию ВАВА, как жертва насилия в семье со стороны отчима.

Тут вопрос не столько в том, что у вас нет дохода для вашей петиции как мать, а в том, что ребенок приехал по визе невесты К-2 и петиционер отказывается ее спонсировать.

Вам стоит обсудить детально сложившуюся ситуацию с компетентным иммиграционным адвокатом и решить, что лучше делать. Многие адвокаты проводят платные конфиденциальные консультации по телефону или видео чату, т.е. вам не нужно выходить из дома (например, если у вас нет машины, прав).

С нами можно связаться по адресу  

Буду рада вам помочь!

Если у вас нет средств на адвоката, поищите на интеренете организации, бесплатно помогающие жертвам домашнего насилия, например YWCA, Free Legal Aid, Domestic Violence Hotline. Не забывайте чистить браузер вашего компьютера.

Всего доброго!

https://www.thehotline.org/help/

Мой овет опубликован тут.

Briefly for our clients in Russian:

Q/Вопрос: Как я могу подать петицию на VAWA . Я и мой муж расписаны. Проживали вместе, но как оказалось он не в себе когда пьет. Документы на грин карту мы не подавали. У меня нет ни грин карты ни разрешения на работу.

A/Ответ: Добрый день! Вы можете подать петицию VAWA и также заявление на грин карту, разрешение на работу и на поездки БЕЗ участия мужа (во многих случаях это можно делать одновременно).

Если вы замужем (или развелись в течение 2-х лет перед подачей VAWA self-petition), проживали вместе в США (даже если сейчас вы выехали за пределы США), муж вас обижал/бил/притеснял/оскорблял/совершал другие насильственные действия против вас, вы человек моральный и без судимостей и т.п. -- вы можете подать все заявления вместе в USCIS в отдел VAWA, если ваш муж американский гражданин, и даже если он постоянный житель США (т.к. сейчас категория F2A is current).

Подготовка и подача VAWA petition очень сложный и трудоемкий процесс. Крайне важно предоставить и подать вместе ВСЕ сопроводительные документы и доказательства по делу. ВАВА отличается от других петиций тем, что решение по петиции VAWA принимается БЕЗ интервью, а на основании рассмотрения ваших документов. Консультация и помощь компетентного и опытного адвоката по делам ВАВА очень важны.

Сроки рассмотрения дел ВАВА в настоящий момент около 18-24 месяцев. Но в течение этого времени у вас будет разрешение на работу и SSN, если вы подготовили и подали все правильно. Вы можете подать петицию и во время COVID-19, т.к. отдел ВАВА открыт и работает. Всего доброго и удачи!

Если вам нужна помощь и консультация, пожалуйста свяжитесь с адвокатом по адресу [email protected] , мы вам вышлем список вопросов и документов нам нужно просмотреть перед консультацией, подтвердим стоимость и условия оплаты за консультацию, и договоримся о дате и времени телефонной или видеочат video call консультации. По делам ВАВА мы работаем с клиентами со всех штатов.

Мой ответ опубликован here.