Starting Aug. 19, 2024, you may file Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens, online with the applicable filing fee. There is no fee waiver available for Form I-131F.

Each requestor, including noncitizen stepchildren, must file a separate Form I-131F requesting parole in place, and each requestor must have their own USCIS online account. A parent or legal guardian may create an online account for their minor child if the purpose is to submit a form on behalf of the minor. If a parent or legal guardian is not available, a primary caregiver or legal assistance provider may also help a child create their own USCIS online account. Information on creating a USCIS online account is available on the How to Create a USCIS Online Account page.

UPDATE effective 08/26/2024:

Administrative Stay of Keeping Families Together - as of August 26, 2024, temporarily can't file a I-131F, application for Parole In Place.

On Aug. 26, 2024, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, in Texas v. Department of Homeland Security, issued an administrative stay, preventing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from granting parole in place under Keeping Families Together for 14 days.

To comply with the district court’s administrative stay, USCIS will, until further notice:

Not grant any pending parole in place requests under Keeping Families Together.

Continue to accept filings of Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens.

Continue to schedule biometric appointments and capture biometrics at Application Support Centers (ASCs).

The district court’s administrative stay order does not affect any applications that were approved before the administrative stay order was issued at 6:46 p.m. Eastern Time on Aug. 26, 2024. Individuals granted parole in place under this process before the administrative stay order was issued may still file for any other immigration benefit for which they may be eligible, including employment authorization and adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident.

Please note: You can only apply for employment authorization after your Form I-131F is approved. If you file your Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, before USCIS approves your Form I-131F request under this process, USCIS will reject or deny your Form I-765.

Biometric Appointments
USCIS continues to schedule biometric appointments consistent with the administrative stay order issued by the district court on Aug. 26, 2024. All individuals with biometric appointments should plan to appear at their appointment at the scheduled date, time, and ASC indicated on their notice. Individuals should not arrive on a different date, unless they have rescheduled their appointments. Individuals who were turned away at an ASC will have their appointment rescheduled by USCIS.

As a reminder, individuals must print their biometric appointment notice and bring it with them to their appointment. In addition, if individuals are unable to attend the appointment, they can reschedule using the online rescheduling request process, as long as rescheduling takes place before the initial appointment expires. For more information, see the Preparing for Your Biometric Services Appointment page.



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Who is eligible to apply for Parole in Place under this new program?

Q. What are the eligibility criteria for Keeping Families Together?
A. To be considered for this process as a noncitizen spouse of a U.S. citizen, you must:

• Be present in the United States without admission or parole;
• Have been continuously physically present in the United States since at least June 17, 2014, through the date of filing your request;
• Have a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen on or before June 17, 2024;
• Have no disqualifying criminal history and otherwise not deemed to be a threat to public safety, national security, or border security; and
• Submit biometrics and undergo required background checks and national security and public safety vetting.

To be considered for this process as a noncitizen stepchild of a U.S. citizen, you must:

• Have been under the age of 21 and unmarried on June 17, 2024;
• Be present in the United States without admission or parole;
• Have been continuously physically present in the United States since at least June 17, 2024, through the date of filing your request;
• Have a noncitizen parent who entered into a legally valid marriage with a U.S. citizen on or before June 17, 2024, and before your 18th birthday;
• Have no disqualifying criminal history and otherwise not deemed to be a threat to public safety, national security, or border security*; and
• Submit biometrics and undergo required background checks and national security and public safety vetting.

*NOTE: Consistent with the Sept. 30, 2021, Guidelines for the Enforcement of Civil Immigration Law (PDF), a noncitizen who poses a threat to border security will be generally disqualified from receiving parole in place pursuant to this process. However, there is an exception for stepchildren who entered the United States unlawfully after Nov. 1, 2020, and who otherwise meet the criteria for parole in place under this process.
All such requests for parole in place are considered on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit, in the exercise of discretion, taking into account the totality of the circumstances of each individual request.


Application for Parole in Place must be filed only ONLINE using a new online form I-131F.
Application fee is $580 per person.
Approval is not guaranteed because it is a discretionary and decided on a case-by-case basis.
If approved, will be granted parole under 212(d)(5) for 3 years.
Under section 212(d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to allow certain noncitizen “applicants for admission” to be present in the United States on a temporary, case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit.
If approved, can apply for adjustment of status (aka Green Card) if eligible.
If approved, can apply for a work permit under c(11).

Applying for Employment Authorization

After you are granted parole in place under Keeping Families Together, you may apply for discretionary employment authorization from USCIS. To apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) as a parolee, you must submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, using the (c)(11) category code with either the required fee or a fee waiver request.
To file Form I-765 online, eligible applicants will access their USCIS online account at my.uscis.gov.

Leaving the United States
A grant of parole in place through Keeping Families Together does not authorize parole back into the United States if you decide to depart. If you depart the United States after being granted parole in place, your period of parole will automatically terminate. If you depart the United States without first obtaining an Advance Parole Document, you run a significant risk of not being able to return to the United States and you may also be ineligible for future immigration benefits.
CAUTION: Travel outside of the United States, even with advance parole, may have severe immigration-related consequences, including with respect to potential inadmissibility or execution of an outstanding order of removal. Parole into the United States is not guaranteed even if you have been granted advance parole prior to leaving the country. You are still subject to immigration inspection at a U.S. port of entry to determine whether you may be paroled into the United States and whether you are eligible for the immigration status you seek. For further information, see our Travel Documents page. Consultation with a qualified attorney or accredited representative is strongly advised prior to any travel outside of the United States.
Subsequent Filing of Form I-130 or Form I-360 Petition
A grant of parole in place does not establish eligibility for future immigration benefits, including an immigrant petition or lawful permanent resident status. To establish eligibility for lawful permanent resident status, the petitioning U.S. citizen spouse or parent of a parolee must file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, or in the case of certain widow(er)s and their children, parolees must file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant.
USCIS will determine eligibility for those petitions in a separate adjudication. For purposes of Form I-130 based on marriage, you must demonstrate that you entered into a bona fide marriage with the beneficiary, and for a Form I-130 for a stepchild, you must demonstrate a bona fide stepparent-stepchild relationship.
There are additional requirements for Form I-360 for certain widow(er)s and their children, including filing deadlines, residence requirements, and marital status requirements. A stepchild may remain eligible for an immigrant petition despite their parent’s marriage to a U.S. citizen being terminated through death of either parent or divorce, so long as a bona fide stepparent-stepchild relationship continues to exist following the death or divorce.
Subsequent Filing of Form I-485
A grant of parole in place does not by itself establish eligibility for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident under INA section 245(a). A grant of parole in place satisfies the requirement under INA section 245(a) that the applicant has been inspected and paroled by an immigration officer.
However, it does not satisfy any other requirements for adjustment of status, including the requirement to have an approved immigrant petition with a visa immediately available and establishing that the noncitizen is not inadmissible under any applicable ground in INA section 212(a), 8 U.S.C. 1182(a).
If granted parole in place, the noncitizen would need a qualifying family member to file Form I-130 on their behalf, or file Form I-360 on their own behalf (if not previously filed; see above). The noncitizen would also need to file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and possibly Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, if needed.

С сегодняшнего дня 19 августа 2024 открылась программа, о которой было объявлено в июне. Подача заявления на пароль возможна только онлайн: форма I-131F и госпошлина 580 на человека. Это не заявление на грин карту, а заявление на тип гуманитарного пароля для тех, кто въехал в США без визы. Если пароль утвердят, затем можно будет подавать на разрешение на работу и на грин карту.

Form I-131F guide is here.

Form I-131F.

Additional information.

Hope you find this information helpful!

If you need help, please email to schedule a consultation or use our online scheduler.

In 2020 when USCIS planned to increase its filing fees, the court blocked it. Since then, USCIS deferred its proposed filing fee increase until 2024.

This increase will come on top of the increased premium processing fees that will go into effect on Feb. 26, 2024. The premium processing fee increase is approximately 12%. Some of the proposed general filing fee increases went well beyond that.
​
The USCIS' budget is fee-based and the increased fees were proposed to recover operating costs and decrease backlogs.

Effective April 1, 2024, the USCIS filing fees will increase. 

New schedule of fees is published in the Federal Register here.

Adjustment of Status (Form I–485) and Family-Based Fees

In this final rule, DHS provides that Form I–485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, applicants will pay half of the regular Form I–765, Application for Employment Authorization, fee when it is filed with a Form I–485 for which the fee is paid if the adjustment application is pending. See8 CFR 106.2(a)(44)(i). DHS is setting the filing fee for a Form I–765 filed concurrently with Form I–485 after the effective date at $260. See8 CFR 106.2(a)(44)(i).The proposed rule also would have ($1,540). See88 FR 402, 494 (Jan. 4, 2023). In the final rule, DHS provides that, when filing with parents, children will pay a lesser fee of $950 for Form I–485. See8 CFR 106.2(a)(20)(ii).

Naturalization and Citizenship Fees

This final rule expands eligibility for paying half of the regular fee for Form N–400, Application for Naturalization. An applicant with household income at or below 400 percent of Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) may pay half price for their Application for Naturalization. See8 CFR 106.2(b)(3)(ii).

​
Please see the Schedule of proposed fees below.

March 2024 Update:

ALERT: On March 19, 2024, opponents of the New Fee Rule filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court in Colorado, challenging the regulation under the Federal Antideficiency Act and the Administrative Procedures Act. See Moody, et al. v. Mayorkas, et al., Case No. 1:34-cv-00762- REB (D. Colo. Mar. 19, 2024).

On July 7, 2023 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the posting of Federal Register notices to implement family reunification parole (FRP) processes for Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. 
Family Reunification Parole Overview
FRP processes allow certain vetted beneficiaries of an approved Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, to be temporarily paroled into the United States on a case-by-case basis. These processes are part of comprehensive measures announced in April by DHS and the Department of State to further reduce dangerous, irregular, migration across the Western Hemisphere, expand lawful pathways, and facilitate safe, humane, processing of migrants.
U.S. citizen and lawful permanent resident petitioners with an approved Form I-130 who receive an invitation from the Department of State can file Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, to initiate the process for the principal beneficiary of the Form I-130, and their derivative family members, to be considered for advance authorization to travel and parole into the United States.
Additional information on updates to the FRP processes for Cuba and Haiti is coming soon.
What You Need to Know
Under these new processes, certain Form I-130 beneficiaries can be considered for parole on a discretionary, case-by-case, and temporary basis after demonstrating urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, as well as demonstrating that the beneficiary warrants a favorable exercise of discretion.
Beneficiaries under these processes will generally be paroled into the United States for up to three years and are eligible to apply for employment authorization for the duration of their parole period.
Certain U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident petitioners with an approved Form I-130 must receive an invitation from the Department of State’s National Visa Center to participate in these processes before filing a Form I-134A on behalf of a beneficiary. Invitations have not yet been issued.
More Information
For additional information on FRP, please visit the Family Reunification Parole Processes webpage. We will update this page as more information becomes available.
For more information on the criteria for participating in the FRP processes, see the Federal Register notices for Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

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.

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.

​Family preference category for spouses and unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent residents remains CURRENT in October 2019!

It means, there is still enough time to file the I-130 and concurrent application for adjustment of status, I-485, and other concurrent applications, but only if you qualify.

One of the requirements is maintaining a lawful nonimmigrant status at the time of filing.

USCIS October 2019 announcement is here:

October 2019 visa bulletin is here. 

​

Today, July 1, 2019, begins the exceptionally rare period of authorized concurrent filing of I-130 and I-485 for spouses and minor children of permanent residents/green card holders. The filing period is expected to end on July 31, 2019, unless August 2019 Visa Bulletin also projects F2A preference category to be "current".
It is important to file all applications properly and submit all required initial evidence in order to avoid rejection, because there could be no time for re-filing if the filing period ends on July 31st.
Spouses and minor children of the lawful permanent residents who are in the USA in *lawful status* might be able to apply for adjustment of status concurrently with the filing of I-130 petition. Consult an attorney if not sure if you are eligible to apply.
If you need legal help please email at [email protected]

In Russian:

​Сегодня 1 июля 2019 открылся период для подачи одновременно петиции на воссоединение семьи и заявления на грин карту для жен и малолетних детей постоянных жителей США, которые находятся в США *в легальном статусе*, например приехали по гостевой визе или находятся в США по студенческой визе. Этот период продлится с 1 по 31 июля 2019, в соответствии с июльским календарем виз. Помните, что важно правильно все подготовить и подать в USCIS, чтобы избежать отказа в принятии заявлений, rejection, так как не известно, продолжится ли этот период в августе или закончится 31 июля. Если вам нужна помощь, обращайтесь по электронной почте [email protected]

On April 17, 2018, USCIS has updated its policy on the acceptance of DNA evidence supporting sibling relationships. This policy memorandum permits officers to suggest and consider direct sibling-to-sibling DNA test results, and provides standards for evaluating DNA results for full siblings and half siblings. This new guidance will improve USCIS’s ability to evaluate eligibility for immigration benefits by using technological advances in direct sibling DNA test results.

When USCIS determines that primary evidence is unavailable or unreliable, it may suggest and accept DNA test results as evidence of a full-sibling or half-sibling relationship in any petition or application for an immigration benefit in which a sibling relationship is required to establish eligibility or may otherwise be relevant to an eligibility determination.

Note: USCIS will only consider results of DNA testing conducted by an AABB-accredited lab.
USCIS policy on parentage testing remains unchanged.

Testing Against Additional Relatives: to the extent possible, DNA testing against the common parent(s) is encouraged, because it produces more reliable results than tests that do not include a common parent. Similarly, test results that include additional first-degree relatives, such as another sibling, will yield more conclusive results. Including additional blood relatives, such as aunts, uncles, and cousins, also produces more reliable results, particularly where a result is otherwise inconclusive. The AABB standards encourage accredited labs to recommend additional testing of relatives, where appropriate.  

As USCIS does not currently have regulatory authority to require DNA testing, they may only suggest the option of additional testing to the petitioner. The applicant or petitioner bears the burden, however, to establish eligibility for the immigration benefit sought. INA § 291, 8 U.S.C. § 1361; Matter of Otiende, 26 I&N Dec. 127, 128 (BIA 2013).

DNA could be expensive. The petitioner or applicant will have to pay for the DNA test if suggested by USCIS or the U.S. embassy or consulate.

(Primary evidence to establish a sibling relationship includes birth certificates, and if applicable, marriage certificates. When an officer determines that primary evidence is unavailable or unreliable, the officer may consider secondary evidence that demonstrates the sibling relationship. Secondary evidence that officers may consider includes, but is not limited to, medical records, school records, and religious documents issued contemporaneously with the event they document. Affidavits sworn to by persons who were living at the time of and who have personal knowledge of the event to which they attest may also be accepted if certain conditions are met. Following the BIA’s ruling in Matter of Ruzku, 26 I&N Dec. 731 (BIA 2016) USCIS initiated discussions with the AABB Relationship Testing (RT) Subcommittee through the DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate.)
​
This Policy Memo replaces a 2014 Policy Memo (PM-602-0106, DNA Evidence of Sibling Relationships), and previous guidance in Chapter 21.9(c) of the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM).

​New USCIS memo.

Briefly in Russian:

USCIS опубликовал новые инструкции по использованию теста ДНК при анализе петиций поданных на брата и сестру (и также тех братьев и сестер, у кого общий только один из родителей).

Раньше тест ДНК использовался для установления отношений между родителем и ребенком, и не применялся для других категорий. Теперь USCIS могут предложить петиционеру и брату (сестре) пройти тест ДНК через лабораторию аккредитованную AABB. Они не могут принудить петиционера и заявителя пройти этот тест, а могут только "предложить". Но стоит понимать, что предлагать такой тест USCIS будут тем, у кого не хватает первичных документальных доказательств (свидетельства о рождении, о браке) или что-то вызывает недоверие к документам (подозрение, что это подделка). В случае отказа от теста ДНК, USCIS могут отказаться утвердить петицию I-130 или выдать визу. Инструкции по тесту ДНК родителей и детей остаются те же, что и раньше.

​On February 14, 2018, USCIS announced that it will now accept credit card payments for filing most of its applications, including I-130, I-129F, I-485, I-765, I-131, I-601, I-90, N-400, N-600, etc.

Currently, credit card payment option is available for the 41 fee-based forms processed at USCIS Lockbox facilities. To pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover, applicants will need to use USCIS Form G-1450. 

USCIS will enter credit card data into the Pay.gov system, operated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and will then destroy the Form G-1450 to protect the credit card information.

Applicants for naturalization, N-400, and applicants renewing or replacing their Green Cards, I-90, can already use a credit card if they file online at uscis.gov.

On February 27, 2017, USCIS had published a new completely revised edition of the Form I-130 (prior edition had 2 pages, and the new edition is 12 pages long, plus a new Form I-130A was introduced).

The old edition of the Form I-130 (edition date 12/23/2016) will be acceptable only until April 28, 2017. After 04/28/2017, only the most recent 12-page form I-130 will be accepted.

If you are filing for your spouse, he or she must submit Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary. If your spouse is overseas, Form I-130A must still be completed, but your spouse does not have to sign Form I-130A. Form I-130A must be submitted with Form I-130. However, a spouse still has to sign form G-28, if you have an attorney.

Please note that you can't file Form I-130 for a spouse (wife or husband) if you married your spouse while he or she was the subject of an exclusion, deportation, removal, or rescission proceeding regarding his or her right to be admitted into or to remain in the United States, or while a decision in any of these proceedings was before any court on judicial review.

However, you may be eligible for the bona fide marriage exemption under INA section 245(e)(3) if:

A. You request in writing a bona fide marriage exemption and prove by clear and convincing evidence that the marriage is legally valid where it took place and that you and your spouse married in good faith and not for the purpose of obtaining lawful permanent resident status for your spouse and that no fee or any other consideration (other than appropriate attorney fees) was given to you for your filing of this petition. The request must be submitted with Form I-130; OR
​
B. Your spouse has lived outside the United States, after the marriage, for a period of at least two years.

Biometric Services Appointment. USCIS may require that a US citizen Petitioner and/or foreign national Beneficiary appear for an interview or provide fingerprints, photograph, and/or signature at any time to verify identity, obtain additional information, and conduct background and security checks, including a check of criminal history records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), before making a decision on petition.

After USCIS receives the I-130 petition, USCIS will inform you in writing, if you need to attend a biometric services appointment. If an appointment is necessary, the notice will provide you the location of your local or designated USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) and the date and time of your appointment or, if you are currently overseas, instruct you to contact a U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or USCIS office outside the United States to set up an appointment.

If you are required to provide biometrics, at your appointment you must sign an oath reaffirming that:
1. You provided or authorized all information in the petition;
2. You reviewed and understood all of the information contained in, and submitted with, your petition; and
3. All of this information was complete, true, and correct at the time of filing.

If you fail to attend your biometric services appointment, USCIS may deny your petition.

Also note that the Form G-325A is still valid and required when, for example, applying for adjustment of status.

Please take a note that the federal government updated their federal poverty guidelines, and a new I-864P was released on 03/01/2017. The new I-864P is applicable to all pending and new applications for adjustment of status or immigrant visa.

 National Visa Center / AILA DOS Liaison Committee Meeting on November 3, 2016 in Portsmouth, NH

​SUBMITTED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS can be viewed here or posted below.

1. Policy Clearances.

Some countries will only send police clearances directly to the Embassy/ Consulate (e.g. Hong Kong). How NVC is notified that when Embassy/ Consulate has received the required police clearances so that an appointment can be scheduled? How are attorneys/applicants notified? RESPONSE: 9 FAM 504.4-4(A) outlines the basic document requirements for the immigrant visa process. The Visa Reciprocity Schedule provides further clarification as to availability of documents in a particular country. NVC uses the Reciprocity Schedule during the collection process to determine whether or not an applicant needs to submit the police certificate to NVC for review. If the Reciprocity Schedule indicates the local police authority sends the document directly to the Consular Section, NVC will not request a copy of the document from the applicant and will set an appointment when the case is otherwise documentarily complete. The attorney/applicant should ensure the police certificate is sent to the Consular Section prior to the interview. The Consular Officer overseas will determine the acceptability of the document at the time of adjudication. Please check travel.state.gov, post supplements and post websites for additional guidance.

2. Document Checklists.

Attorneys report that they continue to receive checklists from NVC asking for documents that have already been submitted. Should attorneys resend the same documents to NVC? Or should they send an email to [email protected] to request clarification? RESPONSE: When NVC sends a checklist letter for a document already submitted, please respond to NVC’s concerns by providing a written explanation to the [email protected] mailbox. NVC will re-review the case file in an attempt to locate the document and update the case record accordingly. If attorneys or applicants receive a checklist letter after an appointment has been made and the case has gone to post, applicants should make sure to bring copies of the items requested in the latest or final checklist letter.

3. Civil Documents.

Please confirm NVC’s requirements regarding translation of civil documents. For example, are translations required where the document is to be sent to a post where consular officers speak the language in which the documents are written? Where can applicants find information as to which documents require translations? RESPONSE: All documents not written in English or the official language of the country in which you are applying for a visa must be accompanied by certified translations. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the: Page 2  Translation is accurate and  The translator is competent to translate. Some embassies or consulates may have additional requirements. Applicants should always follow the documentary instructions on the embassy or consulate’s interview instructions on travel.state.gov.

4. CSPA.

It appears that NVC generally does not issue fee bills to dependent children who have turned 21, as they are not able to determine whether the child can benefit under CSPA when the priority date is not current. Often, these children will not age out until 1-2 years in the future; however, if the attorney waits until the priority date is current to request the child’s fee bill, valuable time is lost from the time the fee bill is requested to the time it is actually issued and paid. As such, would NVC consider issuing fee bills for such dependent children when the fee bills are issued for the rest of the family? Allowing the child’s immigrant visa (IV) fee to be paid before the CSPA age is determined by the consular officer at the IV interview would enable the dependent child to “seek to acquire” and potentially lock in their CSPA age, prevent delays for the rest of the family’s IV interviews, ensure that the child is able to immigrate with the rest of the family, and prevent NVC from receiving an influx of fee bill requests when priority dates advance. AILA understands that there may be some cases where the fee bill is paid but the child ages out before the priority date becomes current but notes that most in this situation would opt to pay the fee bill to lock in the CSPA age despite this risk. AILA has raised this with NVC in the past but has not received a final answer from the NVC or Visa Office; as such, please confirm whether DOS has made a decision on whether to issue fee bills to such dependents and allow them to potentially lock in their CSPA age when their parent is current under the Filing Date chart. RESPONSE: The Visa Office and NVC are currently examining CSPA guidelines, including the question of whether or not NVC would be able to issue an IV fee bill in these circumstances.

5. Duplicate Notices.

AILA has received reports from members regarding approved I-730 cases where the attorney and applicant are getting identical approval/transfer notices from NVC at least every other, and sometimes twice a day. Is NVC aware of this issue and if so, is there a reason for the duplicate notices? RESPONSE: Yes, the public made us aware of this issue and we were able to quickly address the underlying technical issue. We appreciate AILA’s regular feedback on these types of issues. Individual attorneys experiencing potential computer errors can use the attorney email, [email protected], to provide feedback. For online issues with CEAC or CTRAC, we recommend providing screenshots of any error messages or incongruities. Page 3

6. Transfer Issues – Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. AILA members representing nationals of Tajikistan are receiving notices explaining that their cases have been transferred to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan with new case numbers reflecting the change. However, the Bishkek Embassy’s website indicates that they do not process immigrant visas. Additionally, the Dushanbe Embassy’s website still states that all immigrant visas are processed via Almaty, Kazakhstan. Has there been a change in processing for Tajik cases? Will all Tajik cases be processed through Bishkek or will processing in Almaty continue for some cases? RESPONSE: The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek will begin accepting IV cases from NVC in November 2016. With this launch in mind, NVC is beginning to assign Kyrgyz applicants to process in Bishkek, instead of Almaty. Bishkek’s website is currently under construction to add IV processing information, and interview instructions for Bishkek will soon be available on travel.state.gov. Tajikistani applicants, however, will continue to process in Almaty, Kazakhstan. If you’ve received notification indicating that a Tajikistani’s case was transferred to Bishkek, we’d appreciate receiving case specific information via [email protected] so we can investigate further.

7. Affidavit of Support. An affidavit of support sponsor is permitted to supplement their income with proof of assets to make up any shortfall of income to meet the affidavit of support requirements. Despite providing proof of value, equity, and ownership of assets, NVC seems to regularly deem the affidavit of support inadequate. Does this information need to be provided to NVC, or can it instead be brought to the interview? RESPONSE: NVC will assess affidavits of support based on the income information provided by the petitioner. As a matter of procedure, NVC staff will not consider proof of assets that were submitted to supplement petitioner income. In any situation where the petitioner’s income does not overcome poverty guidelines, NVC will send an assessment letter suggesting that the applicant bring a joint-sponsor document or other proof of income/assets to the IV appointment. It is important to note that this NVC-generated assessment letter will not hold up the qualification of the case for appointment at post. As mentioned in the assessment letter, applicants should bring any completed joint-sponsor documents, as well as proof of petitioner assets to the immigrant visa interview, where the consular officer will make the final determination regarding the affidavit of support and whether the supporting income and asset documents overcome poverty guidelines.

8. Modernized Immigrant Visa (MIV) Process

a. We understand that the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) has been undergoing significant program developments. Please provide an update on the implementation of the Modernized Immigrant Visa (MIV) application process at the initial six pilot posts. RESPONSE: The Bureau of Consular Affairs is planning a spring 2017 release of a new CEAC module for IV applicants on a pilot basis. This module will feature:  Online submission of financial and civil documents;  The ability to add or remove derivative applicants online;  The ability to change derivatives from accompanying to follow-to-join online; Page 4  NVC feedback and status updates provided electronically; and  Online case follow-ups to avoid entering termination status – you no longer need to call or email us once per year, you can simply log into CEAC to prevent your case from entering termination. We will pilot this new module with six embassies and consulates (Montreal, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Frankfurt, Sydney, and Hong Kong). b. We also understand that the second phase of the MIV was scheduled to take place in mid- 2016 at six additional posts with lower Internet penetration and where applicants have greater reliance on third-party assistance in order to evaluate the robustness of the CEAC system and its ability to respond to a variety of situations. Please provide an update on the results, to date, of this second phase. RESPONSE: In September 2016, we added eight posts to our electronic processing pilot: Addis Ababa, Baghdad, Guatemala City, Kiev, Monrovia, Phnom Penh, Tegucigalpa, and Tashkent. Applicants processing at these embassies now have the option to e-mail their documents to the [email protected] mailbox rather than mailing hard copies to NVC. We scheduled interviews for the first round of electronic cases at these posts in November. If you have clients from one of these posts, please encourage them to join email processing. Customer tip: Applicants who submit documents via email should not also mail them; that can delay case review. c. What is the current target date for worldwide deployment of MIV processing? RESPONSE: It is too early to give a definitive date for worldwide deployment at this time. We hope to be able to answer this question after our planned pilot in spring 2017.

9. NVC Operations

a. We understand that the NVC is transitioning from a paper warehouse to a customer service center and as part of this process; teams of regional experts have been created to identify and respond to obstacles confronting visa applicants. Please provide an update on the activities of regional teams. Are there any plans to extend this model to the non-immigrant visa application process? RESPONSE: NVC Post Liaisons act as the intermediary between consular sections worldwide and NVC’s regional processing teams. They communicate trends, guidance, interview capacity, and other processing updates between the regional teams and the posts served. Post Liaisons have a thorough understanding of IV processing at posts overseas. They also work with posts to ensure public information is up-to-date and understandable. We are always looking at the service we provide and considering ways to improve customer service. Thank you for the suggestion. b. We understand that NVC added a consular officer to its staff in the fall of 2015 in order to facilitate the relationship between NVC and overseas posts. Has this addition yielded the expected results? RESPONSE: NVC added a consular officer position to its staff in the fall of 2015 to Page 5 serve as the Government Technical Monitor (GTM) of its Case Processing and Document Review units. In addition to providing oversight and IV expertise from the field, the consular officer oversees the new Post Liaison program, described above. c. What is the role of the subject matter expert assigned to the customer service division? RESPONSE: NVC added a consular officer position to its staff in summer 2015 to serve as Government Technical Monitor (GTM) of its Telephone Inquiry and Written Correspondence units. In addition to providing oversight and IV expertise from the field, the consular officer oversees the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program and monitors compliance with Personally Identifiable Information (PII) regulations and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. d. Please confirm the current timeframe for the following: i. How long it takes to receive a file from USCIS after approval of an immigrant petition; RESPONSE: It can take up to six weeks to receive a case from USCIS. ii. How long it takes to enter data in the NVC system once a file is received from USCIS; RESPONSE: As of October 28, 2016, it takes seven business days. iii. How long an applicant should wait after approval of a petition by USCIS before inquiring about the status of the application with the NVC; and RESPONSE: We recommend waiting up to six weeks after receiving notice of petition approval before inquiring with NVC. iv. How long it takes for an applicant or attorney to receive a response from [email protected]; or [email protected]. RESPONSE: As of October 28, 2016, it takes five business days to respond to emails submitted to the [email protected] mailbox and five business days to respond to inquiries sent to the [email protected] mailbox. Please keep in mind that processing timeframes and inquiry response times change weekly based on the quantity of questions and casework received at NVC.

10. Inquiring on Pending Cases

a. At our last meeting, NVC provided the following process for attorneys to inquire about cases pending with NVC. When inquiring about a case, send an e-mail to [email protected]. If you do not receive a response within 15 days, send a second follow-up e-mail to [email protected]. If you still don’t receive a response after 15 days, send a third e-mail to [email protected], with “Attention PI Supervisor” in the subject line. You should receive a response from the PI Supervisor within 5 to 7 business days. Page 6 Are there any changes to this escalation protocol? RESPONSE: Given that we are now responding to attorney e-mails well within one week, we have revised the guidance as follows: When inquiring about a case, send an e-mail to [email protected]. If you do not receive a response within eight days, send a second follow-up e-mail to [email protected]. If you still don’t receive a response after eight days, send a third e-mail to [email protected] with “Attention PI Supervisor” in the subject line. You should receive a response from the PI Supervisor within five to seven business days. b. We understand that NVC receives telephone inquiries regarding processes and procedures relating to the nonimmigrant visa application process. This role is confined to providing general application information, directing applicants to the appropriate consulate web page, identifying the status of an application at a post, and informing applicants of a visa refusal. Are there any plans to expand the role of NVC in the nonimmigrant visa application process? RESPONSE: There are no plans to expand our role at this time.

11. DS-260. Are any planned updates for Form DS-260?

RESPONSE: There are no planned updates for the Form DS-260 at this time.

12. Attorney as Agent.

If an attorney is designated as an agent, is it also necessary to have a Form G-28 on file in order to be able to communicate with NVC on behalf of the visa applicant? RESPONSE: As an attorney, you can either file a Form G-28 or submit a signed statement on your law office letterhead that indicates you are now representing the beneficiary. We accept both of these items as proof that there is an attorney-client relationship, and either can be submitted to [email protected].

13. Revoked I-130s

After Death of USC Spouse Petitioner. AILA has recently received reports of certain I-130 petitions being revoked erroneously after the death of a United States Citizen (USC) petitioner (examples available upon request). Pursuant to 8 CFR 204.2(i)(1)(iv), a visa petition previously approved to classify the beneficiary as an immediate relative spouse of a USC should automatically convert to an approved Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er) or Special Immigrant. Examples are submitted for your review at Appendix A. As a result, I-130 petitions that fall into this category should not be revoked. Although these cases are being revoked by USCIS, they are being sent for revocation to USCIS by the NVC. Is the NVC aware of this issue? If a case is erroneously sent for revocation and an attorney/beneficiary receives notice of such a transfer and/or revocation, what is the process to resolve this error and ensure that the case is properly converted to an I-360 as noted in 9 FAM 502.1-2(C)(c.)(2)? RESPONSE: Thank you for your feedback. You are correct that many IR1/CR1 (and in some circumstances IR2/CR2) cases are eligible for automatic conversion to I-360. Page 7 NVC has an existing procedure in place that converts these petitions upon notification of the death of the petitioner. Thank you for providing examples of cases where AILA believes a petition should have been automatically converted. We note that 8 CFR 204.2 (i)(1)(iv) and 8 CFR 204.2(b)(1) set requirements for automatic conversion. Depending on the facts of the case, if there is a question about whether these requirements were met, the appropriate course of action may be to send a petition to USCIS for review and possible revocation. It is especially difficult for us to determine that a petition was returned to USCIS in error where USCIS in fact revoked the petition. We understand from previous discussions that AILA also intended to raise this issue with USCIS. We look forward to learning USCIS’ response and with this clarity will work to ensure interagency consistency. With respect to the specific examples, we will work with the Visa Office and respond directly to the inquiring attorney. If you encounter similar cases, please send an email with case specifics to [email protected] with “Attention PI Supervisor” in the subject line and we will review the issue for you. 

Please see here or here.

On September 09 2015, USCIS Announces Revised Procedures for Determining Visa Availability for Applicants Waiting to File for Adjustment of Status.

USCIS, in coordination with Department of State (DOS), is revising the procedures for determining visa availability for applicants waiting to file for employment-based or family-sponsored preference adjustment of status. The revised process will better connect USCIS procedures with the US Department of State (DOS) procedures, which are used for foreign nationals who seek to become U.S. permanent residents by applying for immigrant visas at U.S. consulates and embassies abroad.

The Visa Bulletin revisions implement November 2014 executive actions on immigration announced by President Obama and Secretary of Homeland Security Johnson, as detailed in the White House report, Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st century, issued in July 2015. 

What is Changing.

Starting October 1, 2015, you will be able to submit your application for adjustment of status or for an immigrant visa before your priority date is current. 

Two charts per visa preference category will be posted in the DOS Visa Bulletin:

• Current priority dates for particular visa categories; and
• The earliest dates for filing application for adjustment of status (earliest dates when applicants may be able to apply).

See October 2015 Visa Bulletin here. However, the priority dates in the Visa Bulletin can retrogress in November. Consult an attorney about your specific case so you won't miss the opportunity of applying earlier.

When filing an application for adjustment of status, I-485, an applicant can concurrently file an application for a work permit and advance parole. This is great news for many immigrants waiting for many years for their priority dates to become current. However, it's a good idea to consult an immigration attorney before applying.

Each month, in coordination with DOS, USCIS will monitor visa numbers and post the relevant DOS Visa Bulletin chart. Applicants can use the charts to determine when to file their Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

To determine whether additional visas are available, USCIS will compare the number of visas available for the remainder of the fiscal year with:

• Documentarily qualified visa applicants reported by DOS;
• Pending adjustment of status applications reported by USCIS; and
• Historical drop off rate (for example, denials, withdrawals, abandonments).

About the Visa Bulletin.

DOS publishes current immigrant visa availability information in a monthly Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin indicates when statutorily limited visas are available to prospective immigrants based on their individual priority date.

• The priority date is generally the date when the applicant’s relative or employer properly filed the immigrant visa petition on the applicant’s behalf with USCIS. If a labor certification is required to be filed with the applicant’s immigrant visa petition, then the priority date is when the labor certification application was accepted for processing by Department of Labor.
• Availability of an immigrant visa means eligible applicants are able to take one of the final steps in the process of becoming U.S. permanent residents. 

Read more here.  

USCIS launched a new interactive webportal myUSCIS. 

See at: https://my.uscis.gov/

USCIS recently introduced another useful webportal, where customers can submit e-request to ask questions about a pending case, report non-delivery of a document (work permit, green card, etc) or official letter (Receipt or Approval Notice, Form I-797), request certain accommodations. I found it to be a very useful tool.

See at: https://egov.uscis.gov/e-Request/Intro.do?locale=en_US

Almost daily, I hear from some of our callers: "I don't need legal consultation, I don't want to hire an attorney. I have only one or two very simple (or quick, or easy) questions, and I want an attorney to answer my questions right now and free of charge because my questions are so simple, quick, and easy!"

I will try to explain why this request doesn't make any sense and how to get proper legal advice.

U.S. immigration law is very complex and constantly changing. There have been no major immigration reforms or amnesties in the past few years (which requires a law to be approved by Congress and signed by the President). However, there have been significant changes introduced by our current and former administrations and the executive branch of the government: executive actions; executive orders of the President; USCIS and DHS memorandums and policy guidance; official and unofficial practice advisories; and changes through our judicial branch (federal and immigration courts), such as, the decisions by the BIA, AAO, Courts of Appeals, US Supreme Court, and even by federal district court judges (for example, an injunction by a federal judge can place on hold an executive order of the President of the United States).

U.S. immigration law is federal in nature and is the same in all states. However, it may apply differently to your situation depending on your background, your place of residence or domicile, US embassy in the country where you apply for a visa, etc.

An experienced immigration attorney may be able to guide you and advise you about specifics, loopholes, various options, and can spot possible problems before they happen, even if it seems to you that your case is pretty straightforward and you have only "one quick question". A seemingly simple or quick question not always can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no" answer. You may not realize it, but a situation may have a lot of hidden issues or variables depending on your venue, court jurisdiction, your factual circumstances, your arrest and criminal record, your family situation and status, prior legal assistance, prior legal actions and applications filed, or even timing, etc.

You can find a lot of useful immigration-related INFORMATION on our Blog. We compiled useful information and links: USCIS forms and fees, case status inquiry, processing times, AR-11 Change of Address, Department of State and NVC, and much more here. Hope you find this information helpful!

To ask basic questions about USCIS immigration forms, filing fees or to inquire about status of your pending case, you can contact USCIS, Department of Homeland Security, by calling their 800 Customer Service Hotline (number is on their website), or send an e-request via a webportal at USCIS website. Case status can be checked online, as well. Immigration courts, U.S. embassies and consulates and National Visa Center each have their own hotlines, call centers or other ways to contact them.

To receive a case-specific legal advice you should talk to a lawyer. Before a lawyer can advise you, we usually email you our confidential immigration questionnaire, and ask you to complete and return it to us. In some cases, we can ask you to email us copies of your immigration forms, paperwork, personal documents. When an attorney reviews your answers to our questionnaire and your documents, it helps her to get to know you, your situation, and decide what legal and/or visa options you shall consider, what are your best chances of obtaining certain visas and immigration benefits, how and when can you bring your family to USA, are you eligible for permanent residency or a green card in the United States, are you eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, how can your children become U.S. citizens, etc.

It's important that you provide truthful, accurate and complete answers to our questions because an attorney's advice to you is based on information you provide to an attorney. It could be dangerous to give misleading, incomplete or incorrect answers to an attorney.

An attorney or a lawyer is often called "a counselor in law". It means that an attorney counsels and advises you, helps you to understand your situation better, anticipates any possible future issues or complications, offers guidance, and a long-term strategy and planning for yourself and your family.

Legal advice is never a simple "yes" or "no" answer, it's never "use this form"  or "this is the link where you can find all information and all answers you need". Legal advice or consultation is like going to see a doctor. A doctor will ask you questions, take your vitals and administer necessary tests, then she will be able to diagnose you and offer you an appropriate treatment plan. The same is true about work of a good and ethical attorney. An attorney will have to ask you a number of questions, review your documents and paperwork, and only then she will be able to advise you, and offer you guidance and counsel.

In order to avoid mistakes and future complications, it's smart to consult an attorney before starting any legal, immigrant or visa process. Consultation with knowledgeable and ethical attorney should serve as a preventative measure and a way to establish a roadmap and plan your future.

In over twelve years of practice as an immigration attorney in the United States, I have come across of many unfortunate individuals who got themselves into trouble after reading and following wrong advice on internet forums, listening to their friends, co-workers, relatives and neighbors advice, or paying to complete their "paperwork" to an unlicensed "immigration consultant", or "notario", or "tax preparer", or somebody else who speaks their native language in their immigrant community but has no proper training and is not a licensed attorney. In some of these cases, individual's chances of living in USA legally can be permanently destroyed. Some people can become permanently banned from the United States, no matter how many close family members (wife, kids, parents) and other ties they have in USA. Immigration law is very complex and unforgiving, and non-compliance, fraud or misrepresentation could bring consequences more severe than penalties in an average criminal case. Where a convicted criminal can usually expect to be released from prison after a number of months or years and be reunited with his family, a person who was deported and permanently banned from USA may never be able to reunite with his family and loved ones in the United States. Lack of knowledge or bad advice is not an excuse in immigration law. "Simple mistakes" in immigration law context could be costly and often irreversible.

Do yourself a favor and consult a knowledgeable immigration attorney before filing any applications or petitions with the USCIS Department of Homeland Security, or before submitting any visa applications online. You can also schedule a consultation to seek a second opinion, if not sure that your current or former attorney's advice is correct as applies to you. When you have questions or need legal advice you can email us to schedule a consultation. We will be glad to help you.

US Dept of State issued a new policy guidance for immigrant visa applicants who were unable to use an Immigrant Visa (IV) during its validity period. 

9 FAM 42.74 N1 ISSUING REPLACEMENT VISA DURING VALIDITY OF ORIGINAL VISA (CT:VISA-2270; 03-31-2015) 

a. If you are satisfied that an applicant will be or was unable to use an immigrant visa (IV) during its validity period because of reasons beyond the applicant’s control and for which the applicant is not responsible then you may issue a replacement visa with the originally allocated visa number within the same fiscal year even though the visa has not yet expired. 

b. You should recall and cancel the originally-issued visa and collect once again the appropriate IV application processing fee (including the Diversity Visa Lottery Fee for a DV applicant), unless the applicant was unable to use the visa as a result of action by the U.S. Government over which the alien had no control and for which the alien was not responsible. 

c. An applicant who will be or was unable to use an IV during its validity period because of reasons within the applicant's control can submit a new visa application if the petition has not been revoked and if the basis for immigration still exists (i.e., familial relationship). 
This also applies for new IV applications outside of the original IV's fiscal year of issuance. 

9 FAM 42.74 N1: 
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/87915.pdf

UPDATE 03/06/2015:

Nebraska's ban on same-sex marriage will remain in place while the state appeals a federal judge's decision to strike it down. 
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday issued a stay of U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon's decision this week to end the ban.
It means that no same-sex marriages will be allowed starting March 9th, as was expected under the federal judge ruling.
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A federal judge has struck down Nebraska's ban on same-sex marriage. Effective March 9, 2015, same-sex couples in Nebraska can marry.

As a practical matter, a US citizen petitioner in the same-sex marriage in Nebraska can now petition for his/her spouse's permanent residency (aka green card) in the United States.

According to an injunction filed in federal court Monday, Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon said "all relevant state officials are ordered to treat same-sex couples the same as different sex couples in the context of processing a marriage license or determining the rights, protections, obligations or benefits of marriage."

The order is effective March 9 2015 at 8 a.m.

Within moments of Judge Bataillon's injunction, the State of Nebraska filed an appeal.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced January 17, 2015 that it would decide whether same-sex couples have a right to marry everywhere in America under the Constitution. A decision is expected by late June.

Nebraska is the 38th state in the USA to allow same-sex marriage.

Read more at: 

http://www.ketv.com/politics/judge-rules-on-nebraskas-samesex-marriage-ban/31519918?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=FBPAGE&utm_campaign=ketv7&Content%20&linkId=12636249

A FAM update provides two new examples of the types of exceptional circumstances where consular officers should request authorization from USCIS to accept I-130 petitions. 

The new examples involve adoption of a child, and short notice of position relocation. 

See at 9 FAM 42.41 Notes
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/87842.pdf

9 FAM 42.41 N4.2-7 Adjudicating Exceptional Circumstance I- 130 Cases (CT:VISA-2247; 01-28-2015) 

a. Consular officers assigned to posts with USCIS public counter presence cannot accept filing or adjudicate the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and must refer petitioners instead to USCIS. 

b. If a consular section without a USCIS public counter presence encounters an exceptional circumstance case, then the Consular Chief, or another designated officer, must receive authorization from the regional USCIS Field Office Director (or his/her designee) prior to accepting and adjudicating the filing. Post should contact the appropriate USCIS field office by phone or e-mail, providing the specifics of the reason for the exception request. USCIS will have discretion to determine which cases can be processed using the exceptional circumstances procedures and which petitioners should be directed to file by mail with the USCIS lockbox in the United States. USCIS may authorize post to accept the case over the telephone in particularly emergent circumstances but will always communicate his or her decision via email to the post within 1-3 business days of receipt of the request for record-keeping purposes. 

c. The following are examples of the types of exceptional circumstances where consular officers should request exceptional authorization from USCIS to accept I-130 petitions: 

(1) U.S. Military deployment or transfer: A U.S. service member overseas becomes aware of a new deployment or transfer with very little notice. This should be an exception to the regular relocation process for most service members. 
(2) Medical emergencies: A petitioner or beneficiary is facing an urgent medical emergency that requires immediate travel. This includes if the petitioner or beneficiary is pregnant and delaying travel may create a medical risk or extreme hardship for the mother or child. 
(3) Threats to personal safety: A petitioner or beneficiary is facing an imminent threat to personal safety. 
(4) Cases close to aging out: A beneficiary is within a few months of aging out of eligibility. 
(5) Cases where the petitioner has recently naturalized: The petitioner and family have traveled for the immigrant visa interview but the petitioner has naturalized and the family member(s) require a new, stand-alone petition. 
(6) Adoption of a child: A petitioner who has adopted a child locally and has an imminent need to depart the country. This exception should only be considered if the child has been in the petitioner’s legal and physical custody for at least two years and the petitioner has a full and final adoption decree on behalf of the child. 
(7) Short notice of position relocation: A U.S. Citizen petitioner, living and working abroad, who receives a job relocation within the same company or subsidiary to the United States, or an offer of a new job in the United States with very little notice. 
(8) Other emergency situations, as determined by the Consular Section. 

d. Large-scale disrupting event: An event such as a natural disaster or widespread civil unrest that affects large numbers of people and creates a humanitarian emergency for U.S. citizens or residents living abroad that would call for a blanket authorization for posts to accept and process I-130 petitions. In these circumstances, only the Chief or Deputy Chief of the USCIS International Operations Division may give blanket authorization to accept filing and adjudicate Form I-130 petitions for a specified period of time.