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LAW OFFICE OF LUIS A. GUERRA, PA
4801 South University Drive, Suite 252,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328
Ph: 954 434 5800
FAX: 954 434 5806
Toll Free: 877 913 4040
Email: info@guerralegal.com |
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USCIS Announces Change to Filing Location for Nepali Adoption Petitions
Update
08/27/2010 |
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that any U.S. citizen seeking to adopt a Nepali child, whose case is not affected by the suspension of processing of adoption cases involving Nepali children claimed to have been found abandoned, should file the Form I 600, Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative, with the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal.
This change in the filing location for the Form I-600 petitions applies to two groups of prospective adoptive parents who are not affected by the suspension. The first group is those who received a referral letter from the Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare before Aug. 6, 2010, informing them of a proposed match of an abandoned child. The second group is those who seek to adopt Nepali children who were relinquished by known parent(s) and whose identity and relationship can be confirmed.
USCIS strongly encourages prospective adoptive parents to follow this procedure for their own benefit, based on growing concerns about unreliable documents, irregularities in the methods used to identify children for adoption in Nepal, and the resulting difficulties in classifying those children as orphans under U.S. immigration law. Please see the Aug. 6, 2010 announcement online regarding the suspension.
To file the Form I-600 petition with the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu, prospective adoptive parents should complete and sign the Form I-600 and send the Form I-600 with all required supporting documents and evidence, other than the adoption or custody decree, to their respective local agency representatives in Nepal. The local agency representatives may then deliver the documents directly to the American Citizen Services Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu. Based on this filing, the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu will then complete the required orphan determination before prospective adoptive parents travel to, or adopt a child in, Nepal.
Following this procedure will protect the interests of the prospective adoptive parents and the children by ensuring that the adoptive children will be eligible to immigrate to the United States before the prospective adoptive parents travel to Nepal and complete the Nepali adoption process.
If, after completing its investigation of the case, the Embassy finds that the child qualifies as an orphan under U.S. immigration law, the prospective adoptive parents will be notified in writing that they may travel to Nepal to complete the adoption process.
For addition information about filing a Form I-600 petition at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu, please visit www.adoption.state.gov. Guidance for prospective adoptive parents of Nepali children is available online at www.uscis.gov.
For more information on USCIS and its adoption programs, visit http://www.uscis.gov/adoption. |
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USCIS Implements H-1B and L-1 Fee Increase According to Public Law 111-230
08/19/2010 |
WASHINGTON—On Aug. 13, 2010, President Obama signed into law Public Law 111-230, which contains provisions to increase certain H-1B and L-1 petition fees. Effective immediately, Public Law 111-230 requires the submission of an additional fee of $2,000 for certain H-1B petitions and $2,250 for certain L-1A and L-1B petitions postmarked on or after Aug. 14, 2010, and will remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2014.
These additional fees apply to petitioners who employ 50 or more employees in the United States with more than 50 percent of its employees in the United States in H-1B or L (including L-1A, L-1B and L-2) nonimmigrant status. Petitioners meeting these criteria must submit the fee with an H-1B or L-1 petition filed:
- Initially to grant an alien nonimmigrant status described in subparagraph (H)(i)(b) or (L) of section 101(a)(15), or
- To obtain authorization for an alien having such status to change employers.
USCIS is in the process of revising the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129), and instructions to comply with Public Law 111-230. To facilitate implementation of Public Law 111-230, USCIS recommends that all H-1B, L-1A and L-1B petitioners, as part of the filing packet, include the new fee or a statement of other evidence outlining why this new fee does not apply. USCIS requests that petitioners include a notation of whether the fee is required in bold capital letters at the top of the cover letter. Where USCIS does not receive such explanation and/or documentation with the initial filing, it may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) to determine whether the petition is covered by the public law. An RFE may be required even if such evidence is submitted, if questions remain.
The additional fee, if applicable, is in addition to the base processing fee, the existing Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee, and any applicable American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (ACWIA) fee, needed to file a petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129), as well as any premium processing fees, if applicable.
USCIS will work with its stakeholders to effect a smooth transition given this legislation’s new requirements. For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov. |
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USCIS Reminds Eligible Nationals of El Salvador to Re-Register for TPS
Update
08/13/2010 |
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WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds nationals of El Salvador (and persons without nationality who last habitually resided in El Salvador), who have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), to file their re-registration applications for TPS before the end of the re-registration period on Sept. 7, 2010.
The 18-month extension of TPS for El Salvador will remain in effect through March 9, 2012. Individuals who have received TPS previously must re-register for the 18-month extension during the re-registration period. Failure to file a TPS re-registration application during the re-registration period, without good cause, will result in withdrawal of TPS benefits, including employment authorization and protection from removal from the United States.
To re-register, all TPS beneficiaries must file both the Application for Temporary Protected Status, Form I-821, and the Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, with the correct fees or a properly documented fee waiver request. If the TPS re-registrant is not seeking employment authorization or an extension of his/her current employment authorization, the Form I-765 fee is not required, but the re-registrant must still file Form I-765 for data-gathering purposes. All TPS re-registrants age 14 and older must submit the biometric fee. Applicants who are able to demonstrate an inability to pay may request a fee waiver for the TPS application, biometric services or employment authorization, or all three fees combined. Failure to submit the required application and biometric fees or a properly documented fee waiver request will result in the rejection of the re-registration application. For information on TPS fee waivers, visit the “Questions and Answers on Temporary Protected Status Fee Waivers.”
To receive information about filing or case status, applicants may choose to:
- File the E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, Form G-1145, together with their TPS package. This will enable them to receive an e-mail and/or cell phone text message informing them that USCIS has accepted the TPS application.
- Access “My Cases Status” online and register to receive alerts through text messages or e-mails. Registered users may now elect to receive messages in English or Spanish.
USCIS reminds applicants that the most common reasons for rejection are:
- The application was not filed with the correct fees or a properly documented fee waiver request.
- The application was missing critical biographical information.
- The applicant did not sign one or more of the required forms (Forms I-821 and I-765).
- The application was filed using an incorrect version of the form. Check the lower right hand corner of the first page of the form instructions for the edition date. The Form I-821 must be dated Oct. 17, 2007 or later, and the Form I-765 must be dated Oct. 16, 2008 or later. If the edition dates are earlier, the forms will not be accepted by USCIS. The correct form versions are free and available online at USCIS’s Forms Web page. Applicants who do not have Internet access may call the USCIS Forms line at 1-800-870-3676.
Further details on the extension of TPS for El Salvador, including the application requirements, fees and procedures, are available at www.uscis.gov on the TPS page and in the Federal Register Notice. For additional information, applicants may also contact USCIS at 1-800-375-5283.
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Update: Employment Authorization for Dependents of Foreign Officials
08/10/2010 |
WASHINGTON— The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today published a final rule amending its regulations governing the employment authorization for dependents of foreign officials classified as A-1, A-2, G-1, G-3, and G-4 nonimmigrants. This rule, effective August 9, 2010, expands the list of dependents eligible for employment authorization to include any individual who falls within a category of aliens designated by the Department of State (DOS) as qualifying.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will only issue employment authorization documents to those dependents of foreign officials who are recognized by DOS as qualifying. Qualifying dependents must fall within a bilateral work agreement or de facto arrangement, listed on DOS’s website at http://www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo/c24338.htm.
To apply for employment authorization documents, eligible dependents first must obtain an endorsement from DOS on an Interagency Record of Request, Form I-566. The individual must then file Form I-566 along with an Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, with USCIS.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov. |
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Questions & Answers: U.S. Suspends Processing New Nepal Adoption Cases Based on Abandonment
08/06/2010
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Q. Why is the United States government suspending adoptions from Nepal?
A. The Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have decided to suspend processing of new adoption cases from Nepal that involve children who are claimed to have been found abandoned, because documents presented in support of the abandonment of these children in Nepal have been found to be unreliable and circumstances of alleged abandonment cannot be verified because of obstacles in the investigation of individual cases.
Q: Adoptive parents have received immigrant visas for their Nepali children from the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu as recently as a few weeks ago. What has changed since then?
A. A review of recently processed cases established a disturbing pattern indicating that available documentation cannot be relied upon to make determinations that a child reported abandoned qualifies as an orphan under U.S. immigration law.
Q: Does the suspension apply to all cases or only to cases in which a child was allegedly found abandoned?
A. The suspension applies only to cases where a child is alleged to have been found abandoned.
Q. When is the suspension going into effect?
A. The suspension is effective as of August 6, 2010, for all new adoption cases involving children from Nepal who have been reported abandoned.
Q. What is a “new” adoption case that will be covered by the suspension?
A. The suspension applies to cases in which the Government of Nepal has not issued an official referral letter to prospective adoptive parents to propose a match with a specific child from Nepal who has been reported abandoned. If the Government of Nepal has issued the referral letter prior to August 6, 2010, the case will be considered in the pipeline of existing cases and will continue to be processed. If no such referral letter has been issued prior to August 6, 2010, the case will be suspended.
Q. Based on what authority is the U.S. government suspending adoptions from Nepal?
A. The Department of State has concluded that the documentation presented for children reported abandoned in Nepal is unreliable. Without reliable documentation, such children cannot meet the definition of orphan under U.S. immigration law. Based on this determination and obstacles in the investigation process the U.S. government has suspended the processing of new adoption cases that involve children who are reported abandoned.
Q. What evidence does the U.S. government have to support the suspension?
A. The Department of State’s ongoing interactions with the Government of Nepal and the review of numerous cases, including field visits to orphanages and police stations, led them to conclude that information regarding how children arrive at orphanages is consistently inadequate and that documents presented to establish that a child was found abandoned are unreliable. Investigations of abandonment cases have been hampered by the unavailability of officials involved in reports of abandonment, and police and orphanage officials’ refusals to allow consular officers access to police and orphanage records.
Q. Has the U.S. government made any effort to address the problems with the Government of Nepal?
A. The U.S. government, in cooperation with other countries that are active in intercountry adoptions, has consistently encouraged the Government of Nepal to ratify and implement the Hague Adoption Convention. Nepal is a signatory to the Convention. We have also urged the Government of Nepal to implement the recommendations made by the Hague Permanent Bureau Intercountry Technical Assistance Program (ICATAP) as a first step toward fulfilling its commitment as a signatory to the Convention. We believe that the Hague Adoption Convention incorporates the best practices in intercountry adoption, which are intended to protect the rights of the children and the families involved in intercountry adoption.
Q: Will there be any exceptions to the suspension?
A. No. Prospective adoptive parents who the Government of Nepal has matched with a child reported abandoned after August 6, 2010, will not receive a decision on a petition for that child.
Q. Are there any cases in Nepal that do not involve children reported abandoned?
A. Not at the present time. However, in the case of a relinquishment by known birth parent(s), the application would be processed under normal procedures. DNA evidence may be necessary to establish the relationship between the birth parent(s) and child.
Q. When will adoptions from Nepal resume?
A. We are unable to predict when adoptions involving children who are reported abandoned in Nepal will be able to resume. We encourage the Government of Nepal to implement sufficient protections to ensure the integrity of the intercountry adoption process.
Q. What will happen to families who are already matched with a child from Nepal?
A. The suspension applies to abandonment cases in which the prospective adoptive parents have not yet been matched with a child from Nepal. The Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare issues an official “referral letter” to inform prospective adoptive parents of a proposed match. If the Government of Nepal has issued the official referral letter prior to August 6, 2010, the case will be processed to conclusion. In light of concerns regarding the validity of documents supporting abandonment cases in Nepal, the cases will be carefully investigated and only those in which there is sufficient credible evidence to conclude a child has been found abandoned will be approved.
If consular officials at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu determine that a case is not clearly approvable, they are required to forward the Form I-600, Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative, to the USCIS office in New Delhi for review. USCIS and the Department of State will process each case individually, based on the evidence presented and the results of the investigation. If additional information is required to complete the processing of any particular case, USCIS will request additional evidence specific to the facts of that particular case, and the prospective adoptive parents will have an opportunity to respond.
Q. How many cases are in the “pipeline”?
A. Based on information provided by the Government of Nepal, we estimate that there are approximately 80 cases in which U.S. families have been matched with a child in Nepal, but in which the Form I-600 petition has not been adjudicated or a visa has not been issued.
Q. Can a family that has begun the process of adopting in Nepal decide to adopt a child from a different country now?
A. Yes. If prospective adoptive parents have already filed or received approval of a Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, that specifies Nepal as the country from which they intend to adopt, they are permitted to request one no-fee change of country. If the prospective adoptive parents have already filed a Form I-600 on behalf of a Nepali child, they may withdraw the petition. Upon withdrawal of the petition, the prospective adoptive parents may request a change of country and file another Form I-600 petition on behalf of a different child, as long as their Form I-600A approval remains valid.
Q. What are other countries that process adoptions of Nepali orphans doing?
A. Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom have recently suspended adoptions in Nepal based on similar concerns.
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U.S. Suspends Processing New Nepal Adoption Cases Based on Abandonment
08/06/2010 |
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State today issued a joint statement on the decision to suspend processing for new adoption cases based on abandonment in Nepal.
Joint Statement
In order to protect the rights and interests of certain Nepali children and their families, and of U.S. prospective adoptive parents, the Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have jointly decided to suspend adjudication of new adoption petitions and related visa issuance for children who are described as having been abandoned in Nepal.
The Department of State’s recent interactions with the Government of Nepal and its efforts to review and investigate numerous abandonment cases, including field visits to orphanages and police departments, have demonstrated that documents presented to describe and “prove” the abandonment of children in Nepal are unreliable. Civil documents, such as the children’s birth certificates often include data that has been changed or fabricated. Investigations of children reported to be found abandoned are routinely hindered by the unavailability of officials named in reports of abandonment. Police and orphanage officials often refuse to cooperate with consular officers’ efforts to confirm information by comparing it with official police and orphanage records. In one case, the birth parents were actively searching for a child who had been matched with an American family for adoption. Because the Department of State has concluded that the documentation presented for children reported abandoned in Nepal is unreliable and the general situation of non-cooperation with and even active hindrance of investigations, the U.S. Government can no longer reasonably determine whether a child documented as abandoned qualifies as an orphan. Without reliable documentation, it is not possible for the United States Government to process an orphan petition to completion.
To the best of our knowledge, all other countries that had been processing adoption cases from Nepal have stopped accepting new cases due to a lack of confidence that children presented as orphans are actually eligible for intercountry adoption.
The suspension of adjudication of new adoption petitions on behalf of Nepali children reported as found abandoned is effective as of the date of this statement. Any petition filed for a child who has been presented as found abandoned and who was matched with a prospective adoptive parent prior to the date of this announcement, as evidenced by an official referral letter from the Government of Nepal, will continue to be adjudicated on a case-by-case basis and in light of the totality of the evidence available. The Department of State will reach out to prospective adoptive parents who meet this criteria. Petitions that continue to be adjudicated will only be approved if they are supported by reliable evidence. Every effort will be made to process their cases as expeditiously as possible with the best interests of children in mind.
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USCIS Extends Closing Date for National Children's Art Project
Deadline for Submitting Artwork Extended by Two Weeks
08/04/2010 |
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it will extend the closing date for the USCIS National Children’s Art Project until Aug. 30, 2010, extending the submission deadline by two weeks.
On June 14, 2010, USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas announced the “We Are America” National Children’s Art Project in collaboration with public libraries and other community-based organizations serving America’s immigrant communities.
USCIS continues to encourage children across the United States to create artwork in response to an important prompt: "People have come from all over the world to become Americans. Why does that make us great?" USCIS will display the children’s artwork in USCIS offices around the country.
For more information on the USCIS National Children’s Art Project, please visit www.uscis.gov/childrensartproject. |
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Change of Filing Location for Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)
08/03/2010 |
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced a change in filing location instructions and addresses for the Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) (Form I-129F). The new instructions, dated 6/14/10, are part of an overall effort to transition the intake of forms from Service Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities. Centralizing form and fee intake to a Lockbox environment allows USCIS to provide customers with more efficient and effective initial processing of applications/petitions and fees.
Beginning Aug. 3, 2010 all Form I-129F petitions being filed by a U.S. citizen on behalf of a fiancé(e) or spouse must be submitted to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility.
For U.S. Postal Service:
USCIS
PO Box 660151
Dallas, TX 75266
For Express mail and courier deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-129F
2501 South State Highway 121 Business
Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067
Detailed guidance can be found in the updated Form I-129F instructions online at www.uscis.gov (click on the Forms tab).
The Vermont and California Service Centers will forward incorrectly filed petitions to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox for a period of 45 days until Sept. 17, 2010. After Sept. 17, 2010, petitions and fees submitted at the Service Centers will be returned to the applicant, with a note advising them of the correct filing location.
Applicants filing a form at a USCIS Lockbox facility may elect to receive an e-mail and/or text message notifying them that their petition has been accepted by completing Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and attaching it to the first page of their application.
For more information on USCIS programs, visit www.uscis.gov or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. |
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Change of Filing Location for Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur
08/03/2010 |
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced a revised filing location for individuals filing an Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur (Form I-526). The new form version, which is dated 4/21/10, requires petitioners to file at the USCIS Lockbox rather than at a Service Center. This is part of an overall effort to transition the intake of benefit forms from Service Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities. Centralizing form and fee intake to a Lockbox environment allows USCIS to provide customers with more efficient and effective initial processing of applications and fees.
Beginning Aug. 3, 2010, regardless of the location of the new commercial enterprise, petitioners submitting Form I-526 must mail their petitions to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility. The filing address can be found in Form I-526 instructions at www.uscis.gov.
The USCIS California Service Center will forward Forms I-526 to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility for 45 days. After Sept. 17, 2010, the California Service Center will return all incorrectly filed petitions to the petitioner along with a note to send the petition to the correct location.
Petitioners filing Form I-526 at the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility may elect to receive an e-mail and/or text message notifying them of acceptance of their application/petition. To receive the notification, the petitioner must complete an E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (Form G-1145), and attach it to the first page of the petition.
For more information on USCIS programs, visit www.uscis.gov or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. |
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Change of Filing Location for Form I-817, Application for Family Unity Benefits
08/03/2010 |
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced revised filing instructions and addresses for applicants filing an Application for Family Unity Benefits (Form I-817) under Section 301 IMMACT 90. The new form is dated 4/21/10. This is part of an overall effort to transition the intake of benefit forms from Service Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities. Centralizing form and fee intake to a Lockbox environment allows USCIS to provide customers with more efficient and effective initial processing of applications and fees.
Beginning Aug. 3, 2010, those applicants filing to request initial benefits or an extension of Family Unity Benefits under Section 301 of IMMACT 90, should mail their application to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility. Applicants submitting Form I-817 and filing under section 1504 of Public Law 106-554, LIFE Act, to request initial benefits or an extension of previously acquired Family Unity Program benefits, should continue to mail their application to the USCIS Chicago Lockbox. The filing addressess can be found in the Form I-817 Instructions at www.uscis.gov/forms.
The Service Centers will forward Form I-817s received to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility for 45 days until Sept. 17, 2010. After Sept. 17, 2010, applications incorrectly filed at the Service Centers will be returned to the applicant, with a note to send the application to the correct location. USCIS will issue a receipt upon receiving a properly filed Form I-817 in accordance with the revised filing instructions.
Applicants filing a Form I-817 at a USCIS Lockbox facility may elect to receive an e-mail and/or text message notifying them that their application has been accepted. They must complete an E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (Form G-1145), and attach it to the first page of their application.
For more information on USCIS programs, visit www.uscis.gov or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.
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Change of Filing Location for Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
08/03/2010 |
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced revised filing instructions and addresses for applicants filing an Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539) by itself. The new form, dated 7/15/10, is part of an overall effort to transition the intake of some benefit forms from Service Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities. Centralizing form and fee intake to a Lockbox environment allows USCIS to provide customers with more efficient and effective initial processing of applications and fees.
Beginning Aug. 3, 2010 applicants submitting Form I-539 by itself must mail their application to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility.
Applicants submitting their Form I-539 with Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, will continue to submit both forms to either the USCIS California Service Center or the USCIS Vermont Service Center, according to the Form I-129 filing instructions. Dependent applicants submitting Form I-539 applications at the same time should include their application in the package with the primary applicant.
Applicants filing Form I-539 under category “P-4, Dependents of Major League Sports” Athletes or Support Personnel, should continue to file their applications at the USCIS Vermont Service Center.
Applicants filing under the category “V Nonimmigrant” should continue to file their applications at the USCIS Chicago Lockbox facility. Detailed guidance can be found in updated Form I-539 instructions at www.uscis.gov, under the “FORMS”tab.
USCIS Service Centers will forward incorrectly filed Form I-539 applications to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility by mail for 45 days, until Sept. 17, 2010. After Sept. 17, 2010 applications incorrectly filed at the Service Centers will be returned to the applicant, with a note to send the application to the correct location. USCIS will issue a reciept upon receiving a correctly filed Form I-539 in accordance with the revised filing instructions.
Applicants filing a Form I-539 at a USCIS Lockbox facility may elect to receive an e-mail and/or text message notifying them that their application has been accepted. They must complete an E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (Form G-1145), and attach it to the first page of their application.
For more information on USCIS programs, visit www.uscis.gov or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. |
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Revised Filing Instructions for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
08/03/2010 |
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced revised filing addresses for petitioners who live in Canada, and who are filing a stand-alone Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. The new form is dated 6/14/10. This form is now processed through the USCIS Chicago Lockbox facility.
The instructions were revised to broaden the group of petitioners who may file their Form I-130 at the USCIS Chicago Lockbox facility to include those petitioners who live in Canada. These petitions were previously filed at the USCIS Vermont Service Center (VSC). This change also simplified the instructions by providing only one filing address for all petitioners who are filing a stand-alone Form I-130. There is no filing address change if Form I-130 is filed with Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
The USCIS Chicago Lockbox address for filing stand-alone Form I-130 is:
For U.S. Postal Service:
USCIS
P.O. Box 804625
Chicago, IL 60680-4107
For Express mail and courier deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: I-130
131 South Dearborn-3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
Petitioners who reside in a country outside of the United States and Canada must file their Form I-130 at the USCIS office overseas or the U.S. Embassy or consulate having jurisdiction over the area where they live. Detailed guidance can be found in updated form instructions at www.uscis.gov/forms.
The VSC will forward incorrectly filed petitions to the USCIS Chicago Lockbox by mail for 45 days until Sept. 17, 2010. After Sept. 17, 2010 petitions incorrectly filed at the VSC will be returned, with a note to send the petition to the correct location.
Petitioners filing a Form I-130 at a USCIS Lockbox facility may elect to receive an e-mail and/or text message notifying them that their application has been accepted. They must complete an E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (Form G-1145), and attach it to the first page of their petition.
For more information on USCIS programs, visit www.uscis.gov or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. |
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Change of Filing Location for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
08/03/2010 |
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced revised filing instructions for petitioners filing an Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Form I-140). The new form, dated 6/14/10, reflects an overall effort to transition the filing of benefit forms from USCIS Service Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities. Centralizing form and fee filing to a Lockbox environment allows USCIS to provide customers with more efficient and effective initial processing of applications, petitions and fees.
Form I-140 filed alone or together with an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485) should be filed at the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility, or at the USCIS Nebraska or Texas Service Centers, depending on the classification for which the petition is being filed. Forms I-140 for skilled workers (marked “f” in Part 2, Petition Type, of the form) should continue to be submitted to either the Nebraska or to the Texas Service Centers. Forms I-140 that are accompanied by a Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service should also go only to the Nebraska or Texas Service Centers. Beginning on Aug. 3, 2010 all other Form I-140s should be submitted to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility. Detailed guidance can be found in the updated Form I-140 instructions on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov.
If a Service Center receives a Form I-140 that should have gone to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility, they will forward the form, and any other forms filed in the same envelope, to the Dallas Lockbox facility for 45 days until Sept. 17, 2010. After Sept. 17, 2010, petitions improperly filed at the USCIS Service Centers will be returned to the petitioner as improperly filed, with instructions to send the petition to the correct location. USCIS will issue a receipt upon receiving a properly filed Form I-140 in accordance to the revised filing instructions.
Certain Form I-140 petitions may be electronically filed (e-filed) with USCIS. Please visit us at www.uscis.gov for information on who is eligible to e-file this form.
Petitioners filing a Form I-140 at a USCIS Lockbox facility may elect to receive an e-mail and/or text message notifying them that their petition has been accepted. They must complete an E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (Form G-1145), and attach it to the first page of their petition.
For more information on USCIS programs, visit www.uscis.gov or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.
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New USCIS.gov Features Improve Customer Service
Online service updates provide greater case accessibility
08/02/2010 |
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announces today the launch of new web features designed to expand users’ access to their case information. As part of USCIS’s commitment to improve customer service, these enhancements include a new online inquiry tool and tailored case status information, as well as new features for Spanish-speaking customers available at USCIS.gov/espanol.
"We are committed to improving access to case status information and enhancing customer service through these innovative online features," said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. "Expanding services to our Spanish-speaking customers is in response to public feedback and our desire to meet the needs of those we serve."
Customers will now be able to submit an electronic inquiry directly to a USCIS Field Office or Service Center to request case status information if their Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Form I-90) or Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) is outside the posted processing times. This electronic inquiry system should reduce the need for customers to make InfoPass appointments to speak with USCIS representatives in person. Additionally, once the electronic inquiry is received, USCIS now commits to a 15-day customer response, reduced from the previous commitment to respond within 30 days.
Customers can now elect to receive e-mail updates about their case status in Spanish. They may also change their address online in Spanish. These expanded online options will enable USCIS to better interact with the Spanish-speaking segment of the public that it serves.
USCIS continues to advance its customer service enhancements through improved and expanded online services. Last summer, at the direction of President Obama, USCIS completely redesigned USCIS.gov, incorporating both internal and external stakeholder feedback. The redesign of USCIS.gov included the creation of the agency’s first ever Spanish language website.
USCIS strives to be at the forefront of providing improved customer service through one of the most visited websites in the federal government. For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov. |
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New USCIS.gov Features Improve Customer Service
Online services updates provide greater case accessibility
Fact Sheet
08/02/2010 |
Introduction
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched new web features designed to expand users’ access to their case information. As part of USCIS’s commitment to improve customer service, these enhancements include a new online inquiry tool and tailored case status information, as well as new features for Spanish-speaking customers available at USCIS.gov/espanol.
Background
USCIS continues to advance its customer service enhancement goals through improved and expanded online services. Last summer, USCIS responded to President Barack Obama’s call for USCIS to improve its website to allow customers to more easily navigate the USCIS process in the immigration system and keep up-to-date with their case status. The agency completely redesigned USCIS.gov within 90 days, incorporating both internal and external stakeholder feedback. The redesign of USCIS.gov included the creation of the agency’s first ever Spanish language website.
USCIS strives to be at the forefront of providing improved customer service through one of the most visited websites in the federal government.
Website Enhancements
USCIS introduced the following four new features to USCIS.gov on July 30, 2010, as a part of its commitment to continuously improve customers’ access to the agency and give them accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive information about their files and cases.
- Online Inquiry Tool for Select Forms: Customers may now submit an electronic inquiry directly to the appropriate Field Office or Service Center to request a status update if their Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Form I-90) or Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) is outside the posted processing times, rather than calling the toll-free number or making an InfoPass appointment with the local office to obtain the same information. USCIS is committed to responding within 15 days of receiving the electronic inquiry, reduced from the previous commitment to respond within 30 days. This program may be expanded to include other applications and petitions.
- E-mail Notification in Spanish: When customers register to receive e-mail updates on their case status, they can now elect to receive messages in English or Spanish. Until now, all messages had been in English.
- Specific Adjudication Process Steps by Form Type on My Case Status: When customers check their case status online, the process steps they see will now be specific to the petition or application they submitted. Until recently, the website listed seven identical process steps for all forms, even though not all the steps applied to all the forms. With the new feature, process steps are customized for more than 40 form types.
- Change of Address Online in Spanish: Customers will now be able to submit a Change of Address Online in English or Spanish. The service was previously provided only in English.
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