CIS OFFICES CLOSED TIL JUNE 4th.

CIS OFFICES CLOSED TIL JUNE 4th. 

On March 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services temporarily suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers (ASCs) to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). USCIS is readying offices to reopen on or after June 4. Employees in these offices are continuing to perform mission-essential services that do not require face-to-face contact with the public while the offices are closed.

While offices are temporarily closed, USCIS will continue to provide limited emergency in-person services. Please call the USCIS Contact Center for assistance with emergency services.
USCIS field offices will send notices to applicants and petitioners with scheduled appointments and naturalization ceremonies impacted by the extended temporary closure. USCIS asylum offices will send interview cancellation notices and automatically reschedule asylum interviews. When the interview is rescheduled, asylum applicants will receive a new interview notice with the new time, date and location of the interview.

When USCIS again resumes operations for in-person services, USCIS will automatically reschedule ASC appointments due to the temporary office closure. Individuals will receive a new appointment letter in the mail.

Those who had InfoPass or other appointments must reschedule through the USCIS Contact Center once field offices are open to the public again. Please check to see if the respective office has been reopened before calling the Contact Center.

Please also visit uscis.gov/coronavirus for updates. For the latest information on the status of an office, visit https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings.

DONALD TRUMP’S LIMITED IMMIGRATION “FREEZE”:

DONALD TRUMP’S LIMITED IMMIGRATION “FREEZE”: 

On April 20, 2020, Donald Trump tweeted that he will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States as a result of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

President Trump signed the order on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

Very limited effect of Order.

·       There will be NO complete halt on all immigration into the United States.

What it covers and what it doesn’t cover?

• The freeze applies to only persons OUTSIDE the U.S.  So all petitions for persons in the U.S. are not covered by this.
• Spousal immigrant visas are EXCLUDED from the order. That means all petitions for wives and husbands of U.S. citizens are not covered by this freeze either—even if outside the USA.
• Children under 21 immigrant visas are EXCLUDED
• The freeze doesn’t affect Legal Permanent Residents; they would still be eligible for citizenship
• The freeze does NOT apply to U visas for victims of crimes
• It doesn't affect asylum/refugees whose cases can go forward.
• It the alien already has a visa issued, they should be able to enter the U.S., as well as their family members.
• • It only lasts 60 days although it can be renewed.

When does it take effect?

It takes effect tonight, April 23, 2020 at 8:59 pm PST.

Facts about Closures Announced Previously.

·       Routine visa services at all U.S. embassies and consular posts around the world have been suspended as of March 20, 2020. U.S. embassies and consulates continue to provide urgent and emergency visa services as resources allow. The Department of State (DOS) intends to continue to process visa applications for farm workers and medical professionals assisting with COVID-19.

·       U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has temporarily suspended in-person services through at least May 3, 2020, including in-person interviews and biometrics processing. USCIS staff will continue to perform duties that do not involve contact with the public and will provide emergency services for limited in-person situations.

·       The U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico are closed for non-essential travel until at least May 20, 2020.

·       With some exceptions, the entry of individuals who were present in China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the U.K., and Ireland, during the 14-day period before their attempted entry into the United States has also been suspended.

·       Despite these limitations, USCIS continues to accept and process applications and petitions, including applications requesting an extension or change of status.

For questions about these and other immigration issues, please contact us for a consultation, call: (707)433-2060 or (415) 777-4445.

H2A VISA EXPANDED DURING COVID-19 CRISIS.

H2A VISA EXPANDED DURING COVID-19 CRISIS. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued a rule to provide for expanded availability of non-immigrant visa agricultural worker known as the H-2A visa.

Under this temporary final rule, all H-2A petitioners with a valid temporary labor certification can start employing certain foreign workers who are currently in valid H-2A status in the United States immediately after USCIS receives the H-2A petition, but no earlier than the start date of employment listed on the petition.

Additionally, USCIS is temporarily amending its regulations to allow H-2A workers to stay beyond the three-year maximum allowable period of stay in the United States. These temporary changes will encourage and facilitate the lawful employment of foreign temporary and seasonal agriculture workers during the current COVID-19 national emergency.

The temporary final rule is effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register. If the new petition is approved, the H-2A worker will be able to stay in the United States for a period of time not to exceed the validity period of the Temporary Labor Certification. DHS will issue a new temporary final rule in the Federal Register to amend the termination date in the event DHS determines that circumstances demonstrate a continued need for the temporary changes to the H-2A regulations.

The H-2A nonimmigrant classification applies to alien workers seeking to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature in the United States, usually lasting no longer than one year, for which able, willing and qualified U.S. workers are not available. In fiscal year 2019, USCIS processed 15,483 H-2A petitions.

COVID-19 UPDATE: ASYLUM OFFICE TO REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL MAY 4, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE: ASYLUM OFFICE TO REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL MAY 4, 2020 

The San Francisco Asylum Office will remain closed until May 4th, unless there is a need to extend it longer. All asylum interviews scheduled during that period will be cancelled and applicants and their representatives should be receiving cancellation notices in a week or so.

During this ongoing public closure, the San Francisco Asylum Office will have staff responding to phone and email inquiries. Representatives with case-specific questions or concerns should feel free to inquire directly with the asylum office.

The new San Francisco Asylum Office phone lines are: (415) 865-3586 and (415) 865-3587. For phone inquiries, leave a voicemail with your name, client's A#, and callback phone number.