IMMIGRATION FAQs
Obama considering executive action on immigration
President Obama is considering a big move which White House officials have been suggesting will come by the end of this summer—halting deportations for as many as five million people who entered the United States illegally and authorizing them to remain legally in this country, at least temporarily (deferred action). Those given legal status would have to be closely related to U.S. citizens, be residents of the United States for a few years, and have no criminal records.
He has already ordered a halt to deportations of young illegal immigrants who came to the United States with their parents, which was called DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The new approach could expand the legalization to include a large number of older people.
The immigration issue has grown more urgent, because of a humanitarian crisis caused by the influx of tens of thousands of unaccompanied young people from Central America across the U.S. border. In addition, Congress has blocked so much of the President’s legislation that it is quite possibly the only way that he can enact any changes to Immigration policies.
Overnight delivery for USCIS customers
USCIS (U.S. Customs and Immigration Services) customers can use the overnight delivery or courier service of their choice to receive certain documents. This option provides greater customer service by allowing you to select your preferred delivery service provider to receive documents such as approval and denial notices, requests for evidence, and most travel documents.
To ensure your overnight delivery requests are not delayed, please remember the following tips:
- Include a prepaid air bill when you submit your application, petition, or response to a request for evidence. The best way to avoid delivery errors is to provide a prepaid shipping label obtained directly from the delivery service. This will avoid the need to write in an account number. Enter your name in both the “to” and “from” fields on the air bill.
- Never list USCIS as the sender and do not mark “bill to sender.”
- Pay all delivery costs in advance and include the prepaid air bill with your submission.
- If the delivery costs are not paid in full, USCIS will send the documents to you by regular U.S. mail.
H-4 EAD rule update
During a public teleconference in August, USCIS Director Leon Rodriguez provided a brief update on the status of the proposed rule to make certain H-4 spouses eligible for employment authorization. Director Rodriguez could not provide any specifics, but stated that the USCIS is working diligently to review the large number of "thoughtful comments" submitted by stakeholders in relation to this proposed rule change. The director stressed that he understood just how important this rule change would be to families, and said the USCIS is trying to complete the review process as quickly as possible.
VISA PREFERENCE NUMBERS FOR September 2014
|
FAMILY |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
01May07 |
01May07 |
|
2A |
01Jan13 |
01Jan13 |
|
2B |
01Sep07 |
01Sep07 |
|
3rd |
15Nov03 |
15Nov03 |
|
4th |
01Jan02 |
01Jan02 |
|
EMPLOYMENT |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
Current |
Current |
|
2nd |
01May09 |
Current |
|
3rd |
08Nov03 |
01Apr11 |
|
Other |
08Nov03 |
01Apr11 |
|
4th |
Current |
Current |
|
5th |
Current |
Current1B |
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