Immigration News Briefs
July immigration raids: all bark and no bite
News outlets reported that Trump's threatened roundup of undocumented immigrant families in mid July, that set migrants in many communities on edge, showed few signs of materializing, the second time rumors of a large-scale immigration enforcement operation failed to result in any significant deportation processes.
Instead, in cities where rumors of mass raids swirled (including Atlanta), many immigrants stayed in their homes, and were informed by community and immigration advocates of how to prepare for raids and what their rights were. In several cities, there were reports of ICE knocking on residents’ doors and no one would answer or allow them entry, as ICE agents cannot forcibly enter a home. There were also nationwide protests against these raids. The July 14 raid operation was reportedly to focus on families who have been sent final orders of removal after failing to appear in court.
Digital Freedom of Information system expands
FIRST, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Immigration Records System, provides documents digitally to requestors who sign up at first.uscis.gov. Users can track requests and download documents. Since May 2018, 77,000 online accounts have been used.
Since June, FOIA requestors with a USCIS online account can submit requests online for their own records. Soon, they will be able to submit online requests for non-A-File material (policies, communications, etc.). Later this year, USCIS online account holders can make requests on behalf of another person.
Visa retrogression may be temporary
Upon the release of the August 2019 Visa Bulletin, applicants anxiously awaiting their priority dates were startled to see many categories had retrogressed several years, including Employment Based categories. Some of the more commonly followed categories are as follows:
In the EB-1 category, final action dates retrogress to July 1, 2016, for all countries of chargeability except for India. The cutoff date for India’s EB-1 category remains at Jan. 1, 2015. The EB-2 category retrogresses to July 1, 2016 for all countries except China, advancing to Jan. 1, 2017, and India, advancing to May 2, 2009.
EB-3 categories for all other countries, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines, and Vietnam also retrogress to July 1, 2016. India retrogresses to Jan. 1, 2006, while China advances to July 1, 2016. Similarly, for the EB-3: Other Workers category, most countries retrogress to July 1, 2016; India retrogresses to Jan. 1, 2006, and China’s remains the same at Nov. 22, 2007.
The Visa Bulletin indicates that the implementation of the above-mentioned dates is expected to be temporary and that every effort will be made to return the Final Action dates to the same as those in the July Visa Bulletin in October 2019, the first month of fiscal year 2020.
APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR August 2019
|
FAMILY |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
01Jul12 |
01Jul12 |
|
2A |
Current |
Current |
|
2B |
01Jan14 |
01Jan14 |
|
3rd |
22Jun07 |
22Jun07 |
|
4th |
15Sep04 |
01Oct06 |
|
EMPLOYMENT |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
01Jan15 |
01Jul16 |
|
2nd |
02May09 |
01Jan17 |
|
3rd |
01Jan06 |
01Jul16 |
|
Other |
01Jan06 |
01Jul16 |
|
4th |
Current |
Current |
|
5th |
15Oct14 |
Current1B |
DATES FOR FILING VISA APPLICATIONS - August 2019
|
FAMILY |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
01Mar13 |
01Mar13 |
|
2A |
01Jun19 |
01Jun19 |
|
2B |
01Sep14 |
01Sep14 |
|
3rd |
22Dec07 |
22Dec07 |
|
4th |
15May05 |
15Dec06 |
|
EMPLOYMENT |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
01Oct17 |
01Sep18 |
|
2nd |
01Jun09 |
Current |
|
3rd |
01Apr10 |
Current |
|
Other |
01Apr10 |
Current |
|
4th |
Current |
Current |
|
5th |
Current |
Current1B |
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
