The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the Department of Homeland Security component overseeing lawful immigration to the U.S. See USCIS website.The USCIS took over many administrative functions formerly carried out by the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. USCIS requires in-person interviews for employment-based immigrant applicants and in September the USCIS Ombudsman outlined expanded protocols for new applicants. According to the USCIS, “[t]his change complies with U.S. Executive Order 13780, ‘Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,’ and is part of the agency’s comprehensive strategy to further improve the detection and prevention of fraud and further enhance the integrity of the immigration system.”
Effective October 1, interviews will be scheduled by field offices for every applicant who has filed for a “green card” (Form I-485: Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) after March 6, 2017. Notices will be sent to both the applicant and the representing attorney. If additional evidence is needed to make a determination, USCIS will request the same prior to the interview. At the interview, officers will review I-485 questions, eligibility criteria, work experience, and educational experience. Additionally, officers will confirm bona fide relationships of family members.
Although the USCIS has increased staffing and predicts the additional new interview requirements will have only a small impact on processing times, Ally Law member firm Varnum states processing times have been substantially increased in 2017 for all applications. If you or your employees are filing for a Green Card, meet with your Ally Law member firm immigration law attorneys to make sure you are compliant with the current rules and regulations – under the current U.S. administration these rules have been changing – and obtain legal advice on the most efficient way to process your request for immigration status. For more information about our services in this area, contact us at yourally@ally-law.com.
Click here for the complete article by Kimberly A. Clarke and Nina A. Thekdi of Ally Law member Varnum, LLP.
