Advance Parole - Applicants are Reminded to File Early

October 19, 2009 - The USCIS has issued a reminder for those intending immigrants seeking to travel that it might be necessary to obtain advance parole prior to departure and to apply early.

Individuals must apply for Advance Parole - permission to renter the United States after traveling abroad if they have:

been granted Temporary Protected Status;
a pending application for adjustment of status to lawful resident;
a pending application for relief under section 203 of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act. (NACARA 203);
a pending asylum application; or
a pending application for legalization.

pdf [Review the Travel Document Announcement]

Form I-601 Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility is Revised

October 21, 2009 - The USCIS has issued a revised Form I-601 for those applying for a waiver of grounds of inadmissibility, including marriage-based hardship waivers. This new form is easier to complete and permits a selection of different waiver application options. It also permits applicants to describe the grounds for a waiver in their own words. In certain instances, applicants may qualify for a waiver of the filing fee and provides instructions on how to qualify for the fee waiver.

pdf [Review the I-601 New Form Announcement]

Filing I-751 Petitions Late or Deportation Or Removal Proceedings

An October 9, 2009 memorandum from the USCIS provides guidance on how I-751 Petition to Remove The Conditions on Residence show be adjudicated in situations involving removal proceedings, late filing of the I-751 and where the alien has filed multiple petitions.

This memorandum addresses how USCIS adjudicators should handle cases in the following situations where conditional residents file an application to remove conditions.

I-751 filed where the alien is the subject of a final removal order
Where one or multiple I-751s applications are filed by an alien who is in removal proceedings
Where an I-751 petition is filed late or outside of the 90 day filing period
How to evaluate “Good Cause” for late-filed I-751s applications
Jointly-filed I-751 Applications
Waiver requests on Form I-751

pdf [Review the Memorandum on late I-751s or in deportation/removal]

ICE Announces 1,000 Workplace Form I-9 Audits

November 19, 2009 - The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it issued 1,000 Notices of Inspections (NOIs) to employers across the country, alerting the businesses that it will audit their hiring records. The audit is focused on ensuring that the employers selected are complying with employment verification laws.

The audits will involve a comprehensive review of Form I-9s which employers are required to complete and retain for new hires along with confirmation of employment eligibility. The audits will also review the employment eligibility documents procured and stored by employers in support of the Form I-9 compliance and documentation requirements.

pdf [Review the News Release Regarding ICE Audits]

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