Immigration News

November 2, 2016

USCIS Teleconference – Fee Rule Engagement with USCIS Director León Rodríguez – 11/2/16

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be holding a stakeholder teleconference on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 between 3:30 to 4:30pm (Eastern). The subject of the event will be the “Fee Rule Engagement” and will include Director Rodríguez introduction and a Q&A session. Director Rodríguez will discuss the final rule published in the Federal Register with USCIS’ new fee schedule which will take effect December 23, 2016.

Event Information:

DATE: Wednesday, November 2, 2016

October 31, 2016

USCIS Immigration Filing Fees to Increase

by Kellie N. Lego

USCIS has raised its immigration filing fees effective December 23, 2016. Applications and petitions postmarked or filed on or after December 23, 2016, must include these new fees. Please note that USCIS will reject your submission if the fees are not correct!

New USCIS’ fees effective December 23, 2016

FORM	TITLE	New Fee($)
G–1041	Genealogy Index Search Request	65
G–1041A	Genealogy Records Request (Copy from Microfilm)	65
G–1041A	Genealogy Records Request (Copy from Textual Record)	65
I–90	Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card	455
I-102	Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document	455
I-129/129CW	Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker	460
I-129F	Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)	535
I–130	Petition for Alien Relative	535
I–131/I-131A	Application for Travel Document	575
I–140	Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker	700
I–191	Application for Advance Permission to Return to Unrelinquished Domicile	930
I–192	Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant	585/930*
I-193	Application for Waiver of Passport and/or Visa	585
I-212	Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the U.S. After Deportation or Removal	930
I-290B	Notice of Appeal or Motion	675
I-360	Petition for Amerasian Widow(er) or Special Immigrant	435
I-485	Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status	1,140
I-485	Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (certain applicants under the age of 14 years)	750
I-526	Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur	3,675
I-539	Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	370
I-600/600A	Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative/Application for Advance Petition Processing of Orphan Petition	775
I-601	Application for Waiver of Ground of Excludability	930
I-601A	Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver	630
I-612	Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (Under Section 212(e) of the INA, as Amended)	930
I-687	Application for Status as a Temporary Resident under Section 245A of the Immigration and Nationality Act	1,130
I-690	Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility	715
I-694	Notice of Appeal of Decision	890
I-698	Application to Adjust Status From Temporary to Permanent Resident (Under Section 245A of the INA)	1,670
I-751	Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence	595
I-765	Application for Employment Authorization	410
I-800/800A	Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative/Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country	775
I-800A Supp. 3	Request for Action on Approved Form I-800A	385
I-817	Application for Family Unity Benefits	600
I-824	Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition	465
I-829	Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions	3,750
I-910	Application for Civil Surgeon Designation	785
I-924	Application for Regional Center Designation Under the Immigrant Investor Program	17,795
I-924A	Annual Certification of Regional Center	3,035
I-929	Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant	230
N-300	Application to File Declaration of Intention	270
N-336	Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings	700
N-400	Application for Naturalization	640
N-470	Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes	355
N-565	Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document	555
N-600/N-600K	Application for Certification of Citizenship/Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate under Section 322	1,170
	USCIS Immigrant Fee	220
	Biometric Services Fee	85

Note:

* The fee for Form I-192 will remain $585 when filed with and processed by CBP

** Certain forms require Biometric Services Fee, add $85

For further details please review the USCIS News Release, “USCIS Announces Final Rule Adjusting Immigration Benefit Application and Petition Fees“.

Source of Information:
USCIS.gov, 10/24/16, News Release:
USCIS Announces Final Rule Adjusting Immigration Benefit Application and Petition Fees

October 27, 2016

Economic Power of New Americans (Update) – Michigan, Minnesota & Mississippi

by Kellie N. Lego

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) has released all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the United States (Overall), for a total of fifty-two updated fact sheets with accompanying info graphics and other details. These fact sheets highlight the demographic and economic impact of Immigrants, Asians and Latinos in each state. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy division of the American Immigration Council (AIC).

With national immigration policy being discussed as part of Presidential Elections, we thought that it would be a good time to provide some statistics on the Immigrant population in the United States as provided by this IPC research. Once a week we will be posting a blog with information on three states at a time. This week we will highlight; Michigan, Minnesota & Mississippi.

The IPC has compiled research which shows that Immigrants, Latinos and Asians are an essential part of each of these states’ economy, labor force and tax base. Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers and entrepreneurs. With the nation working towards economic recovery, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of each of these states.

October 26, 2016

Statement by Secretary Johnson on Southwest Border Security – 10/17/16

by Kellie N. Lego

On October 17, 2016, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Jeh Johnson released a statement on Southwest Border Security. He states that in Fiscal Year 2016 (FY2016) the total apprehensions by Border Patrol on the U.S.’s southwest border was 408,870. This total represents an increase over FY2015’s number but is lower than FY2014 and FY2013. DHS feels that border apprehensions are an indicator of total attempts to cross the border illegally. The data indicates that the demographics of illegal migration using the U.S.’s southern border have changed with fewer Mexican Nationals and single adults attempting to illegally cross the border and more Central America families and unaccompanied children fleeing poverty and violence.

Southwest Border Apprehensions – FY2013 – FY2016

Category	FY2013	FY2014	FY2015	FY2016
Unaccompanied children	38,759	68,541	39,970	59,692
Family members	14,855	68,445	39,838	77,674
Individuals	360,783	342,385	251,525	271,504
Total	414,397	479,371	331,333	408,870

For further details please review the DHS Press Release, “Statement by Secretary Johnson on Southwest Border Security “.

Source of Information:
DHS.gov, 10/17/16, Press Release:
Statement by Secretary Johnson on Southwest Border Security

October 19, 2016

Economic Power of New Americans (Update) – Maine, Maryland & Massachusetts

by Kellie N. Lego

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) has released all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the United States (Overall), for a total of fifty-two updated fact sheets with accompanying info graphics and other details. These fact sheets highlight the demographic and economic impact of Immigrants, Asians and Latinos in each state. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy division of the American Immigration Council (AIC).

With national immigration policy being discussed as part of Presidential Elections, we thought that it would be a good time to provide some statistics on the Immigrant population in the United States as provided by this IPC research. Once a week we will be posting a blog with information on three states at a time. This week we will highlight; Maine, Maryland & Massachusetts.

The IPC has compiled research which shows that Immigrants, Latinos and Asians are an essential part of each of these states’ economy, labor force and tax base. Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers and entrepreneurs. With the nation working towards economic recovery, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of each of these states.

October 12, 2016

Economic Power of New Americans (Update) – Kansas, Kentucky & Louisiana

by Kellie N. Lego

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) has released all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the United States (Overall), for a total of fifty-two updated fact sheets with accompanying info graphics and other details. These fact sheets highlight the demographic and economic impact of Immigrants, Asians and Latinos in each state. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy division of the American Immigration Council (AIC).

With national immigration policy being discussed as part of Presidential Elections, we thought that it would be a good time to provide some statistics on the Immigrant population in the United States as provided by this IPC research. Once a week we will be posting a blog with information on three states at a time. This week we will highlight; Kansas, Kentucky & Louisiana.

The IPC has compiled research which shows that Immigrants, Latinos and Asians are an essential part of each of these states’ economy, labor force and tax base. Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers and entrepreneurs. With the nation working towards economic recovery, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of each of these states.

October 4, 2016

Economic Power of New Americans (Update) – Illinois, Indiana & Iowa

by Kellie N. Lego

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) has released all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the United States (Overall), for a total of fifty-two updated fact sheets with accompanying info graphics and other details. These fact sheets highlight the demographic and economic impact of Immigrants, Asians and Latinos in each state. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy division of the American Immigration Council (AIC).

With national immigration policy being discussed as part of Presidential Elections, we thought that it would be a good time to provide some statistics on the Immigrant population in the United States as provided by this IPC research. Once a week we will be posting a blog with information on three states at a time. This week we will highlight; Illinois, Indiana & Iowa.

The IPC has compiled research which shows that Immigrants, Latinos and Asians are an essential part of each of these states’ economy, labor force and tax base. Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers and entrepreneurs. With the nation working towards economic recovery, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of each of these states.

September 28, 2016

Economic Power of New Americans (Update) – Connecticut, Delaware & Florida

by Kellie N. Lego

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) has released all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the United States (Overall), for a total of fifty-two updated fact sheets with accompanying info graphics and other details. These fact sheets highlight the demographic and economic impact of Immigrants, Asians and Latinos in each state. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy division of the American Immigration Council (AIC).

With national immigration policy being discussed as part of Presidential Elections, we thought that it would be a good time to provide some statistics on the Immigrant population in the United States as provided by this IPC research. Once a week we will be posting a blog with information on three states at a time. This week we will highlight; Connecticut, Delaware & Florida.

The IPC has compiled research which shows that Immigrants, Latinos and Asians are an essential part of each of these states’ economy, labor force and tax base. Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers and entrepreneurs. With the nation working towards economic recovery, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of each of these states.

September 27, 2016

Updated Service Center Processing Times (7/31/16) – New Addition of YSC

by Kellie N. Lego

Processing Time reports for all of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Service Centers were released on 9/15/16 with processing dates as of 7/31/16.

If you filed a petition with one of the Service Centers, please review the links below to determine the applicable processing time associated with your particular case.

California Service Center (CSC)

September 22, 2016

Updated Service Center Processing Times (7/31/16)

by Kellie N. Lego

Processing Time reports for all of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Service Centers were released on 9/15/16 with processing dates as of 7/31/16.

If you filed a petition with one of the Service Centers, please review the links below to determine the applicable processing time associated with your particular case.

California Service Center (CSC)