Recent Announcements
DACA is Backa!
Update: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals 12/10/2020 December 10, 2020 Update: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Dear Stakeholder, The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) is sending this message to let you know that on December 7, 2020 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an update regarding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In accordance with a December 4, 2020 order from a U.S. District Court, effective December 7, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is: Accepting first-time requests for consideration of deferred action under DACA based on the terms of the DACA policy in effect prior to September 5, 2017; Accepting DACA renewal requests based on the terms of the DACA policy in effect prior to September 5, 2017; Accepting applications for advance parole travel documents based on the terms of the DACA policy prior to September 5, 2017; Extending one-year grants of deferred action under DACA to two years; and Extending one-year employment authorization documents under DACA to two years. USCIS has stated that it will take appropriate steps to provide evidence of the one-year extensions of deferred action and employment authorization documents under DACA to individuals who were issued documentation on or after July 28, 2020, with a one-year validity period. DHS noted that it will comply with the judge’s order while it remains in effect, but added that it may seek relief from the order. The CIS Ombudsman will continue to work on requests for case assistance regarding DACA and will share further updates on this topic as appropriate. For additional information, please see the USCIS news alert. |
Covid-19 Office Procedures
So for at least a couple more weeks, we at Drew Law Office, PLLC are under Coronavirus lockdown. That means that we are working from home mostly and some of the weekdays one of us will come to the office to check the mail, swap files we are working on and send out documents by mail or courier. We are forwarding calls right now, show you should be able to reach someone. If not please leave a message and your number. Email is probably the best way to reach us. In the meantime, until we can open back up for regular in-person business - I hope you all stay healthy and keep each other sane in these crazy times. All the best, from us to you. |
After the Injunction: Trump’s ‘Public Charge’ Rule, Explained
Here is a link to an article that explains (kind of) what Trump's expansion of public charge inadmissibility is about and notes that it is not effective at this time because the courts have issued injunctions preventing it from taking effect. Same article in Spanish |
Re-Registration Period Now Open for Hondurans with Temporary Protected Status
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announces today that current beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under Honduras’ designation who want to maintain their status through the effective termination date of Jan. 5, 2020, must re-register between June 5, 2018, and Aug. 6, 2018. Re-registration procedures, including how to renew employment authorization documents, have been published in the Federal Register and on uscis.gov/tps. All applicants must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. Applicants may also request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, at the time of filing Form I-821, or separately at a later date. Both forms are free for download on USCIS’ website at uscis.gov/tps. USCIS will issue new EADs with a Jan. 5, 2020 expiration date to eligible Honduran TPS beneficiaries who timely re-register and apply for EADs. Given the timeframes involved with processing TPS re-registration applications, however, USCIS recognizes that not all re-registrants will receive new EADs before their current EADs expire. Accordingly, USCIS has automatically extended the expiration date on EADs issued under the TPS designation of Honduras for 180 days, through Jan. 1, 2019. This automatic extension includes individuals who have EADs with an expiration date of Jan. 5, 2018, and who applied for a new EAD during the last re-registration period but have not yet received their new EADs. On May 4, 2018, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen announced her determination that the statutory conditions supporting Honduras’ TPS designation on the basis of an environmental disaster are no longer met. Secretary Nielsen made her decision to terminate TPS for Honduras after reviewing country conditions and consulting with appropriate U.S. government agencies. To allow time for an orderly transition, she delayed the effective date of the termination by 18 months from the current expiration date of July 5, 2018. As a result of the delayed effective date, Honduras’ TPS designation will end on Jan. 5, 2020. Hondurans with TPS may wish to consult with qualified immigration attorneys or practitioners about their eligibility for another immigration status or benefit, or whether there is any other action they may want to take regarding their individual immigration circumstances. |
Re-Registration Period Now Open for Temporary Protected Status for Nepal
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that current beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under Nepal’s designation who want to maintain their status through the effective termination date of June 24, 2019, must re-register between May 22, 2018, and July 23, 2018. Re-registration procedures, including how to renew employment authorization documents (EADs), have been published in the Federal Register and on uscis.gov/tps. All applicants must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. Applicants may also request an EAD by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, at the time they file Form I-821, or separately at a later date. Both forms are free to download from the USCIS website at uscis.gov/tps. USCIS will issue new EADs with a June 24, 2019 expiration date to eligible Nepali TPS beneficiaries who timely re-register and apply for EADs. Given the timeframes involved with processing TPS re-registration applications, however, USCIS recognizes that not all re-registrants will receive new EADs before their current EADs expire on June 24, 2018. Accordingly, USCIS has automatically extended the validity of EADs issued and currently valid under the TPS designation of Nepal for 180 days, through Dec. 21, 2018. On April 26, 2018, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen announced that the statutory conditions supporting Nepal’s TPS designation on the basis of an environmental disaster are no longer met and terminating the designation was required by statute. Secretary Nielsen made her decision after reviewing country conditions and consulting with appropriate U.S. government agencies. To allow time for an orderly transition, she delayed the effective date of the termination for 12 months from the current expiration date of June 24, 2018. As a result of the delayed effective date, Nepal’s TPS designation will end on June 24, 2019. |
NHPR New Small Business Loan Program Launched for First-Generation Immigrants in N.H.
NHPR New Small Business Loan Program Launched for First-Generation Immigrants in N.H. The non-profit Regional Economic Development Center is launching a program that will provide business loans to first-generation immigrants in New Hampshire. Called the New Hampshire New Americans Loan Fund, it will offer micro-loans capped at $50,000, with interest rates starting at seven percent. follow the link to the full story at NHPR.org |
TPS for Syrians registration 03/5/2018 to 05/4/2018
Work permits expiring March 31 are automatically extended through Sept. 27 WASHINGTON—Current beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under Syria’s designation who want to maintain their status through Sept. 30, 2019, must re-register between March 5, and May 4, 2018. Re-registration procedures, including how to renew employment authorization documentation, have been published in the Federal Register and on the USCIS website. All applicants must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. Applicants may also request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, when they file Form I-821, or separately at a later date. Both forms are free on USCIS’ website at uscis.gov/tps. USCIS will issue new EADs with a Sept. 30, 2019, expiration date to eligible Syrian TPS beneficiaries who timely re-register and apply for EADs. However, given the timeframes involved with processing TPS re-registration applications, USCIS is automatically extending the validity of EADs with an expiration date of March 31 for 180 days, through Sept. 27. To be eligible for TPS under Syria’s current designation, individuals must have continuously resided in the United States since Aug. 1, 2016, and have been continuously physically present in the United States since Oct. 1, 2016, along with meeting the other eligibility requirements. On Jan. 31, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen announced her determination that the conditions supporting Syria’s TPS designation continue. The secretary made her decision after reviewing country conditions and consulting with appropriate U.S. government agencies. Before the 18-month extension ends, the secretary will review conditions in Syria to determine whether its TPS designation should be extended again or terminated. |
Re-Registration Period Now Open for Salvadorans with Temporary Protected Status
|
Haitians to re-register for TPS between Jan. 18, 2018, and March 19, 2018.
|
Re-Registration Period Now Open for Hondurans with Temporary Protected Status
|