As of December 12, 2022, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has updated its policy manual to provide twenty four month automatic extensions to Green Card expirations to Lawful Permanent Residents (“LPRs”) applying for naturalization when they properly file an N-400, Application for Naturalization. The automatic extension applies to those LPRs filing N-400s on or after the 12th of December 2022.
Read moreEnsconced in Limestone Caves, Naturalization Applications Backlogged
Since 1944, The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) has created Administrative Files or “A-files” containing all records of any active immigration case pertaining to foreign nationals not yet naturalized to become US citizens. Without an A-file created during the immigration and inspection process an individual cannot be granted permanent residency or citizenship. These files are housed in storage facilities known as Federal Records Centers (“FRCs”) which are located underground beneath the administration of the National Archives and Records Administration (“NARA”). FRCs are made up of “miles-long networks of man-made limestone caves built beneath the Kansas City metro area” and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FRCs have been either temporarily closed or operating under limited capacity to ensure the safety of workers. In fact, The Wall Street Journal reported that NARA said in a statement that it has kept staff levels at 25% at its Kansas City facility because it is “an area of high transmission.”
Read moreUSCIS Will Revert Back to the 2008 Version of the Naturalization Civics Test Effective March 1, 2021
On February 22, 2021, US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced plans to revert to the 2008 Version of the naturalization civics test effective March 1, 2021, after the Trump administration, in late 2020, implemented a new version of the test for naturalization applications filed on or after December 1, 2020. Those who file for naturalization after March 1, 2021 will be given the 2008 test to which the Biden Administration is reverting. However, those who filed or will file between December 1, 2020 and March 1, 2021 will be given the option of taking either the 2020 Trump era version or 2008 version of the test.
Read moreUSCIS Announces Revised Naturalization Civics Test Effective December 1, 2020
US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced plans to implement a revised version of the naturalization civics test that will be effective for those who apply for naturalization on and after December 1, 2020. The civics test is one of the statutory requirements for naturalization. The revised test includes “more questions that test the applicant’s understanding of U.S. history and civics, in line with the statutory requirements, and covers a variety of topics that provide the applicant with more opportunities to learn about the United States as part of the test preparation process.”
Read moreUSCIS Cancels Furlough of Nearly 70% of Workforce
US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) this week announced that the agency will cancel an administrative furlough of more than 13,000 employees that was scheduled to begin August 30. In a statement, USCIS said that they expect to be able to maintain operations through the end of fiscal year 2020 (on September 30), although Joseph Edlow, USCIS Deputy Director for Policy, noted that “averting this furlough comes at a severe operational cost that will increase backlogs and wait times across the board, with no guarantee we can avoid future furloughs.” He added: “A return to normal operating procedures requires congressional intervention to sustain the agency through fiscal year 2021.”
Read moreUSCIS Preparing to Reopen Some Offices and Resume Public Services on June 4
US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced they are continuing to prepare some domestic offices to reopen and resume non-emergency public services on or after June 4, 2020. Previously, on March 18, USCIS temporarily suspended routine in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers (ASCs) to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). USCIS announced in April they were planning on reopening offices in June. The latest information on the status of individual offices can be checked on the office closures page at USCIS.gov.
Read moreThe New York Times: “Supreme Court Allows Trump’s Wealth Test for Green Cards”
On Monday this week the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision to stay the current nationwide injunction of the “public charge” final rule. With this decision, the administration can implement the “public charge’ final rule for now while the underlying litigation continues, except in Illinois, which has a state-specific injunction. The “public charge” final rule will make it more difficult for immigrants to receive Green Cards if they’ve ever used, or are seen as “likely to use,” public benefits such as food stamps, Section 8 housing vouchers, and Medicaid, among others. The rule arguably redefines the “historic meaning” of the term “public charge,” which will likely result in the denial of applications based on “a bureaucrat’s suspicions that they could use welfare.”
Read moreMiami Herald: “Here are five USCIS changes that will impact legal immigrants in the U.S. in 2020”
US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under the direction of the Trump administration, proposed a number of key immigration changes in 2018 and 2019, some of which are likely to go into effect this year. These changes, many designed to slow or complicate legal immigration, could have a significant impact on the lives of millions of immigrants in the US. Here are some changes to look out for in 2020:
Read moreNation Made Strong
Newsweek: “Naturalized U.S. Judge Officiates Naturalization Ceremony For 350 People In Texas Border Town.”
On June 2, 2019, Marina Garcia Marmolejo, a district judge for the US Southern District, presided over a naturalization ceremony for 350 people who became citizens in Laredo, a Texas border town. The ceremony was one of 110 ceremonies nationwide that combined saw about 7,500 new citizens take their oaths.
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