U Visa Consular Processing: How to Get Qualifying Family...

UVisaConsularProcessing:HowtoGetQualifyingFamilyMemberstotheU.S.andHowtoEffectivelyUseHumanitarianParoleto

ReunifyFamilies

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw 1

July30,2015WorkshopIV,SessionC

NewOrleans,LA

Introductions• EdnaYang

• LegalDirector,AmericanGateways• RocioMolina

• AssociateDirector,NationalImmigrantWomen’sAdvocacyProject

• MercedesLorduy• Co‐Director,VIDALegalAssistanceInc.

LearningObjectivesBytheendofthistraining,youwillbebetterableto:• ExplaintoclientsconsularprocessingforindividualsenteringtheU.S.basedonUvisagrants/DeferredActionStatus(DAS)

• UnderstandandusetheUvisaandDASwaitlistandprocessforprotectionofclients

• UtilizetheparoleprocesstoreunifyfamiliesontheUvisawaitlist

• UsetheI‐929processtoreunifyfamilies

WhendoyouhavetodoconsularprocessingforaUVisa?

HowmanyofyouhavecompletedconsularprocessingapplicationsforUvisaqualifyingfamilymembers/

derivatives?

Whatcountrieswereyourclientsfrom?

QualifyingFamilyMembers/Derivatives

If you, the U Visa applicant (referred to as the) “principal”,are...

Then...

Under 21 years of age You may petition on behalf of your spouse, child(ren), parents, and unmarried siblings under age 18

21 years of age or older You may petition on behalf of your spouse and child(ren).

INA§§101(a)(15)(U)(ii)

Certainfamilymembersof UvisaapplicantwillbeabletoobtainUnonimmigrantstatusasderivativefamilymembers.

ConsularProcessing• ApprovedI‐918A– givingnonimmigrantUstatus• CompleteDS‐160online

– https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

• CompleteVisaApplicationMachineReadableVisa(MRV)Payment– http://mexico.usvisa‐info.com (Mexico)– http://ustraveldocs.com (CentralAmerica)– GotoU.S.ConsulatewebsiteinspecificcountriesandseeprocessforvisapaymentforUvisa

– Zoho documentthroughImmigrationCenterforWomenandChildren(ICWC)website

ConsularProcessing

• Scheduleappointmentforvisainterview– http://mexcio.usvisa‐info.com ‐ forMexico,youneedtoscheduleabiometricsandinterviewappointments

– Consulttheconsulate’swebpageorZohodocumentforspecificprocessingrequirementsbecauseitvariesforeachconsulate

ConsularInterview• Derivativewillreceiveinstructionsonwhattheyneedtobringtotheinterview

• Generally:– Appointmentconfirmation/notice– DS‐160andMRVfeepaymentconfirmation– OriginalI‐918Aapproval– CopyofI‐918andprincipalI‐192approval– OriginalPassport– OriginalBirthCertificateofprincipalandderivative– Marriagecertificate(ifapplicable)– OnepassportstyleifnotuploadedwithDS‐160ornoApplicantService

Center(ASC)appointment– Additionalproofofrelationship

FromVermonttoKentucky• VermontServiceCenter(VSC)approvestheI‐918• U.S.Dept.ofState'sKentuckyConsularCenter(KCC)isresponsibleforcreatinganelectronicrecordofapprovednonimmigrantvisapetitionstoallowtrackingofnonimmigrantvisasbyconsulates

• TheconsulatemustverifytheapprovedpetitionthroughtheKCC'ssystem,knownas"PIMS”

ConsularProcess

VSCapprovesI‐918andsends

noticetoKCCandrepresentative

KCCgetsnotice,andcreatesrecordonPIMStobeaccessedbyconsulates

Readytopayandscheduleconsularinterview;approval

noticesenttoassignedconsulate

ConsularInterview• MakesuretheI‐918AapprovalisinPIMS

– IfnotemailKCCTUVisa@state.gov

• Atinterview,officerwillcheckPIMSandevidenceofrelationship• Ifvisaapproved,willreceiveemailnotificationwithwaybillnumberfordocumentpickupatselectedDHLlocation

• VisaexpirationwillbesameasI‐918Aexpiration.Willusuallybeamultipleentryvisa– Willbemarkedcategory“M”– Givewarningabouttravelformorethan90daysatonetime,orinaggregateof180

• DerivativemusttraveltoU.S.beforethevisaexpires• Derivativecanapplyforemploymentauthorizationdocument(EAD)onceintheUS

CaseScenario#1

YouarehelpingSaraapplyforaUvisa.Saraisthevictimofasexualassault,whichoccurredatherworkplace.Sheisincludingherspouse,Victor,andher4childreninherUvisaapplicationasderivatives.Heroldest,Veronica,isinHondurasandis19yearsold.Heryoungest,Hector,isalsoinHondurasandis5yearsold.HertwootherchildrenareintheU.S.TheUvisaapplicationhasalreadybeenpendingfor11months.

UVisaCap• Only10,000visasperfiscalyear‐ INA214(p)(2)(A)– Derivativeapprovalsdonotcounttowardsthe10,000cap,INA214(p)(2)(B)

• Ifcapisnotmet,awaitlistwillbecreated‐8CFR214.14(d)(2)– Doesnotaccrueunlawfulpresence(ULP)– CanberemovedfromwaitlistandhaveDAS/paroleterminatedatdiscretionofUSCIS,8CFR214.14(d)(3)

DeferredActionStatus• U.S.CitizenshipandNaturalizationServices(USCIS)mailsDASlettertoprincipalsandderivatives

• DASisnot“lawfulstatus”• DAShasnoexpirationdate– validuntilUvisaawardedorDASrevoked

• DASgivesEmploymentAuthorizationeligibility– Category(c)(14)– EADonlyavailabletoapplicantsinsidetheU.S.

IfSara’sUvisaapplicationsareapproved,whocanapplyforDAS?

Whatabouthertwochildrenabroad?

ParoleforUVisasonWaitlist

• Paroleisintheregulations“USCISwillgrantdeferredactionorparoletoU‐1petitionersandqualifyingfamilymemberswhiletheU‐1petitionersareonthewaitinglist.”8CFR214.14(d)(2)

• Processnowissimilartorequestinghumanitarian/publicinterestparole

ParoleRequirements• Whatisthehumanitarianorpublicbenefitreasonforparole?

• Evidenceofanyimmigrationpetitionfiled• FormI‐131

– 2passportstylephotos– $360filingformorfeewaiver

• FormI‐134AffidavitofSupport

Whathappensifaderivativedoesn’tentertheU.S.ontheUVisabeforeit

expires?

CaseScenario#2SarareceivedherUvisaandisnoweligibletoapplyforlawfulpermanentresidency.Shecomestoyouforassistance.ShetellsyouthatsheandVictorhadsomeproblemsandsoshedivorcedhim.Sheisnowre‐marriedtoEdwin.Shealsotellsyouthatherson,Hector(whosefatherisnotVictor),wasunabletoobtainapassportandcouldnotentertheU.S.,eventhoughhisUnonimmigrantstatuswasapproved.Shewantstoapplyforherlawfulpermanentresidency.ShealsowantstohelpEdwinattainsomesortoflawfulstatusandseeifthereisawaytobringHectortotheU.S.SarawasabletogetlegalcustodyofHector,andhenowhasaHonduranpassport.

“Qualifyingfamilymember”:definedat8C.F.R.245.24(a)(2)

• Onlyavailabletofamilymembersofprincipal Unonimmigrants

• OnlyfamilymemberswhohaveneverbeengrantedUnonimmigrantstatusareeligibleforI‐929petition

• IftheprincipalUnonimmigrantisachildunder21yearsofage:– Spouse,parents,andchildren

• IftheprincipalUnonimmigrantisover21yearsofage:– Spousesandchildren

DerivativesNotIncludedinUVisaApplicationStage

• ForqualifyingfamilymembersnotpreviouslyincludedasderivativesattheUvisaapplicationstage(I‐918,SupplementA):– QualifyingfamilymemberscanalsoobtainimmigrationstatusbysubmittingFormI‐929

• ThisprocesstakesplaceatthetimetheprincipalUvisaholderisreadytoapplyforlawfulpermanentresidencyandwillallowsomefamilymemberstoentertheU.S.andadjuststatus,too

EligibilitytoFileI‐929PetitionforQualifyingFamilyMember

• QualifyingfamilymemberneverheldUnonimmigrantstatus

• FamilyrelationshipexistsatthetimeofUvisaholder’sadjustmentandadjudicationoffamilymember’sadjustmentorissuanceofvisa

• QualifyingfamilymemberorprincipalUnonimmigrantwouldsuffer“extremehardship”ifnotallowedtoenterorremaininUSA

• PrincipalUnonimmigranthasadjusted,hasapendingadjustmentapplication,orisconcurrentlyfiling

• Iftheypossessedinformationaboutthecrimeandareaskedtoassist,theydidnotunreasonablyrefusetoprovideassistance

TwoStepProcess

Petitioning for the Family Member using Form I-929

Once Form I-929 is approved, derivative may

apply for AOS/ go to consulate for immigrant visa

EligibilitytoFileI‐929PetitionforQualifyingFamilyMember

• PrincipalUnonimmigrantfilesI‐929withVSC– Maybefiledconcurrentlywiththeprincipal’sI‐485,butcannotbeapproveduntiltheI‐485isapproved

• OnceI‐929isapprovedqualifyingfamilymembermayadjuststatusintheU.S.orgotoaU.S.embassyorconsulateforanimmigrantvisa(IV)– Canobtainworkpermitbasedonpendingadjustmentapplication

EvidenceforI‐929• FormI‐929• Filingfeeof$215orfeewaiverrequest• Proofofpetitioner’sI‐485filingorapproval• Evidenceoffamilyrelationship• EvidenceofextremehardshiptofamilymemberorprincipalUnonimmigrantifdenied– Evidencemayrelatetoextentofabusesuffered,impactoflossofaccesstoU.S.socialjusticesystem,socialpractices,andlikelihoodofharminhomecountry,applicant’sneedforservicesintheU.S.,&ageofapplicant

I‐929– NoAgeOutProvisions

• SiblingsdonotqualifyforI‐929• TherearenoageoutprotectionsforI‐929

– InU.S.– I‐929AND I‐485mustbeapprovedbeforethebeneficiaryturn21

– Ifconsularprocessing,IVmustbeissuedANDbeneficiarymustentertheU.S.beforeturning21

CaseScenario#3

YoumeetwithEdwin,andhetellsyouthathehasbeenarrestedinthepast.Hesayshehasbeenarrestedforassaultin1999,twotimesforDWIin2000and2001,andforshopliftingin2002.

AdmissibilityRequirementsforAdjustmentforBeneficiaryofI‐929Pursuant8C.F.R.245.24(h)(1)(v)

• Beneficiaryisnotrequiredtoestablishthathe/sheisadmissibleunderanyofthegroundssetforthinINA212(a)withtheexceptionofINA212(a)(3)(E)

InadmissibilityandI‐929• Thereisnowaiverapplicationbecausetheonlygroundofinadmissibilityforadjustmentofstatus(AOS)basedonanapprovedI‐929isterrorismgrounds,INA245(m)

• Discretionisatissue,8CFR245.24(h)(1)(v)–– Mitigatingequitiesforadversefactors– Seriousadversefactorsmayrequiredemonstratingexceptionalandextremelyunusualhardship

– Hardshipmaybeinsufficientdependingonthegravityandnatureoftheadversefactor

ApprovedI‐929

• Canusetheapprovaltoapplytoadjuststatustolegalpermanentresidency(LPR)

• CanusetheapprovaltoconsularprocessforafamilymemberasanLPR

JurisdictionforAdjudicationofI‐929&AdjustmentofStatusforBeneficiary

• USCIShassolejurisdictionoverallI‐929,PetitionsforQualifyingFamilyMembersofPrincipalUnonimmigrants,pursuantto8C.F.R.245.24(h)(2)

• USCIShassolejurisdictionoverallI‐485,applicationsforAOSfiledunderINAsection245(m),pursuanttoC.F.R.245.24(f)

AdjustmentofStatusbasedonApprovedI‐929

• FormI‐485• Filingfees($985,$85)orfeewaiver• FormG‐325A• Medicalexamcompletedbyacivilsurgeon• Twopassportstylephotos• I‐929approvalandI‐485approvalforpetitioner• Applicant'sbirthcertificate• Copyofallofthepagesoftheapplicant’spassport

ConsularProcessingbasedonapprovedI‐929

• Processisthroughnationalvisacenter(NVC)likeIVProcess– PayIVvisafees($379forDS‐260)– CompleteDS‐260online

• Noaffidavitofsupportneeded‐ 9FAM41.85N.10• AllotherIVrequirements(medical,policecertificate,etc.)mustbemet

• Medicalexam

CaseScenario#4

Sarahtellsyouthatherson,Hector,hashadsomeproblemsinHonduras.Hehasbeenarrestedforshopliftingtwice.Sheisnotsurewhathappenedinthecases,buthermother,whoistakingcareofHector,saidthathewasnotsenttojail.

InadmissibilityandI‐929:WhenFamilyMemberAbroad

• TheFAMandDOSregulationsaresilentregardinginadmissibilityissuesandwhetherINA245(m)control

• FAM referstofactthatderivativesmustbeadmissible andsaysthatI‐929applicantsarefollowtojoinderivatives andotherwisetreatedasIVapplicants,9FAM41.85N.9andN.10

ConsularInterviewProcess

• Thelogisticsandstepsinvolvedintheconsularinterviewprocessvariescountrytocountry!!– Youmustcarefullyreviewguidancepostedontheindividualconsulate’swebsitetoprepareyourclientfortheconsularIVinterview

– SeelinkonNVCwebsitetoallconsulatesat:http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3830.html

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw

GeneralProcessforIVConsularInterview

• Theprocessdifferscountrytocountry!• Generalstepstoprocess:

– Applicantcompletesmedicalexamatconsulate’smedicalclinic(usuallyneartheconsulate&usuallyafewdayspriortoconsularinterview)

• Tip:Applicantshouldbringcompletevaccinationrecord– Applicantattendsconsularinterview:

• Applicant(s)presentmedicalexaminationreportsfromconsularclinic,twoadditionalpassport‐stylephotos,andadditionaldocumentationprovingfamilyrelationship

• Officerinterviewsapplicantre:familyrelationship,admissibility,andcompletedocumentation,andapprovesordeniesImmigrantVisa/stoApplicant(s)orissuesrequestforevidence(RFE)

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw

WhatHappensafterIVisApproved?• ConsulatehandstheIVprintedintoapplicant’spassport,alongwitha

sealedpacketforCustomsandBorderPatrol(CBP),andapplicant’soriginalcivildocumentstotheapplicantor sendsitviacourier(seeconsulatewebsiteforprocess)

• TheIVusuallyisvalidfor6months,butapplicantshoulddoublechecktheexpirationdateprintedonthevisa

• TheIVapplicantmustpresenthimselfatCBPinspectionpoint(e.g.,borderbridgeorairport)beforeIVexpires‐– Thisprocessmaytakeafewhours,especiallyatabridgeontheMexicanborder

• OnceinspectedandadmittedtoU.S.byCBP,theapplicantautomaticallyconvertstoLPRstatus

• USCISnowrequireson‐linepaymentof$165foracardproductionfeebeforemailingtheLPRcard totheapplicant’sU.S.addresslistedontheDS‐230/260(English‐onlyoptiononUSCISwebsiteatwww.uscis.gov/uscis‐elis ‐requirescardorcheck)

41NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw

HowtoRespondtoanAdverseConsularDecision

• Applicant&petitionershouldbepreparedtoasktospeaktosupervisorifconsularofficerisdoingsomethingimproperandshouldbeinstructedtoimmediatelywritedownwhathappened

• YoucanlaterseekanadvisoryopinionfromtheStateDepartmentincaseoflegalerrorbyconsulateifalegalinterpretationisindispute– Representativeshoulde‐mailrequesttolegalnet@state.gov

– Expectseveralmonthsdelayforresponse• CanseekassistancefromCongresspersonforinquiryorletterofsupport

IVDenialsbyConsulate• Nojudicialreview• Applicantmustbegivenwrittennoticeregardinggroundsofineligibilityforlegalbasisofdenial‐ 22CFR42.81(b)

• Applicantisusuallygiventheopportunitytoovercomeineligibilityanddenialshallbereconsideredif,within1year,applicantpresentsevidencetoovercome‐ 22CFR42.81(b)&(c)

• ApplicantmayrequestreviewoflegalissuefromVisaOfficeAdvisoryOpinionsDivision(Legalnet)‐22CFR41.121(d)

TechnicalAssistanceandMaterials

• PowerPointpresentationsandmaterialsforthisconferenceatwww.niwap.org/go/NOLA2015

• NIWAPTechnicalAssistance:– Call(202)274‐4457– E‐mailniwap@wcl.american.edu

• WebLibrary:www.niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu

Questions

Evaluations

Thankyou!

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,American

UniversityWashingtonCollege of Law

THIS PROJECT WAS SUPPORTED BY GRANT NO. 2013-TA-AX-K009 AWARDED BY THE OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE OPINIONS, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION/PROGRAM/EXHIBITION ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR(S) AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.

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