Parolees Can Now File Form I-765 Online

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that certain parolees can now file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online.

Most individuals paroled into the United States for urgent humanitarian or significant public benefit purposes under INA 212(d)(5) are eligible to seek employment authorization under category (c)(11). Please see the Form I-765 instructions (PDF, 810.34 KB) for more information.

Effective immediately, applicants for employment authorization under category (c)(11) may file Form I-765 online, with limited exceptions. Applicants seeking a waiver of the filing fee or those eligible for a fee exemption, such as Afghan nationals paroled through Operation Allies Welcome and filing an initial Form I-765, must continue to submit Form I-765 by mail. Whether applications are submitted by mail or electronically, USCIS is committed to employing technological solutions and efficiencies to reduce processing times.

Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/parolees-can-now-file-form-i-765-online

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

USCIS Updates Interpretation of “Under Honorable Conditions” for Military Naturalization

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is publishing an update to its Policy Manual to clarify that a current or former service member who received an uncharacterized discharge may be eligible for naturalization under sections 328 and 329 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA).

Previously, USCIS had interpreted the requirement for a separation “under honorable conditions” in INA 328 and INA 329 to require a separation characterized as either Honorable or General-Under Honorable Conditions. This policy guidance (PDF, 340.22 KB) changes the USCIS interpretation of “under honorable conditions” to encompass Uncharacterized discharges as well as Honorable and General-Under Honorable Conditions discharges.

Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-updates-interpretation-of-under-honorable-conditions-for-military-naturalization Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

Information on Form I-589 Intake and Processing Delays

USCIS is currently experiencing delays in issuing receipts for Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal. Due to these delays, you may not receive a receipt notice in a timely manner after you properly file your Form I-589. For purposes of the asylum one-year filing deadline, affirmative asylum interview scheduling priorities, and Employment Authorization Document eligibility based on a pending asylum application, your filing date will still be the date that we received your properly filed Form I-589 (not the date we processed it). If you did not properly file your application, we will reject it and note any deficiencies in your filing. If you do not receive your receipt notice in a timely manner, please do not submit multiple Forms I-589, as this may further delay your case.

Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/information-on-form-i-589-intake-and-processing-delays

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.