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10/28/2020 – Firm News: IMMIGRATION – ELECTION EDITION

Firm News 10/28/2020

UPDATE: Our Manhattan and Peekskill Offices are open, and we expect to reopen our Brooklyn Office in the near future. We are available to meet with you in-person, on the phone, or via video conference, using Zoom or Skype. All in-person meetings must be scheduled in advance and must follow our office policies and procedures in wake of COVID-19. Your safety and the safety of our staff remains our top priority. Thank you for your patience.

Pre-Election Edition

This is a special pre-election edition of our firm’s newsletter that deals specifically with the immigration ramifications of the upcoming election.  The purpose of this notice is to inform you about USCIS and immigration-related matters, and how next week’s election will impact the law and immigrants living in, or hoping to immigrate to the United States. Our general firm newsletter will be sent separately this week.

 USCIS and Immigration Matters

What is the potential impact of the 2020 presidential election on United States Immigration Laws? The difference in the candidates’ positions on this complicated and combative issue could not be more stark. If you watched last week’s final debate, you were treated to a small taste of those substantial differences. Below is a summary of the candidates plans as they stand at the present time.

Click the link or image below to compare:

The Trump Plan vs. The Biden Plan

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Biden’s Immigration Vision: 
“Biden said if he’s elected, within 100 days he’s going to direct Congress to craft a legislative pathway to citizenship for more than 11 million undocumented people living in the U.S. Biden has released two immigration policies, in which the first portion would undo all the Trump administration policies, such as family separations, and end detention centers for children. The second part would work to provide a path for citizenship.”

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Three Major Immigration Issues Discussed During Presidential Debate by Managing Partner, Conrad E. Pollack

Agency Updates:

  • EOIR Operational Status: In New York, the Broadway office location is open for filings only. The Federal Plaza and Varick offices are open for filings and for detained hearings only. Hearings in non-detained cases at courts without an announced date are postponed through, and including, November 13, 2020, this includes New York City Immigration Courts.
  • Actualización del Estado Operativo de EOIR: Como se anunció previamente, ciertos tribunales de inmigración han reanudado las audiencias no detenidas. Las audiencias en los casos no detenidos en los tribunales sin una fecha anunciada se posponen hasta el 13 de noviembre de 2020, incluidos los tribunales de inmigración de la ciudad de Nueva York.

Please note that as of this date, the November Visa Bulletin has NOT yet been published or distributed. It should be coming soon. 

Visa Bulletin: October 2020
To view the October 2020 Visa Bulletin from the U.S. Department of State, please click here.

Visa Bulletin: September 2020
To view the August 2020 Visa Bulletin from the U.S. Department of State, please click here.

ICE Update
Do you know what to do if ICE comes to your door? KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! Please keep and share these Know Your Rights cards that are available in many different languages: ENGLISHSPANISHBENGALIARABICCHINESEHAITIAN CREOLEPORTUGUESE, and SOMALI.

Changes to Asylum Law
New EOIR rule bars asylum applicants from receiving asylum if they’ve been charged with or convicted of, amongst others, any DWI or any final order of protection for domestic violence, even if no conviction resulted. The rule is effective on November 20, 2020.

DOL’s new rule affecting the H-1B and the permanent labor certification programs became effective on 10/8/2020
The DOL issued a rule recalculating the prevailing wage levels applicable to the H-1B and the PERM labor certification programs.  It affects prevailing wage determination requests filed on or after the effective day or pending with DOL as of 10/8/2020 and to Labor Condition Applications filed on or after 10/8/2020.  Several lawsuits in federal court are challenging the implementation of this rule.

DHS issues a rule redefining the H-1B visa program.
The rule narrows the definition of “specialty occupation” and “employee-employer” relationship, thus restricting third-party placement for H-1B workers.  It will go into effect on December 7, 2020 and public comments are accepted, although the Agency is not required to review and respond before the rule becomes effective.  Several lawsuits in federal court are challenging the implementation of this rule

ICE proposes new rules limiting the stay of F-1 students.
ICE published a proposed rule limiting the period of stay for F-1 students to a fixed 4-year period (rather than the current “duration of stay”).  For students from certain countries, designated as sponsors of terrorism, or with high overstay rates, the limit is 2 years.  Extensions of stay are possible, but will require an application on form I-539.  The rules also reduce the grace period from 60 to 30 days, and extends the “Cap-gap” from October 1 to April 1 to reflect recent changes in the H-1B lottery.  CIS is currently reviewing the public comments to this rule and has not yet published the final rule.

Congress passes a law greatly expanding applications and petitions eligible for premium processing.
The law increases the filing fee for the service to $2,500, but expands the number of applications eligible for Premium Processing.  Among the new benefits eligible for premium processing are form I-539 – application to extend/change nonimmigrant status – and form I-765 – application for employment authorization.

The Parents of 545 Migrant Children Separated by the Trump Administration Cannot Be Found
The America Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been unable to track down the parents of 545 children separated by the Trump Administration. About two-thirds of those parents were deported to Central America without their children.  Currently, there are groups physically searching for the separated parents in Mexico and Central America.

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Actualización de ICE
¿Sabe qué hacer si ICE llama a su puerta? ¡CONOZCA SUS DERECHOS! Por favor guarde y comparta estas tarjetas de “Conozca Sus Derechos” que están disponibles en diferentes idiomas: INGLÉSESPAÑOLBENGALÍARÁBICACHINOCRIOLLO HAITIANOPORTUGUÉS, y SOMALÍ.

Cambios En La Ley De Asilo
La nueva regla EOIR prohíbe a los solicitantes de asilo recibir asilo si han sido acusados o condenados, entre otros, por cualquier DWI o cualquier orden final de protección por violencia doméstica, incluso si no se produjo una condena. La regla entra en vigencia el 20 de noviembre de 2020.

La Nueva Regla del DOL Que Afecta La Visa H-1B Y Los Programas De Certificación Laboral Permanentes Entró En Vigencia El 8/10/2020
El Departamento de Labor (DOL) emitió una regla que recalcula los niveles salariales vigentes aplicables a los programas de certificación laboral H-1B y PERM. La regal afecta las solicitudes de determinación de salario prevaleciente presentadas en o después del día de vigencia o pendientes con el DOL a partir del 8/10/2020 y las solicitudes de condiciones laborales presentadas el 8/10/2020 o después. Varias demandas en tribunales federales están impugnando la implementación de esta regla.

El DHS Emite Una Regla Que Redefine El Programa De Visas H-1B
La regla reduce la definición de “ocupación especializada” y relación “empleado-empleador”, restringiendo así la colocación de terceros para los trabajadores H-1B. Entrará en vigencia el 7 de diciembre de 2020 y se aceptaran comentarios públicos, aunque la Agencia no está obligada a revisar y responder antes de que la regla entre en vigencia. Varias demandas en tribunales federales están impugnando la implementación de esta regla.

ICE Propone Nuevas Reglas Que Limitan La Estadía De Estudiantes F-1
ICE publicó una regla que propone limitar el período de estadía de los estudiantes F-1 a un período fijo de 4 años (en lugar de la “duración de estadía” actual). Para los estudiantes de ciertos países, designados como patrocinadores del terrorismo, o con altas tasas de permanencia, el límite sera de 2 años. Las extensiones de estadía son posibles, pero requerirá una aplicación para extender estatus. Las reglas también reducen el período de gracia de 60 a 30 días y extienden el “límite máximo” del 1 de octubre al 1 de abril para reflejar los cambios recientes en la lotería H-1B. El Servicio de Inmigracion (CIS) esta actualmente revisando los comentarios públicos a esta regla y aún no ha publicado la regla final.

El Congreso Aprueba Una Ley Que Amplía Enormemente Las Solicitudes Y Peticiones Elegibles Para El Procesamiento Premium
La ley aumenta la tarifa de presentación del servicio a $ 2,500, pero amplía la cantidad de solicitudes elegibles para Procesamiento Premium. Entre los nuevos beneficios elegibles para el procesamiento premium se encuentran el formulario I-539, Solicitud Para Extender/Cambiar el Estatus de No Inmigrante – y el formulario I-765, Solicitud de Autorización de Empleo.

No Se Puede Encontrar A Los Padres De 545 Niños Migrantes Separados Por La Administración Trump
La Unión Americana por las Libertades Civiles (ACLU) no ha podido localizar a los padres de 545 niños separados por la Administración Trump. Aproximadamente dos tercios de esos padres fueron deportados a Centroamérica sin sus hijos. Actualmente, hay grupos que buscan físicamente a los padres separados en México y Centroamérica.

 If you need legal guidance, PPID is here to help! Call us toll-free at (800) 223-2814.

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Partners
Testimonials
  • "The last of our 3 kids had his citizenship ceremony yesterday - we are pleased to report that we will have 3 voters at the coming election. We want to thank you and your crew for what has been a simple process for us. Very efficient, professional and easy in every way. Many thanks, -Gelhard, M. I really appreciate your dedication to customer service and will definitely be doing business with you for any of my future needs. Thanks again!" - Lopez, P

  • "Thanks so much for all your help it was really appreciated." - Carline and Varnel

  • "Mr. Pollack and Staff, You were there when we needed the most. Thank you very much!" - Alte, M.

  • "Thank you for your dedication on my case. I really appreciate every moment spent bringing this case to a financial result. " - Amy

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