The Big Shock this week was the Department of State announcing that it was ALL of your social media account information for the last five years BEFORE you can get a a visa a consulate (including you ancient MySpace account). What it intends to do with this information is anyone’s guess, but lying that you never had one, when you did would result in a permanent ban from the US for a “misrepresentation.” Read more below!
At Kuck Baxter Immigration, we are dedicated to providing you up to the minute information through our Twitter feed, Facebook, our blog, and our podcast. Don’t forget to check these out, and don’t hesitate to send your questions or comments. Information, and knowledge, are power.
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Here is the Immigration News You NEED to Know Now
IMMIGRATION NEWS
State Dept. Notes Continued Heavy Demand, Retrogressions (Visa Unavailability) in Several Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Categories – The Visa Bulletin for June 2019 notes heavy demand in several employment-based visa categories for India and Vietnam.
USCIS Requests Info on EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Experience – USCIS wants information from attorneys, accredited representatives, regional center owners, and petitioners about their experiences filing for regional center designations, annual certifications of regional centers, or petitions by alien entrepreneurs.
Online Visa, ESTA Applications Include New Social Media Question – The applicant is instructed to provide the names of each social media platform used within the last five years and the “username or handle you have used on that platform.”
President Trump Considering Ban on Asylum Claims From Central Americans Traveling Through Mexico, Others – If the rule is implemented, it could block Central Americans traveling through Mexico, among others, from applying for asylum in the United States.
State Dept. Introduces New ‘K’ Risk Indicator for Travelers – DOS has announced a new “K” risk indicator added to its travel advisories for U.S. citizens, to communicate “the risks of kidnapping and hostage-taking by criminal and terrorist actors around the world.”
ABIL Global: France – The French government has implemented an ordinance that specifies the conditions for issuing residence permits to British nationals to continue their stay in France after the Brexit date, in the event of no exit agreement being reached between the UK and EU.
HERE ARE THE DETAILS:
State Dept. Notes Continued Heavy Demand, Retrogressions (Visa Unavailability) in Several Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Categories
The Department of State’s (DOS) Visa Bulletin for the month of June 2019 notes heavy demand in several employment-based visa categories:
- There continues to be an “extremely high rate of demand” for India employment first preference (EB-1) visa numbers, which has resulted in retrogression of the final action date for the month of June to October 1, 2017. This action will be temporary.
- Continued heavy applicant demand is expected to result in the India employment fifth preference (EB-5) category approaching the per-country annual limit during July. This is likely to result in the imposition of a July final action date in 2017. This action will be temporary, with the EB-5 date for India “most likely” advancing to the summer or fall of 2017 for October.
- High demand also is expected to result in the Vietnam employment fifth preference (EB-5) category reaching the per-country annual limit in July. This action will be temporary, with the Vietnam EB-5 date “most likely” advancing to the fall or early winter of 2016 for October.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has also announced that the agency will follow the “Final Action Dates” chart for the month for accepting I-485 Adjustment of Status applications.
Details: DOS Visa Bulletin for June 2019, https://travel.state.gov/
USCIS Requests Info on EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Experience
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) aims “to understand challenges and pain points of the application or petition process” concerning the EB-5, and has invited attorneys, accredited representatives, regional center owners, and petitioners to provide information about their experiences filing for regional center designations under the Immigrant Investor Program (I-924), annual certifications of regional centers (I-924A), or petitions by alien entrepreneurs (I-526).
USCIS specifically wants feedback from:
- Representatives who have filed petitions or applications related to the EB-5 program in the last 12 months and work for a law firm with five or more employees;
- Regional center owners who have filed regional center applications or annual certifications in the last 12 months; and
- Petitioners who have filed a petition related to the EB-5 program in the last 12 months.
Details: Per USCIS, those with questions or who are interested should email [email protected] and include the emailer’s experience with EB-5 filings and role in the submission process; case-specific information should not be included. Some may be asked to participate in a group discussion.
Online Visa, ESTA Applications Include New Social Media Question
The Department of State’s (DOS) online visa application (Form DS-160) now includes a new question about social media. The applicant is instructed to provide the names of each social media platform used within the last five years and the “username or handle you have used on that platform.”
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application also has a social media question, although providing this information is optional, reportedly.
The ESTA should not be confused with the DS-160 process. The ESTA is an electronic authorization required of citizens from “visa waiver” countries who are traveling to the U.S. for business and/or leisure. The DS-160 is for foreign nationals who are required to apply for a visa at a U.S. Consulate/Embassy before traveling to the U.S.
Details: DOS online visa application, https://travel.state.gov/
President Trump Considering Ban on Asylum Claims From Central Americans Traveling Through Mexico, Others
According to reports, President Donald Trump is considering a draft rule to prohibit people who have resided in a third country from filing an asylum claim. If the rule is implemented, it could block Central Americans traveling through Mexico, among others, from applying for asylum in the United States.
Details: News reports, https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/
State Dept. Introduces New ‘K’ Risk Indicator for Travelers
The Department of State (DOS) has announced a new “K” risk indicator added to its travel advisories for U.S. citizens, to communicate “the risks of kidnapping and hostage-taking by criminal and terrorist actors around the world.”
Travel advisories for 35 countries have been updated to include the “K” indicator: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russian Federation, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine (in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine), Venezuela, and Yemen.
Details: DOS announcement,
https://travel.state.gov/
ABIL Global: France
The French government has issued a decree to implement Ordinance No. 2019-76 of 6 February 2019, which specifies the conditions for issuing residence permits to British nationals to continue their stay in France after the Brexit date, in the event of no exit agreement being reached between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union.
Decree no. 2019-264 of 2 April 2019 was published in the Journal Officiel on 3 April 2019. The following are the principal conditions of issuance of the residence permits to British nationals and their family members.
Transition period of 12 months. UK nationals and family members continuing their stay and professional activities beyond the Brexit date may do so for a maximum period of 12 months after the Brexit date. During this transition period, they do not need to possess a residence permit.
Residence permit application to be requested within 6 months following the Brexit. UK nationals who wish to remain in France beyond this transition period will have 6 months after the Brexit date to apply for one of the appropriate residence permits.
How to apply for a residence permit. The decree details the documents that UK nationals and their family members will provide in support of their application according to the appropriate residence permit for which they are eligible.
Tax amount.The amount of the tax due for the issuance of a residence permit is reduced to 100 euros for British nationals and their family members instead of 269 euros applicable to third-country nationals.
Details: Client alert, https://www.karlwaheed.fr/wp-
New Publications and Items of Interest
USCIS 2018 Statistical Annual Report. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today released the Fiscal Year 2018 Statistical Annual Report, which provides statistical information on the most popular and widely used benefits and programs administered by the agency. The report also provides insight into the nature and scope of USCIS’ work, which involves adjudicating millions of applications and petitions for immigration benefits annually.
Word of warning, there are “Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics.” A lot of the summary is the first and the second.
For more information, see https://www.uscis.gov/news/
Immigrant and Employee Rights webinars. The Department of Justice’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section is offering free webinars to the public. The webinars are for workers, employers, and advocates. For more information or to register, see https://www.justice.gov/crt/
Government Agency Links
Follow these links to access current processing times of the USCIS Service Centers and the Department of Labor, and the Department of State’s latest Visa Bulletin with the most recent cut-off dates for visa numbers:
USCIS Service Center processing times online: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/
Department of State Visa Bulletin:https://travel.state.gov/
Visa application wait times for any post:https://travel.state.gov/
Kuck Baxter Immigration — In The News
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