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INS Announces Fee Increases
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The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) today announced revisions to its fees for immigration benefits and services. The new fees were published in the Federal Register and will become effective on February 19, 2002; 60 days after publication.
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Spousal Work Authorization Bill Passed By Senate
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On December 20, the Senate passed H.R. 2277 and 2278, which would grant work authorization to spouses of E & L visas, and would reduce the pre-employment blanket requirement from 1 year to 6 months. The President is expected to sign this measure into law before the end of the year.
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Update on New Police-Certificate Requirements in India
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The Consul General in New Delhi has indicated that a final decision regarding police certificates in India has not yet been made. However, it appears that New Delhi is going to insist that Mumbai and Chennai standardize their policies to match New Delhi's, meaning that Mumbai's and Chennai's rules will now be much more stringent.
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CHANGES TO PACKET SYSTEM FOR IMMIGRANT VISA PROCESSING
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The State Department has issued a cable indicating that the packet system for immigrant visas is being eliminated "in favor of a simpler system of standardized mailings and more explicit provision for the use of Internet and other electronic resources when appropriate."
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State Department's “Terrorist Exclusion List”
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To further protect the safety of the United States and its citizens, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, in consultation with the Attorney General, on December 5 designated 39 groups as Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL) organizations under section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by the new USA PATRIOT Act.
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Change in Immigrant Visa Processing for Cambodia
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Effective immediately, the Department of State will begin transferring all Immigrant visa cases for Cambodia, including adoption cases, to the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.
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BIA Closed on December 24
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The Board of Immigration Appeals will be closed on Monday, December 24, 2001.
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Senate Judiciary Approves Spousal Equity Legislation
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The Senate Judiciary Committee approved on December 13 two bills that would provide work authorization for spouses of international transferees.
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Indian Consulate Issues New Requirement for Immigrant Visas
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Immigrant visa applicants at Indian consulates must now present Indian Police Certificates. They must also bring all of the Affidavit of Support documentation to their first visit to the Consulate.
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Clarification on Waivers and Parole at POEs
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Previously we reported some inconsistencies in the Point of Entry procedure on determining waiver and parole eligiblity. An official from the INS, Michael Pearson, has confirmed that there is in fact no change in substantive policy in regard to any of these areas; the change concerns who can make the decisions about each.
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El Consulado de Mexico en St. Louis viene a Kansas City
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El Consulado de Mexico en St. Louis, Missouri atendera al publico en Kansas City los dias 13 y 14 de diciembre 2001 en el Centro de Guadalupe de las 10 a.m. a las 3 p.m.
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San Francisco Issues Mexican ID Cards
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In an effort to ease the hassle of being a Mexican immigrant in The City, San Francisco became the first city Tuesday to issue the matricula consulare, or Mexican ID card.
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INS Restructuring Director Announced
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Immigration and Naturalization Service James W. Ziglar has named Richard B. Cravener as Director of the Office of INS Restructuring. Most recently, he served as the District Director of the Houston District Office.
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Update on New Fees' Effective Date
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The fee adjustments that INS announced on August 8, 2001 will not go into effect in January 2002, as originally proposed. The INS has informed AILA that a final rule, with the same new fees as those set out in the August 2001 proposed rule, should be published next week, with the new fees taking effect 60 days later, in mid-February.
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POEs Instructed to Deny I-193 Waivers
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Within the past 48 hours, INS has instructed all ports of entry not to grant I-193 waivers, except in circumstances involving dire medical or humanitarian emergencies.
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INS May Act on Referrals from Interviews
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INS has indicated that, where INS agents are not present at the interviews of approximately 5,000 foreign nationals and the interviewer suspects that a particular individual is in violation of status, those cases are expected to be referred to INS by the law enforcement officers. According to INS sources, local INS managers have been instructed to provide agents to locations where the agents can immediately respond if a state or local law enforcement officer suspects an immigration law violation.
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Paris NIV Office Offers Instructions
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The Chief of the nonimmigrant visa unit in Paris, Bob Hannan, has provided information regarding processing in Paris.
