August 2018 

Published by the Law Offices of Alena Shautsova, 2908A Emmons Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11235  

175 Eileen Way, Syosset NY 11791 

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“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”  
― Mahatma Gandhi 

Watch Our Videos: 

1. Legally Speaking: New Immigration Policies 

 

2. Legally Speaking: Administrative Closure After Jeff Sessions Decision  

 

 

 

 

 

1. DACA May Be Restored 

Author: New York Immigration Attorney Alena Shautsova 

DACA is a temporary protection from deportation for childhood arrivals was implemented by President Obama. President Trump’s administration decided to scrap the program, and the people pushed back. Recently, a Federal judge in Washington DC ordered the entire program be restored by the government within 20 days or starting from August 23, 2018. It means, that if the program is restored, those who never applied for it but are eligible will be able to file new applications, and those with  expiring benefits, will be able to extend those benefits.  The judge ruled that “if DHS wishes to rescind the program—or to take any other action, for that matter—it must give a rational explanation for its decision.” It means that DHS has the power to shut down the program, but not without a rational explanation, because of the great impact the program has on the lives of thousands of US residents. 

Hopefully, the program will be restored, and so will be its main benefits: an employment authorization and an authorization to travel. It is the authorization to travel that is the most valuable benefit. Many children (who are now long-term US residents with close ties to the community) were brought to the US through the border without proper documentation. As a result, if now, they are married to US citizens, they cannot file for the green card, even though otherwise are eligible: they lack the “legal entry” component of the eligibility. If they, however, travel outside the US using a proper authorization and come back, now, they are deemed to be “paroled” and can apply for green cards. Alternatively, DACA beneficiaries who cannot obtain an advance parole may consider a waiver or motion to reopen in appropriate cases.  

The prospects of the Immigration reform remain clouded, however. The parties cannot agree on a united proposal and it causes delays in solutions and frustration in the society. While we all hope that one day, the reform will be passed, if you believe you or someone you know can qualify for a benefit today, you should talk to an attorney. You can book a consultation with our office by calling 917-885-2261. 

2. I 601A Waiver Revocation Based on Public Charge 

Author: I 601A Waiver Attorney Alena Shautsova 

I 601A waiver allows an individual to return to the US when otherwise inadmissible due to unlawful presence. The good thing about this waiver that a person can stay in the US while waiting for the decision to be made on the waiver, and the person does not have to leave the US if the waiver is not approved. Of course, when the waiver is approved, a person’s expectations are that he/she will be able to travel to their home country for a short period of time and return with an Immigrant visa (sufficiently a green card) 

Many immigrants express a concern: what if they will not be able to return? What if something will hold them in their home country? This “something” can be only bars to admissibility. Typically those would be: a person admission at the time of the interview that he/she committed a crime that makes him/her inadmissible; that he/she claimed to be a US citizen; and, recently, a finding by a consular officer that a person will be a public charge.  

Only recently, this “public charge” allegation became a real problem. A person who is being sponsored by family members in the US has to produce evidence that he/she will have a sponsor in the US (usually the petitioner, but not necessarily). The sponsor has to be a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, and must show that he/she has sufficient current income to sponsor someone into the country. Here is where the problem arises: at times, the income was sufficient at the time the person submitted the documents for the visa, but the income changed; or a consular officer made a determination that the evidence in support of the current income is not sufficient. In the past, a person would be given an opportunity to sure this “defect” and come for another immigrant visa interview. Now, this “defect” leads to a straight denial of the immigrant visa, and even worse, to the revocation of the waiver.  

A person, as a rule, can cure the defect fast, but due the denials, he/she will have to go through necessary steps, and will have to wait overseas for the denials to be reversed. 

There is only one way to address the situation: to make sure that before the person leaves the US, he/she has all necessary evidence and more not to become a subject ot the “public charge” determination. This would include sponsor’s/joint sponsor’s tax returns, pay stubs, and letters of employment; evidence of assets in certain situations, and … properly filled out forms. 

If you need a consultation regarding I 601A waiver or affidavit of support I 864, please call us at 917-885-2261 or email at office@shautsova.com  

1. Visa Bulletin: policy/bulletin.html 

2. The Administrative Appeals Office  http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=dfe316685e1e6210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=dfe316685e1e6210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD  

3. Processing times http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=8ff31eeaf28e6210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=dfe316685e1e6210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD 

4. Labor Department Processing Times 

The following link provides approximate times for PERM processing periods: 

http://icert.doleta.gov/#fragment-2 

• Nonimmigrant Visa Wait Times 

Depending on your location, the US Department of State provides the following approximate visa wait times:  

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4788.html?post=Kyiv&x=86&y=13 

Watch our Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBSrIQswMdYh_T1qToEZRrQ  

Visit our resources on Asylum, Recent Changes in Immigration laws and Processing times: 

1. Asylum Library 

2. Youtube channel  

3. Legal Resources  

FOR RUSSIAN SPEAKING AUDIENCE: 

Watch Alena Shautsova’s Interview on RTVi: 

1. «Им дается пять минут на душ». Иммиграционный адвокат Елена Шевцова о положении детей нелегальных иммигрантов в Америке 

https://rtvi.com/broadcast/im-daetsya-pyat-minut-na-dush-immigratsionnyy-advokat-elena-shevtsova-o-polozhenii-detey-nelegalnykh/

2. Travel ban. Как американцы реагируют на ужесточение иммиграционных законов 

https://rtvi.com/stories/travel-ban-kak-amerikantsy-reagiruyut-na-uzhestochenie-immigratsionnykh-zakonov/ 

3. Кто имеет право иммигрировать в Америку? Дискуссия на RTVI 

https://rtvi.com/broadcast/kto-imeet-pravo-immigrirovat-v-ameriku/

4. Как происходит натурализация в США и с какими трудностями сталкиваются мигранты 

https://rtvi.com/stories/migratsionnaya-politika-kak-proiskhodit-naturalizatsiya-v-ssha-i-s-kakimi-trudnostyami-stalkivayutsya/