Jacksonville Immigration Attorney Blog

The Vermont Service Center, Texas Service Center and National Benefits have issued their processing time reports as of October 19, 2011. Below is a brief summary of some of the most common types of immigration applications for family based categories:

1. K-1 / K-2 / Fiance Visa - Processing time can range from cases filed with a date in March of 2011 to as short a time as 5 months, depending on where the case was filed.

2. K-3 / K-4 / Spousal Visa - Processing time can range from cases filed with a date in March of 2011 to as short a time as 5 months, depending on where the case was filed.

3. I-130's being filed by U.S. Citizen petitioners for their family members - Usually about 5 months if filed with Texas Service Center.

These processing reports can be obtained from www.uscis.gov directly for each service center.

USCIS has just announced that TPS has been extended for Haitians until January 22, 2013. This is an 18 month extension. Haitian applicants that have not filed for TPS may do so immediately. The DEADLINE for filing a TPS application for the first time is November 15, 2011. This deadline can be extended, but as of May 19, 2011, this is the current deadline.

Haitians that currently have TPS must wait to re-file, since USCIS is planning on issuing a notice of instructions for those individuals. However, Haitians who currently have TPS status must be sure to file to extend their TPS status before August 22, 2011.

Any Haitians that enter the U.S. illegally now are not eligible for TPS. Haitian applicants that apply now for TPS need to show they continually resided in the U.S. since January 12, 2011. All individuals who want to file for TPS should file forms I-821 and I-765, as well as any required fees or fee waiver and required documentation including a copy of one's passport, I.D. and a birth certificate with translation if available. Other documents may be required, as determined based on each person's circumstances.

To begin, the thoughts and prayers of the member of our office go out to the people of Japan and all Japanese nationals and naturalized citizens here who have family and friends in Japan. We are sorrowful as we see the horrifying images.

USCIS has thankfully issued a news release explaining the help that they can offer Japanese nationals that are here in the U.S. The link is provided below for details straight from the USCIS website.

The USCIS News Release states that the USCIS will allow an additional 30 days for all nationals of Japan who are here in the U.S. on lawful stay that is about to expire. For exact details and procedures that must be followed, please refer to the following link:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=89a8ce68596ae210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e7801c2c9be44210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

Again, please note that it is not advised that Japanese nationals overstay their visa for fear of returning to Japan. The attached news release provides specific steps that have to be taken before USCIS can help the nationals of Japan here in the U.S.

As a final note, I am so grateful that USCIS has really helped the nationals of Haiti in the past and now USCIS has again offered quick help, this time to the nationals of Japan here in the U.S.

In an USCIS Memo recently issued, USCIS has indicated that there is a new filing location for all change of address forms, AR-11. This new filing location will be effective as of April 1, 2011. All people that send the forms to the "old" address need not worry, as the USCIS will automatically transfer the form to the correct new address.

However, if your form is going to be received on or after May 16, 2011, then be sure to send it to the new address.

The new address to where to file change of address forms starting on March 15, 2011 is as follows:

DHS/USCIS
Harrisonburg File Storage Facility
Attn: AR-11
1344 Pleasants Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Please go to this link for more information:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1bdd49c62ed6e210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e7801c2c9be44210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD