The USCIS website has been redesigned and was launched today in both English and Spanish. Director Alejandro Mayorkas describes the updates as part of USCIS’ “ongoing commitment to improving the quality of service we provide,” and adds that the agency gathered user feedback as part of their efforts to make the site more accessible. The updated site boasts a better search function and easier navigation menus as well as a more user-friendly change of address online tool.
Grace Period to Correct E-Verify Issues
In light of the federal government shutdown, employers who who were unable to resolve Tentative Nonconfirmations in the E-Verify system in the two weeks leading up to the shutdown may add 12 federal business days to the original date listed on the referral letters in order to resolve their cases with the Social Security Administration or the Department of Homeland Security. For those employees that received a Final Nonconfirmation or No Show as a result of the shutdown, employers must enter a new case in E-Verify in order to allow them sufficient time to attempt to resolve the situation. Employees who were hired during the shutdown must still be entered into E-Verify. Because of the shutdown, employers have until November 5, 2013 to enter them into the system and may use the ‘other’ drop-down field and select ‘federal government shutdown’ to explain why the case is not within the 3-day rule.
Government Reopens
The Federal Government reopened today following a 16-day shutdown that left immigration courts and USCIS offices closed. The Immigration Courts are now open regular business hours and hearings for detained cases are continuing according to schedule. Non-detained cases scheduled for October 17th are being rescheduled, but all non-detained cases scheduled for the 18th and later are proceeding on schedule. For those non-detained cases that were not heard during the shutdown, the courts will send notices for rescheduled hearing dates. E-Verify is operational and USCIS has released information for employers regarding how the shutdown impacted E-Verify and Form I-9. The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) has also reopened and will release a notice addressing filing that were due during the shutdown soon.
Effect of Government Shutdown on Immigration
The shutdown of the federal government does affect applying for certain immigration visas. Fortunately, many services provided by USCIS, including processing of various petitions or applications for immigration benefits, will continue as they are fee-based. Therefore, applying to USCIS for non-immigrant petitions or permanent residence will continue at this time. USCIS offices are also open for interviews and appointments as scheduled.
Unfortunately, certain types of applications for immigration benefits are affected because they involve the U.S. Department of Labor, which is shutdown. Petitions to seek H-1B or E-3 status for employees cannot be completed at this time because a necessary component of these petitions is obtaining a labor condition application from the Department of Labor. Similarly, labor certification applications for employment-based permanent residence cannot be completed because the DOL is closed and therefore not accepting applications. While employers can complete preliminary work such as gathering information and documents, H-1B, E-3 and labor certification applications cannot move forward to completion until the DOL reopens.
The E-verify system is also shutdown. Therefore, employers will not be able to verify employment eligibility of any new hires or take any action in E-verify. The Department of Homeland Security has suspended the 3 day rule for E-verify cases that are affected by the shutdown and indicated that it will provide additional guidance once the federal government is reopened. We remind employers to be sure to continue to complete their form I-9’s for new hires within 3 days of hiring.
Immigration courts around the country are also affected. The court has announced that it will continue to hear cases of individuals in immigration detention, but is suspending all other functions due to the shutdown. Cases docketed during this time will be reset for future hearing dates.
The Department of State has announced that visa operations at U.S. consulates abroad will continue as they are fee-based.
We will provide further information as we receive it.
Ken Stern Voted Best Immigration Lawyer
Earlier this month, Senior Partner Ken Stern was voted Barrister’s Best Immigration Lawyer. In over 30 years as an immigration attorney, “Ken Stern has done just about everything in immigration law – he is past chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, a group that’s honored him with more than one award including a lifetime achievement award in 2002.” The Barrister’s Best is an annual selection of the best of the best in the legal profession by Law Week Colorado.
Ken’s practice encompasses all areas of immigration law including all aspects of business and family immigration law, investor visas, and intra-company transferees. Ken works closely with HR Professionals and Corporate Counsel to help their companies develop a strategic vision for using immigration visas as a way to attract and retain the best talent from around the world. He also helps companies develop effective and efficient internal practices and policies in the area of immigration law. (More about Ken Stern)
Ken Stern to Speak on the Critical Ethical Issues of Immigration Reform
Attorney Ken Stern will be speaking to the The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Denver as part of their summer seminar series. His talk, entitled “The Real Issues behind Comprehensive Immigration Reform,” will explore the critical ethical issues and matters of principle that need to be resolved as part of our ongoing immigration debate as reflected in comprehensive immigration reform.
OLLI is an adult learning membership program designed for men and women age 50 and “better” who wish to pursue lifelong learning. OLLI members, from diverse backgrounds and professions, share the desire to stay intellectually active and engaged.
Día Nacional de Acción y El Proyecto de Ley de Reforma Migratoria
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| Emily Assunta White en D.C. |
Una abogada de Stern & Curray, Emily Assunta White, recientemente viajó a Washington D.C. para reunirse con miembros del Congreso de Colorado acerca de la urgente necesidad de una reforma migratoria, incluso un camino a ciudadanía para las 11 a 15 millones de personas en los Estados Unidos sin estatus de inmigración legal. Emily ha asistido en años anteriores, pero informa que este año fue en gran medida el más productivo desde que cada oficina del Congreso parecía estar de acuerdo en que hay que hacer algo para arreglar nuestro sistema roto de inmigración y que debe hacerse pronto. Los informes en Capital Hill indicaron que el proyecto de ley del Senado “Gang of Eight” se introduciría esta semana y a finales de este miércoles, el proyecto de ley finalmente se introdujo.
A pesar de que la ley de inmigración del Senado (S.744) tiene más de 800 páginas, Emily ha identificado algunos de los cambios potenciales más importantes:
- Legalización para algunos inmigrantes indocumentados. Esto permitiría darle estatus legal a los inmigrantes indocumentados que entraron a los Estados Unidos antes del 31 de diciembre de 2011 mediante la creación de una categoría llamada Inmigrante Provisional Registrado (Registered Provisional Immigrant-RPI). Aquellos que son elegibles para este estatus estarían dispuestos a pagar una multa e impuestos atrasados, y se les dará autorización de trabajo y viaje. Después de 10 años como un RPI, podrían solicitar una tarjeta verde, y más tarde, la ciudadanía.
- La creación de un nuevo tipo de visa para trabajadores temporarios, llamada visas W. Un W-1 permitiría a los trabajadores menos calificados una manera de trabajar legalmente en el país, mientras que las visas W-2 y W-3tomarían el lugar del programa del trabajador agrícola H-2A.
- Los cónyuges y los hijos de residentes permanentes legítimos se considerarían parientes inmediatos, y los derivados de parientes inmediatos se permitirían. Como resultado, se eliminarían los períodos de espera de varios años para el cónyuge y los hijos de los residentes permanentes legales. La compensación consiste en que la categoría preferente basada en la familia para hermanos y hermanas de ciudadanos estadounidenses sería eliminada, significando que un ciudadano de los Estados Unidos ya no podía solicitar a un hermano.
- Estafar a sabiendas a un inmigrante, incluyendo fingiendo ser unabogado o representante de inmigración, se haría un delito.
En los próximos días, semanas y meses, sin duda, habrá muchos debates sobre lo que el proyecto de ley significará si se promulga y probablemente habrá muchas propuestas de enmiendas al proyecto de ley. Emily se quedará activa en esfuerzos de la defensa que ocurren alrededor de la legislación propuesta. Cuando haya actualizaciones significativas de la legislación o nueva información para compartir, enviará una actualización a través de nuestro boletín de noticias de la reforma de inmigración.
Los abogados de Stern & Curray también actualizarán nuestra blog y página de Facebook con frecuencia. Estén atentos para más información acerca de esta fascinante, legislación histórica.
¡Extienda la palabra y comparta este boletín de noticias con sus amigos y queridos quiénes son afectados por la reforma de inmigración!
National Day of Action and the New Immigration Reform Bill
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| Emily Assunta White in D.C. |
Stern & Curray attorney, Emily Assunta White, recently traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with Colorado members of Congress about the pressing need for immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for the 11 to 15 million people in the United States without lawful immigration status. Emily has attended in years past, but reports that this year was by far the most productive as every Congressional office seemed to agree that something must be done to fix our broken immigration system and that it must be done soon. Reports throughout Capitol Hill indicated that the Senate’s “Gang of Eight” bill would be introduced this week and as of late last Wednesday, the bill was finally introduced.
While the Senate immigration bill (S.744) is over 800 pages long, Emily has identified some of the most important potential changes:
- Legalization for some undocumented immigrants. The bill would give legal status to undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. before December 31, 2011 by creating a category called Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI). Those who are eligible for this status would pay a fine and any back taxes, and would be given work and travel authorization. After 10 years as an RPI, they could apply for a green card, and later, citizenship.
- Creation of a new visa type for temporary workers, called W visas. A W-1 would allow lesser-skilled workers a way to work in the country legally, while W-2 and W-3 visas would take the place of the H-2A agricultural worker program.
- Spouses and children of legal permanent residents would be considered immediate relatives, and derivatives of immediate relatives would be allowed. As a result, several year waiting periods for spouse and children of legal permanent residents would be eliminated. The tradeoff is that the family-based preference category for brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens would be eliminated, meaning that a United States citizen could no longer apply for a sibling.
- Knowingly defrauding an immigrant, including by pretending to be an attorney or immigration representative, would become a crime.
Over the next days, weeks, and months, there will no doubt be many debates about what the bill will mean if enacted and likely many proposed amendments to the bill. Emily will be staying active in advocacy efforts taking place around the proposed legislation. When there are significant updates to the legislation or new information to share, she will send an update through our immigration reform newsletter.
Stern & Curray attorneys will also be updating our blog and our Facebook page frequently. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting, historic legislation.
Multinational Taxpaying
U.S. tax laws are almost as complicated as U.S. immigration laws. They are particularly complex for non-U.S. citizens who reside, even part time, in the United States. “Residence” in the U.S. has a different meaning under U.S. tax law than it does under U.S. immigration law. The impact of U.S. tax law on foreign nationals varies depending on where the individual is from as the U.S. has tax treaties with many foreign countries, though not with all countries. Due to the complexity of U.S. tax law and the large impact it can have on individuals, we recommend that all of our non-citizen clients seek the assistance of a tax professional who is well versed in tax liability for multinational taxpayers.