Dear clients, we are happy to announce that we have finally started receiving notices of Biometrics appointments resuming in Las Vegas.
Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

Applying Discretion in USCIS Adjudications

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today consolidated existing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding officers’ application of discretion in adjudications.

For many immigration benefits, including certain applications for lawful permanent residence and employment authorization, requestors must show that a favorable exercise of discretion is warranted, in addition to showing that they meet all other eligibility requirements. In these cases, officers typically analyze discretion at the end of the review, after they have determined the requestor meets all other applicable eligibility requirements. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/applying-discretion-uscis-adjudications

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to certain:

• Requests for Evidence;
• Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
• Notices of Intent to Deny;
• Notices of Intent to Revoke;
• Notices of Intent to Rescind and Notices of Intent to Terminate regional investment centers;
• Filing date requirements for Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA); or
• Filing date requirements for Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-extends-flexibility-responding-agency-requests-0

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

New ICE HSI PSA aims to help parents and educators combat youth exploitation online

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) launched a new public service announcement as part of the ongoing Project iGuardian campaign. The campaign is designed to increase awareness in combatting online child sexual exploitation and instruct parents and educators how to safeguard youth from predatory situations during the COVID-19 pandemic and as summer break approaches. 
“HSI’s Child Exploitation Investigations Unit (CEIU) has taken a proactive approach to public education and awareness by implementing an outreach program that offers virtual presentations for schools and youth organizations using the Project iGuardian educational tool,” said Erin Burke, Section Chief for HSI Cyber Crimes Center’s CEIU and Victim Identification Program. “We believe that steadfast and continued distribution of accurate and focused information will better prepare our communities to prevent instances of child exploitation.” 
Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/new-ice-hsi-psa-aims-help-parents-and-educators-combat-youth-exploitation-online

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

ICE HSI Baltimore seizes over 14,000 unapproved COVID-19 treatment capsules, several unapproved test kits

BALTIMORE — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore special agents and Maryland law enforcement partners have seized over 14,000 unapproved COVID-19 treatment capsules and several unapproved COVID-19 test kits as part of ongoing Operation Stolen Promise investigations. Operation Stolen Promise is a national operation aimed at combatting COVID-19 fraud and other related criminal activity. The operation enhances collaboration with multiple federal agencies, along with business and industry representatives. Surging criminal activity surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic requires an equally robust investigative response to protect the American public. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-hsi-baltimore-seizes-over-14000-unapproved-covid-19-treatment-capsules-several

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

Former North Texas pastor sentenced to more than 24 years for child exploitation

DALLAS – A former Arlington, Texas, pastor was sentenced Monday to 293 months in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child, following an investigation by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The Arlington and Fort Worth Police departments and Texas Department of Public Safety assisted with the case.

Brett Jarad Monroe, 39, former associate pastor at Heritage Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, pleaded guilty in January to one count of sexual exploitation of a child. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/former-north-texas-pastor-sentenced-more-24-years-child-exploitation

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.

USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for Certain Petitions

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that it will resume premium processing for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, in phases over the next month. 

Effective June 1, 2020, USCIS will accept Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for all eligible Form I-140 petitions.

Effective June 8, USCIS will accept premium processing requests for: 

• H-1B petitions filed before June 8 that are pending adjudication and are cap-exempt (for example, petitions filed by petitioners that are cap-exempt and petitions filed for beneficiaries previously counted toward the numerical allocations). 
• All other Form I-129 petitions (non H-1B petitions) for nonimmigrant classifications eligible for premium processing filed before June 8 that are pending adjudication.

Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-resumes-premium-processing-certain-petitions

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information www.greencardadvice.com.