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Tag: visa

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Foreigners can apply for work permits online

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced yesterday that certain foreign nationals who received temporary permission to remain in the country (“parolees”) can now file Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) online.

In immigration terms, parolee is a temporary stay permit in the U.S. granted for reasons of significant public benefit or humanitarian reasons. It has an expiration date and does not replace a visa.
Most people who received temporary permission to remain in the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) are eligible to apply for employment authorization under a certain category.

To submit their application online, applicants must first visit my.uscis.gov to create a USCIS online account. Keep in mind that creating an online account is free and offers a variety of features, including the ability to communicate with the agency about their application through a secure inbox.

The option to file Form I-765 online is only available to certain applicant categories, which now includes individuals with temporary permission to remain in the United States for humanitarian or other reasons. Furthermore, if an applicant files the form online to request employment authorization but is not applying under an eligible employment authorization category, USCIS may deny their request and withhold the filing fee.

Applicants who wish to obtain a filing fee waiver or those eligible for one, such as individuals who obtained humanitarian parole through Operation Welcome Allies and who file an initial Form I-765, should submit their form by mail.

Finally, it is a process that will take effect immediately; applicants for employment authorization under category (c)(11) will be able to file their Form I-765 online, with limited exceptions.

Whether applications are submitted by mail or electronically, USCIS, in its upgrade plan, is committed to employing technological and effective solutions to reduce processing times.
Making the process of applying for immigration benefits more efficient, safe, and convenient for more applicants. This increases the agency's operational efficiency.

News report based on information from: USCIS and EFE

If you have any questions when filling out the forms and would like an expert opinion, AsisVisa offers consultations with immigration lawyers.

Schedule your initial consultation https://www.asisvisa.com/consulta-legal

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Testimony from a student, family, and lawyer about the struggles to immigrate to the United States

TJ is a Hindu who came to the United States in search of opportunity in 2013 along with his parents Sundhir and Punita, who were proud when they received the news that their son TJ would be moving into the freshman dorms at UC Berkeley, however, this news was overshadowed by a problem with the United States immigration system. 

Sudhir works for a private consulting firm and holds an H1B visa, while his wife, Punita, and son, TJ, hold H4 visas, which are issued for dependent relatives who are not permitted to work in the United States. TJ is a junior chemical engineering student at CAL and needs an internship to gain more knowledge that will make him more competitive with his classmates and help him secure a job after graduation. 

TJ needs his H4 visa converted to an F1 visa. The family filed the paperwork for the change in July 2020. «A process that usually takes about six to seven months is still underway right now,» Sudhir said. «So, it’s been over a year.» «Unfortunately, this happens to a lot of people, and I think it’s been happening more in recent years,» said Ann Block, senior special projects attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC). 

In addition to the delays, TJ's case has also been further hampered by existing immigration delays due to Covid-19. However, the situation is further aggravated because TJ risks losing his H4 visa, meaning he cannot remain in the U.S. once he turns 21, and he is currently 20.

«If he gets older, then he needs an alternative visa like the F1, which is already being processed, or he has to leave the country,» Sudhir said. If TJ is forced to leave the U.S., he wouldn’t be able to complete his senior year at UC Berkeley. Like TJ, many other families face similar problems and lack the resources to cover the costs of immigration proceedings.  

This news story was created from ABC News: https://abc7ne.ws/3FBrF3i