Third Parties May Now Pay USCIS Immigrant Fees Online
In response to customer feedback, USCIS has implemented new online payment procedures for immigrant fees. Third parties may now pay immigrant fees online for any immigrant as long as they have the immigrant’s Alien Registration Number (A-Number) and DOS Case ID.
Any immigrant acquiring lawful permanent residence must pay the USCIS immigrant fee, which covers costs to process, produce, and deliver Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards).
You can pay USCIS Immigrant Fees here on the USCIS website: http://www.uscis.gov/uscis-elis.
USCIS Extends Typhoon Soudelor Relief Measures through November 2, 2015
In response to extensive damage in the Commonwealth of the Nothern Mariana Islands (CNMI) caused by Typhoon Soudelor, USCIS has extended temporary relief measures for CNMI nationals through November 2, 2015.
Eligible individuals may request or apply for temporary relief measures, including:
- A change or extension of nonimmigrant status for an individual currently in the United States, even when the request is filed after the authorized period of admission has expired;
- Extension or re-parole of individuals previously granted parole by USCIS;
- Expedited adjudication of employment authorization applications; and
- Assistance to lawful permanent residents (LPR) stranded overseas without immigration or travel documents, such as a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card). USCIS and the Department of State will coordinate on these matters when LPRs are stranded in a place that does not have a local USCIS office.
USCIS may also exercise its discretion to allow for filing delays resulting from the typhoon. This may include, for example:
- Assistance to those who have not appeared for an interview or submitted required forms of evidence. You may show how the typhoon prevented you from appearing or submitting documents as required; or
- Assistance to those who have not been able to respond to a request for evidence (RFE) or notice of intent to deny (NOID). USCIS will extend the deadline for individuals to respond to RFEs or NOIDs by at least 30 days. This will apply to all RFEs and NOIDs with a deadline of August 2, 2015 through November 2, 2015. During this time, USCIS will not issue denials based on abandonment of an application or petition in the CNMI.
For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/special-situations.
USCIS Issues Deadline to Submit Previously Accepted Versions of Forms
As USCIS continues to update its forms, older versions of those forms will be phased out and eventually no longer accepted. Please see the list below for deadlines to submit previously accepted versions of certain forms.
| Form | Deadline to Submit Previously Accepted Versions |
| Form I-865, Sponsor’s Notice of Change of Address | September 24, 2015 |
| Form I-601A, Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver | September 24, 2015 |
| Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal | September 24, 2015 |
| Form I-612, Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement (under Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended) | September 24, 2015 |
| I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act | October 7, 2015 |
| I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member | October 7, 2015 |
| I-864EZ, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act | October 7, 2015 |
| I-864W, Intending Immigrant’s Affidavit of Support Exemption | October 7, 2015 |
To make sure you are using the most current form available, please refer to www.uscis.gov/forms.
Quarterly SEVP Data Now Available
In August, USCIS released a quarterly report for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
On behalf of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), SEVP manages all nonimmigrant students with F and M visa classifications, their dependents, and the SEVP-certified schools that host F and M nonimmigrant students. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) manages nonimmigrant exchange visitors with J visa classification and their dependents. Both SEVP and DHS use the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to track and monitor students and schools to ensure that exchange student programs operate lawfully.
Each year, USCIS releases four quarterly reports with data collected by SEVIS. Below is a sample of highlights from the August 2015 report:
- There are currently 1.05 million F-visa and M-visa students enrolled in 8,887 SEVP-certified schools in the United States.
- Thirty-eight percent of all F and M students are studying in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Seventy-five percent of those F and M STEM students are enrolled in engineering, computer and information sciences and support services, or biological and biomedical sciences degree programs.
- J-1 exchange visitors in the United States rose 21.9 percent since February, rising from 200,779 active J-1 students to 244,766 active J-1 students.
- The total number of F and M students in the United States decreased 6.9 percent since February.
The full report is available for free online at www.studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevis-by-the-numbers.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk.