According to a recent announcement, current American Administration plans to create a Gold Card program (green card for wealthy individuals interested in becoming US residents and US citizens).

As was announced, this new type of residency would provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship through the investment of US$5 million.

At this time, there are specific details and requirements for this new program. The Administration has indicated that the Gold Card would be adjudicated in expedited manner (contrary to the existing EB-5 immigrant investor program), and will not have an annual quota (contrary to the EB-5 program which is limited to 10,000 per year).

As was said, the revenue from this new immigration program could be used to help reduce the national debt (contrary to the EB-5 program which is focused on the job-creation for American citizens).

Another difference is that the EB-5 program provides for "conditional" Green Card valid for two years only, after which an investor and his family must engage in another lengthy process of "removing the conditions" and getting a permanent Green Cards for ten years.

The administration’s current plan is to have the Gold Card visa replace the EB-5 immigrant investor visa, which has been the only investment-based green card option since 1990s.

The currently existing EB-5 program requires an investment of $800,000 or $1,050,000 in a U.S. business, the creation of 10 jobs for U.S. workers, and local economic growth. The process involves proving a lawful source of investment funds and a suite of other investment requirements to be approved for and maintain their permanent residence status.
The EB-5 program was initially created in 1990 by Congress and went through a legislative overhaul with the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act (RIA). The RIA tightened the program’s regulatory, compliance, and oversight components to enhance investor protections. It also reauthorized the regional center program through September 30, 2027. Eliminating the program early would require Congressional approval.
In alternative, the proposed Gold Card and the EB-5 visa programs could co-exist as two separate programs, each striving for different investor demographics and economic goals.

​It was suggested, the Gold Card, with a higher price tag and expedited process (and different tax benefits), would attract wealthy individuals and provide significant funds directly to the U.S. government. EB-5 visa, on the other hand, involves a lower investment amount and a slower process, but is more accessible to a larger pool of potential investors and provides economic benefits directly to American workers and local economies.

In Russian:

Недавно объявленный план Белого Дома заключается в том, чтобы виза Gold Card заменила иммиграционную инвесторскую визу EB-5, которая была единственным вариантом получения грин-карты на основе инвестиций с 1990-х годов.

Действующая в настоящее время программа EB-5 требует инвестиций в размере US$800 000 или US$1 050 000 долларов в американский бизнес, создания 10 рабочих мест для граждан США и экономического роста и т.п. Процесс включает в себя подтверждение законного источника инвестиционных средств и ряд других инвестиционных требований для одобрения и сохранения статуса постоянного резидента.

Программа EB-5 была первоначально создана в 1990 году Конгрессом и прошла законодательную реформу с принятием Закона о реформе и добросовестности EB-5 (RIA). RIA ужесточила нормативные, контрольные и надзорные компоненты программы для усиления защиты инвесторов. Она также повторно разрешила программу региональных центров до 30 сентября 2027 года. Для досрочной отмены программы потребуется одобрение Конгресса.

В качестве альтернативы предлагаемые программы Gold Card и визы EB-5 могли бы сосуществовать как две отдельные программы, каждая из которых интересна разным группам инвесторов.

Предполагается, что Gold Card с более высокой ценой инвестиций (или "покупки" вида на жительство) и ускоренным процессом привлечет состоятельных людей, которые заинтересованы в получении вида на жительство и гражданство США (с особым режимом налогообложения, что также важно). Виза EB-5, с другой стороны, предполагает меньшую сумму инвестиций и более медленный процесс, и не дает никаких бенефитов в смысле налогообложения, но она более доступна для большего числа потенциальных инвесторов и обеспечивает экономические выгоды напрямую американским работникам и местной экономике.

Мы будем публиковать новости на эту тему в нашем блоге и на ютуб канале. 

​https://www.youtube.com/@lubasmalimmigrationlawyer

​

The application for U.S. citizenship is called Application for Naturalization, USCIS Form N-400. 

The most current edition of the form is posted at USCIS website
https://www.uscis.gov/n-400

Currently, the filing fee is US$725.00.

You can submit this application by mail or online.

To submit an application online, you can create your USCIS online account at:

https://my.uscis.gov/

Under Sign In - select Create Account.

You can find additional information and test resources hare: 
https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/apply-for-citizenship

Presently, the 2008 test is offered ruring the naturalization test:

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources

You can watch naturalization videos here:
https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/the-naturalization-interview-and-test 

In 2023, USCIS started redesigning the test. During the webconference on March 3, 2023, they explained what the pilot program is, and advised that USCIS expectation for the leval of English language proficiency is ESL Level 3. 

The Medical Exception, Form N-648, was also recently redesigned, and the new process is in effect since 2022.

Form N-648: Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions.

When you seek a medical certification for disability exception because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment that prevents you from learning English and civics, please keep in mind the following:

• There is no filing fee for Form N-648. However, a medical professional may charge a fee for a medical examination and for filling out forms.
• Only a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist licensed to practice in the United States may certify Form N-648. You may contact your state medical board to determine whether the medical professional has a valid license.
• An authorized medical professional must evaluate you in person or where the state law permits, a real-time telehealth examination, and diagnose you with a condition that prevents you from completing the educational requirements in order to qualify for the N-648.
• Read and sign the Applicant’s (Patient’s) Attestation/Release of Information. A legal guardian, surrogate, or designated representative, may also sign for an applicant who is unable to undergo any part of the naturalization examination because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment

Below is a list of main changes in the new Form N-648:

• The new Form N-648 is much shorter and has been cut in half from the previous version, from 9 pages to 4.5 pages.
• Part 1, Applicant Information, has been shortened. The new form no longer requests the applicant’s Social Security Number or address.
• The number of questions in Part 3, Information About Disabilities and/or Impairments, has been greatly reduced and simplified to just key information. In particular, the question about the applicant’s daily life activities in the previous version has been deleted. The following questions have also been deleted: questions about the description of the disabilities, cause of the disabilities, dates of diagnosis, dates of onset, date/location the doctor first examined the applicant, frequency of treatment, if the doctor is the one who regularly treats the applicant, duration of treatment, name of regularly treating medical professional, and explanation of why this doctor is certifying the form instead of the regularly treating medical professional.
• Also in Part 3, the previous questions about the clinical diagnosis and the connection between the disability/impairment and inability to meet the testing requirements have been combined in the first question.
• A new section has been added: Part 4, Ability to Understand Oath of Allegiance, in which the medical professional is asked if the applicant is able to understand and communicate an understanding of the oath. In our earlier comments, we asked USCIS to remove this question from the form. The USCIS Policy Alert explains that the intent of this question is to streamline the oath waiver process by eliminating the need for a separate oath waiver request. However, we are concerned that this question will trigger a big increase in unnecessary oath waiver requests. Most doctors will not understand the oath requirements and will indicate that the applicant requires an oath waiver. Then, the applicant will need a legal guardian, a surrogate, or a designated representative who is a U.S. citizen to testify on their behalf, creating another barrier for those who cannot easily meet this requirement. CLINIC plans to raise these concerns with USCIS and request additional training for medical professionals and adjudicators on the oath waiver. In the meantime, advocates will need to work closely with the medical professional to ensure they answer “yes” if the applicant is capable of taking the oath.
• Part 5, Interpreter Information and Certification, distinguishes between in-person interpretation and telephonic interpretation and has clear instructions on how to complete this section when a telephonic interpreter was used.
• In Part 6, Applicant’s (Patient’s) Attestation/Release of Information, the signature box notes that an applicant can make a mark if they are unable to sign. This is something we requested in our comments.
• Part 7, Medical Professional’s Certification, has been simplified, with key information enumerated at the beginning.
• The Form N-648 Instructions have added information on how to file the N-648 when submitting the N-400 electronically, stating that it can be uploaded as additional evidence. In addition, the instructions have added information to clarify that a legal guardian, surrogate, or designated representative may sign for an applicant who has been deemed legally incompetent.

The USCIS Policy Manual guidance on disability waivers has undergone major revisions that make it consistent with the substance and spirit of the new Form N-648. While the previous version of the policy guidance was harsh and punitive, the new guidance is much more humane and offers more flexibility for applicants in meeting the N-648 requirements. Key changes are discussed below.

Flexibility on N-648 filing date and supplemental informationThe new guidance states that while the N-648 should be submitted as an attachment to Form N-400, “USCIS should accept a Form N-648 submitted after the applicant files the naturalization application” with none of the strict conditions imposed by the previous guidance (Part B).

If the first N-648 is not sufficient, the applicant can submit an updated form with additional information rather than a new N-648. “The resubmitted form must be signed and dated by the same medical professional who signed the original Form N-648” and will be accepted even if the form edition is now expired and no longer in use. “USCIS will also accept a letter or other medical documentation addressing the Form N-648 deficiencies, if it is signed and dated by the same medical professional who signed the Form N-648” (Part G, Section 2).

Flexibility in determining when Form N-648 is sufficient

While the previous guidance required that every question on the Form N-648 be answered fully, the new guidance provides a lot more flexibility. The guidance states that “an officer reviews the Form N-648 in its totality” and an officer reviewing the Form N-64 may determine that it is sufficient “even if some of the questions have incomplete responses… if the file and testimony establish that the applicant is eligible” (Part G).

If information is missing from the N-648, the guidance states that “the officer should review any extra documents provided by the medical professional to determine if the information completes the Form N-648” (Part E). In addition, the guidance states, “Before determining that a Form N-648 is insufficient due to missing information, officers should review all sections to confirm that the information needed does not appear in a different section of the form” (Footnote 24). The N-648 may not be found insufficient solely because Diagnostical and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes are missing “if the medical professional has provided a sufficient description of the clinical diagnosis” (Footnote 20). Similarly, the officer “should not determine that the form is insufficient solely because the date of last examination is missing on the form if the date can be confirmed during the naturalization interview.” (Footnote 21). If their signatures are missing on the form, the officer may allow the applicant or the interpreter to sign the form at the interview (if the interpreter was the same one used during the medical professional’s examination) (Footnote 13).

Limited reasons for credible doubtThe list of examples of credible reasons to doubt the validity of the form in Part F, Section 4 has been shortened quite a bit and includes, for example, “The medical professional who completed the Form N-648 is under investigation for immigration fraud, Medicaid fraud, or other fraud schemes.” However, it is still open to a lot of interpretation by adjudicators and includes the catch-all example of “Any other articulable grounds that are supported by the record.” Providing multiple N-648s with different diagnoses and information remains a credible reason to doubt the validity of the Form N-648 in the new guidance, so legal advocates still need to review N-648s carefully for consistency when the client has more than one. In two places, the new guidance states that “in general, USCIS should accept the medical professional’s diagnosis” (Part F, Section 4 and Part G).

While the previous guidance emphasized that the regularly treating medical professional should complete Form N-648, this emphasis has been removed from the new guidance. In the past, if the form was completed by a different medical professional and lacked a sufficient explanation of why, this could be cause for credible doubt and lead to a denial.

Telehealth examinationIn Part E, the new policy guidance states that USCIS may accept a Form N-648 certified by a licensed medical professional who completed a telehealth exam. The medical professional must adhere to their state telehealth laws and requirements.

Increased transparency and communication with the applicantThe new guidance appears to improve transparency and communication with the applicant regarding the sufficiency of Form N-648. For example, if an applicant submits more than one N-648 and there are significant discrepancies between the documents, “the officer must provide the applicant with an opportunity to explain discrepancies” (Part B, Section 2). Later, it states again, “The officer must provide the applicant an opportunity to address any specific discrepancies or inconsistencies during the interview” (Part 4, Section F). If the form is insufficient, “The officer must explain why they found the form insufficient in the applicant’s preferred language, using an interpreter if needed” (Part G, Section 2). This is stated again in Part H, Section 2: “The officer must explain the reasons for insufficiency in the applicant’s preferred language verbally during the interview, using an interpreter if needed.” Before requesting a supplemental Form N-648, the officer must seek supervisory approval and “Explain to the applicant, through an RFE, the reasons for doubting the veracity of the information on the original Form N-648.” (Part F, Section 4).

Additional information can be found in November 2022 guidance.

If you have any questions, please email us to ask questions or to schedule a consultation.

​Effective Dec. 12, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating the USCIS Policy Manual to allow USCIS to automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (commonly called Green Cards) for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization for two years.
This update is expected to help naturalization applicants who experience longer processing times, because they will receive an extension of lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and may not need to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card). LPRs who properly file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, may receive this extension without regard to whether they filed Form I-90. USCIS will update the language on Form N-400 receipt notices to extend Green Cards for up to 24 months for these applicants. The receipt notice can be presented with the expired Green Card as evidence of continued status as well as identity and employment authorization under List A of Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9), if presented before the expiration of the 24-month extension period provided in the notice.

Prior to this change, under USCIS policy, naturalization applicants who did not apply for naturalization at least six months before their Green Card expiration date needed to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), to maintain proper documentation of their lawful status. Applicants who applied for naturalization at least six months prior to their Green Card expiration were eligible to receive an Alien Documentation, Identification, and Telecommunications (ADIT) stamp in their passport, which served as temporary evidence of their LPR status. This policy was based on the processing goal of 180 days or six months for Form N-400s, which would make filing Form I-90 unnecessary for applicants who filed at least six months before their Green Card expiration date. This policy update recognizes USCIS’ current processing times, while improving flexibility and efficiency by reducing the number of ADIT stamp appointments in field offices and the number of Form I-90s filed, which allows for these resources to be focused on other immigration benefit adjudications.
​
The extension will apply to all applicants who file Form N-400 on or after Dec. 12, 2022. LPRs who filed for naturalization prior to Dec. 12 will not receive a Form N-400 receipt notice with the extension. If their Green Card expires, they generally must still file Form I-90 or receive an ADIT stamp in their passport, in order to maintain valid evidence of their lawful permanent resident status. Lawful permanent residents who lose their Green Card generally must still file Form I-90, even if they have applied for naturalization and received the automatic extension under this updated policy. This is because noncitizens must carry within their personal possession proof of registration, such as the Green Card and any evidence of extensions or may be subject to criminal prosecution under INA 264(e). Applicants who require an ADIT stamp may request an appointment at a USCIS Field Office by contacting the USCIS Contact Center.
Visit the Policy Manual Feedback page to comment on this update. For more information, visit our Replace Your Green Card page. 

Briefly in Russian:

Если вы подаете заявление на гражданство США через натурализацию, форму N-400 после 12 декабря 2023, то вам выдадут Receipt Notice, I-797, письмо продляющее вашу грин карту на два года (24 месяца) с момента истечение.

Если вы подали 400 до 12 декабря 2023, и ваша грин карта уже истекла или скоро истекает, но вы еще не получили гражданство, вам нужно будет подать заявление на новую грин карту I-90 и заплатить госпошлину.

Question: 
I filed an I-751 application by myself without my abusive US citizen husband's help or signature. My I-751 petition to remove conditions from residency was recently granted on the basis of abuse and extreme cruelty by U.S. citizen spouse. I received my 10-year green card card.  I have been an permanent resident for more than 3 years. 

Can I apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization after just 3 years, instead of waiting for additional two years?  

Могу ли я подать заявление на американское гражданство через 3 года после первой грин карты, если моя постоянная 10-летняя грин карта была недавно утверждена на основании моей петиции, которую я подала без участия мужа на основании домашнего насилия? Я была резидентом более 3-х лет и не хотелf бы ждать еще два года.


Answer:
Yes, you can! If you filed your I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions from Residency by yourself as a waiver based on abuse and extreme cruelty, it was the only basis for a waiver, and your application was approved. It means that you can submit your N-400 Application for Naturalization after three years instead of five years.

I recommend that you consult an attorney to review your I-751 petition and naturalization eligibility to make sure that you are eligible.

Да, вы можете подать на гражданство после 3-х лет ЕСЛИ ваша петиция I-751 была подана и утверждена на основании только одного основания "домашнее насилие со стороны мужа-американца".

Перед тем как подавать на гражданство через 3 (а не 5 лет), проконсультируйтесь с адвоктом, чтобы убедиться, что вы соответствуете требованиям закона.

Сам закон внизу из Руководства офицеров иммиграционной службы США.


What the law says:

INA sec 319(a) and USCIS Policy Manual Chapter 3 - Spouses of U.S. Citizens Residing in the United States
​
F. Eligibility for Persons Subjected to Battery or Extreme Cruelty1. General Eligibility for Persons Subjected to Battery or Extreme CrueltyOn October 28, 2000, Congress expanded the provision regarding naturalization based on marriage to a U.S. citizen for persons who reside in the United States. The amendments added that any person who obtained LPR status as the spouse, former spouse, or intended spouse[13] of a U.S. citizen who subjected him or her to battery or extreme cruelty may naturalize under this provision.[14]
Specifically, the person must have obtained LPR status based on:

• An approved Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360) as the self-petitioning spouse of an abusive U.S. citizen;
• An approved Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360) as the self-petitioning spouse of an abusive LPR, if the abusive spouse naturalizes after the petition has been approved;[15] or
• Special rule cancellation of removal for battered spouses and children in cases where the applicant was the spouse, or intended spouse of a U.S. citizen, who subjected him or her to battery or extreme cruelty.[16]

A person is also eligible for naturalization under the spousal naturalization provisions if he or she had the conditions on his or her residence removed based on:

• An approved battery or extreme cruelty waiver of the joint filing requirement for Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence (Form I-751), for a conditional permanent resident, if the marriage was entered into in good faith and the spouse was subjected to battery or extreme cruelty by the petitioning citizen or LPR spouse.[17]

2. Exception to Marital Union and U.S. Citizenship Requirements for SpousesA person subjected to battery or extreme cruelty by his or her U.S. citizen spouse is exempt from the following naturalization requirements:[18]

• Married to the U.S. citizen spouse at the time of filing the naturalization application;
• Living in marital union with the citizen spouse for at least 3 years at the time of filing the naturalization application; and
• Applicant’s spouse has U.S. citizenship from the time of filing until the time the applicant takes the Oath of Allegiance.[19]

The spouse must meet all other eligibility requirements for naturalization.[20]

2005 USCIS Memorandum is here.

How to bring an immediate relative of a US citizen to the USA ASAP, if they are from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and you are with them abroad. Immediate relatives are: spouses of a US citizen, unmarried children under 21 and parents of a US citizen (and you are over 21). Other relatives are not falling under the "immediate relative" category.

Как привезти близкого родственика в США в порядке ускорения: если вы американский гражданин, находитесь вместе с ними за пределами США, и ваш близкий родственник (муж, жена, незамужний ребенок до 21 года, родитель и вы старше 21 года), и ваш родственник из Украины, Афганистана или Эфиопии. Если вы еще не подали на них петицию, теперь вы сможете это сделать в американском посольстве, что позволит съэкономить время.

Local Filing of Form I-130 Petitions Filed by U.S. Citizens on Behalf of Afghan, Ethiopian, and Ukrainian Immediate Relatives Fleeing Conflict

If you are a U.S. citizen who is physically present overseas with your Afghan, Ethiopian, or Ukrainian immediate family members and have not yet filed an immigrant visa petition with USCIS, you may request to locally file a Form I-130 petition at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate that processes immigrant visas.  This applies only to U.S. citizens affected by the large-scale disruptive events in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Ukraine.  Such citizens must be physically present in the country where they wish to file petitions.  They can request to locally file on behalf of their spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents who fled Afghanistan after August 2, 2021; Ethiopia after November 1, 2020; or Ukraine after February 1, 2022. 
Please email your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate’s Immigrant Visa Unit if you believe you may qualify to locally file a Form I-130 petition.  You can find those email addresses at each individual embassy or consulate website. 

​A list of U.S. embassies and consulates is available at https://www.usembassy.gov.

If you have already filed a Form I-130 petition with USCIS for your immediate relative and it has not yet been approved, you may inquire with USCIS regarding expedition: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request.
Further information about the immigrant visa process is available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate.html
For more information for nationals of Ukraine, please see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/information-for-nationals-of-Ukraine.html
Additional information for visa applicants from Ukraine is also available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/announcement-of-processing-posts-for-visa-applicants-from-Ukraine.html.

On May 18, 2021, the U.S. State Department announced that it will recognize the U.S. citizenship of a married couple’s child who is born outside the country if one of their parents is an American citizen. Same-sex married couples or children born via surrogate mother, IVF are included into this new interpretation.

The State Department will now approve U.S. citizenship for children born abroad to same-sex or heterosexual American parents via in-vitro fertilization, IVF, surrogacy and by other assisted reproductive means. Under the policy announced Tuesday, the child must be born abroad to married parents and at least one of the parents has to be a U.S. citizen. The child must have biological ties to at least one parent. The child can have biological ties to a foreign parent.

“Children born abroad to parents, at least one of whom is a U.S. citizen and who are married to each other at the time of the birth, will be U.S. citizens from birth if they have a genetic or gestational tie to at least ONE of their parents and meet the INA (Immigration and Nationality Act)’s other requirements. Previously, the department’s interpretation and application of the INA required that children born abroad have a genetic or gestational relationship to a U.S. citizen parent. This updated interpretation and application of the INA takes into account the realities of modern families and advances in ART (assisted reproductive technology) from when the Act was enacted in 1952”, the U.S. State Department said.

​The U.S. Department of State guidance can be found here: 

​

USCIS is revising the current Naturalization or Citizenship Test, for applicants who submitted Form N-400, The goal is to create a uniform test that assesses applicants’ knowledge and understanding of U.S. history, government and values.

This spring, the former USCIS director signed the Revision of the Naturalization Civics Test Memorandum. This memorandum announces the revision of the naturalization test and formalizes a revision schedule of the naturalization test.
​
USCIS set an implementation date in December 2020 or early 2021.

​Read more here.

On June 4, 2018, USCIS began issuing redesigned Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization. The redesign of these eight certificates is one of the many ways USCIS is working to combat fraud and safeguard the legal immigration system. 

USCIS piloted the new certificate design at the Norfolk, Tampa, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Sacramento Field Offices, as well as at the Nebraska Service Center.
​ 
The Certificates of Naturalization are: 

• N-550, issued to an individual who obtains U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process; 
• N-578, issued to a naturalized U.S. citizen to obtain recognition as a United States citizen by a foreign state; and 
• N-570, issued when the original Certificate of Naturalization is lost, mutilated, or contains errors.

A Certificate of Citizenship is issued to an individual who obtains U.S. citizenship other than through birth in the United States or through naturalization. The various types of Certificates of Citizenship are: 

• N-560A, issued to an applicant who derived citizenship after birth; 
• N-560AB, issued to an applicant who acquired citizenship at birth; 
• N-645 and N-645A, issued to the family of an individual who served honorably in the U.S. armed forces during a designated period of hostility and died as a result of injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by that service. Form N-645 is issued if the decedent was a male, and the N-645A if the decedent was a female. 
• Form N-561, issued to replace a Certificate of Citizenship when the original certificate is lost, mutilated, or contains errors.

The redesigned certificates of citizenship and naturalization feature a large, central image against a complex patterned background, which helps deter the alteration of personal data. Each certificate possesses a unique image only visible under ultraviolet light and attempts to alter it will be evident. Posthumous Certificates of Naturalization and the Special Certificate of Citizenship each bear a different image, yet feature the same fraud-deterrent security features.
Although the look and feel of the documents is new, the process of applying for and receiving them has not changed. Individuals do not need to renew their Certificates of Naturalization or Citizenship, regardless of when they were issued. The certificates we issued before the redesign will continue to be accepted as proof of citizenship. 

Answer: Yes, an illiterate person can naturalize and become a U.S. citizen, but only if she is over 50 and has been a permanent resident for at least 20 years; or she is over 55 and has been a permanent resident for at least 15 years; or her inability to read or write stems from a disability.

The law provides three exemptions from the English language requirement for naturalization. The exemptions are for applicants at least age 50 who have been permanent residents for at least twenty years, those at least age 55 with at least 15 years permanent residence and for those who have a mental or physical disability that prevents them from learning English. If the applicant is exempt under any of these rules, she qualifies even if she is illiterate. She can naturalize even if she cannot read or write another language.
If the disability prevents applicants from learning U.S. history and government (Civics part of the naturalization test), they are exempt from answering civic knowledge questions as well. Otherwise, they must answer the Civics questions in their own language.

Permanent residents at least age 65 who have been a permanent resident for at least 20 years take an easier test of U.S. history and government.
If the applicant is claiming an exemption based on a disability, she needs to file USCIS form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions with your from N-400. A medical doctor or licensed clinical psychologist must sign the certification. An identifiable mental or physical disease must cause the disability. If the doctor says something like, “he’s too old to learn English,” the USCIS will deny the waiver request.
If a person is so disabled that he or she is unable to understand or agree to the citizenship oath, a legal guardian may file the application and the applicant may get U.S. citizenship.

English Language Exemptions 

You Are Exempt From The English Language Requirement, But Are Still Required To Take The Civics Test If You Are:

• Age 50 or older at the time of filing for naturalization and have lived as a permanent resident (green card holder) in the United States for 20 years   (commonly referred to as the “50/20” exception).
  OR
• Age 55 or older at the time of filing for naturalization and have lived as a permanent resident in the United States for 15 years (commonly referred to as the “55/15” exception).

Note:

• Even if you qualify for the “50/20” or “55/15” English language exceptions listed above, you must still take the civics test.
• You will be permitted to take the civics test in your native language.
• If you take the test in your native language, you must bring an interpreter with you to your interview.
• Your interpreter must be fluent in both English and your native language.
• If you are age 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for at least 20 years at the time of filing for naturalization, you will be given special consideration regarding the civics requirement.

For more information, see the USCIS Policy Manual Citizenship and Naturalization Guidance.

Information about Naturalization Test is here.

Soldiers in the U.S. Army Reserve are suing the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security for stalling their citizenship applications after they joined the military through MAVNI, a program that promised them fast-track naturalization for their service.

“Each plaintiff-soldier has kept his/her end of the bargain,” their lawsuit states. The immigrant recruits did their part by enlisting, training in drills with their unit, and subjecting themselves to deployment. The U.S. Army certified their service, and the military is supposed to provide citizenship as soon as they complete basic training or attend drills.

But at the Pentagon’s request, the Homeland Security Department is not processing their applications, as required.

Pentagon and Homeland Security officials now say they are considering going back and changing who is eligible to receive a certification of military service, possibly even revoking the certifications for those soldiers not in active-duty service. 

Although the soldiers named in this suit received their certifications, they “could be considered signed in error and may be decertified,” said Director of Military Accession Policy at the Pentagon, citing the program’s guidance.
The delay has put some soldiers at risk of deportation, the lawsuit states. These soldiers are “suffering irreparable harm” and financial strain as they face uncertainty about their status, unable to get a job, a drivers license, or a passport to visit sick family members, their attorneys say.
The 10 reservists who brought the suit were recruited through the Pentagon’s Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, known as MAVNI, which gives expedited citizenship to legal immigrants who enlist with critical language skills or medical training.
Nearly 10,000 immigrants are in the MAVNI program, most of them serving in the Army. The popular program was allowed to accept 5,000 recruits in 2016, but was frozen last fall after security concerns about the vetting of recruits.

Now the Pentagon is considering scrapping it altogether, according to an internal memo included in the suit. This would leave roughly 1,000 non-citizen recruits at risk of deportation despite being enlisted in the U.S. military.
​Read the full article here.

A new Department of Defense and DHS rule that bars MAVNI recruits from receiving security clearances until they complete their first term of service has crippled the ability of soldiers to earn a commission and prevents the military from using their talent for years.
Earlier this spring, Dr. Kusuma Nio was anticipating two things in May. The trauma surgeon hoped to deploy with his Army Reserve unit to Afghanistan, where his expertise in treating catastrophic injuries would be vital to U.S. and Afghan forces roiled by resurgent militants.
The other thing: on May 5th, he was expected to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen.
Instead, he is watching his fellow soldiers of the 1st Forward Surgical Team based in New York leave for war. His path to citizenship has been delayed "indefinitely".

His citizenship oath was postponed indefinitely April 13 2017 by the United States Citizenship Immigration Service, who told him the Defense Department has suspended all applications from foreign-born recruits looking to serve.
​
MAVNI or Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program was implemented in 2009 to take advantage of medical and language skills critical to the success of military operations around the world.
Newly imposed requirements issued in a Pentagon memo Sept. 30, 2016 — when the program was renewed — have created a backlog of applicants.

A rule that bars MAVNI recruits from receiving a security clearance until they complete their first term of service has crippled the ability of soldiers like Nio to earn a commission and prevents the military from using their talent for years. Until then, his time as a reserve specialist is spent cleaning scalpels instead of using them in life-saving surgery.
Nio and others are left asking a simple question: If the military wanted their talents, why are they sitting around not using them?

“I’m a fully qualified and American-trained surgeon. It doesn’t make sense to me,” Nio said.
Margaret Stock, a retired Army officer central in creating the MAVNI program, said May 8, 2017 that the reforms are so severely counter to the original intent of the program that it is now imploding, sending ripples throughout the military that will hurt recruiting, undermine its security missions and send personnel spending into a frenzy as the force pays bills for native troops to receive top medical and language training.
“This isn’t extending the program,” Stock said of the new measures. “This is destroying the program.”
Stalled by new rulesThe MAVNI program has attracted thousands of legal immigrants, offering a fast track to citizenship in exchange for vital medical expertise and cultural and language skills. The military identifies skills in “critical shortfall” and sets goals to bring qualified candidates into the service, according to the Sept. 30 Pentagon memo extending the program until September.

About 10,400 soldiers have entered the Army through the program since 2009, Army spokesman Hank Minitrez said May 9 in an email.

The decision to bar MAVNI recruits from receiving security clearances during their first enlistment term severely limits the contributions that soldiers like Nio can make, Stock said. Doctors cannot receive a commission without the clearance. Enlisted troops cannot enter special operations, civil affairs or intelligence fields, while troops with deep skills in languages such as Russian, Arabic and Pashto are restricted for years from doing the job the Pentagon said they desperately need to be done now.
Another big change: Applicants were required to have a legal immigration status for two years and complete background checks in order to enlist. They could start the Tier-5 investigation before shipping off to training while the long process unfolded, Minitrez said.

Now, recruits must complete a Tier-5 investigation before they get orders for training. The process takes months and involves investigations from the Justice and Defense departments and intelligence agencies, Minitrez said.

Stock said the Army was unprepared for the flood of additional requirements, leaving personnel soldiers scrambling to complete case files without proper training while soldiers piled up in the system. Soldiers like Nio are trapped in a classic military Catch-22 as he continues as a reservist, still unable to attend the basic officer leaders course.

“We haven’t been naturalized, so we can’t go to basic. But we can’t go to basic because we haven’t been naturalized,” he said.
Applicants are screened by the State and Homeland Security departments and other agencies when they get visas, which makes them the most vetted recruits in the military, Stock said.

Green-card holders, who are permanent residents but not citizens, are not subject to the rules, she said.
​
“The new rule is especially pernicious because the requirements for passing [additional screenings] are completely different from the ‘good moral character’ required for citizenship,” Stock said.
“That’s not the legal standard for naturalization,” and the new requirements have not been imposed on immigrants naturalized in the past few years, Stock said.
Process breakdownThe Army, which according to service data is the biggest user of the MAVNI program, has defended the new security measures.
“The background checks are time-consuming and extensive, but we owe it to our soldiers in the ranks and the American people to ensure everyone joining has been properly vetted,” Minitrez said.
MAVNI recruits have been highly sought in Special Operations Command, for instance, due to their reliability and cultural skills vital to training and fighting with foreign troops.
“If you’re going to sneak into the military, this is the last program you’d go through,” she said.
The Army has acknowledged the new Pentagon requirements have severely bottlenecked the process since September.

About 1,000 Army recruits — nearly a quarter of the 4,200 waiting for background check approvals — have been in limbo so long that they no longer have legal immigration status and need extensions or exemptions from USCIS, according to an internal Army document marked “for official use only” but posted online in April. Minitrez and others were listed as the point of contact for information. The document is no longer online.

Minitrez declined to confirm that number, referring the query to DHS and USCIS. The New York Times reported that the number could be as high as 1,500.

While those delay occur, recruits without legal status can’t obtain a job if they are reservists and are subject to deportation.

Unused skills

The Army’s execution of new regulations has frustrated Nio.
Before recent changes, MAVNI could churn out minted troops with citizenship in hand in one to four months, Stock said. But the new restrictions have jolted the program enough to turn off future applicants, Stock said. While recruits with language skills await security clearances to begin training, they must enlist in other specialties that do not correspond with their skills.
“There’s no point to the program if all it does is produce extremely well-vetted truck drivers,” she said.
Nio said his motivations were different than some others. He holds a visa reserved for immigrants with special skills, and the hospital where he works can easily sponsor his legal status.
“This is a perfect way to give back and to serve and to learn,” Nio said about his path to becoming an Army doctor. “There is nothing like combat surgery.”
After earning his doctorate at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Nio enlisted as a specialist in 2015 with the agreement that he would earn his commission as a captain. His contract required him to serve six years in the Army Reserve and two in the inactive Reserve, he said. He finished his background investigation in April 2016, with his oath of citizenship and commissioning on track for this month, he said. But the restrictions have stopped all progress, he said.
Nio works at a Level 1 trauma center in his civilian job, where he treats patients with gunshot wounds, severe burns and injuries sustained from car wrecks, along with surgeries for conditions like appendicitis and hernias, he said.
Contrast that with his placeholder Army reservist occupation: operating room specialist. The job involves sterilizing equipment and cleaning rooms between patients. The experience disparity equates to a pilot grounded to scrape bug splatter off an F-16.
“I’m almost through a third of my service time already,” he said. “You have someone ready to go, and sitting as a specialist?”

Luckily, Nio said, his unit sympathizes with the disconnect between his skill and his rank.
Surgical teams in his unit conduct realistic training during their drill weekends, he said. Patients eviscerated by imaginary IEDs and gunfire flood medical tents. Nurses and medics buzz around Nio, who plays the role of trauma surgeon.
The training is realistic, but his authority is a facade. Once Nio removes his scrubs and stores his instruments, he steps out of the tent as a junior enlisted soldier.
Nio’s unit will arrive in Afghanistan this month as the country braces for another Taliban offensive and Islamic State militants seek to regain footholds. Sharp violence has recently struck U.S. troops there. Two Army Rangers were killed April 26 during a fierce battle with Islamic State militants, and three soldiers were wounded in a suicide car bomb explosion May 3 in Kabul.
“My unit is desperate for surgeons to go on this deployment,” he said. “And I’m just saying goodbye to everyone.”

​Read the article at Stars and Stripes here.

March 30, 2017 update on MAVNI program (U.S. citizenship through military service):

At some point in the past, it was a very popular and efficient program allowing foreign nationals to become US citizens through service in the U.S. Military: Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines and National Guard. 

In a video, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and immigration attorney Margaret Stock share the most recent developments. Since fall 2016, the MAVNI program is effectively being shut down. There are numerous delays in naturalization (currently, NSC official processing time is two years!), applicants are facing additional and retroactive requirements. In many cases, USCIS started doing a second round of security background checks, even for those applicants who were already approved. There have been reports of applicants being denied because they had a certain foreign relative living abroad (of course, foreign recruits would have foreign relatives -- they are foreign nationals!). There have been reports of U.S. citizens (former MAVNI recruits) being denied promotion in the military because they are naturalized citizens.

Presently, the US Department of Defense requires all applicants to be "in a lawful immigrant status" when they go to the basic training, and if not in a lawful status, they are required to apply for "deferred action" through USCIS, which is often denied. Atlanta, Georgia is noted as one of the jurisdictions with the most denials. DACA program is a form of a deferred action, which is accepted into this program, as well.

Briefly in-Russian:

Программа получения американского гражданства через военную службу, MAVNI program, претерпевает огромные изменения в сторону ужесточения правил (проводятся проверки "задним числом" уже после утверждения). К заявителям на американское гражданство через военную службу теперь предъявляются "новые" требования. Как говорят адвокаты, начали проводиться дополнительные расследования - в том числе тех, кого уже утвердили.

Иммиграционные адвокаты делятся статистикой отказов (множество отказов из Атланты, Джорджия). Адвокаты приводят примеры того, как их клиенты получили отказ по причине наличия определенных "близких родственников" за пределами США, которые не являются гражданами США. Ну конечно у них будут такие родственники - ведь суть этой программы в том, чтобы дать возможность получения гражданства США иностранными гражданам, и само собой, у них еть родственники за границей!

​Сроки ожидания гражданства через службу в армии (по статистике из иммиграционного центра в Небраске) в настоящий момент составляют 2 года.

Адвокаты, специализирующиеся в натурализации через воинскую службу, предсказывают увеличение количества судебных исков от рекрутов как результат отказа или задержек в рассмотрении заявлений на натурализацию. 

Министерство обороны США с осени 2016 ввело новое требование к рекрутам: теперь они требуют, чтобы заявитель был в "легальном статусе", и отсюда вытекающее новое требование получить статус deferred action, которое USCIS нередко отказывают. С точки зрения права, это требование не имеет смысла, так как deferred action не дает никакого легального статуса человеку, находящемуся в США после истечения статуса (визы), а только определенную и небезграничную защиту от депортации.

В целом, анализ заставляет задуматься о том, что возможно в будущем программа MAVNI будет аннулирована или станет непрактична или нереалистична для большинства рекрутов, желающих таким образом получить американское гражданство.

Вы можете посмотреть официальное видео от Американской ассоциации иммиграционных адвокатов, датированное 30 марта 2017 на youtube. 

​

The number of U.S. citizens who renounced their U.S. citizenship or terminated their permanent residency during 2016 is at a record high. This number is growing every year, which is an interesting trend. 

On Friday, February 9th 2017, the Treasury Department published the names of 2,365 individuals who expatriated during the fourth quarter of 2016. Total number for 2016 came to 5,411 American expatriates over the whole year in FY 2016.

In FY 2015, 4,279 US citizens renounced US citizenship, which is 26 percent less than in FY 2016.

According to the International Tax Blog, the escalation of offshore penalties over the past two decades could be a contributing factor in this rise. 

According to Bloomberg, the Treasury began taxing Americans abroad around the time of the Civil War, to prevent citizens from fleeing the country to avoid fighting. Nowadays, the goal of the list is to make sure that all of the income of U.S. citizens — both in the country and abroad — is reported to the Internal Revenue Service.

#renounce #renounceuscitizenship #expat #expatriate #uscitizenship #usacitizenship

In Russian:

В 2016 году выросло количество американцев, отказавшихся от американского гражданства. В 2016 таких было 5 411, что на 26 процента больше, чем  в 2015 году, когда 4 279 американца вышли или отказались от американского гражданства.

Этот интересный тренд усилился после того как американское правительство ужесточило санкции за неуплату налогов на доходы полученные по всему миру, за пределами США, и контроль за счетами американских граждан в банках иностранных стран.

На практике лица, отказавшиеся от гражданства США, имеют второе гражданство или вид на жительство в другой стране, и основная, но "скрытая" причина отказа от гражданства - это нежелание платить налог на доход, полученный за пределами США в Казначейство США. Хотя официально эта причина не указывается, так как это может привести к стутусу невъездного в США.

ПРАКТИЧЕСКИЕ СОВЕТЫ: ЗНАЙ СВОИ ПРАВА И КРАТКИЙ ОБЗОР УКАЗОВ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА ОБ ИММИГРАЦИИ ОТ 25 И 27 ЯНВАРЯ 2017.

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Ситуация с указами президента меняется каждый день: помните, что информация и законодательство постоянно обновляются, и мы не в состоянии вовремя опубликовать изменения и дополнения на этом блоге. Если вам нужен юридический совет адвоката, свяжитесь с нами по электронной почте и мы договоримся о дате и времени консультации по телефону или через скайп.

После решения федерального судьи о том, что некоторые положения указа президента должны быть приостановлены от 3 февраля 2017, 4 февраля DHS, USCIS, CBP, ICE DOS и все другие департаменты и агенства официально заявили, что они возвращаются к старым процедурам, как это было в силе до подписания указа. И пока указ президента находится на рассмотрении в суде, они не будут его применять.
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25 и 27 января 2017 Президент США Трамп подписал три важных указа, касающихся иммиграции, виз и национальной безопасности страны.
 
Полный текст этих указов можно прочитать по линкам:

1. Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements (01-25-2017)
2. Enhancing Security in the Interior of the United States (01-25-2017)
3. Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States (01-27-2017)

Указ номер 1 касается постройки стены на границе между США и Мексикой.
 
Указ номер 2 касается новых приоритетов в депортации из США, а также изменения во взаимоотношении федерального правительства и так называемых "sanctuary cities", городов, не выдающих нелегальных иммигрантов. Если такие города будут отказываться сотрудничать с федеральными орнанами, и не согласятся передавать им информацию о нелегалах, федеральное правительство угрожает отменой федерального финансирования для некоторых программ. Следует помнить, что это касается только тех программ, которые финансируются федералным правительством США, так как большая часть программ в любом штате финансируется за счет бюджета штата.

Указ номер 3 был подписан и вступил в силу 27 января 2017, и получил самую большую огласку и вызвал шквал негодования и возмущения граждан и политиков как в нутри США, так и за пределами. Указ предусматривает следующее: (1) вводится временный на 90 дней запрет на въезд в США лиц имеющих отношение к семи исламским странам Ближнего Востока (указ не расшифровал, что значит national): Иран, Ирак, Сирия, Судан, Ливия, Йемен и Сомалия; (2) временно на 120 дней приостанавливается въезд беженцев в США изо всех стран мира; (3) на неопределенное время запрещен въезд в США лиц, имеющих отношение к Сирии (важно подчеркнуть, что запрет не ограничен по времени, он относится как к лицам, имеющим гражданство Сирии, так и рожденным там, и может относится к лицам, которые имеют паспорта или travel documents, выданные Сирией, но рожденным в других странах, (4) отменена процедура выдачи виз в США без интервью.

Также в понедельник 30 января 2017 года Иммиграционная Служба США USCIS объявила своим сотрудникам, что на неопределенное время приостанавливается вынесение решений по всем заявлениям и петициям от заявителей из этих семи стран (Иран, Ирак, Сирия, Судан, Ливия, Йемен и Сомалия). Вот это уже очень серьезно. Так как большая часть заявителей находятся в США, и они будут подавать заявления на продление и смену статуса, на получение или продление разрешения на работу, на грин карту, на гражданство и т.п., и USCIS будет вынуждено откладывать их дела "until further notice", так как им запрещено принимать окончательные решения, даже если заявитель успешно прошел интервью (например, на грин карту или гражданство). Пока не понятно, что будет происходить на практике. Скорее всего в течение 2017 года этот запрет будет снят, но конкретной информации пока нет.

Также Госдеп США прекратил выдачу виз гражданам из этих же семи стран (Иран, Ирак, Сирия, Судан, Ливия, Йемен и Сомалия). 27 января 2017 мы получили меморандум из Госдепа о том, что все визы, выданные гражданам этих стран считаются "условно аннулированы" с 27 января.

Запрет на въезд в США относится также к лицам с двойным гражданством. Например, если у вас одно гражданство Ирана и второе Германии, и ранее вы могли ездить в США без визы по Visa Waiver Program по немецкому паспорту, то теперь это невозможно. (2 февраля 2017 Госдеп США опубликовал инструкцию о том, что они продолжают выдавать визы лицам с двойным гражданством, и ставят визу в паспорт той страны, которая не включена в список семи стран).

Запрет на въезд в США по этому указу президента от 27 января 2017 все также относится и к постоянным жителям США (тем, у кого грин карта или вид на жительство в США). За последние дни несколько федеральных судов приняли решения о том, что постоянные жители должны быть допущены в США, но это пока не отменило положение указа. И инструкции от DHS позволяют въезд постоянных жителей, так как это "в национальных интересах" США, что не отменяет сам запрет. Постоянные жители США должны пройти secondary inspection при въезде в США, и доказать, что не являются риском для национальной безопасности.

Если вы имеете вид на жительство США и при въезде в США, сотрудники CBP пытаются отобрать вашу грин карту или не впустить вас в страну, читайте наши практические советы тут.
 
Будьте осторожны, если вы подпадаете под одну из невъездных категорий. Всегда лучше проконсультироваться с адвокатом заранее.

Ожидается еще один указ президента о рабочих визах H-1B visa. Некоторые веб сайты поместили черновик предполагаемого указа. Этот указ внесет изменения в порядок выдачи рабочей визы H-1B и разрешения на работу EAD для супругов H-4. Предполагается, что указ изменит порядок проведения лотереи для виз H-1B, где упор будет делаться на том, получено ли образование в США и какую зарплату готов платить работодатель, а также фокус будет на выдаче рабочих виз "самым лучшим и самым умным" (расшифровка такой нетипичной для юридического документа фразы, я надеюсь, последует когда указ будут подписан).

ПРАКТИЧЕСКИЕ СОВЕТЫ:

1. Если вы из одной из семи стран (гражданин, рождены, имеете какое-то другое задокументированное отношение), воздержитесь от поездок в США или от поездок за пределы США в ближайшие 90 дней, или пока указ находится в силе, или вообще на неопределенное время, если вы имеете отношение к Сирии
2. Если вы постоянный житель США, имеющий отношение к одной из семи стран, воздержитесь от поездок за предеыл США в течение 90 дней или пока указ находится в силе (а если вы из Сирии - то вообще не выезжайте из США, так как запрет на неопределенное время).
3. Если вы из любой другой мусульманской страны, будьте на чеку. Ваша страна может быть добавлена в "список семи". Возможно, что вам стоит заранее подать какие-то заявления, которые вы откладывали, продлить документы, истекающие в скором будущем.
4. Если вы из одной из семи стран, и ваше заявление уже находится на рассмотрении в USCIS, будьте готовы к долгому ожиданию, так как они обязаны отложить все такие заявления и им запрещено выносить решения по делу. Теоретически возможно подать иск в федеральный суд, чтобы принудить государство принять решение по вашему делу, но практический совет будет подождать прецедентов и официальных разъяснений от иммиграционной службы.
5. Визы уже выданные лицам из семи стран были "условно аннулированы" 27 января 2017. Выдача новых виза в настоящий момент приостановлена.
6. Если вы планируете подать петицию на маму, отца, брата, сестру, детей, жену или мужа - и по настоящим законам вы вправе подать такую петицию, не откладывайте и подавайте петицию. По некоторым сведениям целые визовые категории могут быть отменены, изменены или уменьшены в будущем.
7. Если вы нелегал, проконсультируйтесь с адвокатом и определитесь, есть ли у вас какие-то варианты.

 
В заключение я хочу добавить, что хотя в большинстве случаев, этот третий указ президента от 27 января 2017 не имеет отношения к лицам из русскоговорящего сообщества в США, но есть и такие, к кому этот указ имеет прямое отношение. Например, если вы родились на территории одной из семи стран, где ваши родители жили, учились или работали, даже если у вас нет гражданства из одной из семи стран, вы подпадаете под действие указа. Например, если вы лицо без гражданства, но ваши документы были выданы Сирией или одной из семи стран, или вы в прошлом постоянно указывали Сирию, Ирак, Иран и т.п. как страну своей национальности -  вы тоже подпадаете под действие указа. Многие положения указа нуждаются в дальнейшей расшифровке и детальном объяснении (например, что такое "лицо имеющее отношение к одной из семи стран"). Такие официальные объяснения обычно публикуются через соответствующие каналы в иммиграционной службе USCIS и через Госдеп США Department of State. Мы будем вас держать в курсе!

The Department of Homeland Security granted citizenship to hundreds of people who had previously been ordered deported or removed under different names because of flaws in keeping fingerprint records, according to a report released Monday.
The report from the department’s Office of Inspector General found that nearly 900 individuals were granted citizenship because neither the agency nor the F.B.I. databases contained all of the fingerprint records of people who had previously been ordered to be deported.

Nearly 150,000 older fingerprint records were not digitized or simply were not included in the Department of Homeland Security’s databases when they were being developed, the report said. In other cases, fingerprints that were taken by immigration officials during the deportation process were not forwarded to the F.B.I.

“This situation created opportunities for individuals to gain rights and privileges of U.S. citizenship through fraud,” said John Roth, the inspector general at Homeland Security.
Officials say the findings illustrate a major security gap.

“This failure represents a significant risk to America’s national security as these naturalized individuals have access to serve in positions of public trust and the ability to obtain security clearances,” Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican who is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, wrote in a letter to Jeh Johnson, the secretary of Homeland Security.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, an agency within Homeland Security that oversees citizenship, is supposed to check the fingerprints of applicants for citizenship against a number of databases to make sure that they do not have criminal records or pose a threat.

But since the fingerprint databases are incomplete, the agency had no way of knowing if the individuals were actually who they said they were.

Investigators found that in more than 200 cases they examined, none of the individuals disclosed that they had another identity or that they had final deportation orders on their naturalization application.
As naturalized citizens, these individuals retain many of the rights and privileges of American citizenship, including serving in law enforcement, obtaining a security clearance and sponsoring the entry of other foreigners into the United States, the report said.

For example, investigators with the inspector general’s office said they learned that at least three people, who became naturalized citizens after having been deported under a different name, had obtained the necessary clearances to conduct security-sensitive work at commercial airports or at ports and aboard ships. Since being identified, all have had their credentials revoked, the report said.

The inspector general’s report said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency had investigated few of the naturalized citizens to determine if their citizenship should be revoked. That agency is working to increase its inquiries and digitize all its fingerprint records.

In a statement, Homeland Security acknowledged the issues raised in the report. The statement added, “It is important to note that the fact that fingerprint records in these cases may have been incomplete at the time of the naturalization interview does not necessarily mean that the applicant was in fact granted naturalization, or that the applicant obtained naturalization fraudulently.”

​Read here. 

Recent update from USCIS:

If you are applying for U.S. citizenship through a process known as naturalization (filing a USCIS form N-400), you can now use a credit card to pay the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization fee. 

Most applicants must pay a $680 fee, which includes biometrics fee.

To pay with your credit card, you must file a Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transaction. 

At this time, USCIS accepts payments by credit card ONLY for one application, Form N-400, application for naturalization. This can change in the future. You should always review the form's instructions online before filing.

Here is the form: http://www.uscis.gov/g-1450 and instructions how to pay with a credit card.

On Friday, October 16, 2015, a federal judge in Texas declined to order Texas officials to institute a temporary fix so children of undocumented immigrants born in the United States can get their birth certificates while a lawsuit filed by their parents is being tried.  

Instead of issuing a temporary injunction order sought by the plaintiffs (the undocumented immigrants who were denied their U.S. citizen children's birth certificates), U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ruled that the case should proceed through the full hearing process given the complexity of the issues involved. 

Pitman’s ruling comes two weeks after attorneys for the families told the judge that the children’s civil rights had been violated because county registrars, by order of the Texas Department of State Health Services, would not issue birth certificates because the parents did not present one or more acceptable forms of ID. More than 30 families have joined the suit since the initial complaint was filed in May.

“Although the Plaintiffs have provided evidence which raises grave concerns regarding the treatment of citizen children born to immigrant parents, this case requires additional determinations which can be made only upon development and presentation of an evidentiary record,” Pitman wrote in a 27-page decision.

The parents in the lawsuit contend that IDs previously used to obtain the vital records, specifically the Mexican Consular ID (called the matrícula consular) and foreign passports, were accepted in some counties just months ago until the department amended its policies without warning.

Now, some of the undocumented immigrants parents can't request their US-born children's birth certificates because the parents lack proper and acceptable by the Organs of Vital Statistics photo ID documents.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the ruling an “important first step in ensuring the integrity of birth certificates and personal identity information. Before issuing any official documents, it’s important for the state to have a way to accurately verify people are who they say they are through reliable identification mechanisms.”

Read news here and court opinion here. 

On September 09 2015, USCIS Announces Revised Procedures for Determining Visa Availability for Applicants Waiting to File for Adjustment of Status.

USCIS, in coordination with Department of State (DOS), is revising the procedures for determining visa availability for applicants waiting to file for employment-based or family-sponsored preference adjustment of status. The revised process will better connect USCIS procedures with the US Department of State (DOS) procedures, which are used for foreign nationals who seek to become U.S. permanent residents by applying for immigrant visas at U.S. consulates and embassies abroad.

The Visa Bulletin revisions implement November 2014 executive actions on immigration announced by President Obama and Secretary of Homeland Security Johnson, as detailed in the White House report, Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st century, issued in July 2015. 

What is Changing.

Starting October 1, 2015, you will be able to submit your application for adjustment of status or for an immigrant visa before your priority date is current. 

Two charts per visa preference category will be posted in the DOS Visa Bulletin:

• Current priority dates for particular visa categories; and
• The earliest dates for filing application for adjustment of status (earliest dates when applicants may be able to apply).

See October 2015 Visa Bulletin here. However, the priority dates in the Visa Bulletin can retrogress in November. Consult an attorney about your specific case so you won't miss the opportunity of applying earlier.

When filing an application for adjustment of status, I-485, an applicant can concurrently file an application for a work permit and advance parole. This is great news for many immigrants waiting for many years for their priority dates to become current. However, it's a good idea to consult an immigration attorney before applying.

Each month, in coordination with DOS, USCIS will monitor visa numbers and post the relevant DOS Visa Bulletin chart. Applicants can use the charts to determine when to file their Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

To determine whether additional visas are available, USCIS will compare the number of visas available for the remainder of the fiscal year with:

• Documentarily qualified visa applicants reported by DOS;
• Pending adjustment of status applications reported by USCIS; and
• Historical drop off rate (for example, denials, withdrawals, abandonments).

About the Visa Bulletin.

DOS publishes current immigrant visa availability information in a monthly Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin indicates when statutorily limited visas are available to prospective immigrants based on their individual priority date.

• The priority date is generally the date when the applicant’s relative or employer properly filed the immigrant visa petition on the applicant’s behalf with USCIS. If a labor certification is required to be filed with the applicant’s immigrant visa petition, then the priority date is when the labor certification application was accepted for processing by Department of Labor.
• Availability of an immigrant visa means eligible applicants are able to take one of the final steps in the process of becoming U.S. permanent residents. 

Read more here.  

In Russian: 

Российская газета "Новые Известия" опубликовала дельную статью про опасность "бесплатных юридических консультаций". Журналисты проинтервьюировали некоторых моих московских партнеров и коллег. 

Как известно, бесплатный сыр бывает только в мышеловке. Ты получаешь то, за что заплатил.

Хороший компетентный и этический адвокат НЕ будет предоставлять консультацию (давать юридический совет) бесплатно. В оказании юридических услуг самое главное - это получить правильный совет и знать что делать и как поступить.  

Среди "юридических фирм" и "иммиграционных консультантов" попадается немало мошенников или недобросовестных и малограмотных "специалистов". Особенно много вебсайтов на интернете, которые в поисковике выходят в самом начале как реклама (так как вебсайт платит за такое выгодное размещение) и нелицензированных "иммиграционных консультантов" или "нотариусов", которые предлагают "первую" консультацию бесплатно и готовы перезвонить потенциальному клиенту в течение 5 минут. Что следует дальше, об этом люди не задумываются. А им навязывается контракт на завышенную сумму, с ненужными сервисами или предлагаются ненужные или вредные для дела действия (которые дорого стоят). После предоставления бесплатной консультации, такому специалисту ведь нужно как-то заработать на клиенте (на которого было потрачено время) -- если уж не брать оплату за консультацию, то ее используют как ловушку для доверчивых граждан, готовых повестись на обман.

Следует иметь в виду, что хороший опытный адвокат не будет и не имеет права давать "гарантии" успеха или гарантии выигрыша вашего дела. Опытный адвокат ценит свое и ваше время, и для того, чтобы проконсультировать клиента ей/ему нужно изучить ваши обстоятельства и проанализировать возможные варианты и осложнения перед тем как давать платный (ни в коем случае не бесплатный совет). 

Хорошая статья обо всем этом в Новых Известиях, с консультациями моих Московских партнеров и коллег.

On November 20, 2014, the President announced a series of executive actions. However, not all of these initiatives have been implemented, and USCIS is not accepting any DAPA or expanded DACA applications at this time. 

Beware of anyone who offers to help you submit an application or a request for any of these actions before they are available. You could become a victim of an immigration scam. 

If you need legal advice on immigration matters, make sure that the person you rely on is an attorney who is authorized to give you legal advice. Only an attorney or an accredited representative working for a Board of Immigration Appeals-recognized organization can give you legal advice. An immigration attorney can be licensed in any state because immigration law is federal law. It's important to consult an experienced and knowledgeable attorney before submitting any immigration applications.

The Internet, newspapers, radio, community bulletin boards and local businesses storefronts are filled with advertisements offering immigration help. Not all of this information is from attorneys and accredited representatives. There is a lot of information that comes from organizations and individuals who are not authorized to give you legal advice, such as “notarios” and other unauthorized representatives. The wrong help can hurt. Here is some important information that can help you avoid common immigration scams.

Here are some examples of common immigration scams:

**Telephone Scams**.

Do not fall victim to telephone scammers posing as USCIS personnel or other government officials. In most instances, scammers will:

• request personal information (Social Security number, Passport number, or A-number);
• identify false problems with your immigration record; and
• ask for payment to correct the records.

If a scammer calls you, say “No, thank you” and hang up. These phone calls are being made by immigration scammers attempting to take your money and your credit card information. USCIS will not call you to ask for any form of payment over the phone. Don’t give payment over the phone to anyone who claims to be a USCIS official.

If you have been a victim of this telephone scam, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Learn more about telephone scams and telephone scammers’ techniques by visiting Federal Trade Commission-Telemarketing-Scams. 

**"Notario Publico"**.

In many Latin American countries, the term “notario publico” (for “notary public”) stands for something very different than what it means in the United States. In many Spanish-speaking nations, “notarios” are powerful attorneys with special legal credentials. In the U.S., however, notary publics are people appointed by state governments to witness the signing of important documents and administer oaths. "Notarios publico,” are not authorized to provide you with any legal services related to immigration.

Please see the National Notary Association website "What is a Notary Public" for more information.

**Local Businesses who are not law firms and not attorneys or lawyers**.

Some businesses in your community “guarantee” they can get you benefits such as a:

• Visa
• Green Card
• Employment Authorization Document

These businesses sometimes charge you a higher fee to file the application than even a licensed attorney (but will tell you that attorneys charge more "for the same work"). They claim they can do this faster than if you applied directly with USCIS. These claims are false. 

**Dot-com websites - operated by non-attorneys or people not authorized to give legal advice**.

Some websites offering step-by-step guidance on completing a USCIS application or petition will claim to be affiliated with USCIS. Many of these websites are scammers or fraudsters, often taking money for blank forms or minimal assistance without attorney supervision.

USCIS has its own official website: www.uscis.gov with:

• Free downloadable forms
• Form Instructions
• Information on filing fees and processing times

Do not pay for blank USCIS forms either in person or over the Internet. You can download forms for free at www.uscis.gov.

Do not pay to a non-attorney (not a lawyer) for help with immigration paperwork, applications, affidavit. Oftentimes, they give you wrong advice and can potentially damage your chances of ever becoming a permanent resident (getting a green card).

**Green Card Lottery or DV Lottery scams**.

Once a year in fall, the Department of State (DOS) makes 50,000 diversity visas (DVs) available via random selection to persons meeting strict eligibility requirements and who come from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. During this time or often around the year, it is common for immigration scammers to advertise in emails or websites that reference either the:

• DV lottery
• Visa lottery
• Green Card lottery

These emails and websites often claim that they can make it easier to enter the annual Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Some scammers even identify you as a DV lottery “winner” and ask for significant amount of money "helping get a visa". These emails and websites are fraudulent. 

The only way to apply for the DV lottery is through an official government application process (Department of State website, and only when it's open, during an application period which is usually in October-November only). DOS does not send emails to applicants. 

On or after May 1st, you can visit the Department of State website to verify if you are actually a winner in the DV lottery. 

If need help, consult a licensed attorney (not one of the "green card lottery" websites).

**INS doesn't exist. It's been replaced by DHS and USCIS**.

To this day, some local businesses, websites, "notarios"  and individuals make reference to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). This agency no longer exists! 

If someone refers to USCIS as "INS", it's a sign that they are not an attorney, but rather someone unqualified with little knowledge in immigration matters.

INS was dismantled on March 1, 2003, and most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly formed Department of Homeland Security. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the component that grants immigration benefits. The other two components are U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

All official correspondence regarding your immigration case will come from USCIS. USCIS will communicate with you and your attorney by mail, by mailing you notices, approved work permit and green card through USPS (postal service).

If you need a legal assistance, we will be glad to help. Our contact information is here.

Read here. 

As reported by Bloomberg Business News, birth tourism from China to the US is booming. Although it’s not illegal to travel to the U.S. to give birth, it’s illegal to lie about the purpose of a visit when interviewed by American Consul or by immigration or customs officers at the US airport—or coach someone to do so. 

If a woman says she’s traveling to the U.S. to give birth, the consular and customs officers may request proof that she can pay for her hospital stay. (The same would be asked of anybody seeking medical treatment in the U.S.) 

Department of Homeland Security and the IRS have been investigating the growing business of “birth tourism,” which operates in a legal gray area, since last June. The industry is totally unregulated and mostly hidden.

No one knows the exact number of Chinese birth tourists or services catering to them. Online ads and accounts in the Chinese-language press suggest there could be hundreds, maybe thousands, of operators. A California association of these services called All American Mother Service Management Center claims 20,000 women from China gave birth in the U.S. in 2012 and about the same number in 2013. These figures are often cited by Chinese state media, but the center didn’t reply to a request for comment. The Center for Immigration Studies, an American organization that advocates limiting the scope of the 14th Amendment, estimates there could have been as many as 36,000 birth tourists from around the world in 2012. Estimated fees paid by Chinese birth tourists to the agencies catering to them are around USD30,000 to USD60,000.

Department of Homeland Security declined to discuss the investigation because it is ongoing, but the agent in charge said: “Visa fraud is a huge vulnerability for the country. These women allegedly lied to come have a baby. Other people could come to do something bad. We have to maintain the integrity of the system.” 

Read the story here. 

USCIS launched a new interactive webportal myUSCIS. 

See at: https://my.uscis.gov/

USCIS recently introduced another useful webportal, where customers can submit e-request to ask questions about a pending case, report non-delivery of a document (work permit, green card, etc) or official letter (Receipt or Approval Notice, Form I-797), request certain accommodations. I found it to be a very useful tool.

See at: https://egov.uscis.gov/e-Request/Intro.do?locale=en_US

Almost daily, I hear from some of our callers: "I don't need legal consultation, I don't want to hire an attorney. I have only one or two very simple (or quick, or easy) questions, and I want an attorney to answer my questions right now and free of charge because my questions are so simple, quick, and easy!"

I will try to explain why this request doesn't make any sense and how to get proper legal advice.

U.S. immigration law is very complex and constantly changing. There have been no major immigration reforms or amnesties in the past few years (which requires a law to be approved by Congress and signed by the President). However, there have been significant changes introduced by our current and former administrations and the executive branch of the government: executive actions; executive orders of the President; USCIS and DHS memorandums and policy guidance; official and unofficial practice advisories; and changes through our judicial branch (federal and immigration courts), such as, the decisions by the BIA, AAO, Courts of Appeals, US Supreme Court, and even by federal district court judges (for example, an injunction by a federal judge can place on hold an executive order of the President of the United States).

U.S. immigration law is federal in nature and is the same in all states. However, it may apply differently to your situation depending on your background, your place of residence or domicile, US embassy in the country where you apply for a visa, etc.

An experienced immigration attorney may be able to guide you and advise you about specifics, loopholes, various options, and can spot possible problems before they happen, even if it seems to you that your case is pretty straightforward and you have only "one quick question". A seemingly simple or quick question not always can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no" answer. You may not realize it, but a situation may have a lot of hidden issues or variables depending on your venue, court jurisdiction, your factual circumstances, your arrest and criminal record, your family situation and status, prior legal assistance, prior legal actions and applications filed, or even timing, etc.

You can find a lot of useful immigration-related INFORMATION on our Blog. We compiled useful information and links: USCIS forms and fees, case status inquiry, processing times, AR-11 Change of Address, Department of State and NVC, and much more here. Hope you find this information helpful!

To ask basic questions about USCIS immigration forms, filing fees or to inquire about status of your pending case, you can contact USCIS, Department of Homeland Security, by calling their 800 Customer Service Hotline (number is on their website), or send an e-request via a webportal at USCIS website. Case status can be checked online, as well. Immigration courts, U.S. embassies and consulates and National Visa Center each have their own hotlines, call centers or other ways to contact them.

To receive a case-specific legal advice you should talk to a lawyer. Before a lawyer can advise you, we usually email you our confidential immigration questionnaire, and ask you to complete and return it to us. In some cases, we can ask you to email us copies of your immigration forms, paperwork, personal documents. When an attorney reviews your answers to our questionnaire and your documents, it helps her to get to know you, your situation, and decide what legal and/or visa options you shall consider, what are your best chances of obtaining certain visas and immigration benefits, how and when can you bring your family to USA, are you eligible for permanent residency or a green card in the United States, are you eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, how can your children become U.S. citizens, etc.

It's important that you provide truthful, accurate and complete answers to our questions because an attorney's advice to you is based on information you provide to an attorney. It could be dangerous to give misleading, incomplete or incorrect answers to an attorney.

An attorney or a lawyer is often called "a counselor in law". It means that an attorney counsels and advises you, helps you to understand your situation better, anticipates any possible future issues or complications, offers guidance, and a long-term strategy and planning for yourself and your family.

Legal advice is never a simple "yes" or "no" answer, it's never "use this form"  or "this is the link where you can find all information and all answers you need". Legal advice or consultation is like going to see a doctor. A doctor will ask you questions, take your vitals and administer necessary tests, then she will be able to diagnose you and offer you an appropriate treatment plan. The same is true about work of a good and ethical attorney. An attorney will have to ask you a number of questions, review your documents and paperwork, and only then she will be able to advise you, and offer you guidance and counsel.

In order to avoid mistakes and future complications, it's smart to consult an attorney before starting any legal, immigrant or visa process. Consultation with knowledgeable and ethical attorney should serve as a preventative measure and a way to establish a roadmap and plan your future.

In over twelve years of practice as an immigration attorney in the United States, I have come across of many unfortunate individuals who got themselves into trouble after reading and following wrong advice on internet forums, listening to their friends, co-workers, relatives and neighbors advice, or paying to complete their "paperwork" to an unlicensed "immigration consultant", or "notario", or "tax preparer", or somebody else who speaks their native language in their immigrant community but has no proper training and is not a licensed attorney. In some of these cases, individual's chances of living in USA legally can be permanently destroyed. Some people can become permanently banned from the United States, no matter how many close family members (wife, kids, parents) and other ties they have in USA. Immigration law is very complex and unforgiving, and non-compliance, fraud or misrepresentation could bring consequences more severe than penalties in an average criminal case. Where a convicted criminal can usually expect to be released from prison after a number of months or years and be reunited with his family, a person who was deported and permanently banned from USA may never be able to reunite with his family and loved ones in the United States. Lack of knowledge or bad advice is not an excuse in immigration law. "Simple mistakes" in immigration law context could be costly and often irreversible.

Do yourself a favor and consult a knowledgeable immigration attorney before filing any applications or petitions with the USCIS Department of Homeland Security, or before submitting any visa applications online. You can also schedule a consultation to seek a second opinion, if not sure that your current or former attorney's advice is correct as applies to you. When you have questions or need legal advice you can email us to schedule a consultation. We will be glad to help you.