Category: Spouse

Humanitarian Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens Update from the U.S. Embassy in Poland

3/10/2022

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Гуманитарная помощь украинским гражданам - информация от посольства США в Варшаве, Польше от 9 марта 2022.

США по прежнему не принимает беженцев из Украины. Если вы хотите получить статус беженца, вы должны обращаться в организации по расселению беженцев в Польше и других странах Европы.
Если вы подаете на гостевую визу - это не на статус беженца. У вас не будет пути на получение грин карты и гражданства, за некоторыми исключениями. Это только временное пребывание в США сроком до 6 месяцев.
Посольство США сообщило, что они могут выдать неиммиграционную гостевую визу ДАЖЕ ПРИ ОТСУТСТВИИ ПАСПОРТА! Консул сообщит детали во время интервью.
Вы можете подлать на визу жены или ребенка или родителя американского гражданина в посольстве США напрямую (this applies only to U.S. citizens filing petitions for their spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents), но не можете это сделать по визе невесты, K-1 visa, петиция на визу невесты по прежнему подается через USCIS.

If you are seeking information about immediate humanitarian assistance in Poland:

Almost all refugee cases in countries abroad are processed by local authorities, in this case the government of Poland.
Ukrainians should not contact the authorities of the United States or attempt to apply for visas in order to travel to the United States as refugees–such travel is not possible. They should contact the authorities of Poland. Contact information is below.
Almost all refugee cases in countries abroad are first processed by local authorities, in this case the government of Poland.
Please visit the government of Poland webpage for information about resources: https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/ukraina-en. This website provides the locations of official reception points along Poland’s border with Ukraine.
Additional information is available from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR): https://help.unhcr.org/poland/, including information about non-governmental organizations that may be able to provide additional assistance.
In Warsaw, those seeking information on support from the Polish government can direct inquires to the Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców).
- Phone: +48 47 721 75 75,
- Web: https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/ukraina

VISA SERVICES IN POLAND

IMMIGRANT VISAS
If you are a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident with a Ukrainian relative seeking to travel to the United States on an immigrant visa:

If you have an I-130 petition approved by USCIS pending processing at the National Visa Center (NVC) and want to transfer it to another Embassy, the designated processing post for Ukrainian Immigrant Visas is United States Consulate General Frankfurt, Germany: https://de.usembassy.gov/ukrainians-in-germany/. You may request expedition and transfer from the National Visa Center: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/nvc-contact-information.html
If you have not yet filed a petition but wish to do so, you may contact U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt to inquire regarding possible local filing (this applies only to U.S. citizens filing petitions for their spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents). Both the petitioner and the applicant must be present in Germany.
If you have an immigrant visa case that has already been transferred from NVC to Kyiv for the appointment and processing and you would like it to be processed in Frankfurt, please send an email request with your case number (KEV+10 digits) to U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt.
If you are already in Poland, cannot travel to Frankfurt, and have an I-130 petition approved by USCIS pending processing at the National Visa Center and want to transfer it to U.S. Embassy Warsaw, you may request expedition and transfer from the National Visa Center: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/nvc-contact-information.html.
If you have not yet filed a petition, wish to do so, cannot travel to Frankfurt, and wish to file at U.S. Embassy Warsaw, you may email support-Poland@ustraveldocs.com to inquire regarding possible local filing. (this applies only to U.S. citizens filing petitions for their spouses, unmarried children under 21 and parents). Both the petitioner and the applicant must be present in Poland.
If you have a question about an immigrant visa case that is already in process at U.S. Embassy Warsaw, please email support-Poland@ustraveldocs.com.

If you are a U.S. citizen with a Ukrainian fiancée/fiancé seeking to travel to the United States on a K1 visa:

If you have already filed a petition with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that was not yet approved, U.S. law prohibits U.S. embassies from accepting K visa petitions (I-129F) for local filing abroad. USCIS must first approve K visa petitions. However, you can request an expedite for USCIS processing at https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request

NONIMMIGRANT VISAS
Before applying for a nonimmigrant visa, consider carefully whether you are qualified for the visa you intend to apply for. Nonimmigrant visas are for temporary stays in the United States and are not for refugees. There are no nonimmigrant visas available for refugees. If you apply for a nonimmigrant visa but do not intend to leave the United States, your application will be refused.
There are no “walk-up” appointments available at U.S. Embassy Warsaw or U.S. Consulate General Krakow. You must have an appointment in advance in order to interview for a visa.
If you are not qualified for a nonimmigrant visa, you may wish to refer to the humanitarian assistance information above.
If you are a Ukrainian who wants to travel to the United States or a U.S. citizen who has friends, business associates, or NON-IMMEDIATE family who want to travel to the United States on a nonimmigrant visa you should go to https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/nonimmigrant-visa and schedule your appointment:

Demand is extremely high, availability is low, and wait times and processing times are likely to be very lengthy. You may wish to refer to the humanitarian relief information above.
If you already have an appointment at U.S. Embassy Warsaw but wish to expedite it, you may request expedition via https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/expedited-appointment.
If you already began a nonimmigrant visa application process in Ukraine, you may send a request to Support-Poland@ustraveldocs.comto ask for transfer of your “profile” to Warsaw or Krakow, after which you should be able to continue the process for an appointment in Poland. Please note that a visa fee paid in Ukraine cannot be transferred and that it is necessary to pay a new fee in Poland after a profile is transferred. If you are seeking but do not already have an appointment visit https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/step-4 and sign up for the first available appointment of the type you are eligible for.
If you do not have all your documents available, for example a passport, you may apply without these documents. A Consular Officer will inform you of any required next steps as part of the visa decision. (Edit 03/14/2022: as was explained by the US embassy in another EU country, a valid and unexpired "passport book" (not a biometric card) is still required for any US visa to be issued and for travel to the United States).

If you are a Ukrainian with a U.S. citizen/Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) spouse or parent and are seeking to travel to the United States on a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay please visit https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/nonimmigrant-visa to schedule an appointment.

Select the “Ukrainian with U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident immediate family” category in step 3 when scheduling your appointment.
- This category is only for a spouse or child of a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident.
If you are unable to schedule an appointment via the methods described above, you may instead request a “group appointment” via https://ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/group-appointments and suggest a date convenient for you. Once you have submitted your request, please wait for a response from the Embassy, which will come via email and should permit you to schedule an appointment.
- The group appointment option is only available for a U.S. citizen or LPR with a Ukrainian spouse or child. Other applicants who apply for the group method will be declined.
Read at https://pl.usembassy.gov/visas/humanitarian-assistance-and-visa-information-for-ukrainians/

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F2A Family Preference Continue to be Current in April 2020 Visa Bulletin

3/15/2020

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Family preference category F2A for spouses and unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent residents remains CURRENT in April 2020 Visa Bulletin.

It means that it is possible to file the I-130 and concurrent application for adjustment of status, I-485, but only if you qualify.

One of the requirements is maintaining a lawful nonimmigrant status at the time of filing.

В апреле 2020 продолжается период, когда супруги и малолетние дети постоянных жителей США могут одновременно подавать петицию на воссоединение семьи и заявление на грин карту, если они находятся в США в легальном статусе и соответствуют другим требованиям закона.

April 2020 Visa Bulletin

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F2A Family Preference Green Card Category Continues to be CURRENT in October 2019

9/18/2019

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Family preference category for spouses and unmarried children under 21 of lawful permanent residents remains CURRENT in October 2019!

It means, there is still enough time to file the I-130 and concurrent application for adjustment of status, I-485, and other concurrent applications, but only if you qualify.

One of the requirements is maintaining a lawful nonimmigrant status at the time of filing.

USCIS October 2019 announcement is here:

October 2019 visa bulletin is here.

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Updated USCIS and Consular Procedures for Cuba

12/22/2017

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On December 22, 2017, USCIS announced that due to staff reductions at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, USCIS will temporarily suspend operations at its field office in Havana, effective immediately.

During this time, the USCIS field office in Mexico City, Mexico, will assume Havana, Cuba jurisdiction.

Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) Program - remains in place, and USCIS is working with the U.S. Department of State to ensure that the CFRP Program continues to operate and will announce arrangements for interview/travel document processing for CFRP beneficiaries soon.

More information is here.

Cuban Medical Professional Parole (CMPP) Following-to-Join Spouse or Child - remains in place (agreement signed by the previous Administration on January 12, 2017), and USCIS is working with the U.S. Department of State to ensure that CMPP following-to-join cases continue for spouses and children to be processed and will announce arrangements for interview/travel document processing soon.

More information is here.

General information about the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba is available on the embassy website. You may also contact the embassy by calling 011(53)(7)839-4100 or by mailing to:
U.S. Embassy Havana, Calzada between L & M, Vedado Havana, Cuba.

For emergency inquiries, you can continue contacting the USCIS Havana Field Office at havanauscis@dhs.gov. For any other information on the services we provide, please contact the USCIS field office in Mexico City.

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New USCIS Form I-130 and I-130A: Petition for Alien Relative. New I-864P Poverty Guidelines for 2017

3/10/2017

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On February 27, 2017, USCIS had published a new completely revised edition of the Form I-130 (prior edition had 2 pages, and the new edition is 12 pages long, plus a new Form I-130A was introduced).

The old edition of the Form I-130 (edition date 12/23/2016) will be acceptable only until April 28, 2017. After 04/28/2017, only the most recent 12-page form I-130 will be accepted.

If you are filing for your spouse, he or she must submit Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary. If your spouse is overseas, Form I-130A must still be completed, but your spouse does not have to sign Form I-130A. Form I-130A must be submitted with Form I-130. However, a spouse still has to sign form G-28, if you have an attorney.

Please note that you can't file Form I-130 for a spouse (wife or husband) if you married your spouse while he or she was the subject of an exclusion, deportation, removal, or rescission proceeding regarding his or her right to be admitted into or to remain in the United States, or while a decision in any of these proceedings was before any court on judicial review.

However, you may be eligible for the bona fide marriage exemption under INA section 245(e)(3) if:

A. You request in writing a bona fide marriage exemption and prove by clear and convincing evidence that the marriage is legally valid where it took place and that you and your spouse married in good faith and not for the purpose of obtaining lawful permanent resident status for your spouse and that no fee or any other consideration (other than appropriate attorney fees) was given to you for your filing of this petition. The request must be submitted with Form I-130; OR

B. Your spouse has lived outside the United States, after the marriage, for a period of at least two years.

Biometric Services Appointment. USCIS may require that a US citizen Petitioner and/or foreign national Beneficiary appear for an interview or provide fingerprints, photograph, and/or signature at any time to verify identity, obtain additional information, and conduct background and security checks, including a check of criminal history records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), before making a decision on petition.

After USCIS receives the I-130 petition, USCIS will inform you in writing, if you need to attend a biometric services appointment. If an appointment is necessary, the notice will provide you the location of your local or designated USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) and the date and time of your appointment or, if you are currently overseas, instruct you to contact a U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or USCIS office outside the United States to set up an appointment.

If you are required to provide biometrics, at your appointment you must sign an oath reaffirming that:
1. You provided or authorized all information in the petition;
2. You reviewed and understood all of the information contained in, and submitted with, your petition; and
3. All of this information was complete, true, and correct at the time of filing.

If you fail to attend your biometric services appointment, USCIS may deny your petition.

Also note that the Form G-325A is still valid and required when, for example, applying for adjustment of status.

Please take a note that the federal government updated their federal poverty guidelines, and a new I-864P was released on 03/01/2017. The new I-864P is applicable to all pending and new applications for adjustment of status or immigrant visa.

U.S. permanent resident card aka "green card"

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NEW EAD I-765V Application for a Work Permit for Abused Spouse of NIV A, G, E-3, H visas

2/14/2017

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Certain abused nonimmigrant spouses may use new USCIS Form I-765V (edition date 01-19-2017) to request an employment authorization document (EAD).

You may file for employment authorization if you are, or were, the abused spouse of a nonimmigrant who was admitted under INA section 101(a)(15)(A), (E)(iii), (G), or (H) [admitted in A, E-3, G, or H nonimmigrant status], and you either accompanied or followed to join your abusive nonimmigrant spouse.

Please note that this doesn't apply to all nonimmigrants, but only to those whose spouse is A, G, E-3 and H visa holder, and an abused spouse was admitted to the United States on an appropriate dependent visa.

The INA section 106 employment authorization categories are subdivided as listed below:
1. Abused spouse of an A nonimmigrant – (c)(27).
2. Abused spouse of an E-3 nonimmigrant – (c)(28).
3. Abused spouse of a G nonimmigrant – (c)(29).
4. Abused spouse of an H nonimmigrant – (c)(30).

Also, this doesn't entitle an applicant to a future claim to a lawful permanent resident status (aka green card). This is intended to be a temporary work permit only, to allow a foreign national to work, live, get a SSN in USA.

In Russian:

USCIS опубликовал новую форму I-765V заявление на разрешение на работу для некоторых жен и мужей НЕиммигрантов, которые подвергались домашнему насилию в семье, и находящихся в США временно в соответствии с неиммиграционной визой, полученной как супруг A, G, H, E-3.

Форма заявления была опубликована 19 января 2017 и может быть найдена тут.

Помните, что это временное разрешение на работу, и получение этого разрешения не гарантирует и не является основанием для последующего получения грин карты в США. Это временная мера помощи неиммигранту, попавшему в тяжелую ситуацию из-за насилия в семье.

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USCIS Published a Final Rule: International Entrepreneur Rule

1/17/2017

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On January 17, 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule International Entrepreneur Rule or "Startup Parole" to improve the ability of certain foreign start-up founders to begin growing their companies within the United States.

Under this final rule, DHS may use its "PAROLE" authority to grant a "Startup Parole", or a period of authorized stay, on a case-by-case basis, to foreign entrepreneurs who demonstrate that their stay in the United States would provide a significant public benefit through the potential for rapid business growth and job creation.

The new rule effective date is July 17, 2017, which is 180 days after its publication in the Federal Register.

This final rule adds a new section 8 CFR 212.19 to provide guidance with respect to the use of parole for entrepreneurs of start-up entities based upon significant public benefit.

DHS estimates that 2,940 entrepreneurs will be eligible under this rule annually. Eligible entrepreneurs may be granted a stay of up to 30 months, with the possibility to extend the period by up to 30 additional months if they meet certain criteria, in the discretion of DHS.

Under this final rule, eligibility may be extended to up to three entrepreneurs per start-up entity, as well as spouses and children. Entrepreneurs granted stays will be eligible to work only for their start-up business. Their spouses may apply for work authorization in the United States, but their children will not be eligible.An applicant would need to demonstrate that he or she meets the following criteria to be considered under this rule:

The applicant possesses a substantial ownership interest in a start-up entity created within the past five years in the United States that has substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation.
The applicant has a central and active role in the start-up entity such that the applicant is well-positioned to substantially assist with the growth and success of the business.
The applicant can prove that his or her stay will provide a significant public benefit to the United States based on the applicant’s role as an entrepreneur of the start-up entity by:
- Showing that the start-up entity has received a significant investment of capital from certain qualified U.S. investors with established records of successful investments;
- Showing that the start-up entity has received significant awards or grants for economic development, research and development, or job creation (or other types of grants or awards typically given to start-up entities) from federal, state or local government entities that regularly provide such awards or grants to start-up entities; or

Showing that they partially meet either or both of the previous two requirements and providing additional reliable and compelling evidence of the start-up entity’s substantial potential for rapid growth and job creation.

Briefly in Russian:

Стартап Пароль или Виза на 30 месяцев для предпринимателей в США.
17 января 2017, Иммиграционная служба США (USCIS / DHS) опубликовала новый Закон по поощрению предпринимательства и стартапов в США.

Иностранным бизнесменам и предпринимателям открывающим новый бизнес в США (и членам семей - супругам и детям) будет предоставлятся Пароль (разрешение на въезд и проживание в США сроком на 30 месяцев с продлением, разрешение на работу для предпринимателя и его супруга(-и), но не детей).

Закон вступает в силу 17 июля 2017 года.

Новый статус Пароль для предпринимателей стартапа будут доступен лицам, чьи стартапы были сформированы в течение последних 5 лет, при условии что данный инвестор продолжает играть в нем “центральную и активную роль”.

Одна стартап компания сможет получить пароли не более, чем на 3-х своих иностранных учредителей (плюс члены их семей).

Супруги предпринимателя будут иметь право подать заявление на разрешение на работу, и смогут работать в любом бизнесе или организации, а не только в стартапе. Сам предприниматель имеет право только руководить и работать в своем стартапе. Дети предпринимателя не имеют право на работу, находясь в США по этому паролю.

Госпошлина в USCIS за подачу заявления на такой Пароль составит US$1,200.

Предприниматель должен владеть не менее чем 10% от стартапа, при этом показать, что стартап имеет потенциал для быстрого роста и создания новых рабочих мест. Это показывается:

А) наличием американского инвестора, который инвестировал от US$250,000 в стартап, или
В) получением государственных грантов от US$100,000; или
С) частично # А или # В выше с предоставлением "убедительных доказательств", что стартап обеспечит «значительный положительный эффект для общества" в США.

Предприниматель сможет продлить Пароль по истечении 30 месяцев, если он докажет, что стартап создал как минимум 5 рабочих мест, соответствующим требованиям закона, и его доля в стартапе не упала ниже 5 процентов.

Все детали внизу по линку.

You can read the new rule in the Federal Register or download the PDF file here.

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Humanitarian Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens Update from the U.S. Embassy in Poland

F2A Family Preference Continue to be Current in April 2020 Visa Bulletin

F2A Family Preference Green Card Category Continues to be CURRENT in October 2019

Updated USCIS and Consular Procedures for Cuba

New USCIS Form I-130 and I-130A: Petition for Alien Relative. New I-864P Poverty Guidelines for 2017

NEW EAD I-765V Application for a Work Permit for Abused Spouse of NIV A, G, E-3, H visas

USCIS Published a Final Rule: International Entrepreneur Rule

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Humanitarian Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens Update from the U.S. Embassy in Poland

F2A Family Preference Continue to be Current in April 2020 Visa Bulletin

F2A Family Preference Green Card Category Continues to be CURRENT in October 2019

Updated USCIS and Consular Procedures for Cuba

﻿New USCIS Form I-130 and I-130A: Petition for Alien Relative. New I-864P Poverty Guidelines for 2017

﻿NEW EAD I-765V Application for a Work Permit for Abused Spouse of NIV A, G, E-3, H visas

USCIS Published a Final Rule: International Entrepreneur Rule

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Archives

Categories

New USCIS Form I-130 and I-130A: Petition for Alien Relative. New I-864P Poverty Guidelines for 2017

NEW EAD I-765V Application for a Work Permit for Abused Spouse of NIV A, G, E-3, H visas