Archive for the ‘Employment Visas’ Category

DOJ Video on Federal Protections Against Immigration-Related Discrimination in the Workplace

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

 

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today the release of a new video aimed at educating employers about worker rights and employer responsibilities under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The anti-discrimination provision forbids citizenship status and national origin discrimination in the workplace.

 The half-hour video, available online and in DVD format, describes the types of discrimination prohibited and how employers can avoid discriminatory practices. The Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is distributing the DVD. OSC enforces the anti-discrimination provision. It also staffs telephone hotlines to help employers and workers quickly resolve immigration-related workplace problems.

 “We want to ensure that workers know their rights and that employers know their responsibilities under our nation’s civil rights laws, which protect documented workers against employment discrimination because of their citizenship status, their accent, their appearance or their national origin,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

 “While OSC vigorously pursues violators of this law, it also conducts an extensive public education program to train employers about fair employment practices and how to avoid discrimination against authorized workers,” adds Perez.

 The video is available on the OSC Web site at www.justice.gov/crt/osc/. In addition, single copies in DVD format can be ordered by calling OSC.

Those interested in ordering the video or seeking assistance from OSC may call its toll-free employer hotline at 800-255-8155 (voice) or 800-237 -2515 (TTY) or its worker hotline at 800-235-7 688 (voice) or 800-237 -2515 (TTY).

Law Extends USCIS Programs through September 2012

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) advises its customers that the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act of 2010, signed by the President on Oct.
28, 2009, extends the following USCIS programs until Sept. 30, 2012:
E-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by DHS in partnership with the Social Security
Administration (SSA), allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility
of their newly hired employees. More than 168,000 participating employers at nearly 640,000
worksites nationwide currently use the program. Since Oct. 1, 2009, more than 1.3 million
employment verification queries have been run through the system and approximately 96.9 percent
of all queries are now automatically confirmed without any need for employee action.
Under the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program, USCIS will continue to receive, process, and adjudicate
all Regional Center Proposals and Forms I-526, Immigrant Petitions by Alien Entrepreneur, and Form
I-485, Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, affiliated with Regional
Centers relying on “indirect” job creation analysis. Currently, there are more than 70 regional centers
throughout the United States.
The special immigrant visa category for non-minister religious workers covers those within a religious
vocation or occupation and also applies to accompanying or ‘following-to-join’ spouses and children
of non-ministers. USCIS will continue to receive and process Form 1-360, Petition for Amerasian,
Widow(er), or Special Immigrant and Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or
Adjust Status, based on Form I-360 petitions.
Finally, USCIS will continue to adjudicate immigration benefits covered by the “Conrad 30” program.
The “Conrad 30” program allows each state health department to submit a request directly to the
Department of State to initiate the waiver process for a foreign medical graduate who obtained J-1
status to change or adjust to another status without the required two-year foreign residence. The
law previously required the foreign medical graduate to have acquired J-1 status before Sept. 30,
2009; the law now extends the program to cover J-1 admissions before Sept. 30, 2012.

U.S. Embassy to Resume Visa Operations in Honduras

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

In support of the recent agreement reached in the political crisis in Honduras, Ambassador Hugo Llorens has instructed the Consular Section to re-open its Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Section starting November 2, 2009.

Immigration Filing Fees as of July 30 2007

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
FORM NUMBER TITLE FEE BIOMETRICS
I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident CardIf you are filing to register at age 14 years, your existing card will not expire before your 16th birthday and you are filing within 30 days of your 14th birthday.   No Fee   No
If filing because your card was issued incorrectly due to USCIS error. No Fee No
If filing because you never received your card. No Fee No
All others $290.00 Yes
I-102 Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document $320.00 No
I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant WorkerNOTE: Certain employers filing H1-B or L-1 petitions must submit supplemental fees of $750.00 or $1,500.00 or a fraud prevention fee of $500.00. To determine if you are required to pay one or more of these fees, see Form I-129 instructions. $320.00 No
I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)General fiancé(e) petition  $455.00  No
For K-3 status based on an immigrant petition (Form I-130) filed by the same U.S. citizen husband or wife. No Fee No
I-130 Petition for Alien Relative $355.00 No
I-131 Application for Travel Document (for Reentry Permit, Refugee Travel Document, or Advance Parole) $305.00 No
I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker $475.00 No
I-191 Application for Advance Permission to Return to Unrelinquished Domicile $545.00 No
I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant $545.00 No
I-193 Application for Waiver of Passport and/or Visa $545.00 No
I-212 Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission Into the United States After Deportation or Removal $545.00 No
I-290B Notice of Appeal or Motion $585.00 No
I-360 Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er) or Special ImmigrantIf filing for an Amerasian special immigrant.  No Fee  No
If self-petitioning as a battered or abused spouse, parent or child of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. No Fee No
If filing for a special immigrant juvenile. No Fee No
All others $375.00 No
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust StatusIf filing for adjustment as a refugee.   No Fee   No
If under the age of 14 years and –

  • Filing with the I-485 application of at least one parent.

 

  • NOT filing with the I-485 application of at least one parent.
 $600.00  No
 $930.00  No
If filing for adjustment and over the age of 79 years. $930.00 No
All others $930.00 Yes
I-485A Supplement A to Form I-485, Adjustment of Status Under Section 245(i)If under the age of 17 years.   No Fee   No
If an unmarried son or daughter of a legalized alien and under the age of 21 years. No Fee No
If the spouse of a legalized alien under the Family Unity Program. No Fee No
All othersNOTE: No biometric services fee is required when filing this form. However, the biometric services fee must be paid when filing the related I-485 application. $1,000.00 No
I-526 Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur $1435.00 No
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status $300.00 No
I-589 Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal No Fee No
I-600A Application for Advance Processing of Orphan PetitionNOTE: Biometric services fee must be paid for the applicant, his or her spouse (if applicable) and each adult household member, 18 years or older.Previously Approved Form I-600A: If you already have an approved Form I-600A that is about to expire and you have not yet filed a Form I-600 petition, you can request one free extension of your Form I-600A. You must submit a written request to the USCIS office that adjudicated the initial I-600A. The request must be received no earlier than 90 days prior to the expiration of the Form I-600A approval, but before the Form I-600A approval notice expires. $670.00 Yes
I-600 Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate RelativeIf based on an approved I-600A filed within the previous 18 months.  No Fee  No
If based on a pending I-600A. No Fee No
All othersNOTE: When petition is for siblings, only one Form I-600 with one fee ($670.00) is required. However, biometric services fee must also be submitted for the petitioner’s spouse (if applicable) and each adult household member over the age of 18 years. $670.00 Yes
I-601 Application for Waiver of Grounds of InadmissibilityNOTE: Only a single application and fee required when applying simultaneously for a waiver of health related inadmissibility grounds under section 212(h) or 212(i) of the INA. $545.00 No
I-612 Application for Waiver of Foreign Residence Requirement $545.00 No
I-687 Application for Status as a Temporary Resident Under Section 245A of the INA $710.00 Yes
I-690 Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (For legalization and special agricultural worker applicants) $185.00 No
I-694 Notice of Appeal of Decision Under Section 210 or 245A $545.00 No
I-695 Application for Replacement of Form I-688A, Employment Authorization, or Form I-688, Temporary Residence Card (under P.L. 99-603) $130.00 No
I-698 Application to Adjust Status From Temporary to Permanent Resident(Under Section 245A of the INA)If filed within 31 months from the date of adjustment to temporary residence.NOTE: The adjustment date is the date of filing of the application for permanent residence or the applicant’s eligibility date, whichever is later.   $1,370.00   Yes
If filed after 31 months from date of approval of temporary resident status. $1,410.00 Yes
I-730 Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition No Fee No
I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on ResidenceNOTE: Each conditional resident child listed on the form who is seeking to remove their conditional status is required to submit the biometric service fee regardless of age. $465.00 Yes
I-765 Application for Employment AuthorizationSee form instructions for numerous fee exemptions. $340.00 No
I-817 Application for Family Unity BenefitsIf under the age of 14 years.  $440.00  No
All others $440.00 Yes
I-821 Application for Temporary Protected StatusInitial (first time) applicants.  $50.00 Yes (see NOTE)
Re-registration or renewal applicants.NOTE: Applicants between ages 14 and 65 years, inclusively, if filing for employment authorization must pay the required application fee. (See I-765, Application for Employment Authorization Document.)Applicants under 14 years of age and not filing for an employment authorization document are exempt from paying a biometrics fee. No Fee Yes (see NOTE)
I-824 Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition $340.00 No
I-829 Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove ConditionsNOTE: Each conditional resident child listed on the form who is seeking to remove their conditional status is required to submit the biometric service fee regardless of age. $2,850.00 Yes
I-881 Application for Suspension of Deportation or Special Rule Cancellation of Removal (Pursuant to Section 203 of Public Law 105-100, NACARA)If filed with USCIS   $285.00   Yes
Maximum payable by family when filed together (spouses and unmarried children) $570.00 Yes
If filed with the Immigration Court (Executive Office of Immigration Review).See form’s instructions for detailed fee information.NOTE: Single fee will be charged by the court whenever applications are filed by two or more applicants in the same proceedings. Fee not required if USCIS refers the application to the Immigration Court. Applicants filing with Immigration Court must submit a biometric services fee payable to Department of Homeland Security. $165.00 Yes
I-905 Application for Authorization to Issue Certification for Health Care Workers $230.00 No
I-907 Request for Premium Processing ServicesNOTE: This fee is in addition to the required filing fee for the related application or petition. $1,000.00 No
I-914 Application for T Nonimmigrant StatusIf under the age of 14 years.  No Fee  No
All other first time applicants. No Fee No
N-300 Application to File Declaration of Intention $235.00 No
N-336 Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings(Under Section 336 of the INA) $605.00 No
N-400 Application for NaturalizationIf filing through service in the U.S. Armed Forces (relating to Sections 328 or 329of the INA).  No Fee  No
All others $595.00 Yes
N-410 Motion for Amendment of Petition (Application) $50.00 No
N-470 Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes $305.00 No
N-565 Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document $380.00 No
N-600 Application for Certificate of CitizenshipIf filing for an adopted child  $420.00  No
All others $460.00 No
N-600K Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322If filing for an adopted child   $420.00   No
All others $460.00 No
N-644 Application for Posthumous Citizenship No Fee No

 

If the instructions on the form state that you must pay a fee, use the table above to find the fee. The forms and fees are listed in numerical order. To avoid processing delays, please include the correct fee when you file your form with USCIS. If you do not submit the appropriate fee on or after the effective date, we will reject the form. You will need to resubmit theform with the new fee.

Biometric Services Fee

If the form you are filing requires biometric services, you must pay an additional $80.00 fee. This fee is to pay for USCIS to take your fingerprints, and if necessary, your photograph and signature.

See “Biometrics” on the Fee Schedule above to determine if you must pay a biometric services fee. If “Yes,” read “What Is the Filing Fee” on the instructions of the form you are filing for additional information.

The biometrics fee is in addition to the form’s base filing fee and must be paid at the time of filing. Fees for forms and biometric services may be paid by one check or money order, or separate check or money order. Unless otherwise instructed, make the check or money order payable to Department of Homeland Security.

Fee Waiver for Certain Forms

Persons financially unable to pay the base filing fee or required biometric services fee may submit a fee waiver request as described in 8 CFR, section103.7(c).

You may request a fee waiver on the following forms:

1. I-90, I-751, I-765, I-817, N-300, N-336, N-400,N-470, N-565, N-600, N-600K; and

2. I-290B, if related to an appeal or motion filed with USCIS concerning one of the other fee waiver-eligible forms; and

3. I-485 – only in the case of an alien in T (victims of human trafficking) or U (victims of a violent crime who assist in the prosecution) in lawful nonimmigrant status, an asylee, an approved self-petitioning battered or abused spouse, parent or child of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident; and

4. I-485 – an applicant who does not have to show he or she will not become a public charge foradjustment of status purposes according to section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended.

NOTE: Granting of a fee waiver is at the sole discretion of USCIS