On September 30, 2016, USCIS published new Form I-131A which allows lawful permanent residents to apply for a travel document (carrier documentation) if they are returning from temporary overseas travel of less than one year and their Permanent Resident Card was lost, stolen or destroyed; or returning from temporary overseas travel of less than two years and their Reentry Permit was lost, stolen or destroyed. USCIS made this announcement on September 30, 2016 and it is available online.

The VERMONT SERVICE CENTER has to date transferred to the NEBRASKA SERVICE CENTER over 3,000 principals with their derivatives for a total of 11,000 U visa cases. Another transfer is likely in the first quarter of FY 2017 and transfer notices will be sent out for any cases sent to NSC.

Go to www.uscis.gov website.
Click on the “Contact Us” button on the right hand corner.
Click on “Get Email Updates” in the “More Information” section and fill out the request to sign up for updates.

The website also has the latest news and updates. For example, a recent update that was sent out was a reminder on how to make DACA renewal inquiries.

Individuals are encouraged to create online accounts to get in-depth information and updates on their cases rather than through online inquiries or the National Customer Service.
Online inquiry has limited categories. For example, you cannot request an expedite online, you must call the 800 number.

On Wednesday, October 26, 2016  the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in the Federal Register that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is extending the designation of Nepal for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for a period of 18 months, effective December 25, 2016, through June 24, 2018.

On October 26, 2016, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the designation of Nepal for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has been extended for a period of 18 months, effective December 25, 2016, through June 24, 2018.

This extension allows eligible Nepalese nationals (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nepal) to retain TPS through June 24, 2018, so long as they otherwise continue to meet the eligibility requirements for TPS. DHS has determined that an extension is warranted because conditions in Nepal supporting its designation for TPS continue to be met.

USCIS has determined that most applicants in the family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories can use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart in the DOS Visa Bulletin for November 2016.
However, employment-based, fifth preference applicants must use the Application Final Action Dates chart in the November 2016 Visa Bulletin.
The specific guidance from USCIS.gov is as follows:

For Family-Sponsored Filings:
You must use the Dates for Filing Family-Sponsored Visa Applications chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for November 2016.

For Employment-Based 1st through 4th Preference Filings:
You must use the Dates for Filing of Employment Based Visa Applications chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for November 2016.

For Employment-Based 5th Preference Filings:
You must use the Final Action Dates chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for November 2016.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Friday, OCTOBER 21, 2016, released policy guidance on extreme hardship determinations regarding certain relatives. This final guidance is one of the lesser known initiatives announced under President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration. This guidance becomes effective December 5, 2016.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing the latest policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on determinations of extreme hardship to qualifying relatives as required by certain statutory waiver provisions.

The guidance clarifies the adjudication of certain waiver requests that require USCIS to determine claims of extreme hardship to qualifying relatives.

Several statutory provisions authorize discretionary waivers of particular inadmissibility grounds in cases where an applicant demonstrates that refusal of admission “would result in extreme hardship” to one or more designated relatives (“qualifying relatives”), such as specified U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) family members. The guidance contained in Volume 9, Part B of the Policy Manual is controlling and supersedes any related prior USCIS guidance.

Policy Highlights:

• Lists the waivers of inadmissibility adjudicated by USCIS that require a showing of extreme hardship to one or more qualifying relatives.
• Clarifies that an applicant may establish extreme hardship to a qualifying relative who intends to either relocate to the country where the applicant will reside if denied admission or separate from the applicant and remain in the United States, so long as the applicant demonstrates that the relocation or separation would result in extreme hardship.
• Clarifies that for hardship to qualify as extreme, it must involve suffering or loss that is greater than the hardship that usually results from denials of admission.
• Clarifies that extreme hardship is dependent on the individual circumstances of each particular case.
• Provides a non-exhaustive list of factors that USCIS may consider when making extreme hardship determinations.
• Discusses particularly significant factors that often weigh heavily in support of finding extreme hardship to qualifying relatives.
• Clarifies that factors, individually or in the aggregate, may be sufficient to meet the extreme hardship standard.
• Clarifies that hardship to two or more qualifying relatives may rise to the level of “extreme” in the aggregate, even if no single qualifying relative alone suffers hardship that by itself is severe enough to be “extreme.”

Step 1: Contact (800) 375-5283

• Contact the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at (800) 375-5283 or submit an online request.
• NCSC can help customers, community-based organizations and liaison groups with case-related inquiries and expedites.

Step 2: NCSC Follow-Up Email

If more than 30 days have passed since you contacted NCSC and the issue has not been resolved or you have not received a response, email the USCIS Service Center that has jurisdiction of your case to check the status.

• California Service Center: csc-ncsc-followup@uscis.dhs.gov
• Vermont Service Center: vsc.ncscfollowup@uscis.dhs.gov
• Nebraska Service Center: nscfollowup.ncsc@uscis.dhs.gov
• Texas Service Center: tsc.ncscfollowup@uscis.dhs.gov
• Potomac Service Center PSC.ncscfollowup@uscis.dhs.gov

Step 3: Email Service Center Operations

• If you do not receive a response within 21 days of contacting the appropriate Service Center, email the USCIS Headquarters Office of Service Center Operations by email at: SCOPSSCATA@uscis.dhs.gov
• You will receive a response from this email address within 10 days.

On October 18, 2016, USCIS released the latest updated processing time reports, with processing dates as of August 31, 2016, for

the California Service Center (CSC),

the Nebraska Service Center (NSC),

the Texas Service Center (TSC),

the Vermont Service Center (VSC),

the Potomac Service Center (YSC),

the National Benefits Center (NBC), and

the Immigrant Investor (EB-5) Program.

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Departmental Offices announced that the Interest Rate Paid on Cash Deposited to Secure U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Immigration Bonds will be set at an interest rate of 0.31 per centum per annum.

The change will be effective for the period beginning October 1, 2016, and ending on December 31, 2016.