Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id f24Mg7929585; Sun, 4 Mar 2001 17:42:07 -0500 (EST) Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2001 17:42:07 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <3AA2C36B.CB633DA8@interaccess.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Aliza Becker <alzbec@interaccess.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:5643] Re: I-130/245i X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win95; I) Status: O Content-Length: 16663 Lines: 334 The 245i/I-130 situtation can be complex to explain, but the I-130 is the correct form to file in most cases. There is no 245i form. Unfortunately, people who work at INS have been known to give misinformation on many occasions. The I-130 is the application that permanent residents and citizens need to submit to petition for permanent residence for eligible family members. CAUTION! One thing you must be very careful about, is that the person on whose behalf the I-130 is being filed, is really eligible. INS will likely deport ineligible applicants. I have spoken with many people who are sponsoring workshops to fill out I-130 applications, and they find that well over half of the people who show up are ineligible. For example, permanent residents can NOT file I-130 petitions for parents, married children or brothers and sisters. It doesn't matter if they passed their citizenship test, they must have received their naturalization certificate. FYI, below you will find a copy a Q and A from the American Immigration Lawyers Association in English and Spanish. THE EXTENSION OF SECTION 245(i): FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS American Immigration Lawyers Association [Disclaimer: This Q & A is for informational purposes only, and should not be considered legal advice.] 1. What is the new Section 245(i) provision of the Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act of 2000 (LIFE Act)? The new Section 245(i) allows certain eligible people (see answer to question #3) to become permanent residents without leaving the U.S. Eligible people have until April 30, 2001 to file an immigrant visa petition (an I-130, I-140, or I-360) with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) or a labor certification application with the Department of Labor (DOL) in order to take advantage of this new provision. IMPORTANT NOTE: The LIFE Act adds a new “physical presence” requirement: People who file a petition or labor certification after January 14, 1998 but before April 30, 2001 must prove that they were in the U.S. on December 21, the date this measure became law, in order to be eligible to use Section 245(i). Filing an immigrant visa petition is the first step in a two-step process. The second step is acquiring permanent residency (the “green card”) by filing an adjustment of status application (Form I-485). Even if a person does not apply to adjust status until after April 30, 2001, as long as the petition or labor certification is filed before that date, if he/she is qualified, their eligibility will not expire. 2. Why is this new Section 245(i) needed? Because Congress phased out the original Section 245(i) on January 14, 1998. (The original Section 245(i), authorized in 1994, allowed eligible people who were out of status to adjust their status in the U.S. upon payment of a fee of $1,000.) People who already qualified as of January 14, 1998 were “grandfathered” to receive the benefits of Section 245(i). However, many qualified people missed the January 14 deadline and others since have fallen out of status. The extension of Section 245(i) until April 30, 2001 provides a four-month window of opportunity for people to protect their ability to adjust their status in this country. 3. Who is eligible to qualify for the new Section 245(i) provisions? A person who is eligible for permanent residence based on a family relationship or job offer, and who wishes to adjust status to permanent residence without leaving the U.S., could benefit from the new Section 245(i). Most people who entered the U.S. without inspection, overstayed an admission, acted in violation of the terms of their status, worked without authorization, entered as a crewman, or were admitted in transit without a visa, are considered out of status and would be unable to complete the process to become a permanent resident in the U.S. without Section 245(i). 4. What are the three and ten year bars, and why should they be of concern? Without Section 245(i), out of status people needed to return to their home countries and there complete the process for an immigrant visa at the U.S. consulate. However, if people have been out of status in the U.S. for more than 180 days, they would be barred from reentering the U.S. for at least 3 years, and perhaps as long as 10 years. Under Section 245(i), an eligible individual can remain in the U.S. to obtain permanent residence through adjustment of status, and thus never trigger these entry bars. (Once permanent residence is obtained, these entry bars no longer apply.) Thus, it is particularly important that people subject to the bars not leave the U.S. at all until they become permanent residents. 5. What does the new physical presence requirement mean and how do you prove compliance with it? Under the new law, beneficiaries of an immigrant petition or labor certification that is filed after the old deadline of January 14, 1998, but before the new deadline of April 30, 2001, must prove that they were physically present in the United States on the date that LIFE Act is signed into law, December 21, 2000. People can prove compliance by submitting evidence of physical presence in the U.S. This evidence could include any receipts for December 21 that include the beneficiary’s name. 6. How does a person take advantage of the new Section 245(i)? To take advantage of the new Section 245(i), a relative must submit a visa petition to the INS on behalf of the person seeking Section 245(i) benefits. The U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident who is sponsoring the Section 245(i) eligible person must file (and sign) the petition. In addition, an employer can submit a labor certification to the DOL on behalf of the person seeking Section 245(i) relief. Both petitions and applications must be submitted on or before April 30, 2001. The INS or DOL does not have to approve the petition or application by that date. It just needs to be filed by April 30, 2001. Legal permanent residents can petition for their spouses and unmarried sons and daughters (of any age). U.S. citizens can petition for their spouses, married and unmarried sons and daughters of any age, parents, and brothers and sisters. It is important to know that battered immigrant spouses can submit petitions for themselves, as can applicants for national interest waivers. 7. Do people have to adjust status using the same category in which they petitioned? No. It is important that people eligible to use Section 245(i) file their petitions and applications before April 30, 2001 using the eligibility they have at the time they file the petition. This initial filing preserves the ability to adjust! People can switch to another category when they become eligible for that category if that switch allows them, for example, to more quickly adjust their status. 8. What is the fee and when must it be paid? The Section 245(i) fee is $1,000, and is in addition to any other filing fees the INS and DOL charge. In most cases, this fee does not have to be paid when relatives or employers submit the visa petition or labor certification on or before April 30, 2001. Rather, it is usually due later, when people adjust their status and become permanent residents. Thus, the $1,000 fee usually needs to be paid at the time of filing the Form I-485A, which is submitted along with the standard application for adjustment of status (Form I-485). 9. Does the new Section 245(i) grant work authorization, protection from deportation, or travel permission? NO! Section 245(i) only allows people who illegally entered the United States or are out of status for various reasons to adjust their status in the U.S. if they are otherwise eligible. It offers no other protections or rights. 10. What can people do to make sure they take advantage of this new opportunity? It is vitally important that people seeking Section 245(i) benefits seek advice from the people who can really help them: immigration lawyers and clinics with the expertise and knowledge to get the job done correctly. People who use notarios endanger themselves and their families and may end up, due to incorrect advice, being unable to use Section 245(i), out of luck and still out of status! =================================================== DIEZ PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS SOBRE LA NUEVA 245(i) American Immigration Lawyers Association Jose Pertierra, Abogado Especializado en Casos de Inmigración [Estas preguntas y respuestas son estrictamente informativas. No representan consejo legal.] 1. ¿Qué es la nueva ley de inmigración Sección 245(i)? La nueva ley 245(i) permite que ciertas personas elegibles (fíjese en la respuesta #3) se conviertan en residentes permanente sin necesidad de salir del país. Hay un plazo hasta el 30 de abril del 2001 para presentar una petición de visa (I-130, I-140 o I-360) con el Servicio de Inmigración (INS) o una solicitud de certificación laboral con el Departamento de Labor. UNA NOTA IMPORTANTE: la nueva 245(i) añade un requisito de “presencia física” para establecer elegibilidad. Es decir, las personas que presenten una petición de visa o una solicitud de certificación laboral entre el 14 de enero de 1998 pero antes del 30 de abril del 2001 necesitan demostrar posteriormente que estaban en EE UU el 21 de diciembre del 2000, el día que el proyecto se convirtió en ley. 2. ¿Por qué una nueva 245(i)? Porque la 245(i) anterior se venció por orden del Congreso el 14 de enero de 1998. La 245(i) fue creada originalmente por el Congreso en 1994, y permitía que las personas que estaban en EE UU sin autorización tramiten su residencia sin salir del país con tal de que paguen la cantidad de $1,000. Por esa razón, le dicen en la calle “la ley de la multa.” Muchas personas no lograron presentar sus casos antes de la fecha indicada. Esta extensión de la 245(i) hasta el 30 de abril les abre una ventanilla de oportunidad de cuatro meses de duración a los indocumentados para tratar de legalizar su situación inmigratoria. 3. ¿Quiénes califican para la nueva 245(i)? Toda persona que sea elegible para la residencia a través de una relación familiar o a través de una oferta de empleo puede beneficiarse de la nueva 245(i). Las personas que más necesitan la 245(i) son esos que ingresaron a EE UU sin papeles, a los que se les ha vencido la estadía de su visa, los que violaron los términos de su visa, los que trabajaron sin autorización, los que ingresaron como marineros o los que ingresaron con visa de tránsito. 4. ¿Qué es “la ley del castigo” de los tres y de los diez años? Sin la 245(i), las personas que deseaban solicitar la residencia permanente necesitaban salir de EE UU y tramitar la visa a través del consulado estadounidense en el exterior. La ley sanciona a los indocumentados que salen del país después de haber estado en EE UU más de 180 días sin autorización. Las sanciones son castigos de tres hasta diez años fuera de EE UU antes de poder solicitar el regreso. La 245(i) neutraliza estas sanciones conocidas como “la ley del castigo”, porque permite que los indocumentados soliciten la residencia a través de un familiar o un empleador sin necesidad de salir del país a pesar de haber permanecido en EE UU sin autorización. Para no ser sancionado con la ley del castigo, es muy importante que las personas indocumentadas no salgan de EE UU hasta que logren la residencia permanente. 5. ¿Qué es el requisito de ‘presencia física’ y cómo puedes cumplir con él? Bajo la nueva ley, los que presentan sus casos después del 14 de enero de 1998 hasta el 30 de abril del 2001 tienen que demostrar que estaban físicamente presente en EE UU el 21 de diciembre del 2000. Es aconsejable que las personas presenten recibos u otros documentos que incluyan el nombre de la persona y la fecha del 21 de diciembre del 2000. 6. ¿Cómo puede una persona aprovecharse de la 245(i)? Para aprovechar las oportunidades de la nueva 245(i), necesita un peticionario. Este puede ser un pariente cercano o un empleador, pero tiene que presentar la petición no más tarde que el 30 de abril del 2001. Un residente legal puede pedir a su esposa, a sus hijos solteros, viudos o divorciados (de cualquier edad). Un ciudadano estadounidense puede pedir a su esposa, a sus hijos de cualquier edad (casados o no), a sus padres y a sus hermanos. También una esposa abusada puede presentar una petición por sí misma. Igual que los solicitantes de visas basadas en el interés nacional. Fíjese que el Departamento de Labor y el INS no tienen que aprobar la petición antes de esa fecha. La ley solamente exige que se presente el caso antes del 30 de abril del 2001. 7. ¿Se puede cambiar de categoría posteriormente? Sí. Con tal de que uno haya presentado una petición de visa o un caso de certificación laboral a tiempo (hasta el 30 de abril del 2001), uno puede posteriormente cambiar de categoría de visa para agilizar el proceso. Por ejemplo, de trabajador no calificado a profesional u obrero diestro. De hermano de ciudadano estadounidense a esposo de residente permanente. 8. ¿Cuál es el cobro y cuándo hay que pagarlo para utilizar la 245(i)? El cobro de la 245(i) es de $1,000, más los otros cobros del INS. En la mayoría de los casos, uno no tiene que pagar el cobro inicialmente. Es algo que el INS le exige después de haber aprobado la petición inicial. Hay que pagarlo cuando usted presente el formulario I-485 para hacer el ajuste de estado inmigratorio. 9. ¿Qué otras protecciones le ofrece la 245(i)? La 245(i) solamente permite que las personas indocumentadas soliciten la residencia en EE UU a través de familiares o de empleadores. Hasta que la persona se haga residente permanente, no le permite trabajar en EE UU, ni viajar fuera del país con autorización. 10. ¿Qué deben hacer las personas para utilizar la 245(i)? Es muy importante que las personas que quieran utilizar la 245(i) obtengan el consejo profesional de abogados especializados en casos de inmigración o de agencias comunitarias con la experiencia y el conocimiento para asesorarlos correctamente. Los “notarios” no tienen la experiencia necesaria para dar consejos legales profesionales, y pueden perjudicar en vez de ayudar a las personas necesitadas. All of this may sound strange, but unfortunately immigration law is a crazy patchwork of inconsistent laws. Aliza "Myriam K. johns" wrote: > Thank you for the information. Does anybody know if INS decided which > application form they will accept for the law 245 (i)? The deadline is > April 30. Many people are using the I-130 form, but INS told me they did > not approve this form yet. This was two weeks ago. > Thank you. > Myriam > Aliza Becker wrote: > > > > I think it's important for immigrant educators to know that President > > Bush just granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Salvadorans who > > have resided continuously in the U.S. since February 13, 2001. This > > means that eligible Salvadorans will not be deported and can apply for > > permission to work in the United States during the designated period. > > The TPS application period begins upon publication in the Federal > > Register, which is expected early this week, and continues for 18 months > > from that date. After the 18 months are completed, INS may extend TPS > > or end it. TPS can not be transferred to a permanent immigration status > > in the future unless one is eligible under another permanent immigration > > provision. > > > > The following is copied from the INS Web Page: > > > > All Salvadorans eligible for TPS must submit both an Application for > > Temporary Protected Status, Form I-821, and an > > Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, and supporting > > evidence to demonstrate both Salvadoran nationality > > and also continuous residence in the United States as of February 13, > > 2001. These forms are available from the toll-free INS Forms line, > > 1-800-870-3676, and from the INS Web site, www.ins.usdoj.gov. > > > > Form I-821 must include a $50 filing fee, along with a $25 > > fingerprinting fee. Applicants for employment authorization should > > submit a Form I-765 with the $100 filing fee. Applicants who already > > have or do not wish to receive employment authorization still must > > submit a completed Form I-765, but without the accompanying fee. An > > applicant may be eligible to > > receive a waiver of TPS-related application filing fees. > > > > -- > > Aliza Becker > > Phone: (773) 267-0746 > > Fax (773) 478-5091 > > E-mail alzbec@interaccess.com -- Aliza Becker Phone: (773) 267-0746 Fax (773) 478-5091 E-mail alzbec@interaccess.com
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