President-Elect Biden’s Chief of Staff has confirmed that the Travel Ban will be rescinded on January 20, 2021. Thanks to all of the advocates, community organizations, and community members, this is happening on day 1 of the Biden administration.
Pars Equality Center’s Immigration Team remains available, as always, to answer any questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.
As this incredibly challenging year comes to an end, we would like to thank those who supported our uninterrupted services notwithstanding the COVID-19 constraints. You helped us exceed our Giving Tuesday target, offered to volunteer in our remote events, left uplifting reviews for the work we do, and cheered us on as we helped hundreds of low-income households put food on the table and a roof over their head.
With the CARES Act suspending tax deductible limits on charitable contributions until December 31, 2020, there has never been a better and more important time to support our efforts to help low-income households receive vital financial support, rental assistance, public benefits and immigration services.
We are hopeful for a better year ahead where we’ve all become stronger, wiser and kinder as a result of what we collectively went through in 2020. But we’re realistic that the hardships caused by the pandemic will not simply evaporate. The carnage left behind by COVID-19 will long outlast the end of the pandemic. With your continued support, we have no doubt about our ability, drive and passion to serve the community in need.
We wish you a safe and joyous holiday and a return to widespread health in the new year.
On Tuesday, USCIS announced that it will require most refugees and asylees applying to become permanent residents to attend an in-person interview. The expanded criteria for case-by-case interview determination can be found in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part L, Chapter 5, Part B, and applies to adjustment applications filed on or after December 15, 2020.
The most concerning new interview criteria is the following:
The applicant is a citizen of, or last habitually resided in, a country that is now, or was at the time of last residence, a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
Because Iran is a designated State Sponsor of Terrorism, it is expected that all refugees and asylees from Iran who file their green card application on or after December 15, 2020 would be required to attend an in-person interview.
On November 19, 2020, at a joint USCIS and Ombudsman webinar, USCIS mentioned that it is currently working on scheduling biometrics appointments for a backlog of 1.3 million applications. It also stated that Application Support Centers (ASC) – where biometrics are scheduled – are trying to accommodate about 10,400 appointments per week, nationwide. The availability and operations of ASCs vary by city, county and state as they aim to comply with local stay-at-home or other Covid-19 related orders.
Pars Equality Center (Pars) projects that the scheduling of biometrics appointments for backlogged applicants living in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area may face greater delay due to stricter government orders. Nonetheless, Pars continues to work with the community to continue the submission of Naturalization and other immigration applications.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to schedule a consultation with Pars Equality Center’s Immigration Legal Services Department.
Despite the Bay Area’s implementation of the State’s Stay-At-Home order, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) San Francisco and San Jose Field Offices and Application Support Centers remain open for business with in-person appointments.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to schedule a consultation with Pars Equality Center’s Immigration Legal Services Department.
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