Weekly Immigration News Recap (January 2-8)
USCIS Releases New Immigrant Investor Form
Form I-956K, the Registration for Direct and Third-Party Promoters, has been made available. Direct and third-party promoters now need to register with USCIS, per the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. Each person (including migration agents) acting as a direct or third-party promoter of any of the following must submit Form I-956K:
- a regional hub,
- a new business,
- a partner organization that creates jobs, or
- a person who issues securities intending to market them to immigrants as part of a specific capital investment project.
The I-956K form is free to file.
Source: USCIS
USCIS Issues Proposed Rule to Adjust Certain Immigration and Naturalization Fees
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to modify some fees associated with benefit requests for immigration and naturalization. The new fees would enable USCIS to fully recoup its operating expenses, restore and maintain timely case processing, and stop the buildup of further backlogs in processing cases. About 96 percent of USCIS’s income comes from filing fees, not from appropriations from Congress.
Source: USCIS
Green Card Fees to Soar Under New Proposal
A new plan unveiled on Tuesday might raise the price of applying for a green card by up to 130%. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, green card applicants who petition to change their status from within the country might face government costs of more than $3,500, a significant increase from the existing charge of $1,760. (USCIS).
Source: Boundless
Filing Location Change for Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition
To reduce paperwork in the increasingly technological environment, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is altering where Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, should be filed. Depending on the state where the petitioner resides, this petition was previously submitted at either the Texas Service Center or the Nebraska Service Center. All Form I-730 petitions must now be submitted to the Texas Service Center.
USCIS Texas Service Center
Attn: I-730
6046 N. Belt Line Rd. Ste. 730
Irving, TX 75038-0019
Source: USCIS
DHS Implements New Processes for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans and Eliminates Cap for Venezuelans
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on January 5, 2023, a secure and legal means for qualified citizens of Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua who have supporters in the United States to fly to and temporarily dwell in the country. The new procedure allows people to apply for employment authorization upon arrival. According to DHS, the numerical cap for a similar procedure for Venezuelans announced earlier this year has also been eliminated.
Source: USCIS
