After DACA Approval: What is Next?

As of October 10, almost 180,000 people had applied for the new immigration opportunity for young students and graduates known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). More than 4,500 have already been approved. As new approval notices are being sent out every day, it is time to consider what comes next for those fortunate enough to be approved.

Para el 10 de Octubre, casi 180,000 personas habían aplicado para la nueva oportunidad para estudiantes y graduados jóvenes, conocido como la Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia (DACA).  Mas de  4,500 personas ya han sido aprobadas.  Mientras llegan nuevas notificaciones cada dia, es el tiempo de considerar que sigue para los afortunados en recibir una aprobación.

Apply for a Social Security Number

After you receive your work permit (also known as an EAD or I-766), go to the nearest Social Security Administration Office. You can find the closest one by going here and entering your zip code. Bring your work permit with you, along with proof of age and identity. For most people, that will be either your passport, high school ID card, or birth certificate. They will not accept a copy unless it has been certified by the agency that issued the original document.

Apply for a Driver's License

Depending on the state you live in, you may now be eligible to apply for a driver's license. Some states have explicitly stated that they will not allow DACA grantees to apply for driver's licenses. These states include Arizona, Michigan, and Nebraska. Some states require documents other than your work permit, most commonly your DACA approval notice or proof of residence in the state for a certain amount of time.

In Minnesota, you are required to provide one primary and one secondary form of identification. Your new work permit will work as primary identification. For secondary documentation any of the following will work:

• Your new Social Security card
• Certified Birth Certificate
• Certified Government-Issued Marriage Certificate
• Certified secondary (high school) or post-secondary (college) transcript (if it contains your full legal name and date of birth)
• Current school ID (if it contains your name, photo, and date of birth or unique ID number)

Also, don't forget that many states require drivers to have car insurance. In Minnesota, the driver of a vehicle can be charged with a misdemeanor if he or she fails to show proof of insurance.

Obligations

Besides the benefits of DACA, there are also some obligations to remember in order maximize your chances of being able to renew your DACA approval in the future.

Changes of Address

All DACA applicants are required to change their address that is on file with USCIS within 10 days of moving. This obligation is ongoing even after being approved. If you don't do so, you could lose your deferred action status or even be charged with a misdemeanor. You can update your address online here.

Stay in School (If You Haven't Graduated Yet)

If you were in high school, middle school, or junior high when you applied for DACA, you will only be able to renew if you have at least made substantial, measurable progress toward graduation from the school at which you were enrolled.

If you were enrolled in a GED program or something similar, you will have to show that you have either obtained your GED or high school diploma.

If you were enrolled in a program designed to lead to placement in postsecondary education, job training, or employment, you will have to show that you obtained that goal or made substantial, measurable progress toward completing the program.

Haven't Applied Yet?

If you haven't applied for consideration under DACA, you should go here to learn about the requirements of the program. If you think you might be eligible, please contact us as soon as possible to schedule a consultation in order to learn more!

Photo Credit: samxf42 

Aplicar para un número de Seguro Social

Después de que usted reciba su permiso de trabajo (conocido como el EAD o I-766), acérquese a la oficina mas cercana de la Administración de Seguro Social. Puede encontrar la oficina mas cercana por éste link, y marcar su código postal. Lleve su permiso de trabajo con usted, juntamente con prueba de edad e identidad. Para la mayoría, ésta será su pasaporte, o su identificación de la escuela, o su partida de nacimiento. No aceptarán una copia al menos que haya sido certificado por la agencia que emitió el documento original.

Aplicar para la Licencia de Conducir

Dependiendo en que estado vive, usted puede ser elegible para aplicar para una Licencia de Conducir. Algunos estados han dicho explícitamente que no darán brevetes a los poseedores de la acción diferida.  Estos estados incluyen Arizona, Michigan, y Nebraska. Algunos estados requieren documentos aparte de su permiso de trabajo, lo mas común siendo su aprobación de la acción diferida o una prueba que ha mantenido residencia en el estado por cierto tiempo.

En Minnesota, se requiere que provea un documento de identificación de forma primaria y otro de forma secundaria.  Su permiso de trabajo puede servir como identificación de forma primaria.  Para identificación de forma secundaria, puede usar uno de los siguientes documentos:

• Su nueva tarjeta de Seguro Social
• Partida de Nacimiento (Certificada)
• Partida de Matriminio (Certificada)
• Expediente Académico (Que incluye su nombre legal completo y fecha de nacimiento)
• Identificación de Escuela (Que incluye nombre, foto, y fecha de nacimiento o número de identificación)

También, no olvide que muchos estados requieren que usted posea y mantenga vigente su aseguranza de auto.  En Minnesota el conductor del vehículo puede ser acusado de un delito menor si le falta prueba de aseguranza.

Obligaciones

Aparte de los beneficios de la Acción Diferida, también hay algunas obligaciones para tener en cuenta para que maximice sus posibilidades de renovar su aprobación de la Acción Diferida en el futuro.

Cambio de Dirección

Todos los aplicantes para la Acción Diferida son obligados a actualizar la dirección que han dado a USCIS adentro de los 10 dias después de mudarse. Esta obligación sigue aun después de haber sido aprobado. Si no lo hace, puede perder a la Acción Diferida o aun ser acusado de un delito menor. Puede actualizar su dirección por medio de este link.

Sigue Estudiando (Si No Ha Graduado Todavia)

Si le faltaba graduarse de la secundaria cuando aplicó para la Acción Diferida, solo podrá renovar si demuestra que ha hecho progreso sustancial y medible hacia la graduación.

Si estaba matriculado en un programa de GED o algo parecido, tendrá que demostrar que ha obtenido su GED o su diploma.

Si estaba matriculado en un programo diseñado para llevarle a colocarse en educación pos-secundaria, entrenamiento del trabajo, o empleo, tendrá que demostrar que ha logrado tal colocación o ha hecho progreso sustancial y medible hacia terminar el programa.

¿Le Falta Aplicar Todavía?

Si todavía no ha aplicado para la Acción Diferida, contáctenos lo mas pronto posible para planear una consulta para aprender mas!

Photo Credit: samxf42 

The I-601 Hardship Waiver Put Simply

So you are an undocumented immigrant, but you just married a U.S. citizen? Congratulations to the both of you! You are probably wondering how you can now acquire a legal immigration status. First, the (sometimes very) bad news.Entonces no tienes papeles, pero te casaste con un ciudadano americano.  ¡Felicitaciones a los dos!  Probablemente estás curioso como puedes obtener un estatus legal.  Bueno, primero las noticias malas.

La Mala Noticia

Si un inmigrante vive en los Estados Unidos sin un estatus legal (por entrar sin permiso o por pasar del tiempo permitido) él o ella llega a acumular lo que la ley llama “presencia ilegal.” Presencia ilegal a veces causa problemas si acumula 6 meses de ella.  Si después de eso uno sale del pais voluntariamente, no podrá entrar de nuevo por 3 años, si no tenga permiso especial.  Si acumula un año de presencia illegal, no podrá entrar de nuevo por 10 años, sin el mismo permiso especial.  Desafortunadamente, para conseguir una visa después de acumular presencia ilegal, tiene que salir del pais para asistir a su entrevista en el consulado o embajada Americana en su país. Esto empieza la barrera de 3 o 10 años.

Como tienes esposa ciudadana, te vas a sacar una entrevista de visa sin esperar.  Otras categorías de familiares tienen que esperar años.  Pero de toda manera cuando el official del consulado te entrevista te va a declarar inadmisible por causa de tu presencia ilegal en los Estados Unidos.

La Buena Noticia

La buena noticia es que algunos inmigrantes si consiguen el permiso especial para entrar de nuevo, lo cual se llama un perdón.  Para conseguir el perdón, tienen que demostrar que negar entrada a los Estados Unidos causará “dificultad extrema” a su esposa o padre, quien sea un ciudadano Americano o residente permanente.  “Dificultad extrema” no tiene una definición exacta, pero tiene que ser dificultad que es peor que lo esperado para cualquier esposo tipico que no puede volver a casa.

Un Posible Cambio

Actualmente tiene que asistir a su entrevista de visa en el consulado o embajada americana en su país antes de pedir el perdón.  Este requisito ha desanimado a mucha gente de intentar para el perdón.  Pero ésta semana el gobierno ha propuesto un cambio de regla que permitiría a los esposos y padres de cuidadanos que apliquen para el perdón sin salir del país.  Esta posible regla ayudaría mucho a inmigrantes interesados en el perdón, pero quienes no quieren esperar afuera del país mientras procesan el perdón.

Anderson Immigration Law puede ayudarle en determinar si usted es eligible para éste perdon. Y después guiarle por el proceso y preparar su aplicación por una tarifa fija.  Para hablarnos de sus opciones inmigratorias, contacténos de inmediato.

The Bad News

If an immigrant lives in the United States without a legal immigration status (either by entering without permission or merely overstaying a visa) he or she begins to acquire what the law calls “unlawful presence.” Unlawful presence often causes problems because if you acquire 6 months of it, and then voluntarily leave the country, you will not allowed to enter again for 3 years – not without special permission. If you acquire one year of unlawful presence, you are barred from re-entering for 10 years – again, without special permission. Unfortunately, in order for you to obtain a visa after accruing unlawful presence, you will have to leave the country to attend a visa interview at the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country. This triggers the 3 or 10 year bar.

Since you have a U.S. citizen spouse, you go to the front of the line when it comes to getting such a visa interview. Other categories of relatives must wait long periods for this. However the consular officer who interviews you will find you inadmissible because of your previous unlawful presence in the United States.

The Good News

The good news is that some immigrants do get special permission to reenter, which is known as a waiver. In order to be granted the waiver, they must show that being refused permission to enter the country at this time would result in “extreme hardship” to a U.S. citizen or green-card holding spouse (or parent). “Extreme hardship” doesn’t have an exact definition, but it must be worse than the hardship to the U.S. citizen spouse that would be normally expected when their spouse cannot return home.

A Possible Change

Currently you have to attend your visa interview at the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country before applying for a waiver. This requirement discourages many people from attempting the waiver process. However, this week a rule change was proposed by the government which would allow the spouses or parents of U.S. citizens to apply for this waiver of inadmissibility due to unlawful presence from within the United States! The new rule could be extremely helpful to immigrants interested in the waiver, but who are unable or unwilling to spend much time away from their home and family while the waiver is being processed.

Anderson Immigration Law can help determine whether you are eligible for this waiver, guide you through the process, and prepare your waiver application for a flat fee. To speak to us about your immigration options, please contact us immediately.

Photo: Eivind Barstad Waaler

US Immigration Challenges when a Missionary Marries Abroad

Anderson Immigration Law enjoys serving the needs of missionaries through the benefits provided by a fairly unknown provision in immigration law known as INA § 319(b). This provision provides a wonderful solution to an immigration dilemma faced by countless missionaries who end up finding their spouse on the mission field.

The Common Situation

Many American missionaries initially leave for the mission field unmarried (I speak from personal experience here). However, they are soon enchanted by the exotic beauty of a Peruvian national (or other nationality I suppose), and settle in to do ministry with the new ministry advantage of a spouse who lives and breathes the culture.

The Catch-22

If Missionary Matt and his foreign spouse desire to uproot and move back to the United States for good, then the process is fairly straight-forward. The US citizen will file an I-130 petition, and when the process is complete, his foreign spouse will immigrate and receive her green card.

However, what happens when the couple is not planning to move back to the United States? In many cases, they only want to return to the United States for a short period, to visit family or to raise more financial support.

If the missionary’s foreign spouse applies for a tourist visa, the consular official may count her marriage to a US citizen against her. The consular official will often work under the suspicion that she is seeking the tourist visa as a fast entry to the United States, in order to file for the green card once she arrives. This is called a presumption of immigrant intent (INA § 214b). This presumption is even more likely if the missionary and his wife lack evidence of ties to the foreign country, such as home ownership or a large bank account (not unusual in the case of a missionary).

Many missionaries try to solve this problem by filing the I-130 petition as if they were planning to settle in the United States, but planning to use the green card only to guarantee future entries into the United States. However, the green card exists for foreign nationals who plan to “permanently reside” in the United States, and border officials are very zealous about weeding out those that use it for other purposes. Unless the foreign spouse is returning to the United States in less than 6 months every time, he or she is almost guaranteed to face difficult questioning at the US border. And if the absences from the US are long enough and/or repeated enough, US border officials can even deny entry and take away the foreign spouse’s green card.

The Solution

At this point, Missionary Matt’s foreign spouse is definitely envying Matt’s US citizenship, and with it the ability to enter and leave the United States whenever he wants. Who would have imagined that one of the great benefits of US citizenship is the right to leave the United States for as long as you want? But if she does get her green card, she still has to wait 3 years (while residing in the US!) before she can apply for US citizenship. 3 years away from their mission work may be an unacceptable option.

Enter the solution: INA § 319(b). Under INA § 319(b), a green card holder can bypass the 3 year wait and apply immediately for US citizenship, if he or she is married to a US citizen missionary regularly stationed abroad who is employed by a missions organization with a bona fide presence in the United States.

Through the use of this statutory provision, the foreign spouse can enter the United States in permanent resident status, and immediately file for US citizenship. In fact, they could even return to the mission field while they are waiting for their application to be approved, as long as they return for their citizenship interview and oath ceremony. Then once she becomes a US citizen, they can return to the mission field as career missionaries, never to worry about US entries again.

This provision of the law could be a huge benefit to many US missionaries if they only knew about it. Unfortunately, even the missionaries that do eventually discover it often do so only after many years of border incidents and expensive trips back to the United States to maintain permanent residence. If you know a US citizen missionary with a foreign spouse, consider sharing this information with them.

Photo: Nicole Lee