Posts by Admin
Practice Update: Form I-539 Extensions of Status & Passport Requirements for U nonimmigrants
ASISTA has prepared a brief advisory to address the recent trends regarding adjudication of I-539 extensions for U nonimmigrants. Practitioners report that USCIS is issuing Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs asking for proof that the applicant had a valid passport at the time of filing. This advisory contains practice…
Read MoreServing Survivors Who May be At Risk of Immigration Enforcement Actions
ASISTA condemns the Administration’s plans for mass raids, now slated to start this Sunday. These mass immigration enforcement actions create immense fear in communities nationwide. For immigrant survivors of violence, these raids exacerbate the trauma and fear they already endure because of the abuse they have experienced. Advocates can help address this fear by providing…
Read MoreResources for those Serving Survivors at Risk of Enforcement Actions
Last week, the Administration announced that they would delay the mass raids scheduled for last week. Even though these actions have been briefly delayed, the announcement of these mass immigration enforcement actions created immense fear nationwide. For immigrant survivors of violence, this news exacerbates the trauma and fear they already endure because of the abuse they…
Read MoreComment Opportunity: Oppose USCIS Changes to Fee Waiver Forms and Policy
On June 5, 2019, USCIS published another notice and opportunity for comment on their proposed fee waiver changes. These changes were initially proposed in September 2018, and later addressed in a second opportunity for comment in April 2019. This third notice provides additional details regarding USCIS’ rationale for adjusting the fee waiver form and practices. …
Read MorePractice Alert: Extension of I-918 Forms
On May 29, 2019, ASISTA and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) sent a letter to USCIS leadership expressing concern that the two-month grace period to transition to the new Form I-918 would cause hardship to survivors, advocates, and law enforcement agencies. On Friday, June 21, 2019, USCIS updated the I-918 Form website, so that information regarding the edition…
Read MorePractice Update: Implementation of NTA memo on survivor-based cases
In May and June of 2019, some practitioners have reported that USCIS issued a number of NTAs in connection with denied U and T visa applications. Given these reports, ASISTA in conjunction with CAST, Freedom Network USA, American Association of Immigration Lawyers (AILA), Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles created…
Read MoreLetter to USCIS: Extend grace period for new I-918 Forms
On May 29, 2019 AILA and ASISTA sent a letter to USCIS leadership as well as the CIS Ombudsman expressing concern that the two-month grace period to transition to the new Form I-918 is insufficient as it will cause hardship to survivors, advocates, as well as law enforcement agencies. Read the letter here.
Read MoreASISTA and NOW Submit Opposition to USCIS Tip Form
On April 16, 2019, ASISTA and the National Organization for Women (NOW) submitted a comment in opposition to the proposed USCIS Tip Form, as the form would be a tool for abusers and perpetrators of crime to weaponize the immigration system against survivors, with impunity. Read our comment here.
Read MoreComment Today! USCIS Fraud Tip Form
On February 15, 2019 the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed form for notice and comment to collect information from the general public regarding purported immigration fraud. At ASISTA, we are particularly concerned about this Fraud Tip form as it represents another tool for abusers and perpetrators of crime to…
Read MoreNew Form I-539/I-539A Published Today
ASISTA drafted a short practice update on the newly published Form I-539 and I-539A. Read more about the grace period and the new biometrics requirements here.
Read MoreNew! Sample Language for Fee Waiver Cover Letters
Read our new publication on fee waiver requests or contesting denials.
Read MoreASISTA Joins Over 150 Organization in Opposition to Harmful Asylum Ban
This week ASISTA Immigration Assistance is privileged to join National Immigrant Justice Center, Human Rights First and over 150 organizations in submitting a comment in response to the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security adoption of an interim final rule barring access to asylum for those who enter the United States outside…
Read MorePress Statement: ASISTA Response to National Address
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 9, 2019 Contact: Ahlam Moussa, ahlam@asistahelp.org ASISTA Response to President Trump’s National Address Suffield, CT – The following is a statement from Cecelia Friedman Levin, Senior Policy Counsel at ASISTA Immigration Assistance, regarding President Trump’s National Address: President Trump’s remarks last night again demonstrate his misinformed, divisive, and anti-immigrant agenda and ignore the real…
Read MoreJudge strikes down efforts to diminish protections for asylum seekers.
ASISTA applauds the federal court decision yesterday which restores critical protections for asylum seekers fleeing domestic violence and gang brutality. The Center for Gender and Refugee Studies and ACLU challenged the Administration’s harmful expedited removal policies which instructed asylum officers to generally deny domestic violence and gang violence-related claims. ASISTA is proud to have supported the…
Read MoreChallenging USCIS harmful changes to fee waiver policy
In November 2018, ASISTA fought back on harmful USCIS changes to fee waiver practices and forms. USCIS is creating barriers to equal access to survivor protections, especially for survivors who have few financial resources of their own. ASISTA created a template comment for advocates to share how these damaging changes affect survivors, and you can…
Read MoreASISTA opposes DHS Proposed Rule on Public Charge
On December 10, 2018, ASISTA filed a Comment on DHS’ Proposed Rule on Public Charge. DHS’ proposed rule will harm immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence as well as survivors of human trafficking. Access and use of public benefit programs may make the difference in whether survivors and their children can escape abuse. ASISTA opposes the…
Read MoreGuardian: How zero tolerance forces undocumented victims into the shadows
ASISTA weighs in on how harmful changes to immigration policy impacts immigrant survivors of violence. Read more here.
Read MoreASISTA Statement on NTA Policy Implementation
ASISTA strongly condemns USCIS’ decision to implement the updated Notice To Appear (NTA) policy for survivor-based protections on November 19th. This means that domestic and sexual assault survivors, survivors of human trafficking, children eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and other victims whom Congress intended to help could now face deportation hearings if their cases…
Read MorePBS Frontline: Undocumented Crime Victims Face Heightened Risk of Deportation
ASISTA’s own Cecelia Friedman Levin, commenting on USCIS’s recent drastic departure from prior practice and policy, and how it will discourage survivors from coming forward. Read more here.
Read MoreAnnotated Notes: USCIS Q&A on NTA Guidance Implementation
Annotated Notes on NTA Memo Implementation On November 15, 2018, USCIS held a stakeholder engagement call on the implementation of the NTA memo on survivor-based protections. ASISTA, AILA and ILRC compiled these annotated notes and practice pointers based on USCIS’ responses during that stakeholder call.
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