Agency Plans for Visa Push by Residents Made Legal

JyArete · JyArete

Can this be a harbinger of things to come? Meaning this will happen in the (near) future?

Quote:

Although President Obama has put off an immigration overhaul until next year, the federal agency in charge of approving visas is planning ahead for the possibility of giving legal status to millions of illegal immigrants, the agency’s director said Thursday.

“We are under way to prepare for that,” Alejandro Mayorkas, the director of the agency, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, said in an interview. Mr. Obama has told immigration officials that a legalization program would be part of legislation the White House would propose, said Mr. Mayorkas, who became director in August. The agency’s goal, he said, is to be ready to expand rapidly to handle the gigantic increase in visa applications it would face if the legislation, known as comprehensive immigration reform, passed Congress.

The citizenship agency faces a difficult balancing act, preparing for a potential workload bigger than any it has faced, based on legislation in early stages of discussion that is fiercely opposed by many lawmakers in Congress. Also, the agency must work to reduce backlogs and delays that have hampered its performance.

There are no official estimates of the number of illegal immigrants who would apply for legal documents. The Pew Hispanic Center and the Center for Immigration Studies, two research groups in Washington, estimate that at least 10.8 million illegal immigrants live in this country. But a large number of those would not be eligible for legal status for many reasons, including past immigration violations.

Currently, the citizenship agency can handle applications from about six million immigrants a year, Mr. Mayorkas said, including the time-consuming collection of fingerprints and other biometric identity information. Under some plans for legalization, the agency might receive that many applications in a few weeks.

An example of the planning, Mr. Mayorkas said, is an effort to improve the agency’s ability to receive applications via postal mail at secure reception points known as lockboxes. The agency currently receives about 65 percent of applications through lockboxes, which is more efficient than receiving them through local offices. The agency is trying to move quickly to receive all applications through lockboxes.

One idea calls for illegal immigrants to start the legalization process by verifying their presence in the United States through a simple registration form mailed to a lockbox, according to officials familiar with the planning.

As part of the planning, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Mr. Mayorkas and other officials have held meetings around the country in recent weeks to gather suggestions from the public for the overhaul.

The Obama administration’s planning contrasts with that of the Bush administration, which also supported a legalization program. Some opponents of President Bush’s proposal, which was defeated in Congress in 2007, cited the immigration agencies’ lack of preparation.

Some lawmakers who oppose the overhaul have questioned whether the planning was a good use of limited resources. “There is a risk to national security that they will take their eyes off background checks of immigrants,” said Representative Steve King of Iowa, the senior Republican on the House immigration subcommittee, “while they are busy setting up for legislation that has not been introduced in any way, shape or form.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/us...s/02immig.html

freshh. · freshh.

It makes complete sense. My mom's application is three years outside of the USCIS estimated processing time. And because of the application backlog, my sister and I aged out. From what I understand, that's happened to a lot of people and their children. So when the parent's status is adjusted their child is left without one, even though you were on the application.

They seriously need to fix the issues USCIS has, so that when DREAM or CIR passes we're still not left with a ten year wait time to become legalized.

yurchie · yurchie

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshh.

It makes complete sense. My mom's application is three years outside of the USCIS estimated processing time. And because of the application backlog, my sister and I aged out. From what I understand, that's happened to a lot of people and their children. So when the parent's status is adjusted their child is left without one, even though you were on the application.

They seriously need to fix the issues USCIS has, so that when DREAM or CIR passes we're still not left with a ten year wait time to become legalized.

There's a current lawsuit on this matter against USCIS. The problem with you aging out isn't the backlog, it's that USCIS broke the law by not allowing you to retain your parents' priority date. Check the link below.

http://www.dreamactivist.org/good-ne...ction-lawsuit/

freshh. · freshh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yurchie

There's a current lawsuit on this matter against USCIS. The problem with you aging out isn't the backlog, it's that USCIS broke the law by not allowing you to retain your parents' priority date. Check the link below.

http://www.dreamactivist.org/good-ne...ction-lawsuit/

Thanks for the info yurchie.

I didn't even know about the lawsuit. We went to a lawyer in 2007 and 2008. But he told us that DREAM was our only hope of legalization other than re-filing and waiting on USCIS.

2Face · 2Face

This is indeed a good article. I get a feeling often that there are alot of things going on behind the curtains and we are still not fully aware of them. I really believe that Obama Administration is pregaming behind the scenes for the Immigration Reform debate while the Health Care Legislation is on its way to becoming a law. Who knows...when we least expect something, it will become a reality suddenly..thats how life is

nevfo · nevfo

I love this optimism :]]

Maelo89 · Maelo89

..hey guys i did a search and i found this on a immigration lawyers website..the bill was signed bak in 02 which protected minors of petitioned parents to remain included even if they were to age above 21..
..and yeaa there are many cases like the one yurchie mentioned..im just glad my older brother can be included..

http://www.shusterman.com/hr1209-faq.html

Godhashealed · Godhashealed

This makes sense. I have a feeling something is coming. In the past few weeks their have been more co-sponsers included in the Senate. We are up to 28 now. All this movement gives me hope that our efforts are not in vain!!!

jimminy89 · jimminy89

I don't know, as the Spanish saying goes "Si el rio suena, es porque agua lleva."

They're saying it's purely "hypothetical," and they're preparing "just in case." But I don't know, I feel like there's more going on here than they're willing to let on. Hmmm, bunch of teases!

midtownhm · midtownhm

Something is going to happen soon, but Obama needs time. First thing is to figure out what kind of process this will be. A paper application seems like a good idea, hopefully free.

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Agency Plans for Visa Push by Residents Made Legal