New USCIS Filing Guide Aims to Keep Families Together

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently published an insightful filing guide designed to help maintain family unity during the immigration process. The guide seeks to provide clear and concise steps for individuals seeking to adjust their status while advocating for the suspension of removal proceedings in cases encompassing family ties.The USCIS specifically outlines the updated filing procedures and relevant instructions for filing the new Forms I-601A and I-212. These forms are designed to prevent or mitigate family separations while adjusting an individual’s immigration status.Form I-601A allows certain individuals who are physically present in the United States to request a provisional waiver of certain grounds of inadmissibility before departing the U.S. for consular processing of their immigrant visas—rather than after departure, hence reducing the time U.S citizens and lawful permanent resident family members are separated from their relatives.On the other hand, Form I-212, is designed for individuals who have been previously removed or voluntarily departed from the U.S., and now seek to return. This form allows for the consideration of an application for consent to reapply for admission to the United States after deportation or removal.In this context, once initial interviews have been conducted, USCIS aims to proactively provide decision notifications for eligibility or ineligibility that determine whether an individual’s removal case will be permitted to move forward in immigration court.USCIS has also indicated that they will continue working with the Department of Justice (DOJ), particularly the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), to ensure the broader immigration procedure runs as smoothly as possible, ensuring that emails and mailed copies of decision notifications reach the individuals involved as promptly and clearly as possible.In practical terms, USCIS has taken a decisive step towards minimizing family separation during immigration processes. This act reflects the agency’s genuine commitment to addressing an issue that is often a source of anxiety for immigrants to the U.S. This new filing guide allows for a more streamlined and efficient approach, keeping families involved in the process better informed and prepared every step of the way.As immigration attorneys, these current developments offer us the opportunity and the tools to better serve our clients, providing them with the most accurate information and directions towards keeping families united throughout the immigration legal process.Reference: For the complete details of the USCIS announcement and to view the filing guide in its entirety, you can visit the official USCIS Newsroom (https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-publishes-filing-guide-for-keeping-families-together).