“The alien who receives an I-94 starts accruing unlawful presence after the date of authorized stay indicated in the I-94. Hence, the alien must exit the US on or before the departure date indicated in the I-94.”
SA ilalim ng Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), ang isang dayuhan ay nagkakaroon ng unlawful presence sa dalawang situwasyon: (1) ang dayuhan ay na loob ng US nang hindi dumaan sa proseso ng admission o parole; at (2) ang dayuhan ay nanatili sa loob ng US pagkatapos lumipas ang kanyang period of authorized stay na binigay ng Secretary of Homeland Security.
Sa unang sitwasyon, ang dayuhan ay nagkakaroon at nagdaragdag sa mga araw ng kanyang unlawful presence mula sa petsa ng kanyang pagpasok sa US na walang admission o parole. Sa ikalawang sitwasyon, ang dayuhan ay karaniwang dumadaan sa proseso ng admission sa pagharap sa US port of entry sa Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officer na nagbibigay ng Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record. Nakalagay sa I-94 ang petsa ng pagpasok ng dayuhan at ang petsa kung kailan siya kailangang umalis na ng US (departure date). Ang dayuhan na nakatanggap ng I-94 ay magkakaroon ng unlawful presence pagkalipas ng petsa ng authorized stay na nakalagay sa I-94. Dahil dito, ang dayuhan ay kailangang lumabas ng US bago ang departure date na nakalagay sa kanyang I-94. Nong Abril 2013, ang CBP ay nag-automate na ng Form I-94. Dahil dito, wala nang paper I-94 na binibigay at ang record ng entry ay electronic na at nasa sistema ng CBP. Ngunit any CBP ay nagbibigay pa rin ng “admission stamp” sa passport ng dayuhan. Maaaring makakuha ng paper version ng I-94 sa CBP website.
Ang dayuhan ay inadmissible ng 3 taon kapag: (1) ang dayuhan ay nagkaroon ng mahigit na 180 araw na unlawful presence pero hindi humigit sa 1 taon sa isang pagbisita sa US noong Abril 1, 1997 o pagkatapos ng Abril 1, 1997; at (2) siya ay kusang loob na lumabas ng US bago siya napalagay sa removal proceedings. Ang 3-year inadmissibility period ay nagsisimula sa paglabas ng dayuhan ng US.
Ang dayuhan ay inadmissible ng 10 taon kapag: (1) ang dayuhan ay nagkaroon ng 1 taon o mahigit na unlawful presence sa isang pagbisita sa US noong Abril 1, 1997 o pagkatapos ng Abril 1, 1997; at (2) siya ay kusang loob na lumabas ng US o siya ay may Order ng Removal galing sa Immigration Judge. Ang 10-year inadmissibility period ay nagsisimula sa paglabas o pagka-remove ng dayuhan ng US.
Sa loob ng 3-year o 10-year inadmissibility period, ang dayuhan ay hindi maaaring: (1) makatanggap ng immigrant o nonimmigrant visa; (2) makakuha ng green card sa US; at (3) ma-admit sa US port of entry. May mga sitwasyon na ang dayuhan ay maaaring mag-apply ng waiver of inadmissibility ng kanyang 3-year o 10-year inadmissibility.
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Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), an alien accrues unlawful presence in 2 situations: (1) he is present in the US without being admitted or paroled; and (2) he has remained in the US after the expiration of the period of authorized stay by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
For the 1st situation, the alien starts accruing unlawful presence on the date of entry to the US without being admitted or paroled. For the 2nd situation, generally, an alien is admitted into the US by a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officer who issues Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record. The I-94 indicates the alien’s date of entry and the specific date when he is required to leave or the expiration date of authorized stay (departure date). The alien who receives an I-94 starts accruing unlawful presence after the date of authorized stay indicated in the I-94. Hence, the alien must exit the US on or before the departure date indicated in the I-94. The CBP has automated Form I-94 in April 2013. This means that the I-94 admission record is created electronically and maintained in CBP systems. However, a CBP stamp is still provided in the alien’s passport. The alien can get a paper version of I-94 through the CBP website.
An alien is inadmissible for 3 years if: (1) he has accrued more than 180 days but less than 1 year of unlawful presence during a single stay in the US on or after April 1, 1997; and (2) he voluntarily departed the US before he was placed under removal proceedings. The 3-year inadmissibility period starts when the alien departs or is removed from the US.
An alien is inadmissible to the US for 10 years if: (1) he has accrued 1 year or more of unlawful presence during a single stay in the US on or after April 1, 1997; and (2) he voluntarily departed the US or was removed from the US. The 10-year inadmissibility period starts when the alien departs or is removed from the US.
During the 3-year or 10-year inadmissibility period, the alien is not eligible for the following: (1) receive an immigrant visa or nonimmigrant visa to come to the US; (2) adjust status to that of a lawful permanent resident (green card holder); and (3) be admitted to the US at a port of entry. In some cases, a waiver of inadmissibility may be applied for and approved for aliens subject to the 3-year or 10-year bar rule.
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ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is a Partner at LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM. Atty. Lindain and Atty. Samson are both licensed to practice law in California and in the Philippines. Both Attorneys were also professors. LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM aims to provide excellent and efficient legal representation to clients, and support clients in achieving their goals and dreams. As professors, Atty. Lindain and Atty. Samson wish to educate the younger generation, as it is through education and continuous study that one can achieve success and serve others.
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