GIVEN the devastation in the Philippines, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released an article on November 15, 2013, to remind Filipino nationals impacted by typhoon Haiyan of possible immigration relief measures. Natural disasters and other extreme conditions can happen which are beyond anyone’s control. These unpredicted events may affect one’s USCIS application, petition or immigration status in the United States. Therefore, the USCIS has set forth the following immigration relief measures:
-Expedited processing of immigrant petitions for immediate relatives of US citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs);
-Change or extension of nonimmigrant status for an individual currently in the United States, even when the request is filed after the authorized period of admission has expired;
-Extension of certain grants of parole made by USCIS;
-Extension of certain grants of advance parole, and expedited processing of advance parole requests;
-Expedited adjudication and approval, where possible, of requests for off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship;
-Expedited adjudication of employment authorization applications, where appropriate; and
-Assistance to LPRs stranded overseas without immigration or travel documents, such as Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards). USCIS and the Department of State will coordinate on these matters when the LPR is stranded in a place that has no local USCIS office.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the millions of people affected by this devastating storm. If you and/or your family have been impacted by typhoon Haiyan, it is important to consult with a legal professional to determine whether you may be eligible for certain immigration relief measure. For more information, visit http://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-reminds-filipino-nationals-impacted-typhoon-haiyan-available-immigration-relief-measures.
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US Immigration Attorney, Robert K. D’Andrea (JD, MBA) practices exclusively in the area of immigration and naturalization law and is a principal of D’Andrea Law Corporation. Offices are located in Glendora (510 S. Grand Ave., Suite 203, Glendora, CA 91741) and Pasadena (1055 E. Colorado Blvd, Suite 500, Pasadena, CA 91106). Contact the firm for a free consultation. Tel: (626) 852-8600, Chinese: (626) 852-9838. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.DandreaLaw.com.
