DUE to the extended damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan (“Yolanda”), USCIS has extended certain immigration relief available to Filipino nationals. On January 14, 2014, USCIS reminds that it will continue to accommodate requests such as:
-Change or extension of nonimmigrant status for individuals 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 request;
-Expedited adjudication and approval, where possible, of request for off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship;
-Expedited processing of immigration petitions for immediate relatives of US citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs);
-Expedited adjudication of employment authorization applications, where appropriate; and
-Assistant to LPRs stranded overseas without immigration or travel documents.
USCIS will also expedite I-130 petitions filed by US citizens for their Filipino immediate relatives. Additionally, for those individuals that have overstayed their nonimmigrant status due to this devastating typhoon, USCIS will consider an application for a change or extension of status. These are humanitarian reliefs that are currently offered to Filipino Nationals impacted by the typhoon.
In late December 2013, the Philippines have also made a formal request to the US government to grant Temporary Protective Status (TPS) to eligible Filipino nationals in the United States. This measure is also supported by numerous members of the US congress. The Filipino Temporary Protective Status Act bill is currently being considered in the US congress. However, TPS HAS NOT BEEN DESIGNATED AND YOU SHOULD BE WARY OF IMMIGRATION SCAMS STATING OTHERWISE.
If you or a family member have been affected by the typhoon, and are in need of immigration relief, you should seek consultation of a reputable immigration attorney. At Wilner and O’Reilly, we have a dedicated group of experienced attorneys, who will gladly review your case and advise you accordingly. Our offices are located in Orange, Riverside, Bakersfield, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City. Please call if you have any questions regarding the immigration relief provided by USCIS. We will be more than happy to help.
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Kelly O’Reilly is a nationally known immigration expert and former immigration officer. He is a highly sought after speaker on immigration and employment compliance issues. Mr. O’Reilly serves as the current chair of the Riverside County Bar Association Immigration section and is a partner in the full-service immigration firm of Wilner & O’Reilly where he provides free consultations. Mr. O’Reilly can be contacted at (562)207-6789 or he welcomes email inquiries at [email protected].