Hoy en día, un grupo bipartidista de senadores presentó un marco muy preliminar para la reforma integral de inmigración. Quiero ser claro desde el principio: ESTO TODAVÍA NO ES UNA LEY.

La propuesta se centra en cuatro pilares:

1. Un camino hacia la ciudadanía para las personas que están fuera de estatus
2. Las reformas para la inmigración legal
3. Verificación de Empleo
4. Nuevo programa para los futuros trabajadores de modo que el número de inmigrantes no autorizados se mantiene bajo control

De estos 4 pilares, el "camino a la ciudadanía" va a ser el que más se habla, más polémica, y más visible. Este nuevo marco establece que las personas sin estatus tendrá que registrarse para obtener un estatus legal condiciónal, pagar impuestos, multas y, a continuación, tienen que estar de pie en la parte de posterior de una línea y esperar varios años antes de poder solicitar una "tarjeta verde" (la residencia). Pero - mientras esperan - van a ser legal. Eso es una gran noticia. No habría más probable es que las restricciones, pero al igual que los solicitantes de acción diferida (DACA), probablemente recibiría un permiso de trabajo, y por lo tanto un número de seguro social, licencia de conducir, etc que sin duda hacer la espera más tolerable.

Por cierto, ESTO TODAVÍA NO ES UNA LEY.

Con toda probabilidad, la elegibilidad para este "periodo condiciónal" tendrá un conjunto muy estricto de criterios. No sabemos todavía qué pasará finalmente (si hay algo), pero habrá una buena cantidad de argumento como la gente decide si se debe permitir que alguien con, digamos, una condena por conducir borracho para solicitar estatus condiciónal.

También son interesantes los dos grupos de personas que no tendrán que esperar tanto tiempo o estar sujeto a los mismos requisitos que cualquier otras personas: las llegadas de la infancia, y los trabajadores agrícolas. La propuesta reconoce que los trabajadores agrícolas proporcionan un beneficio a los EE.UU. hasta el punto de que no debería tener que esperar tanto como todos los demás. Aunque puede ser prematuro - si usted es indocumentado es posible que desee pensar en el trabajo agrícola.

¿Qué más podría hacer ahora, incluso antes de que algo es cierto?

Uno - es necesario presentar de nuevo los impuestos si usted les debe. Si usted ha estado pagando impuestos, usted tendrá que obtener copias de sus expedientes de impuestos del IRS.

Dos - usted está probablemente va a tener que demostrar que usted ha estado en los Estados Unidos. No es una mala idea para tratar de obtener la prueba de todo el tiempo. Por ejemplo: los registros escolares, nóminas, fotos, recibos, contratos de arrendamiento, y estados de cuenta bancarios.

Trés - usted va a tener que mostrar sus antecedentes penales entero. Eso incluye multas de tráfico (para delitos graves). Si usted ha estado aquí por mucho tiempo, esto puede llevar tiempo. Usted va a tener que mostrar estos registros a un abogado de inmigración que sería capaz de aconsejarle si se considera grave por motivos de inmigración.

Cuatro - Tienes que aprender Inglés, y tienes que aprender civismo. Para algunos, esto será fácil. Para otros, puede ser difícil. El momento para empezar a aprender Inglés es ahora. No se demore. Si la reforma es aprobada, usted no va a querer que su solicitud sea negada simplemente porque no se puede hablar inglés. Si usted no sabe inglés ya, se necesitará tiempo para aprenderlo. Empiece ahora. Sólo se le puede ayudar.

Les recuerdo una vez más: ESTO TODAVÍA NO ES UNA LEY.

Pero si se convierte en ley, usted va a querer estar preparado. Mantente en contacto con un abogado de inmigración. No te fíes de lo que se oye en la calle. TENGA CUIDADO. Habrá un montón de estafadores y defraudadores que tomarán su dinero. No hay ninguna ley todavía. Pero si eres inteligente puedes empezar y estar listo si y cuando llegue el momento.

Por último, si no lo he dejado claro, ESTO TODAVÍA NO ES UNA LEY.

Para leer el marco, haga clic aquí. (solamente en inglés)

Today, a bipartisan group of senators unveiled a very preliminary framework for comprehensive immigration reform.  Let me be clear at the outset: THIS IS NOT A LAW YET.

The proposal is centered on 4 pillars:

1. A "tough but fair" path to citizenship for people who are out of status
2. Reforms for legal immigration
3. Employment verification
4. New program for future workers so that the number of unauthorized immigrants remains under control

Of these 4 pillars, the "path to citizenship" is going to be the most talked about, most contentious, and most visible.  This new framework says that people without status will have to register for a probationary legal status, pay taxes, fines, and then get at the back of a line and wait several years before being able to apply for a green card.   But - while they are waiting - they will be legal.  That is huge news.  There would most likely be restrictions, but like deferred action (DACA) applicants, they would likely receive a work permit, and therefore a social security number, driver's license, etc. which would certainly make the wait much more tolerable.

By the way, THIS IS NOT A LAW YET.

In all likelihood, eligibility for this "probationary status" will have a very strict set of criteria.  We don't know yet what will finally pass (if anything) but there will be a fair amount of pushing and pulling as people decide whether to allow someone with, say, a drunk driving conviction to apply for probationary legal status.

Also interesting are two groups of people who will not have to wait as long or be subject to the same requirements as everyone else: childhood arrivals, and agricultural workers.  The proposal recognizes that agricultural workers provide a benefit to the US to such an extent that they should not have to wait as long as everyone else.  While it might be premature - if you are undocumented you might want to think about farm work.

What else might you do now, even before anything is certain?

First - you need to file back taxes if you owe them.  If you have been paying taxes, you will need to get copies of your tax transcripts from the IRS.

Second - you are probably going to need to prove that you have been in the United States.  It's not a bad idea to try to get proof of the entire time.  That means school records, paycheck stubs, pictures, receipts, lease agreements, and bank statements.

Third - you are going to have to show your entire criminal record. That includes traffic tickets (for serious offenses).  If you've been here a long time, this might take time.  You are going to have to show these records to an immigration lawyer who would be able to advise you whether they will be considered serious for immigration purposes.

Fourth - You have to learn English, and you have to learn civics.  For some, this will be easy.  For others, it may be difficult.  The time to start learning English is now.  Do not delay.  If reform does pass, you are not going to want to have your application denied just because you cannot speak English.  If you don't know English already, it will take time to learn it.  Start now.  It can only help you.

I remind you again: THIS IS NOT A LAW YET.

But if it does become law you are going to want to be prepared.  Stay in touch with an immigration lawyer.  Do not trust what you hear on the street.  BE CAREFUL.  There will be a lot of scam artists and fraudsters who will take your money.  There is no law yet.  But if you are smart you can get started and be ready if and when the time comes.

Lastly, if I haven't made it clear, THIS IS NOT A LAW YET.

To read the proposal - click here.

It appears that the long awaited battle for Comprehension Immigration Reform will begin anew next week.  
 
President Obama announced on Friday, Jan. 25, after a meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, that he plans on Tuesday to lay out his plan to fix our nation’s broken immigration system and to finally provide a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented individuals in the United States.  At the same time, word has come out that a bipartisan group of senators will also launch an effort on immigration next week.  
 
After Obama’s meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, his office released a statement stating that “any legislation must include a path to earned citizenship,” and that “the President further noted that there is no excuse for stalling or delay.”  A Congressional representative present at the meeting said that Obama told lawmakers that “immigration reform is his number one legislative priority.”
 
What are the likely details of Obama’s immigration plans?  No one knows for sure, but it is expected that he will reintroduce his “immigration blueprint” from 2011.  His 2011 plan included a call for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants that would require them to pay fines and back taxes and included improvements to the legal immigration system as well, including more green cards for highly skilled workers and a plan to remove caps on immigration for immediate family members of U.S. citizens.
 
Meanwhile the group of Senators working on an immigration bill is working fast, hoping to draft a bill by March.  Senate lawmakers working on the bill include Democrats Charles Schumer, Dick Durbin, and Robert Menendez, and Republics John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Marco Rubio.  Others working with them include Democrat Michael Bennet and Republicans Jeff Flake and Mike Lee, a group called the “Gang of Eight” in the media.  It isn’t known yet the exact details of the group’s immigration plan, but it is expected to include a process to legalize the status of undocumented immigrants already here and ways to admit more temporary workers into the United States, amongst other items.
 
This is all great news for the millions that have been waiting for immigration reform for so many years.  But passing Comprehensive Immigration Reform will not be an easy battle; everyone expects that instead, it will be an emotional, tense, and drawn out process.
 
 

The I-751 joint petition is a form used by conditional permanent residents to "convert" their two-year green cards into 10 year green cards.  If the US citizen spouse and the alien are living together in marital harmony, and file in a timely fashion - the form is easy.  That's how it's supposed to work.

Complications arise when things aren't going well in the marriage, or the couple gets late in filing the petition, or both.  Over the years USCIS has come out with several policy memorandums instructing officers on what to do with cases that aren't so clean.

Happily, I-751 procedure keeps being improved and makes more and more sense and it easier to deal with.  It's always been the law that if an I-751 is filed late, it must be filed with an explanation.  If that explanation was missing, under older law the I-751 would be denied.  Or perhaps rejected.  Under a new I-751 memorandum that was just issued in January 2013, the officer can simply request the explanation separately by issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE).  A much more preferable option than losing the filing fees are perhaps finding yourself in removal proceedings.  Or having your case rejected and having to refile it after your green card has already expired.

Confusion also arises when the marriage is not doing so well.  If a divorce is imminent - but has not been filed, or has been filed but the hearing is months away - it is best to run your situation by a knowledgable lawyer.  Chances are he's seen your situation before.  And the consequences for not filing on time are pretty severe.  Risking denial of an I-751 basically means you're betting on getting put into removal proceedings.  It's hard for a lot of conditional permanent residents (CPR's) to accept, because their cases are so "clean" (to them) they do not appreciate that USCIS must put them in removal proceedings if their I-751 is denied, even on a technicality.

As far as what a good reason is to not file an I-751: In practice, USCIS does not make the burden onerous. Frequently some relatively minor issue comes up, distracts the party, and before they know it, the green card has expired.  Our job as lawyers is to probe, probe, and probe to find the reason(s) the case was not filed on time.

But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Take your I-751 obligations seriously.  Be picky about the evidence you choose.  Choose good evidence: nothing too weird or off-base.  And use a lawyer. If you're filing an I-751 you already have a lengthy immigration history in the US.  File wisely.

After a long wait, what a great way to start 2013!  Tomorrow, the Department of Homeland Security will publish the final rule about provisional (stateside) waivers, a new procedure that will begin on March 4, 2013 - and a change to what is often known as "la ley del castigo" - the law of punishment.

What does this mean?

We blogged about this rule when the rule was first published in April 2012 and even before than in January when it was first announced.  Basically, it allows for foreign nationals to get their green cards without having to wait a long time outside the US and be separated from their US citizen families.  They still have to leave the US to pick up their visas (once approved), but they will know before they leave whether they will be allowed back in.  That process of knowing before you leave is called a "provisional waiver" and it's filed in the United States on a new immigration form which will be Form I-601A.  While it's pending, the applicant gets to stay in the US and does not have to wait outside the United States.

The final rule is definitely good news.

Who Can Apply?

• You have to be legally married
• Your spouse must be a US citizen (not just a green card holder)
• You can't have any other problem with your immigration besides 1) entering the US illegally (EWI or "entry without inspection") or 2) being out of status (or having no status) for more than 6 months. 
• You have to be able to show that if you don't get a green card, it will be extremely difficult for your family.  (This is the "extreme hardship" standard - which is not the same as "exceptional and extremely unusual hardship" which is the standard for another type of case, but can be difficult to prove anyway)
• If you are in removal proceedings, you have to get your proceedings administratively closed before filing for the provisional waiver on Form I-601A.

What Is The Process?

• You have to already have an approved I-130 (petition for alien relative).  You CANNOT file your I-130 together with the I-601A provisional waiver.
• If you're not in removal proceedings, the I-601A is filed with USCIS.  Do NOT file Form I-485 (adjustment of status): it will be denied and you'll be out over $1000 in filing fees.
• You will have to collect a lot of evidence to prove your eligibility for the provisional waiver.  You should not attempt to file a provisional waiver case without the assistance of an experienced immigration lawyer.
• You also have to file your immigrant visa forms (DS-230 forms) with the National Visa Center (NVC) and notify them that you intend to apply for a provisional waiver on Form I-601A.
• If your provisional waiver is approved, you will have to leave the United States and go back to your home country with the approved waiver for your immigrant visa appointment.
• If all goes well at the interview, you will get your immigrant visa, re-enter the United States, and your green card will be mailed to you a few weeks later.
• If you are in removal proceedings, you have to get your proceedings administratively closed before filing the I-601A, and then get them terminated before you leave the United States for your visa interview at your home consulate.

The greatest things about the final rule are:

• People who are in removal (deportation) proceedings can benefit from this new law.  Under the proposed rule back in April, they couldn't.
• If the provisional waiver is denied, you get a chance to file again.  Under the proposed rule back in April, you only got one shot.  

The worst things about the final rule are:

• If you have a weak case that is likely to be denied, there is no guarantee that you won't end up in removal proceedings (if you aren't already).
• If you have any other immigration problem besides being in the US illegally and/or entering illegally (EWI) then this provisional waiver will not help you. 
• While you can file another I-601A if your first one was denied, you can't file an appeal.
• If you have an order of deportation, you cannot file for a provisional waiver.

It's complicated - but it might help you.  There's a lot more to this rule that we're still working on so that our readers can understand it.  Whether you qualify is a complicated question.  If you do qualify, how to prove it is an even more complicated question.  But if you need to know now -  fill out the form below and we will contact you within 1 business day with some advice: