U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently released updated guidelines on the evaluation of family-based immigrant visa petitions, primarily affecting married couples seeking green cards.
The updated policy states that approval of a family-based petition does not grant applicants legal status alone. USCIS also added that Notices to Appear may be issued in removal proceedings if a beneficiary is found to be otherwise removable under federal immigration law.
The USCIS stated in a press release last week that “Fraudulent, frivolous, or otherwise non-meritorious family-based immigrant visa petitions erode confidence in family-based pathways to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and undermine family unity in the United States.”
When Does the Policy Take Effect?
As of its publishing date in the USCIS Policy Manual on August 1, the new policy is effective immediately. The change arrives as a backlog of 11.3 million pending applications is affecting the USCIS, and it applies to both pending and newly-filed petitions.
Contact a Deportation Attorney Today
Although facing the possibility of detainment is scary, we highly advise immigrants to remain cooperative with local law officers and to proactively contact deportation attorneys.
Reeves Immigration Law Group has served immigrants and their loved ones for 40 years, obtaining success even in the most complex cases. Whether you are concerned about you and your family’s legal rights, or facing possible detainment or deportation, our team of immigration lawyers can provide expert advice on how to move forward.
Contact us today to connect with the best deportation lawyers. We promise to be by your side through it all because we believe in making a difference in the lives of others and our community.
