The AILA Liaison has been informed by the USCIS and the State Department that USCIS and DOS have begun implementation of the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program (CFRP). On January 22 and 23, 2008, the USCIS, through the State Department's National Visa Center, mailed over 12,000 letters to I-130 petitioners with beneficiaries residing in Cuba who are subject to quota limitations. The letters contain detailed instructions to be followed in order for beneficiaries to be eligible for parole into the United States. Once the petitioners have responded to NVC and provided the requested documents, NVC will provide the beneficiaries' names to the US Interest Section in Havana. The US Interests Section will make interviews available (scheduled through their call center) beginning March 3, 2008. While NVC is administering the letters, the CFRP is exclusively a USCIS program and DOS will not publish any announcement or additional information related to the program. If petitioners, who have received a CFRP letter, have questions about processing, they may call NVC at 603-334-0700 or email at NVCinquiry@state.gov.

Source: AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 08012965 (posted Jan. 29, 2008)

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule to establish minimum standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards in accordance with the REAL ID Act of 2005. 

These regulations set standards for states to meet the requirements of the REAL ID Act, including:

• information and security features that must be incorporated into each card;
• proof of identity and U.S. citizenship or legal status of an applicant;
• verification of the source documents provided by an applicant; and
• security standards for the offices that issue licenses and identification cards.

This final rule also provides a process for States to seek an additional extension of the compliance deadline to May 11, 2011, by demonstrating material compliance with the core requirements of the Act and this rule.

6 CFR Part 37: Final Rule-Minimum Standards for Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards

Real ID Final Rule: Questions and Answers

DHS Increases Funding For REAL ID Grant Program and Extends Applications Deadline

This chart contains all of the formal and Annual Report recommendations made to USCIS since the establishment of the Ombudsman’s office in July 2003. Recommendations: (1) ensure national security and the integrity of the legal immigration system, (2) increase efficiencies in administering citizenship and immigration services, and (3) improve customer service in the rendering of citizenship and immigration services.  Click Here

Effective February 1, 2008, a new passport book will cost $100.00 for adults, $75.00 for adult renewals, and $85.00 for a child.  Please see below for the break down of fees:

	Old Fee	New Fee
Passport Book Services: (a) Application fee for applicants age 16 or over (including renewals) [Adult Passport Book] (b) Application fee for applicants under age 16 [Minor Passport Book (c) Passport Book execution fee (required for first time applicants and others who must apply in person) (d) Passport Book Security Surcharge (enhanced border security fee	55 40 30 12	55 40 25 20
Total First Time Adult	97	100
Total “Renewal” Adult	67	75
Total Child	82	85

Source: 22 CFR Part 22, Public Notice 6082.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or depart the United States from within the Western Hemisphere.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or depart the United States from within the Western Hemisphere.

The travel document requirements make up the departments of State and Homeland Security’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.

This travel initiative is being implemented in two phases:

• Air travel requirements went into effect January 23, 2007 and now all travelers including children must present a passport or secure travel document when entering the United States by air.
• Land/Sea requirements are transitioning toward standard and consistent documents for all travelers entering the country, with full implementation in June 2009. Read More.

Source: US Department of Homeland Security (Posted 1/23/2008)

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that it has begun collecting additional fingerprints from international visitors arriving at Boston Logan International Airport (Logan). The change is part of the department’s upgrade from two- to 10-fingerprint collection to enhance security and facilitate legitimate travel by more accurately and efficiently establishing and verifying visitors’ identities.  (Posted 1/23/08)  Click Here

Questions & Answers from CIS Ombudsman's Teleconferences: "USCIS Receipting Delay I and II - How Does This Affect You?," on October 12 and November 2, 2007 Click Here (Last edited 01/18/08)

N-648 Medical Waivers - How Are They Working For You?: Questions from CIS Ombudsman's Teleconference  Click Here  (Last edited 01/17/08)

The New Naturalization Test: Questions and Answers from the CIS Ombudsman's E-mails  Click Here  (Last edited 01/18/08)

Frequently Asked Questions: New Border Crossing Procedures Beginning January 31, 2008 (Posted 01/18/2008) Click Here

DHS Ends Oral Declarations at Borders, Reminds Travelers of New Procedures on January 31 Click Here

SEVIS Approved Schools (Posted 01/17/2008) Click Here

SEVIS Approved Map (Posted 01/17/2008) Click Here

US Citizens may start applying for the new US Passport Card beginning February 1, 2008.  This US Passport Card can only be used to travel across the border to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.  This card may not be used to travel by air.  Click Here

February 2008 Visa Bulletin: Visas for EB2 for Indian Nationals Unavailable (01/11/2008)

"Some Observations from DOS on India EB-2 Unavailability"
Source: AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 08011461 (posted Jan. 14, 2008)

On January 10, 2007, AILA Liaison contacted Charlie Oppenheim, Chief of Immigrant Visa Control and Reporting at the State Department, to speak about the announcement of India EB-2 visa unavailability in the February 2008 Visa Bulletin. By early November, indications were that USCIS demand for India EB-2 visa numbers would place significant pressure on the overall annual limitation, leading to the decision to roll back the priority date for India EB-2 for December 2007 to 01JAN02, and for January 2008 to 01JAN00. Even with those significant retrogressions, USCIS requested almost 300 India EB-2 for December. (As an indication of the rate of demand and how close to the quarterly and annual limits usage is, the USCIS requested three India EB-2 numbers for January, all with dates prior to 01 JAN 00.) There is some possibility that India EB-2 could again become available if it appears that the demand for India EB-1 will not exceed the annual limit, but, that determination will not be able to be made until the second half of the fiscal year.

For China-mainland born EB-2, if demand remains as has been seen over the last couple of months, it is expected that the 01 JAN 03 cut-off date will hold, and it is likely that all numbers will be used within the current cut-off date.

As is always the case, Charlie is looking for mechanisms to maximize number usage so that no visa numbers remain unallocated, and is looking for ways to make additional India and China-mainland born numbers available, such as by making sure that unused numbers that had been sent to consular posts are promptly returned.

The DOL rule establishing a 180-day validity date for labor certifications approved before July 16, 2007, sets January 12, 2008, as the expiration date for those labor certifications, and establishes that an I-140 must be filed with the USCIS prior to the expiration of the labor certification. Because January 12, 2008, falls on a Saturday, AILA liaison has asked USCIS whether an I-140 with such a labor certification has to be received by USCIS by close of business on Friday, July 11, 2007. The USCIS has not yet replied. Accordingly, as a precaution, members should prepare I-140 petitions with pre-July 16, 2007, labor certifications for delivery to the appropriate USCIS service center on Friday, January 11, 2008. Source: AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 08010374 (posted Jan. 3, 2008)

01/03/2007: As of December 17, 2007, immigrant visa applicants seeking to file an application for waiver of inadmissibility (Form I-601) with the USCIS field office in Ciudad Juarez can now use the Teletech Call Center to make an appointment.  USCIS Press Release

01/04/2007: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that suspension of premium processing services for religious worker (R-1) visa petitions will be extended until July 8, 2008.   USCIS Press Release