DHS announced that the Trump administration is extending validity of work permits for Salvadorans with TPS through January 4, 2021. The administration is also providing Salvadorans with TPS an additional 365 days after the conclusion of TPS-related lawsuits to repatriate to their home country.
EOIR Suspends Operations at the Louisville Immigration Court Due to Building Conditions
EOIR announced that it has suspended operations at the Louisville Immigration Court due to building conditions. Until further notice, all filings should be submitted to the Memphis Immigration Court for processing. To date, hearings through the end of January 2020 are being reset.
Update as of November 6, 2019
Hearings that were scheduled at the Louisville Immigration Court through the end of January 2020 have been or shortly will be reset.
Update as of September 26, 2019
EOIR continues to suspend operations at the Louisville Immigration Court. At this time, hearings through the end of November 2019 are being reset. For all hearings scheduled for November 2019, there is no need for attorneys to submit written motions for status conference cases as those cases will be reset. Any other type of motion may be submitted. Parties should continue to submit all filings to the Memphis Immigration Court for processing. Cases assigned to the Louisville Immigration Court should continue to be captioned for Louisville.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) continues to suspend operations at the Louisville Immigration Court. At this time, hearings through the end of October 2019 are being reset. As we make progress regarding the court’s location and begin to reschedule the cases, we will give as much notice as possible under the current circumstances and consistent with the applicable law.
As previously mentioned, staff are working to update the automated case information hotline with the most current information about each case currently assigned to the Louisville Immigration Court. Cases will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
Welcome Poland
DHS Final Rule Designating Poland as a Visa Waiver Program Country
DHS final rule designating Poland as a country eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Program. The rule is effective 11/11/19. (84 FR 60316, 11/8/19)
USCIS Proposed Fee Increases
This morning I received an advanced copy of USCIS proposed fee increases. The notice will become official on November 14th. For the second time in a row, USCIS proposes increasing their fees an average of 21%.
Below are some of the proposed fee changes:
| Current Fee | Proposed Fee | Change | |
| K-1 | $535.00 | $520.00 | ($15.00) |
| I-130 | $535.00 | $555.00 | $20.00 |
| AOS Packet | $1,760.00 | $2,750.00 | $990.00 |
| I-485 | $1,140.00 | $1,120.00 | ($20.00) |
| I-751 | $595.00 | $760.00 | $165.00 |
| N-400 | $640.00 | $1,170.00 | $530.00 |
| I-526 | $3,675.00 | $4,015.00 | $340.00 |
| E-2 | $460.00 | $705.00 | $245.00 |
| I-601 A | $630.00 | $960.00 | $330.00 |
| I-765 | $410.00 | $490.00 | $80.00 |
Presidential Proclamation on Health Care
If you are applying for an immigrant visa, including a diversity visa, on or after November 3, 2019, you must demonstrate to the consular officer at the time of interview that you will be covered by approved health insurance within 30 days of entry into the United States or have the financial resources to pay for reasonably foreseeable medical costs. Inability to meet this requirement will result in the denial of the visa application.
This requirement will apply to all immigrant visa applicants and individuals seeking to enter the United States on an immigrant visa, except:
- Individuals who are holding (or who held) a valid immigrant visa as of November 3, 2019
- Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant visa applicants and their spouses and children (SI and SQ visas)
- Applicants who are children, whether adopted, biological, and step-children, of a U.S. citizen applying in the IR-2, CR-2, IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, or IH-4 visa classifications
- Returning Resident SB-1 applicants
- Applicants for K fiancé(e) visas and other aliens entering the United States without an immigrant visa, including lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees.
- Applicants for IR-5 visas and alien seeking to enter the United States pursuant to an IR-5 visa, provided that the alien or the alien’s sponsor demonstrates to the satisfaction of the consular officer that the alien’s healthcare will not impose a substantial burden on the United States healthcare system
- Any alien under the age of 18, except for any alien seeking to accompany a parent who is also immigrating to the United States and subject to this proclamation
- Any alien whose entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives, as determined by the Secretary of State or his designee based on a recommendation of the Attorney General or his designee
- Any alien whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State or his designee on a case-by-case basis
Qualifying Insurance or Financial Resource to Pay for Medical Costs
If you are not covered by the exceptions above, you will need to show to a consular officer or immigration official that you will be covered by approved health insurance within 30 days of entry to the United States or that you have the financial resources to pay for reasonably foreseeable medical costs.
Approved health insurance includes:
- Employer-sponsored health plans, including retiree plans
- Unsubsidized health plans offered in the individual market within a State
- Short-term, limited duration health plans effective for a minimum of 364 days or until the beginning of planned, extended travel outside the United States
- Catastrophic plans
- Coverage by a family member’s health plan
- U.S. military health plans, including TRICARE
- Visitor health insurance plans with adequate medical coverage for a minimum of 364 days or until the beginning of planned, extended travel outside the United States
- Medical plans under the Medicare program
- Any other health plan with adequate coverage as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services
For individuals over the age of 18, approved health insurance does not include coverage under the Medicaid program.
The requirement at the visa interview
During the visa interview, applicants should be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the consular officer that they have the financial resources to pay for reasonably foreseeable medical costs or will have approved health insurance from the list above within 30 days of entry into the United States. Officers will review the medical and financial documentation that is already part of the applicant’s case file and may request additional information or documentation as needed. Prior to the visa interview, applicants may wish to review costs and eligibility requirements for approved health insurance plans or consider how they would pay for the reasonably foreseeable medical costs of any current medical condition they may have.