Trump to "suspend immigration"/ USCIS bailout/ New fees

[Randy W]

new USCIS fee schedule, effective Oct. 2, 2020

 

 

from Politico

 

 

Trump says he’ll ‘suspend immigration’ into the US

• It was not immediately clear when or how the order would be carried out

His full tweet: “In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!”

 

It was not immediately clear when or how the order would be carried out.

 

 

 

Neither is it clear if anything will come of this. Stay tuned.

[Randy W]

from the NY Times

 

 

Live Coronavirus News and Updates

 

But the president’s late-night announcement on Monday signals his most wide-ranging attempt yet to seal the country off from the rest of the world. A formal order temporarily barring the provision of new green cards and work visas could come as early as the next few days, according to several people familiar with the plan.

Under such an executive order, the Trump administration would no longer approve any applications from foreigners to live and work in the United States for an undetermined period of time, effectively shutting down the legal immigration system in the same way the president has long advocated closing the borders to illegal immigration.

It was not immediately clear what legal basis Mr. Trump would claim to justify shutting down most immigration.

Workers who have for years received visas to perform specialized jobs in the United States would also be denied permission to arrive, though some workers in some industries deemed critical could be exempted from the ban, the people familiar with the president’s discussion said.

 

 

 

 

 

[mahko]

But current green card holders are still allowed to re-enter the country...right?

[Randy W]

But current green card holders are still allowed to re-enter the country...right?

 

We'll need to wait and see the details of his order - and whether any court challenges are forthcoming. .

[Randy W]

from VisaJourney on Facebook

 

https://www.facebook.com/75165828793/posts/10158197997903794/

 

The trump Administration is planning to pass an Executive Order in the next 24 hours to suspend all immigration to America. We believe the President may consider a narrow exception for immediate family members of US Citizens. We've started a petition to the White House. Please join us by signing!

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/737665-white-house-petition-to-add-executive-order-exception-for-immediate-family-members/

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/75165828793/posts/10158197997903794/

[Randy W]

. . . and another on petitions.whitehouse.gov/, but it's not clear that this will be effective before he's even signed one. All he's done is tweeted his intention without specifics.

 

Change Immigration Suspension Executive Order to Add Exception for Immediate Family Members of US Citizens

 

Edit: this is the same petition the Visa Journey link takes you to.

Edited April 22, 2020 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Allon]

Sorry I did not read ahead and catch that you posted this already. The TV (all of them but one) is reporting the administration is just plain unsure how to implement. It will take lawsuit after lawsuit to get it done.

[Martin B]

If I had to pull a random guess out of my butthole, the following two groups are at highest risk of getting affected by any future bans:

• Diversity Visa Applicants
• Brothers/Sisters/Parents of US Citizens
• Any applicants from Middle Eastern/African/South American countries (that aren't already under a travel ban)

 

Aside from those jumping the southern border or overstaying visas, the above two groups have caught the most flak since Day 1.

Edited April 21, 2020 by Barfus (see edit history)

[Martin B]

Looks like it's shaping up to be a total ban on issuing green cards for 60 days, with spouses and children exempt. Oddly enough temporary workers are not affected by this ban, despite the basis of this new ban being to "protect the American worker".

[Randy W]

Yes, the immediate relatives apparently ARE already excluded from the ban.

[newacct]

But current green card holders are still allowed to re-enter the country...right?

Yes. The proclamation does not apply to lawful permanent residents.

[newacct]

Looks like it's shaping up to be a total ban on issuing green cards for 60 days, with spouses and children exempt. Oddly enough temporary workers are not affected by this ban, despite the basis of this new ban being to "protect the American worker".

Well it doesn't affect getting green cards from within the US through Adjustment of Status (though those are effectively delayed due to USCIS offices not offering in-person services), nor does it affect people who applied from outside the US who have already been issued immigrant visas. It basically just stops issuance of new immigrant visas for 60 days (other than to spouses and children of citizens).

Edited April 23, 2020 by newacct (see edit history)

[Randy W]

from the Proclamation

 

 

 

Sec. 2. Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry. (a) The suspension and limitation on entry pursuant to section 1 of this proclamation shall apply only to aliens who:

(i) are outside the United States on the effective date of this proclamation;

(ii) do not have an immigrant visa that is valid on the effective date of this proclamation; and

(iii) do not have an official travel document other than a visa (such as a transportation letter, an appropriate boarding foil, or an advance parole document) that is valid on the effective date of this proclamation or issued on any date thereafter that permits him or her to travel to the United States and seek entry or admission.

(b) The suspension and limitation on entry pursuant to section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply to:

(i) any lawful permanent resident of the United States;

. . .

(ii) any alien seeking to enter the United States on an immigrant visa . . . and any spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old of any such alien who are accompanying or following to join the alien;

 

. . .

 

(iv) any alien who is the spouse of a United States citizen;

 

(v) any alien who is under 21 years old and is the child of a United States citizen, or who is a prospective adoptee seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications;

 

 

[Randy W]

from Forbes

Immigration Review Could Lead To New H-1B Visa Restrictions - Forbes

The Trump administration may soon propose another set of immigration restrictions, this time on H-1B visas for foreign-born scientists and engineers. Some observers view these public displays of limiting immigration as an effort to deflect criticism of the administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Before enacting new measures, analysts recommend the administration take into account the restrictions on H-1Bs already in current law, including the low annual limit for new H-1B petitions, and the high denial rates imposed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The latest data show H-1B denial rates are at record levels.

Table 1: Denial Rate for H-1B Petitions for Initial (New) Employment

FISCAL YEAR . DENIAL RATE

FY 2020 30%

FY 2019 21%

FY 2018 24%

FY 2017 13%

FY 2016 10%

FY 2015 6%

 

 

[Allon]

H-1B's will just go to Canada as I have already seen. Most of them do not work in a major category of management within the tech community -- anymore. But if they are good, they will just be relocated by their company to Canada and continue working there. If there were more monitoring by the government of the issuance of H-1B's then that might solve the problem of loss of US jobs. But when a a small posting of a job or jobs is on the bulleting board in the lunch room, and that satisfies the posting of any opening for US citizens, then problem solved. And if the salary is something like $10 an hour, then you know who is going to get the job.

 

You do get what you pay for.