The impact of the pandemic on the USCIS

The sudden arrival of the global Coronavirus pandemic in the North American territory tremendously affected most sectors of our society. That is the case of the immigration sector.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is one of the branches of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and it is in charge of receiving, reviewing and responding to immigration applications in the country.

It is important to clarify that the USCIS income depends almost entirely on fees that applicants must pay when submitting an immigration request.

Due to the massive outbreak of Coronavirus and the alarming number of people infected in the US, the USCIS decided to close its offices for more than two months and suspend the issuance of most visas around the world.

In addition to that, the Trump administration implemented several emergency measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, for instance:

• The suspension of work visas, at least until 2021.
• The entry of immigrants was not available for more than two months.
• Political asylum hearings resumed recently, after being suspended for more than two months as well.
• Naturalization ceremonies were also not available to the public.

That is why the USCIS suffered a devastating downturn in revenue during the massive Coronavirus outbreak and warned about certain changes it needed to implement to be able to protect its employees’ wages, such as an increase in immigration application fees.

Do you need to submit an immigration application? Motion Law can help you.

The new USCIS fees

On September 2, 2020, the USCIS released a Policy Alert, where it explains the changes in immigration application fees and the new forms that will need to be completed for some immigration processes.

The official document explains:

• Which form must be filled out for each immigration process, be it political asylum, adjustment of immigration status, family application, inter alia.
• What will be the increase in processes’ fees.

These changes in application fees will take effect on October 2, 2020 and will be subject to possible changes after the USCIS restores its financial balance.

Motion Law keeps you up to date with the latest immigration news.

How can you use this time wisely?

As we mentioned before, these changes will take effect in October, which means that you still have enough time to:

• Take advantage of current rates.
• Prepare the necessary documentation for your immigration application.
• Choose the right process for your current immigration needs.
• Process your request in the shortest time possible.

To do this effectively, it is best to follow the advice of experts on immigration matters. We recommend this mainly for you to:

• Organize the necessary documentation efficiently in the shortest possible time.
• Choose the right process so you don’t have to spend more money and time in the future.
• Feel relief and confidence with your immigration application in the midst of the current juncture.
• Start your immigration journey in the US as soon as possible.

The constant accompaniment of specialists becomes essential during these times of crisis, and even more knowing that the fees for immigration applications will increase shortly.

Don’t miss your chance, contact Motion Law Immigration!

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.