As the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) makes clear on its website, the actions ordered by President Obama relating to immigration have yet to be implemented. On November 20, 2014, President Obama announced a series of measures which (1) expands the population eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, (2) allows parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who have been present in the country since January 1, 2010, to request deferred action and employment authorization for three years and (3) expands the use of provisional waivers of unlawful presence to include the spouses and sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents and the sons and daughters of U.S. citizens among other items. While it is understandable that many wish to avail themselves of the protections these measures afford, it is important to recognize that these new procedures are yet to be implemented.
At this juncture, news reports have pointed out that certain facilities are being established to house the new bureaucracy which will be used to process applications once the start dates for accepting such applications are established. The federal government has been hiring workers who will process and consider these applications. But the actual details of when applications will be accepted and what specific forms and other documents will be required to submit an application has not yet been finalized.
It is expected that these rules and regulations will be announced early in this new year but no specific date for the roll out has been determined, at least not publicly. Those individuals who are considering whether to seek deferral for relief or temporary residency need to understand that some disreputable individuals are seeking to sign potential applicants up for a process that yet does not exist. They should wait until the USCIS announces when it will begin accepting petitions. At that juncture, they should consult with a reputable and experienced immigration lawyer committed to ensuring their clients can submit a proper application at the correct time with the appropriate immigration authorities.
The Shulman Law Group endeavors to ensure its clients be kept abreast of all significant developments relating to the process of immigration to the United States particularly where special programs are created for immigrants from particular countries. Edward Shulman, Esq, founder of The Shulman Law Group, LLC is a national speaker for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). AILA is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, and to advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice. In the course of Mr. Shulman’s involvement with AILA, he has been dedicated to educating other immigration attorneys about the import of helping intending immigrants to navigate a new cultural system. He meticulously follows all of the developments occurring in the battle over immigration reform so that he will be prepared to effectively assist his clients obtain either citizenship or residency if a new system is enacted.