The USCIS "Deferred Action" Program

[TBoneTX 43,057]

See this --

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

-- for a description of the Deferred Action Program for the illegals. It will NOT be a cakewalk for them -- see the red tape.

According to USCIS, the four service centers will handle these applications. I haven't been able to get an answer on how the influx will affect the processing of traditional petitions/applications, in terms of USCIS's staffing levels or the political priority placed on processing the applications for this new program.

[ibee 7]

It's a "simple" application. MUCH more straight forward than AOS and other petitions. I know it's over 1million people, but honestly the complexity and size of it is nothing like the AOS. They won't even get interviews. I think they will be processed much faster than we thought.

We will see what happens but just to give you a perspective: my AOS took me a month to gather everything and put it together. The consideration for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals took me 3 hours to put together.

[Harsh_77 716]

See this --

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

-- for a description of the Deferred Action Program for the illegals. It will NOT be a cakewalk for them -- see the red tape.

According to USCIS, the four service centers will handle these applications. I haven't been able to get an answer on how the influx will affect the processing of traditional petitions/applications, in terms of USCIS's staffing levels or the political priority placed on processing the applications for this new program.

Would you want it to be Cakewalk?

[X Factor 1,110]

Would you want it to be Cakewalk?

That would be expecting too much

[Thomas and Kristi 17]

They mention that phrase "Only the Congress, acting through its legislative authority, can confer these rights." throughout the writeup. Is this a CYB action in case 2013 starts off with first order of business being repealing of the Deferred Action program?

[TBoneTX 43,057]

They mention that phrase "Only the Congress, acting through its legislative authority, can confer these rights." throughout the writeup. Is this a CYB action in case 2013 starts off with first order of business being repealing of the Deferred Action program?

This program was courtesy of a Presidential executive order (sidestepping Congress). Certainly this can be repealed in 2013, if the proper representatives, senators, and President are voted in.

Dig this in terms of the potential (probable?) effect on processing times:

No new workers have been hired to review the school records, sworn affidavits and other documentation each applicant is required to file. And no funds have been appropriated to pay added processing costs. Officials said the initial budget would be covered by the $465-per-application fee, and as more fees are collected, new staff will be hired.

An application for an undocumented farmworker to apply for legal amnesty under a program signed by President Reagan in 1986 cost the immigration agency $1,130 to process, two members of Congress wrote in an Aug. 7 letter to Janet Napolitano, secretary of Homeland Security.

In the past, not charging enough to review applications has "resulted in an enormous backlog of legal immigration benefits applications and very long processing wait times for legal immigrants and aspiring U.S. citizens," wrote Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa).

On Tuesday, Smith denounced the deferral program as a "magnet for fraud and abuse" designed to shore up Latino support for Obama. "There seems to be little if any mechanism in place for vetting fraudulent applications and documentation submitted by illegal immigrants," Smith said in a statement.

Applicants must mail completed forms and documentation to one of four immigration service centers: in Laguna Niguel; Dallas; Burlington, Vt.; or Lincoln, Neb.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immigrant-kids-20120815,0,2097285.story

The above is from a mainstream-media newspaper story. My repeated messages to my Congressman's office, for the truth straight from USCIS, haven't been authoritatively answered.

We sent Mrs. T-B.'s N-400 (citizenship) package to the Dallas lockbox last week. I hope that it will stay just ahead of the tsunami of applications from the illegals. USCIS is probably under considerable political pressure to give the illegals' applications priority attention. I have palpable sympathy for legal filers who are at earlier stages of the process, or who haven't gotten their next package sent in yet.

[Thomas and Kristi 17]

I saw that on there. I mean, it brings to question how much do they pay their employees? There has to be a TON of money coming in for all these regular applications. Where does it all go? It doesn't seem they have enough people, or that they pay their current ones way too well.

I'm happy that Thomas is now in a holding pattern for 2 years. A very welcome relief that we missed this influx. I sure hope Mrs. T-B gets through without a hitch. I would hope they wouldn't delay a citizenship application in favor of a deferral but I guess that's why I'm not in politics.

[TBoneTX 43,057]

I sure hope Mrs. T-B gets through without a hitch. I would hope they wouldn't delay a citizenship application in favor of a deferral but I guess that's why I'm not in politics.

Thank you, si man. In theory, citizenship applications are given higher priority during Presidential-election years. However, we haven't received an NOA1 for Mrs. T-B.'s N-400 yet, even though someone who sent it on the same day got one. It's early yet, however, si man.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Thank you, si man. In theory, citizenship applications are given higher priority during Presidential-election years. However, we haven't received an NOA1 for Mrs. T-B.'s N-400 yet, even though someone who sent it on the same day got one. It's early yet, however, si man.

I do not understand this theory of yours that citizenship applications get higher priority during election years.

It is in fact codified in the INA that citizenship applications must have a decision within 120 days. It has nothing to do with politics. See section 335 of the Act and 8 CFR 335.3 (if you are interested).

Edited August 19, 2012 by Rebecca Jo