USCIS Emphasizes Rule Relaxations for Typhoon Victims

Natural catastrophes can affect your USCIS application, petition or immigration status, as they cannot be anticipated. USCIS recently emphasized the immigration relief assistance available to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan last week in the Philippines.

The following options may be available to affected Filipono nationals:

• Change or extension of nonimmigrant status for an individual currently in the United States, even when the request is filed after the authorized period of admission has expired;
• Extension of certain grants of parole;
• Extension of certain grants of advance parole, and expedited processing of advance parole requests;
• Expedited adjudication and approval of requests for off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship;
• Expedited processing of immigrant petitions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents;
• Expedited adjudication of employment authorization applications; and
• Assistance to legal permanent residents stranded overseas without immigration/travel documents.  USCIS and the Department of State will coordinate on these matters when the individual is stranded in a place that has no local USCIS office.

We will continue to keep you informed on the latest immigration updates for Typhoon victims.