USCIS: IMMIGRATION RELIEF FOR SEVEN CATEGORIES OF FILIPINOS

The USCIS has announced that Filipino nationals who are impacted by Typhoon Haiyan may be eligible for certain immigration relief measures:

1.  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;

2.  Extension of certain grants of parole made by USCIS;

3.  Extension of certain grants of advance parole, and expedited processing of advance parole requests;

4.  Expedited adjudication and approval, where possible, of requests for off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship;

5.  Expedited processing of immigrant petitions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs);

6.  Expedited adjudication of employment authorization applications, where appropriate; and

7.  Assistance to LPRs stranded overseas without immigration or travel documents, such as Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards). USCIS and the Department of State will coordinate on these matters when the LPR is stranded in a place that has no local USCIS office.

Philippine nationals should note that these provisions do not grant any extra rights or paths to those in the Philippines who may have been harmed as a result of the Typhoon.  These relief measures are limited to the seven situations described above.