The Immigration Bureau issued new regulations to help reunite relatives

The Immigration Bureau issued new regulations to help reunite relatives. Special Correspondent Lin Baoqing reported in Washington. World News Network, North American Chinese News, Chinese Business Information. The U.S. Immigration Service announced on the 6th...

The Immigration Bureau issued new regulations to help reunite relatives. Special Correspondent Lin Baoqing reported in Washington. World News Network. North American Chinese News, Chinese Business Information. On the 6th, the U.S. Immigration Service announced a draft rule that would facilitate the legalization of illegal immigrants. Once finalized, some family-based immigration applicants who have overstayed their visas in the United States will be able to submit applications in the United States for "exemption from the three to ten-year prohibition on return to the United States." Some illegal immigrant relatives of U.S. citizens can reduce the time they have to leave the United States to reunite with their relatives. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chairwoman Maggie Chao praised President Obama and USCIS for the new rules. She noted that the new regulations are important to Asian and Pacific Islanders. Two-thirds of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans are immigrants. The Asian American Justice Center also stated that although the Asian and Pacific Islander population only accounts for 6% of the country, they account for more than one-third of all relative immigrants. Immigration Director Alejandro ‘Ali’ Mayorkas held a press conference on the 6th, stating that the Immigration Service had announced the draft new rules in the Federal Register on the 6th and had solicited opinions from all parties, with plans to finalize and implement them later this year. Mayo Kass pointed out that the new draft rules apply to the spouses and children of U.S. citizens who apply for dependent immigration, with the purpose of reducing the time for illegal immigrants to be separated from their relatives in the United States. Mayorkas said that immigration law stipulates that anyone who overstays his or her stay in the United States for more than six months will not be allowed to re-enter within three years once he leaves the country; and anyone who overstays his or her stay in the United States for more than one year will be barred from re-entering for ten years once he or she leaves the country. He said that this immigration law also has exceptions. If it can be proved that the spouse or children of a citizen who has overstayed his or her visa will cause extreme hardship to the citizen after leaving the United States, he or she can apply for exemption from the ban on returning to the United States within three to ten years. Currently this application must be made overseas by the overstayer. The new draft rules would allow overstayers to stay in the United States and file this application. Mayorkas said applicants must be fingerprinted, pass a background check and must have no criminal record. After your application is approved, you must still return to your country to be interviewed at the local U.S. embassy or consulate. USCIS will work closely with the U.S. Department of State to expedite the processing of such cases. Mayorkas would not estimate how many people will apply in the United States. He rejected suggestions that the new rules would benefit millions of people. Mayo Cass said that in fiscal year 2011, a total of 23,000 applications were received, of which 17,000 were approved. In view of the prohibition on returning to the United States within three to ten years, many overstayers are unwilling to apply for a green card because after their application is approved, they must leave the United States for an interview. Passage of the interview is not guaranteed, and they will not be allowed to return to the United States for another three to ten years. Therefore, many overstayers would rather continue to stay in the United States illegally. The new regulations are expected to reduce overstaying illegal immigrants in the United States.