8/23/2016 AILA Liaison AILA National Liaison What Do We Do? The Liaison Department works with AILA leadership and members to develop, direct and coordinate AILA’s administrative advocacy efforts. Through member-based liaison committees, we work with agencies on issues of broad concern to AILA members. Analyze substantive legal, policy, and procedural issues Collect and compile data to identify problematic trends Alert the appropriate agency http://www.aila.org/advo-media/agency-liaison USCIS USCIS: • USCIS HQ • USCIS Service Center Operations • California Service Center • Nebraska Service Center • Texas Service Center AILA Liaison Vermont Service Center Com m ittees • • USCIS Field Operations/Immigrant Investor Program Office • National Benefits Center • USCIS International Operations DH DHS Offi Office of the of the CIS CIS Om Ombudsman 1
8/23/2016 • ICE • EOIR • CBP Field Operations (Admissions) • CBP Border Patrol (Enforcement) • DOL AILA Liaison • DOS Com m ittees • Verification and Worksite Enforcement • ICE HSI, USCIS Verification Division (E-Verify), DOJ Office of Special Counsel, OCAHO • Investor (EB-5) • Asylum & Refugee • VAWA, Us and Ts • Business Immigration Issue • ACES (Athletics, Culture, Developm ent Entertainment, Science) Com m ittees • Healthcare Professionals/Physicians • LGBT Working Group • SSA/DMV/SAVE Research and develop questions for liaison meeting agendas on substantive and procedural issues. Meet with agencies to advance AILA policy positions, provide input, and voice concerns. What do AILA Liaison Raise questions and issues between Com m ittees meetings, as needed. Do? Report to the membership on agency updates through liaison meeting minutes and practice alerts. Research and write practice pointers, position papers, and legal memoranda. 2
8/23/2016 From all AILA members! Chapter liaisons and listservs Individual member submissions and questions How Do Message Center Com m ittees Learn About Other NGOs and organizations Issues? Calls for Examples AILA Calls for Examples/ Questions All “Calls for Examples” can be found under “Advocacy and Media,” “Agency Liaison” Questions on immigration policy/ legal interpretations Cases where USCIS relied on an erroneous legal interpretation What Types of Interagency issues: problems Questions Should I Send coordinating between agencies to the AILA Recurring problematic RFEs Liaison Recurring problematic denials Com m ittees? Concerns about troubling, systemic trends in adjudication, treatment of noncitizens, etc. Procedural questions 3
8/23/2016 Where Can I Find Information About AILA National Committees? AILA National Committee information can be found under “About” “Leadership and Governance” Agency Liaison Issue Developm ent Where Can I Find Information About AILA Liaison Committees? AILA Liaison Committees and information can also be found under “Advocacy and Media” Liaison Committee Pages on www.AILA.org Sample Department of State Liaison Committee Page: 4
8/23/2016 Liaison Committee Pages on www.AILA.org Sample Contact Form for EOIR Liaison Committee: Local Agency and Chapter Liaison Contact Information Resources By State Our resources by state section has links to the chapter website, local agency contacts, and local liaison information. http:/ / www.aila.org/ infonet/ state 5
8/23/2016 Practice Alerts and Pointers Case load transfers between Practice Alerts service centers Practice alerts are short, Problems with mail delivery to timely notices that keep attorneys current on USCIS or EOIR late breaking news from the government. Erroneous RFEs from USCIS Information from agencies on a government shutdown Government office closures iCERT and PERM outages Tips on filing select form types Practice with USCIS Pointers Legal interpretations of new Practice pointers policy memoranda provide accurate, timely information on policy Recommendations on practicing and adjudication trends, filing tips, and before immigration courts and substantive legal the BIA developments. Information on emerging adjudication trends for certain visa types Best practices guidance for building your case 6
8/23/2016 How Do I… Get My G-28 Recognized? G-28 Submitted with Initial Filing Only most recent edition of the form Interfiling when Retained After Initial Filing Review Practice Pointer- Getting USCIS to Recognize the G-28 AILA Doc. No. 08090469 Print on blue paper Sign in black ink Send to appropriate PO Box Submit via traceable method Do not submit with cover letter How Do I… Alert USCIS When I Move? Service Centers (CSC, NSC, TSC, and VSC) USCIS recommends (but does not require) that the attorney submit a new fully completed and updated, signed Form G-28 for each pending case. In the alternative, the attorney may submit a letter on office stationery that clearly specifies the new address and change in firm. The letter should include a list of cases to which the address change applies. Please include the Form Type, Receipt Number, A Number, and the applicant or petitioner’s name in a spreadsheet format. AILA Doc. No. 14112160 NBC File a letter for each case List Petitioner/ Beneficiary name, receipt number & A number AILA Doc. No. 12072351 (pages 4-5) How Do I… Request an Expedite from USCIS? Criteria To Request an Expedite Severe financial loss For cases at the service center or NBC: Extreme emergent situation Call NCSC and offer relevant Humanitarian situation criteria for your client’s case. Nonprofit status of requesting (obtain SRMT #) organization in furtherance of If supporting docs needed, the cultural and social USCIS will contact you, OR interests of the United States Follow-up with supporting docs DOD or national interest via ncsc-follow-up e-mail if no situation (Note: Request must response in 5 business days. come from U.S. government Wait 5 more days before following up, OR and state that delay will be detrimental to government) Submit AILA liaison request. USCIS error For cases at the local office: Compelling interest of USCIS Schedule an InfoPass appointment at the local office. *Criteria available on USCIS website: http:/ / www.uscis.gov/ forms/ expedite- See AILA Doc. No. 08022567 criteria 7
8/23/2016 How Do I… Know How to Practice at a New Asylum Office? Check out our Asylum Office Best Practice Guide! AILA Doc. No. 12060844 Includes information on: Who to contact at the asylum office Interview wait times Rescheduling requests Submitting additional information Practice tips specific to each asylum office Local AILA asylum liaison contact information How Do I… File a Motion to Reopen a Case Denied Due to Clear Service Error? If expedited service request is denied USCIS will review and correct certain or if it doesn’t fall into one of the administrative errors: above categories: If denied for failure to respond to File Motion to Reopen/ Reconsider an RFE, NOID, or NOIR, and: on Form I-290B with: There is evidence that the customer responded on time; or The filing fee for the Motion to USCIS determines the document Reopen/ Reconsider; wasn’t sent to the petitioner/ applicant A cover letter including a full and/ or G-28 attorney. explanation of the basis for the request There is evidence that USCIS sent the for refund of fees; document to the wrong address. All documents and evidence necessary If denied for failure to appear for to overcome the denial grounds and biometrics, and demonstrate Service error. There is evidence that USCIS sent to the wrong address; or See AILA Doc. Nos. 12040455, There is evidence the customer 12100940 attended the appointment or made a valid/ timely request that it be rescheduled Call NCSC, as for an expedited service request to fix the error. And Much, Much More! Check-in with DOS’s Charlie Oppenheim (AILA Doc. No. 14071401) USCIS Humanitarian Parole (AILA Doc. No. 15071507 ) Is an Amended H-1B Petition Required When the Worksite Changes? (AILA Doc. No. 12083048) Special Immigrant Juvenile RFE Trends (AILA Doc. No. 15052939) Health-Related Hardship Grounds and the Use of Experts in the I-601A Provisional Waiver Process (AILA Doc. No. 15043060) Adjustment of Status Applications for Clients in Removal Proceedings (AILA Doc. No. 13061147) Refunds and Stopped Checks or Bounced Checks (AILA Doc. No. 09091169) PERM Job Orders and Matter of A Cut Above Ceram ic Tile (AILA Doc. No. 15082539) 8
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