Obama’s immigration announcement

Information on President Obama’s November 2014 announcement

Deferred Action for Families

This is the new program for people who have U.S. children. The program offers work authorization and limited protection from deportation for three years. Travel permission may be available for humanitarian circumstances like visiting a dying relative. The requirements are:

1. Arrived in the U.S. by January 1, 2010
2. Children, born before November 20, 2014, who are U.S. citizens or have a green card
3. Show good moral character by passing a background check and paying taxes

What to do now

The program will not start until May 2015. For now, please:

1. get copies of your U.S. children’s birth certificates
2. find at least two pieces of proof showing you have been in the U.S. for every year from 2010-2014
3. make a list of every address you have lived in and the dates you lived there from the day you arrived in the U.S to now (if you ever left the U.S., we need to know that);
4. get copies of your federal tax returns;

Additions to DACA

The DACA program has been expanded. Anyone who was under sixteen years old when they arrived in the U.S. and who arrived here prior to January 1, 2010, will be eligible for DACA. There is no longer an upper age limit to qualify. Approvals will be for three years, not two.

What to do now

The changes will not take effect until February 2015. For now, please:

1. get school transcripts showing your are in school or graduated high school or have a GED
2. if your school records do not make it clear, find at least two pieces of proof showing you have been in the U.S. for every year from 2010-2014
3. get government-issued photo ID, if you do not have it yet
4. if you came with a visa, get your passport and I-94 card
5. make a list of every address you have lived in and the dates you lived there from the day you arrived in the U.S to now (if you ever left the U.S., we need to know that);

Additions to the provisional waiver program

Spouses and children of green card holders will be eligible to apply for provisional waivers. If your spouse or parents have a green card, contact us for more information.

Positive changes for some students, entrepreneurs, and spouses of Indian and Chinese business green card applicants

We will post more information on these changes soon.