|
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to USCIS (formerly INS) in Manchester, NH? When traveling from the:
NORTH: Take Route 93 South through the Toll Plaza, bear left after Toll Plaza - Route will change to 293 South. About 5 miles after Toll Plaza take Exit #6. When you exit, keep to the right and cross back over the Highway; keep to the right again and cross over the River; stay in the Right Lane and Exit at Canal Street. At the bottom of the exit ramp go through the set of lights. At the second set of lights (Dow Street) turn Left and then make an immediate left into the parking lot (Gold's Gym) and drive through the parking lot to the shops on your right. The USCIS Office is to the right of the Café.
SOUTH: Take Route 93 North to Route 293 North. On Route 293 North take the Granite Street exit. Take a right on to Granite Street. Stay in left lane and take left on to Canal Street. Follow Canal Street to Dow Street (Gold's Gym) and take a right and an immediate left into parking lot. The USCIS Office is to the Right of the Café.
WEST: Take I-89 South to Route 93 North to Manchester, NH. Then follow the directions above.
EAST: Take Route 101 West to Route 93 North to Manchester, NH. Then follow the directions above.
| | How do I report my change of address? Please see this link:
www.uscis.gov/addresschange
| | How do I check the status of my case with the USCIS? It is possible to check the status of any case pending with any of the USCIS (formerly INS) Service Centers online. The link is: https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/index.jsp You can type in the USCIS receipt number for any service center and you will get a message providing the status of a case. The message online is the same as the message on the automated line but it is a lot easier to check the status of a case via online. | | What are the new photo requirements for applications to the immigration service? They are now full frontal color photographs, like passport photos. Please see the link below:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/M-603.pdf
To see detailed guidelines for producing high quality photographs, please visit:
http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotos/index.html | | How can I obtain a Non-driver ID card for the State of NH? An original birth certificate and one other form of identification; such as, your social security card or passport; along with proof-of-residency is required.
Complete an APPLICATION FOR DRIVER LICENSE (DSMV 450)
Appear at:
DOS
DMV
23 Hazen Drive
Concord NH 03305
OR
Any substation.
Non-US Citizens must appear at the Concord office.
If applying for a non-driver ID because of a suspended or revoked driver license and if your image is on file with the DMV, complete the application and pay the $10.00 fee. Your identity will be verified using the DMV’s database. | | Where can I download official Department of State forms? Please see this link to download official Department of State forms in reference to Visa, Grants, Passport and Employment:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/forms_847.html | | How do I revalidate or renew my visa while in the US? Please refer to the following web link:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1298.html#Extension
| | What are the countries included in the Visa Waiver program?
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Uruguay. | | How do I find out how long I have to wait for an interview or appointment at the Consulate? DOS Website Includes NIV Processing Times for Individual Consular Posts
The State Department now provides information on waiting times for interview appointments and visa processing for nonimmigrant visas at individual posts.
To view estimated waiting times for each post, please see the following link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php | | How do I get my birth certificate or marriage certificate from another state? What are the requirements? Please refer to the following web link:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm | | What do I need to do if I want an E visa? Please refer to the following link:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1273.html | | Questions and Answers on Section 245(i): Setting the Record Straight What is Section 245(i)?
Section 245(i) is exclusively for people who are already legally qualified for immigrant visas, based on a close family relationship or an offer of employment from a U.S. employer. This provision merely addresses where these individuals can pick up their visas, once they become available. By paying an additional $1,000 over the standard application fees, immigrants can opt to retrieve these visas here in the U.S., instead of being required to do so in a U.S. consulate abroad. Section 245(i) provides no other "benefits" to the immigrant, contrary to the rhetoric of anti-immigrant groups. It confers with it absolutely no authorization to work in the U.S., no protection from deportation if someone is here illegally, and no right to "jump ahead" in the immigrant visa queue. Immigrants who file for permanent residency and opt to use Section 245(i) must still wait years to obtain their immigrant visas and achieve all the other rights and privileges accorded with this status.
Why do we need Section 245(i)?
Current law imposes bars to re-entry for immigrants who have had visa status violations while in the United States. Therefore, some individuals who are legally qualified for immigrant visas but are required to retrieve these visas in U.S. consulates abroad will find themselves unable to re-enter the U.S. for a period of years once they leave to pick up their visas. The practical effect of the re-entry bars is that immigrants who are eligible for legal residency because of a close family or employment relationship, but have fallen out of status, will pass on applying for permanent residency because they do not want to run up against these bars and be separated from their families in the U.S. Reinstating 245(i) would give these people a chance to obtain permanent residency without falling into this Catch-22. Most importantly, it would give the U.S. government a chance to thoroughly review the backgrounds of these people who may already be living in our communities, and decide whether or not we want them to continue living amongst us. This screening process is lengthy and quite involved, but without 245(i) many immigrants would be discouraged from beginning the process and making themselves known to authorities.
How does Section 245(i) help us or hurt us in our efforts to fight terrorism from within the U.S.?
Bringing people out of the shadows is inherently positive for national security because it allows the U.S. government to thoroughly review these people's backgrounds and decide whether or not their presence would benefit our country. Immigrants who qualify for permanent residency and get to pick up their visas in the U.S. due to Section 245(i) are subject to intense scrutiny. They face a rigorous screening process that involves a lengthy application, criminal background checks, in-person interviews, and other hurdles. Applicants must be fingerprinted and the fingerprints are checked against records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). In addition, certain identifying biographic data about each applicant is transmitted to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In return, the CIA advises the INS when information in its files appears to relate to an applicant. Moreover, the applicant's basis for eligibility (such as a close family relationship to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident or an offer of employment) is closely examined, and any suspicion of fraud or misrepresentation is thoroughly investigated.
During this screening process the U.S. government looks at a variety of factors in determining whether or not to grant the visa. These areas include:
Health-related concerns, including mental and physical disorders;
- Criminal convictions;
- Drug trafficking (with or without a criminal conviction);
- Prostitution and commercialized vice;
- Government officials who have violated religious freedom;
- Smuggling and human trafficking;
- Money laundering;
- Adverse foreign policy consequences;
- Membership in totalitarian parties;
- Perpetrating Nazi persecution or genocide;
- Likely to become a public charge;
- Stowaways;
- Anyone committing document fraud or misrepresentation;
- Practicing polygamists;
- International child abductors;
- Unlawful voters; and
- Various other documentation requirements.
Terrorism-related provisions in the law would deny a visa to any alien who:
o Has engaged in a terrorist activity, including providing material support to a terrorist organization, being a member of a terrorist organization, using one's position of prominence to endorse or espouse terrorist activity, or preparing or planning any terrorist activity;
- The Attorney General has reasonable grounds to believe is engaged in or is likely to engage after entry in any terrorist activity; or
- The Attorney General knows or has reason to believe seeks to enter the United States to engage, even incidentally, in any unlawful activity.
Reinstating Section 245(i) would encourage people to come out of the shadows and make themselves known to our government, in exchange for a chance to remain in the U.S. if they are truly qualified for immigrant visas and pass all of these screening measures.
Copyright © 2002, American Immigration Lawyers Association
| | If I have an F-1 student visa, how can I receive a Social Security Number? As of 10/13/2004, in order to receive a SS number, F-1 students will be required to provide evidence of authorization by the school to work and will also be required to show that they have secured employment or a promise of employment, unless they have an EAD or CPT authorization. | | If I have an F-1 student visa. Can I change my status without going home? Yes| | If I am out of status and I marry a US citizen, can I still adjust to permanent resident status without leaving the country? Probably| | If I have been an LPR for 5 years and I have lived exclusively in the US for more than one-half the time, but I have a conviction for a crime such as driving while intoxicated, can I still become a citizen? Likely| | If I became an LPR more than twenty years ago but I do not have my green card, can I get a replacement card? Yes| | If I am Canadian and I have a professional degree, can I get permission to come to the US to work? Probably| | If I have an H-1B1 visa that I need to renew but the H visa cap has already been reached, may I still renew my H visa? Yes| |
|
