The various branches and departments of the United States government that involve immigration—the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the Federal Courts, and so on—are issuing different policies in response to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the advisories issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Because these policies are subject to change quickly throughout the course of each day, please check with your immigration professional contact at Margaret W. Wong & Associates LLC if you have an upcoming immigration appointment. We will update this page with new information as promptly as we are able to.
Immigration Court (Executive Office of Immigration Review or EOIR): For all U.S. Immigration Courts, all non-detained Master Calendar hearings scheduled for March 16, 2020 to April 10, 2020 are postponed, and new hearing notices will be mailed out. However, all other Immigration Court hearings (including detained Master Calendar hearings and detained/non-detained Individual Hearings) are proceeding as scheduled.
United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS): Subject to exceptions involving specific offices, all asylum, I-130, adjustment of status, and naturalization interviews are proceeding as scheduled for the time being.
*However, USCIS is stated applicants may reschedule their interviews at no penalty if they (1) have traveled internationally to any country outside the U.S. within 14 days of their appointment; (2) believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 (even if they have not traveled internationally); or (3) are experiencing flu-like symptoms (such as a runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat or fever).
**Some USCIS offices have been directly contacting individual applicants or their attorneys regarding rescheduling of immigration interviews. Please monitor your telephone and make sure you are in contact with your attorney if you have an upcoming appointment at USCIS.
Detained Individuals – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): ICE has suspended social visitation (e.g., friends and family) of individuals detained at all ICE detention facilities until further notice. Attorneys may be allowed “non-contact” visitation to detained individuals, subject to screening and additional restrictions.
ICE Reporting and Check-ins – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO): Some, but not all, individual ERO/ICE offices have been notifying individuals and attorneys of rescheduled dates for upcoming ICE check-ins. Please monitor your telephone and make sure you are in contact with your attorney if you have an upcoming check-in at ICE.
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