On 26 September 2008, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to nationals of Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador. Individuals that have already been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are eligible to re-register and extend their status for the additional 18 months by filing an Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821), without the application fee, and the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765), with the appropriate fee.

For more information, please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates. http://www.Ortega-Medina.com

On 15 September 2008, US Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS) announced that the Direct Mail Program will now include Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. Applicants should file all non-military N-400 applications with the appropriate Lockbox; applicants should continue to file Military N-400 cases at the Nebraska Service Center (NSC). There is a 30-day transition period whereby the Service Centers will forward any N-400 applications received at their facilities to the appropriate Lockbox; however, after 14 October 2008, any application that is inappropriately filed with a service center will be returned.

Applicants residing in:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Territory of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands

Should file a N-400 with:
USCIS Lockbox Facility, USCIS,
P.O. Box 21251
Phoenix, AZ 85036
Or for Private Courier (non-USPS):
USCIS, Attn: N400
1820 E Skyharbor Circle
S. Floor 1, Phoenix, AZ 85036

Applicants residing in:
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Should file a N-400 with:
USCIS Lockbox Facility, USCIS, P.O. Box 299026
Lewisville, TX 75029.
Or for Private Courier (non-USPS): USCIS, Attn: N400
2501 S. State Hwy 121, Bldg. 4
Lewisville, TX 75067.


For more information, please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates. http://www.Ortega-Medina.com

Various media outlets, including Washingtonpost.com and CNN.com have reported on the 26 August 2008, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sweep of a manufacturing plant in Laurel, Mississippi. In what was called the largest single site sweep in US history, nearly 600 immigrant workers were detained on suspected immigration violations. Of the 600, approximately 100 individuals were fitted with electronic monitoring bracelets and released for humanitarian reasons; approximately 475 individuals were transferred to an ICE facility; 9 individuals who were under the age of 18 were transferred to the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement; and, 8 individuals appeared in federal court facing criminal charges for allegedly using false Social Security and residency identification. The sweep has again raised criticism of the I-9, electronic Employment Verification system (E-Verify), as the manufacturer had enrolled and participated in the E-verify system. Government officials responded that the investigation into the manufacturer's employment practices was launched two years ago, before the E-verify system began.

For more information, please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates. http://www.Ortega-Medina.com

On 02 September 2008, US Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS) issued a reminder that the new naturalization test will be administered beginning 01 October 2008. Applicants filing an N-400, Application for Naturalization after 01 October 2008 will be required to sit for the new test. Applicants who have filed or will file an N-400 prior to 01 October 2008, and sit for the naturalization test between 01 October 2008 and 01 October 2009 will be given a choice to sit the current or new test. If an applicant is required to retake the test, they must take the same test originally taken.

For more information, please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates. http://www.Ortega-Medina.com