Effective September 1, 2013, the DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application and the DS-261 (Choice of Address and Agent) will replace the paper based DS-230 Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration (parts I and II) and the DS-3032 (Choice of Address and Agent). This message describes the timeline for deployment and provides guidance to posts.
For more information please read the telegram attached.
1. When is the I-864 processing fee paid?
2. When does the NVC send instructions about the I-864, I-864W, I-864EZ and I-864A?
3. Is there a fee I will need to pay for the Affidavit of Support forms?
4. Is there a fee to review the Affidavit of Support at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad?
1. When your immigrant visa case is ready to begin processing at the NVC, the NVC will send an Affidavit of Support processing fee invoice and payment instructions to your petitioner.
As announced in Ref A, 9 FAM 40.92 has been updated with information and guidance to consular officers related to a new final rule permitting certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens to apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) for an I-601A provisional waiver of unlawful presence before leaving the United States for their immigrant visa appointments. This cable provides supplemental information for posts in processing these cases.
For more information on this please click the attachment.
The Department has published a Notice in the Federal Register announcing a 60-day comment period on its proposed changes to the form ETA-9033, Attestation by Employers Using Alien Crewmembers for Longshore Activities in U.S. Ports and ETA-9033A, Attestation by Employers Using Alien Crewmembers for Longshore Activities in the State of Alaska. To read the Notice, please click here.
SCIS recently began transferring some casework within the service centers to balance workload processing capacity. The affected casework includes the following forms:
Easy-to-Use Formats: We are publishing many of our forms in a 2-column, Adobe fillable format. When completed electronically, this format restricts incorrect entries and provides informational pop-up boxes to assist customers.
User-Friendly Look and Feel: We have improved several of our naturalization forms to include clear and comprehensive instructions in plain language.
A revised version of the ETA Form 9141 will be implemented in the iCERT Portal on June 18. The form changes were pursued through the Paperwork Reduction Act process and have been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget. Minor changes were made to clarify information needed for more efficient application processing. A fillable copy of the form is available here.
Can I send a scan of the forms? Can I use an electronic signature?
Forms need to be signed by hand in ink, and the original signed documents submitted to USCIS by mail or courier.