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 Citizenship and Immigration Services, a division of the Homeland Security Department, said in a news release it will accept the applications through Aug. 17. Applications already filed, which the agency planned to reject, also will be accepted.
The decision was good news for skilled immigrants.
"We are pleased and elated. It's very good to see a government agency see it's made a mistake, acknowledge a mistake and fix a mistake," said Crystal Williams, associate director for programs at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Every month the State Department announces how many visa numbers are available, which immigrants need to get in line for green cards or visas to enter the U.S. It can take years for some immigrants to get the numbers.
In June, the State Department said all eligible skilled workers could submit applications to become legal residents. But on July 2, it said the 60,000 available visa numbers were no longer available because Citizenship and Immigration Services had suddenly reduced its backlog of green card applications.
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 The about face resolves an immigration embarrassment that angered members of Congress and outraged workers and employers.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., had planned to hold a hearing and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., fired off a letter to the Homeland Security Department to complain.
The process needs review, CIS Director Emilio Gonzalez said in a statement.
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On the Net:
State Department visa bulletin:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/
bulletin_1360.html
Citizenship and Immigration Services:
http://www.uscis.gov/
[Associated Press;
by Suzanne Gamboa] |
