US Citizenship Podcast

Teacher Patricia Hernandez and Teacher Jennifer Gagliardi talk about getting organized for your U.S. Citizenship Interview. These tips are for everyone, especially those whose eligibility is based on marriage to a U.S. citizen. We also talk about recent immigration news, encourage everyone to complete their Census, and advocate for alternative funding for USCIS. UPDATED VISA INFO IN SHOW NOTES!

You can watch this podcast on YouTube

https://youtu.be/LrjLoMZle9A

---- USCIS responds to a judge's order to stop the increase of the citizenship fee from $725 to $1170 on October 2.

CNN reported Tuesday night that a Federal judge blocked attempt to hike naturalization fees by 80%. The fee hike was supposed to go up on Oct.2. See the details at https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/29/politics/naturalization-fees-judge/index.html

USCIS Response to Preliminary Injunction of Fee Rule https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-response-to-preliminary-injunction-of-fee-rule

Judge Blocks Trump's Ban on Foreign Workers https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/us/foreign-workers-visas-h-1b-trump.html

Trump Virtually Cuts Off Refugees as He Unleashes a Tirade on Immigrants https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/us/politics/trump-refugees.html

NPR: Hansi Lo Wang Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) is a national correspondent for NPR based in New York City. He reports on the people, power and money behind the 2020 census. https://www.npr.org/people/177498291/hansi-lo-wang

VISA AND GREEN CARD UPDATES!

Here is a link to the October Visa Bulletin https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-for-october-2020.html

Adjustment of Status Filing Charts from the Visa Bulletin https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/adjustment-of-status-filing-charts-from-the-visa-bulletin

Visa Appointment Wait Times https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html

Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions https://www.usembassy.gov/

October Visa Bulletin: Significant Changes for #Indian and #Chinese Nationals Immigration Nerds Podcast Erickson Immigration Group's Managing Director, Hiba Anver joins. Skilled Indian workers make up roughly 75% of the employment-based green card backlog, a category that only accepts up to 7% of applicants from each country. Today, the number of total green cards issued each year is limited to 140,000. There's currently over 700,000 Indian workers waiting in a line now that is likely to stretch for decades. This discussion addresses how Octobers bulletin may effect this particular cohort, and others like them. #EB2 #India #EB3 #H1B # China #India #visa #USCIS #fees Listen to this #podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hiba-anver-october-visa-bulletin-significant-changes/id1400312981?i=1000493401079

I am not a lawyer. I cannot answer any questions about this info. Please contact: List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers | EOIR | Department of Justice https://bit.ly/cit-lawyer

USCIS responds to a judge's order to stop the increase of the citizenship fee from $725 to $1170 on October 2.

CNN reported Tuesday night that a Federal judge blocked attempt to hike naturalization fees by 80%. The fee hike was supposed to go up on Oct.2. See the details at https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/29/politics/naturalization-fees-judge/index.html

USCIS Response to Preliminary Injunction of Fee Rule https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-response-to-preliminary-injunction-of-fee-rule

WASHINGTON-U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Deputy Director of Policy Joseph Edlow issued the following statement in response to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issuing a nationwide preliminary injunction enjoining fee increases for citizenship and other immigration benefits. "This unfortunate decision leaves USCIS underfunded by millions of dollars each business day the fee rule is enjoined. Unlike most government agencies, USCIS is fee funded. As required by federal law, USCIS conducted a comprehensive biennial fee review and determined that current fees do not recover the cost of providing adjudication and naturalization services. This is nothing new or abnormal. In fact, the fee rule is two years behind schedule, and is a smaller percentage increase than the previous. In a fee-funded agency such as USCIS, this increase is necessary to continue operations in any long-term, meaningful way to ensure cost recovery. This decision barring USCIS from enacting its mandatory fee increase is unprecedented and harmful to the American people." TRASLATION VIA GOOGLE TRANSLATE: Respuesta de USCIS a la regla de orden judicial preliminar Fecha de lanzamiento 30/09/2020 WASHINGTON-EE. UU. El Director Adjunto de Política de los Servicios de Ciudadanía e Inmigración, Joseph Edlow, emitió la siguiente declaración en respuesta a que el Tribunal de Distrito de los EE. UU. Para el Distrito Norte de California emitió una orden judicial preliminar a nivel nacional que ordena aumentos de tarifas para la ciudadanía y otros beneficios de inmigración. "Esta desafortunada decisión deja al USCIS sin fondos suficientes en millones de dólares cada día hábil que se impone la regla de tarifas. A diferencia de la mayoría de las agencias gubernamentales, USCIS se financia mediante tarifas. Como lo requiere la ley federal, el USCIS llevó a cabo una revisión de tarifas bienal integral y determinó que las tarifas actuales no recuperan el costo de brindar servicios de adjudicación y naturalización. Esto no es nada nuevo ni anormal. De hecho, la regla de las tarifas tiene un retraso de dos años y es un aumento porcentual menor que el anterior. En una agencia financiada con tarifas como USCIS, este aumento es necesario para continuar las operaciones de cualquier manera significativa a largo plazo para garantizar la recuperación de costos. Esta decisión que prohíbe al USCIS promulgar su aumento de tarifas obligatorio no tiene precedentes y es perjudicial para el pueblo estadounidense ". Para obtener más información sobre USCIS y sus programas, visite uscis.gov o síganos en Twitter (@uscis), Instagram (/ uscis), YouTube (/ uscis), Facebook (/ uscis) y LinkedIn (/ uscis).Respuesta de USCIS a la regla de orden judicial preliminar Fecha de lanzamiento 30/09/2020 WASHINGTON-EE. UU. El Director Adjunto de Política de los Servicios de Ciudadanía e Inmigración, Joseph Edlow, emitió la siguiente declaración en respuesta a que el Tribunal de Distrito de los EE. UU. Para el Distrito Norte de California emitió una orden judicial preliminar a nivel nacional que ordena aumentos de tarifas para la ciudadanía y otros beneficios de inmigración. "Esta desafortunada decisión deja al USCIS sin fondos suficientes en millones de dólares cada día hábil que se impone la regla de tarifas. A diferencia de la mayoría de las agencias gubernamentales, USCIS se financia mediante tarifas. Como lo requiere la ley federal, el USCIS llevó a cabo una revisión de tarifas bienal integral y determinó que las tarifas actuales no recuperan el costo de brindar servicios de adjudicación y naturalización. Esto no es nada nuevo ni anormal. De hecho, la regla de las tarifas tiene un retraso de dos años y es un aumento porcentual menor que el anterior. En una agencia financiada con tarifas como USCIS, este aumento es necesario para continuar las operaciones de cualquier manera significativa a largo plazo para garantizar la recuperación de costos. Esta decisión que prohíbe al USCIS promulgar su aumento de tarifas obligatorio no tiene precedentes y es perjudicial para el pueblo estadounidense ". Para obtener más información sobre USCIS y sus programas, visite uscis.gov o síganos en Twitter (@uscis), Instagram (/ uscis), YouTube (/ uscis), Facebook (/ uscis) y LinkedIn (/ uscis).

Dr. Patricia Hernandez and Teacher Jennifer Gagliardi get together for a practice interview plus interview tips. This video is based on report-backs from recent Citizenship interviews in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose.

You can watch the zoom video with sub-titles here:

Download the PDF and take the quiz:

Twenty-seven N-400 & Civics Qs for US Constitution & Citizenship Week https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/uscitizenpod/Const-Week-Quiz-2015.pdf

Then listen to Teacher Jennifer's comments.

Citizenship Resources for Constitution Day and Citizenship Week are available at http://www.uscitizenpod.com/2020/09/citizenship-resources-for-constitution.html

Good News from USCIS! News Alert Aug 25, 2020 No furlough! https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uscis-abandons-furloughs-13000-employees-us-immigration-system/ Biometrics fee included in new N-400 fee Oct 2: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-16389.pdf pg 277 No New DACA Applications (This is bad news, but we think this will change soon because the Supreme Court ruled in favor of potential DACA applicants) https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-implements-dhs-guidance-on-daca Plus make a plan to vote early by mail or drop it off at your County Registrar of Voters!

Good News from USCIS! News Alert Aug 25, 2020 No furlough! https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uscis-abandons-furloughs-13000-employees-us-immigration-system/ Biometrics fee included in new N-400 fee Oct 2: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-16389.pdf pg 277 No New DACA Applications (This is bad news, but we think this will change soon because the Supreme Court ruled in favor of potential DACA applicants) https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-implements-dhs-guidance-on-daca Plus make a plan to vote early by mail or drop it off at your County Registrar of Voters!

The new fee structure, unveiled by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), is expected to take effect October 2. The cost of online naturalization applications is increasing from $640 to $1,160. There will also be a $50 fee for asylum-seekers.

USCIS Adjusts Fees to Help Meet Operational Needs https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-adjusts-fees-to-help-meet-operational-needs

Increase in US Immigration Fees Announced https://www.voanews.com/usa/immigration/increase-us-immigration-fees-announced

Dr. Patricia Hernandez and Jennifer Gagliardi discuss 20 basic USCIS N-400 Part 12 vocabulary terms. Includes a quiz, an exploration of the new USCIS.gov website, news about the Furlough, and so much more!

What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 7

Video with audio (1 hour!) https://bit.ly/uscis-week-7 Video with slides only, no audio (9 min) (Posted 7/26/2020) https://bit.ly/uscis-week-07-no

2020-07-25 Agenda

1. N-400 Part 12 Picture Vocabulary and Definition Quiz a. Overview of the Revised N-400 Part 12 https://bit.ly/n400-p12-interview-intro b. Intro to the N-400 Part 12 Quiz Picture Vocabulary https://bit.ly/n400-p12-interview-intro c. Intro to the N-400 Part 12 Quiz https://bit.ly/n400-p12-quiz-intro

2. USCIS website update a. https://www.uscis.gov/ b. uscitizenpod video about update: https://bit.ly/new-uscis-gov

3. TEACHER ALERT: USCIS Citizenship Resource Center a. https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship b. USCIS Lesson plans have moved! https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/resources-for-educational-programs/educational-products-for-educators-and-program-administrators c. Teachers: update your links to USCIS lesson plans!

4. USCIS ASC Re-openings and Furlough a. ASC re-openings: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings b. 7/23 USCIS Furlough Update from Rep. Peter Welch https://bit.ly/rep-welch-uscis c. 7/24 Senator Leahy announce that USCIS is postponing USCIS furloughs of 13,00 civil servants d. Call Congress & the White House to fully fund USCIS!

Dr. Patricia Hernandez and Jennifer Gagliardi start with a shortened USCIS N-400 interview which focuses on difficult Part 12 vocabulary.

07/18/2020 Agenda:

Practice Interview Don't just say NO! 7 simple definitions for some new Vocabulary New Citizenship Resource: Voices of Freedom ebook USCIS San Jose Webinar (and more info about USCIS outreach) More info about immigration scams Migration Policy Institute Webinar Good News! DACA and ICE Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announcement

What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 6

Video with audio (40 min +) https://bit.ly/uscis-week-06

Video with slides only, no audio (4 min) https://bit.ly/uscis-week-06-no

Seven Part 12 simple definitions https://bit.ly/uscis-week-06-x

Watch video: https://bit.ly/uscis-week-04

worksheet: https://bit.ly/ez-n400-part12

N-400 Part 12 playlist (16 videos) https://bit.ly/n400-part12

Voices of Freedom Digital Book and Audio http://buymylab.com/accesscode/?page_id=1806

Upcoming Local Engagements https://www.uscis.gov/outreach/upcoming-local-engagements

Good Info about Scams: FTC.gov Fotonovelos

ftc.gov: Notario scams (English) https://bit.ly/ftc-notario-scams

ftc.gov: Estafas de Notario (Spanish) https://bit.ly/ftc-notario-estafa

More Info: uscitizenpod's US scams playlist https://bit.ly/USscams

07/16 Migration Policy Institute Webinar

A Rockier Road to U.S. Citizenship? Findings of a Survey on Changing Naturalization Procedures https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/changing-uscis-naturalization-procedures

A Bumpy Path to U.S. Citizenship: A Survey of Changing USCIS Practices (video) https://www.migrationpolicy.org/events/bumpy-path-us-citizenship-survey-changing-uscis-practices

Dr. Patricia Hernandez and Jennifer Gagliardi talk very briefly about video comments and then move on to a practice USCIS N-400 interview and much more. 07/11/2020 Agenda:

1. Quick Comments and Request 2. Practice Interview 3. New Citizenship Resources--(Sorry, we skipped it. See below) 4. 2020 Calendar—before and after COVID-19 5. USCIS Webinar Seattle plus Migration Policy Institute Webinar 6. Immigration news headlines 7. ICE Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announcement and our response

This podcast is almost 50 minutes! Here is the video with closed caption: https://bit.ly/uscis-week-05 Here is the video with slides only, no audio: (3.5 minutes) https://bit.ly/uscis-week-05-no Google slides https://bit.ly/uscis-week-05-gslides Podcast: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/uscitizenpod/2020-07-11.mp3

New Citizenship Resources

Voices of Freedom Digital Book and Audio http://buymylab.com/accesscode/?page_id=1806%C2%A0

05/06/2020 COABE webinar: Resources for Online Citizenship Classes google slides: https://bit.ly/2020-coabe-cit (UPDATED)

07/06/2020 COABE: Hit the Deck Running: 2020 Census, Civics, and Citizenship google slides: https://bit.ly/2020-coabe-3cs

News You Can Use

PBS: The American Experience: The Vote video/website: https://bit.ly/wom-vote

VOANews: New US Citizens Sworn In at Los Angeles Drive Through video: https://bit.ly/oath-drivethru

NPR: How The Pandemic Will Affect This Year's Election video: https://bit.ly/pan-vote

NPR: The Long, Perilous Route Thousands Of Indians Have Risked For A Shot At Life In U.S. read/listen: https://bit.ly/indian-migrants

NYTimes: How ICE Helped Spread the Coronavirus | Coronavirus News video: https://bit.ly/ICE-covid

NPR: Foreign Journalists Working For U.S. Government Broadcasters (VOANews) May Lose Visas Read/listen: https://bit.ly/voa-jvisas

VOA Learning English: Who Is Affected by the US Visa Ban? read/listen: https://bit.ly/visas-ban-2020

VOA Learning English: New Rules: Foreign Students Must Leave US if Classes Go Online read/listen: https://bit.ly/online-go-home