U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regional media manager Marie Therese Sebrechts said USCIS was asked whether an alien who has parole status until January 31, 2012 and is not currently employed but had an umbrella permit can be petitioned for by an employer after November 28, 2011. She replied, “Yes.”
Sebrechts told Variety, “An alien who is lawfully present before November 27, 2011 and is granted a parole extension until January 31, 2011 and who does not work after November 27, 2011 may be the beneficiary of an I-129CW filed prior to the parole expiration and can also be an applicant for a grant of status.”
She said the alien would not, however be eligible for continuation of employment. “Employment cannot begin until the I-129CW petition is approved and CW-1 status granted.”
Variety asked Sebrechts if there’s truth to the information that their agency has put on hold parole applications, she said, “USCIS has not put on hold processing any applications for the CNMI. That is false.”
With a few days before Nov. 27, there were reports of increased incidence of sponsorship schemes preying on unemployed individuals.
To this, Sebrechts said, “we warned people to be careful of immigration scams. USCIS has provided a list of required documents for CW-1 and they do not include passport photos or police clearance. All the required documents on the list for CW-1 are already in an applicant’s possession and not something new.”
She also said, “If you are not eligible, paying someone to compile documents for you will not make you eligible or allow you to get something that you are not eligible for.”
USCIS provided some facts online that dispel rumors circulating with regard to CNMI immigration.
Sebrechts encourages the public to go to www.uscis.gov/avoidscams to learn the facts about how to protect you and your family.
To report immigration fraud, please call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at 1-670-233-0600 or 1-877-347-2423.
In an interview, Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan described the proliferation of scammers as “regrettable.”
“This should stop,” he added.
He said at the same time that “USCIS has been very cooperative, very supportive of what we need to do here.”
He added, “The work is nothing short of outstanding.”
