USCIS has issued a new form named I-912 Request for Fee Waiver. Several categories of immigrants may file the form and request for a fee waiver. For a list of who may apply for a waiver, please read the instructions for Form I-912. In general, applicants who are filing for immigration benefits based on employment are not eligible for a waiver.
Normally, USCIS will grant the waiver if the applicants can show that they are receiving means-test benefits or are living at or under 150% of the federal povety guidelines. For those who are under financial stress such as unemployment or high medical expense, USCIS may grant a fee waiver if the applicant may provide sufficient information of the applicant's income and assets and a detailed description of the applicant's financial difficulties.
Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.
移民局頒布了新的豁免費用申請表I - 912。幾個不同類別的移民可以遞交此申請表要求豁免遞交移民申請的費用。至於誰可以申請豁免，請流覽移民局關於I - 912表格的說明。一般來說，工作移民的申請人是不能申請豁免費用的。
在一般情況下，如果申請人能夠證明他們正在接受援助，或生活在低於聯邦貧窮準則150％以下的水平，移民局將給予豁免。對於那些活在財政壓力下，如失業或需要支付高額醫療費用的人士，如果申請人可以提供足夠的資料，包括申請人的收入和資產以及能夠詳細說明申請人的經濟困難，移民局或會給予豁免。
以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。
11/30/2010
11/17/2010
More International Sudents Than Ever 國際學生創歷年新高
An annual report released by the Insitute of International Education (IIE) suggests that in the academic year of 2009-2010, there were 690,923 international students in universities and colleges in the U.S. This is a record high number of international students in American higher educational instutions. In addition, 23.6% of all international students are from Mainland China (18.5%), Taiwan (3.9%), and Hong Kong (1.2%). In other words, almost every 1 out of 4 international student in the U.S. is from a Chinese-speaking town! You may read the entire report, named Open Doors, online.
What does this information mean? This could mean that the State Department is fairly generous in issuing student visas to foreign nationals. Granted, the report fails to mention how many F-1 applicants have been turned down by the State Department. Nonetheless, the increase in number of international students shows that international students are welcome in higher institutions and the State Department is willing to issue more F visas to allow international students to study in the U.S. If you have ever considered attending college/university in the U.S. and your situation permits you to do so, now may be a good time to do that.
Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.
國際教育研究所(IIE)於星期一發表了一年一度關於國際學生在美國大專院校就讀的報告。該報告指出，在2009-2010學年期間，有690,923名國際學生在在美國的大學和學院就讀，創下歷年新高。另外，在國際學生當中，有23.6%來自中國(18.5%)、臺灣(3.9%)和香港(1.2%)。 換句話說，幾乎每4名國際學生中就有一位是來自說中文的家鄉! 你可以在此處閱讀整個報告。
這代表什麼呢？ 這可能意味著國務院放寬了對簽發學生簽證的限制。雖然報告沒有提及有多少F-1申請被國務院拒絕， 但是從國際學生總人數的增加可以知道，國際學生在美國的大專院校深受歡迎，而國務院亦願意簽發更多F簽證來配合這些院校的需求。 如果你正考慮到美國上大學而你的情況亦允許你這樣做，那現在可能是個好時機！
以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。
What does this information mean? This could mean that the State Department is fairly generous in issuing student visas to foreign nationals. Granted, the report fails to mention how many F-1 applicants have been turned down by the State Department. Nonetheless, the increase in number of international students shows that international students are welcome in higher institutions and the State Department is willing to issue more F visas to allow international students to study in the U.S. If you have ever considered attending college/university in the U.S. and your situation permits you to do so, now may be a good time to do that.
Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.
國際教育研究所(IIE)於星期一發表了一年一度關於國際學生在美國大專院校就讀的報告。該報告指出，在2009-2010學年期間，有690,923名國際學生在在美國的大學和學院就讀，創下歷年新高。另外，在國際學生當中，有23.6%來自中國(18.5%)、臺灣(3.9%)和香港(1.2%)。 換句話說，幾乎每4名國際學生中就有一位是來自說中文的家鄉! 你可以在此處閱讀整個報告。
這代表什麼呢？ 這可能意味著國務院放寬了對簽發學生簽證的限制。雖然報告沒有提及有多少F-1申請被國務院拒絕， 但是從國際學生總人數的增加可以知道，國際學生在美國的大專院校深受歡迎，而國務院亦願意簽發更多F簽證來配合這些院校的需求。 如果你正考慮到美國上大學而你的情況亦允許你這樣做，那現在可能是個好時機！
以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。
11/02/2010
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Many international students would like to work in the U.S. after they graduate from an American institution. One of the easiest ways for them to do so is to apply for post-graduation optional practical training (OPT). The two most frequently asked questions regarding OPT are related to unemployment period and the nature of jobs that are permissible for an international graduate to take under OPT.
According to 8 CFR §214.2(f)(10)(ii)(E), an international graduate may not accumulate more than 90 days of unemployment during he OPT authorization. If the international graduate has obtained an STEM extension, the graduate may not accumulate more than 120 days of unemployment from the initial 12 months of OPT to the end of the STEM extension.
8 CFR §214.2(f)(10) states that "[a]n eligible student may request employment authorization for practical training in a position that is directly related to his or her major area of study." The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a program administered by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE), has elaborated what kind of jobs are permissible under OPT in a Policy Guidance issued on April 23, 2010. These jobs include working for multiple employers, paid employments, unpaid employments/internships, and even self-employment. Moreover, the OPT student can work either as a W-2 worker or an 1099 independent contractor. Thus, an OPT student has a large variety of jobs that he/she can choose from. The Policy Guidance has explanation on each type of employment, so those who are interested in applying for OPT should carefully review it.
Finally, 8 CFR §214.2(f)(12)(i) requires an OPT student to report to his/her school officials if there is a change of name, address, or employment status. When to report these changes are different for those who are under the initial OPT and those who are under the STEM extension. For those who are under the initial OPT authorization, SEVP "recommends the student to report any change within 10 business days[.]" supra, 7.3.1. of Policy Guidance. In contrast, a student under STEM extension must report any change in name, address, employer, employer's address, and/or loss of employment. 8 CFR §214.2(f)(12)(ii)(A). In addition, the student needs to provide a validation report to his/her school official every 6 months during the STEM extension. 8 CFR §214.2(f)(12)(ii)(B).
Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.
許多國際學生希望在畢業之後留下來在美國工作。其中一個最容易這樣做的方法是申請實習工作證(OPT)。 關於OPT的兩個最常見問題是與失業時間及工作的本質有關。
根據8 CFR §214.2(f)(10)(ii)(E)，一個國際畢業生不可以在他OPT期間積累超過90天的失業。 如果國際畢業生透過STEM計畫延長OPT，那麼從最初的OPT到延期的結尾不可以積累超過120天的失業時間。
8 CFR §214.2(f)(10)規定OPT的工作必須與國際畢業生就讀的專業有關。負責學生及交換生計畫的SEVP表示，這些OPT工作包括為多個雇主工作、有薪的工作、沒有薪水的工作或者實習、以及自僱。 另外， OPT學生可以是以W-2或者1099的身份工作。 因此， OPT學生其實有很多工作可以選擇。SEVP發出的政策指引對每一種就業的形式皆有解釋，因此有興趣申請OPT的學生應細心閱讀該文件。
最後，8 CFR §214.2(f)(12)(i) 規定持有OPT工作證的國際畢業生如果更改了姓名、地址、或就業情況必須向學校報告。什麼時候要報告這些變動會因人而異。所有持有OPT的畢業生， 應在上述變更後的10個工作天向學校報告有關的改動。透過STEM計畫延長OPT的國際畢業生但凡變更了姓名、地址、雇主、雇主地址、或失業，皆須要向學校報告，而且每6個月要向學校提供報告。
以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。
According to 8 CFR §214.2(f)(10)(ii)(E), an international graduate may not accumulate more than 90 days of unemployment during he OPT authorization. If the international graduate has obtained an STEM extension, the graduate may not accumulate more than 120 days of unemployment from the initial 12 months of OPT to the end of the STEM extension.
8 CFR §214.2(f)(10) states that "[a]n eligible student may request employment authorization for practical training in a position that is directly related to his or her major area of study." The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a program administered by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE), has elaborated what kind of jobs are permissible under OPT in a Policy Guidance issued on April 23, 2010. These jobs include working for multiple employers, paid employments, unpaid employments/internships, and even self-employment. Moreover, the OPT student can work either as a W-2 worker or an 1099 independent contractor. Thus, an OPT student has a large variety of jobs that he/she can choose from. The Policy Guidance has explanation on each type of employment, so those who are interested in applying for OPT should carefully review it.
Finally, 8 CFR §214.2(f)(12)(i) requires an OPT student to report to his/her school officials if there is a change of name, address, or employment status. When to report these changes are different for those who are under the initial OPT and those who are under the STEM extension. For those who are under the initial OPT authorization, SEVP "recommends the student to report any change within 10 business days[.]" supra, 7.3.1. of Policy Guidance. In contrast, a student under STEM extension must report any change in name, address, employer, employer's address, and/or loss of employment. 8 CFR §214.2(f)(12)(ii)(A). In addition, the student needs to provide a validation report to his/her school official every 6 months during the STEM extension. 8 CFR §214.2(f)(12)(ii)(B).
Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.
許多國際學生希望在畢業之後留下來在美國工作。其中一個最容易這樣做的方法是申請實習工作證(OPT)。 關於OPT的兩個最常見問題是與失業時間及工作的本質有關。
根據8 CFR §214.2(f)(10)(ii)(E)，一個國際畢業生不可以在他OPT期間積累超過90天的失業。 如果國際畢業生透過STEM計畫延長OPT，那麼從最初的OPT到延期的結尾不可以積累超過120天的失業時間。
8 CFR §214.2(f)(10)規定OPT的工作必須與國際畢業生就讀的專業有關。負責學生及交換生計畫的SEVP表示，這些OPT工作包括為多個雇主工作、有薪的工作、沒有薪水的工作或者實習、以及自僱。 另外， OPT學生可以是以W-2或者1099的身份工作。 因此， OPT學生其實有很多工作可以選擇。SEVP發出的政策指引對每一種就業的形式皆有解釋，因此有興趣申請OPT的學生應細心閱讀該文件。
最後，8 CFR §214.2(f)(12)(i) 規定持有OPT工作證的國際畢業生如果更改了姓名、地址、或就業情況必須向學校報告。什麼時候要報告這些變動會因人而異。所有持有OPT的畢業生， 應在上述變更後的10個工作天向學校報告有關的改動。透過STEM計畫延長OPT的國際畢業生但凡變更了姓名、地址、雇主、雇主地址、或失業，皆須要向學校報告，而且每6個月要向學校提供報告。
以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。
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