This article was prepared with the assistance of ABIL, the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers, of which Loan Huynh, Fredrikson Immigration Department Chair, is a member.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating existing policy guidance regarding agency discretion in adjudications of adjustment of status applications.
The update provides "a non-exhaustive list of positive and negative factors that may be relevant to whether an adjustment of status applicant warrants a favorable exercise of discretion." It also lists the privileges, rights, and responsibilities of lawful permanent residents (LPRs) as a reference for officers to consider when determining whether the grant of LPR status is in the best interest of the United States.
USCIS said this update "will assist officers in making more consistent discretionary decisions by providing a foundation to identify and analyze negative and positive factors in adjustment of status applications."
Details:
- USCIS notice, https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-updates-policy-guidance-regarding-discretionary-factors-for-adjustment-of-status-applications
- USCIS policy alert, https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20201117-AOSDiscretion.pdf
- USCIS policy manual update, https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-7-part-b-chapter-4
