Natural Disasters & Immigration Services

As a foreign national, a natural disaster can cause more damage than what’s apparent. Storm surges, high winds, torrential downpours and major flooding can obviously destroy a home, but they can also greatly affect immigration matters. What if a flood prevents you from extending a nonimmigrant stay? What happens if a tornado damages or destroys important immigration travel documents? In the wake of Hurricane Harvey and Irma, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that people impacted by any of these storms or other natural disasters can take advantage of the following immigration services on a case-by-case basis and upon request:

• Change a nonimmigrant status or extend a nonimmigrant stay for an individual currently in the United States. Failure to apply for the extension or change before expiration may be excused if the delay was due to a natural disaster.
• Re-parole people previously granted parole by USCIS.
• Advanced parole requests are prioritized with expedited processing.
• F-1 students who experience severe economic hardship receive expedited adjudication of requests for off-campus employment authorization.
• Expedited adjudication of employment authorization applications, in certain situations.
• Expedited replacement of lost or damaged immigration or travel documents issued by USCIS.
• Fee waiver consideration due to an inability to pay because of a natural disaster.
• Assistance for those who received a Request for Evidence or a Notice of Intent to Deny but were unable to submit evidence and for those unable to appear for a scheduled interview with USCIS.
• Reschedule a biometrics appointment.

In order to receive assistance, you are still required to file the forms that are regularly required by the USCIS for any relief or benefit that’s needed. Information about your hardship in regards to the natural disaster should be explained in the forms. If you have questions about natural disasters and immigration services, pleases contact our skilled Lake Charles immigration attorneys at Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP today.