Dear Editor:
On Friday, October 24, our State Bar of Texas Committee on Law Relating to Immigration & Nationality met in El Paso with U.S. consular and CIS immigration officials from the U.S. Consulate in Juarez.
Maurice Parker, Consul General, announced that attorneys will no longer be permitted to attend interviews with NIV or IV applicants. He indicated that attorneys will be allowed into the building to attend interviews with their clients; however, attorneys will not be allowed to be at the window during the interviews. This is a major change although other U.S. consulates have had a similar policy in effect for some time. This is effectively immediately.
Ben Aguirre, Officer in Charge of the DHS office in Ciudad Juarez, reported that the current processing times for waiver applications of the 3/10 year bars are down to about 6 weeks with an over 90% approval rating. This news is encouraging and makes consular processing attractive again for those that may not be eligible for adjustment of status. Mr. Aguirre reported that he will adjudicate a 212(d)(3) waiver and an I-601 (for waiving the 3/10/year bar) at the same time in relation to a K-3/ K-4 or V visa application. This means that once an individual enters the U.S. on that K-3/ K-4 or V visa, he/she would no longer need a waiver when he/she files for adjustment of status since the waiver was already approved in Ciudad Juarez.
Detailed minutes from this meeting will be provided soon.
Paul Parsons
Chairman, State Bar of Texas Committee on Laws Relating to Immigration & Nationality
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