Immigration help for disaster affected Japanese citizens

Please read the following benefits available for Japanese citizens in view of the recent disaster.  If you, your relative or friend need assistance, please do not wait.  WIL sends our sincere wishes to Japan.

Released: March 17, 2011

WASHINGTON—In light of the recent earthquakes and tsunami in Japan, U.S. Citizenship and

Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds Japanese nationals of certain U.S. immigration benefits

available upon request.

USCIS understands that a natural disaster can affect an individual’s ability to establish or maintain

lawful immigration status. Temporary relief measures available to eligible nationals of Japan may

include:

The grant of an application for change or extension of nonimmigrant status for an individual

currently in the United States, even when the request is filed after the authorized period of

admission has expired;

Re-parole of individuals granted parole by USCIS;

Extension of certain grants of advance parole, and expedited processing of advance parole

requests;

Expedited adjudication and approval, where possible, of requests for off-campus employment

authorization for F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship;

Expedited processing of immigrant petitions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful

permanent residents (LPRs);

Expedited employment authorization where appropriate; and

Assistance to LPRs stranded overseas without immigration documents such as Green Cards.

USCIS and the Department of State will coordinate on these matters when the LPR is stranded

in a place that has no local USCIS office.

Visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program may visit a

USCIS local office for assistance.

Japanese nationals who are at a U.S. airport may contact the U.S. Customs and Border Protection

office there.

For more information on USCIS humanitarian programs, visit

www.uscis.gov or call the National

Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.