Changes to work permits would reduce meritless applications, processing times, and backlog

WASHINGTON The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing a rule to reduce the incentive for aliens to file fraudulent asylum claims so they can obtain work authorizations.

For too long, a fraudulent asylum claim has been an easy path to working in the United States, overwhelming our immigration system with meritless applications, said a DHS Spokesperson. We are proposing an overhaul of the asylum system to enforce the rules and reduce the backlog we inherited from the prior administration. Aliens are not entitled to work while we process their asylum applications. The Trump administration is strengthening the vetting of asylum applicants and restoring integrity to the asylum and work authorization processes.

Applications for employment authorization based on a pending asylum application have reached a historic high, straining U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) resources. Nearly every illegal alien attempts to exploit the system by applying for asylum. USCIS currently has more than 1.4 million pending affirmative asylum claims, which is equal to the entire population of the state of New Hampshire.

This rule, if finalized, would reduce the incentive to file frivolous, fraudulent, or otherwise meritless asylum claims by changing filing and eligibility requirements for aliens requesting employment authorization based on a pending asylum application. The agency would focus more of its finite resources on reviewing pending asylum applications, including backlog cases and other pending applications and petitions, and allow our asylum system to prioritize those actually seeking refuge from danger.

The proposed rule supports President Trump s Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion.

For more information, please see the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register. The 60-day public comment period starts following publication of the Notice.

I need some human input here because gpt and gemini are saying two different things. One says to wait until April, the other says do it ASAP. I m leaning toward doing it now.

The usvisascheduling site finally let us book both the VAC and the Interview (previously it was only showing VAC). Our VAC is in March and the Interview is in April (really?) I guess I should be glad I checked the visa site I didn't get any notification and ceac hasn't updated. Embassy received peitition from nvc feb 10th but they need the physical file as well.

St. Luke s has much earlier availability than the Embassy. I've always been worried about sputum testing being ordered at this point I just want to get it over with. If it's ordered cool we have to wait anyway if not well it's good for 6 months I think.

We are filing the I-485 AOS for my wife now.
I'm retired but still have taxable income well above the threshold
I'm now doing the I-864 and just want to double check regarding transcripts and whether to include assets and a few other questions.

I searched a few threads but most are a few years old and I also miss the forest for the trees from time to time ( actually, sometimes I focus on the wrong trees ) so I thought it okay to ask .

1) IRS Tax transcripts: Is 2024 the most recent year since it is not April 15th yet?

2) When using IRS Return transcripts ( NOT Account of course) is it truly best to use just the most recent year ( 2024 since it's before April) or best to use 3 years even if you make well more than the poverty guidelines?

3) When filling out the 864 #7 "My current individual annual income ": Should that be what is listed as Total income on the Return transcript?

3a) which is also the same # input under Part 6 16a Most Recent Tax year and Total Income?

4) In an old thread it was mentioned if you only use recent year you should only supply that years Return transcript BUT you still need to fill out the total Income from the previous 2 years transcripts in Part 6 section 16.b and 16.c

The quote from that thread is "Just to be clear, the amount earned for the last 3 years is required to be listed but only the returns for the last year is required to be attached."

That seems odd to me and not what I read on the guidelines on the USCIS website.
Perhaps things have changed? Or changed back even? I just want to check

4) Part 7 Use of Assets
I do not need to use assets and the guideline says "Only complete Part 7. if you need to use the value of assets to meet the income requirements. "
So I should not fill that out but can I, and should I include in the filing , account statements to the 864 that show assets as further proof of my capability of continually being well above the poverty guidelines?

Reading the Guidelines it seems all I need to attach as far as income requirements is the Return transcripts of 2024 but that just feels too easy

Thanks for your guidance

Just a couple of really simple questions for the team here. I'm only asking because I haven't yet initiated the filing process online, and we have not utilized it before as it was not an option before.

1. When submitting proof the I-751 along with proof of bona fide relationship, will we be asked to upload a SINGLE pdf document? Or is there capability to upload multiple PDF documents?

2. When using the online process, will I have opportunities to fix mistakes before I submit, or is it one long process? (I.E., is there the ability to save progress, log out, and come back in to finish before submitting?)

Thanks for the insight!

I haven t been here in a while, kinda in an extended holding pattern. She was tripped up in medical, x-rays like is not uncommon. She made it through finally a few months ago. With the previous scheduling at the embassy I was able to search & schedule an interview. I had to cancel once she got tripped up at St Luke s.

I just logged into the new scheduling portal, didn t get far. It basically said, due to reasons with application, or other reasoning, log out for at least an hour. I m on the page, any answer on why it s a dead end? Yes I realize there may not be any open slots.

Why am I still here? Well, if possible I d still go through everything. In the interim I ll do the visiting thing. Since I m going over there, I thought we could try getting to the next step together.

Is it a fee issue? I m sure I paid earlier, no doubt long expired now. Anyone want to schedule an interview for us?? I ll check things when I get there. What type of proof that the medical is complete and passed? I hate to ask, is it 6 months then one starts over?

Thanks.