Immigration Relief Measures for Yemini and Nepalese Nationals; TPS for Nepalese Nationals Now on DHS/USCIS Regulatory Review

USCIS advised recently on the availability of immigration relief measures that may assist eligible Yemini and Nepalese nationals in light of the current unstable security situation in Yemen and the April earthquake that struck Nepal. These include: change or extension of nonimmigrant status for an individual currently in the United States, even if the request is filed after the authorized period of admission has expired; extension of certain grants of parole made by USCIS; expedited adjudication and approval, where possible, of requests for off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship; expedited adjudication of employment authorization applications, where appropriate; consideration for waiver of fees associated with USCIS benefit applications, based on an inability to pay; and assistance replacing lost or damaged immigration or travel documents issued by USCIS, such as green cards.

DHS/USCIS just added temporary protected status (TPS) designation for Nepalese nationals in the U.S. who were affected by the earthquake on its regulatory review but it is not clear when that program would go into effect.