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SEND COMMENTS ON PROPOSED GREEN CARD REPLACEMENT REGULATION (DHS
DOCKET NO. USCIS-2005-0056) TO U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES
BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2007
MODEL COMMENTS ON IMMIGRATION CONCERNS ARE
ATTACHED (in Word format).
BACKGROUND
Under the proposed rule, immigrants who have permanent residence cards
(Form I-551 "green cards") that do not have an expiration date (those
issued between 1979 and 1989) must apply to U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) for a replacement card within a 120-day
period beginning October 22, 2007. They must pay a fee of $290
with the replacement application and $80 for a biometric information
service (fingerprints, photograph, and signature). USCIS will set
a date when the old green cards will no longer be valid. Lawful
permanent residence status will not expire even if the green card is no
longer valid, but the old card will no longer be valid for obtaining new
employment or entering the U.S.
WHY YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION SHOULD SEND COMMENTS
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120 days
is too little time for a green card replacement program.
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Many
immigrants won't learn about the green card replacement program in
time.
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Green
cards might be terminated even if USCIS has not finished processing
applications for replacements.
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The rule
will criminalize many longtime, law-abiding immigrants.
You or your
organization can submit comments to USCIS about this proposed
regulation. Comments are due by September 21, 2007.
HOW TO WRITE COMMENTS
The National Immigration Law Center has prepared
model comments which you
can adapt for your own use. Your comments can be as long or short
as you choose. They should reflect your own experiences and be in
your own words so that USCIS will count each comment separately.
Please be mindful of the sections that are in italics where you will
need to insert your organization's information.
HOW TO SEND COMMENTS
There are several ways to submit your comments. Be sure to:
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Put DHS
Docket No. USCIS-2005-0056 in the subject line.
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Put your
comments on your letterhead.
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Pay
particular attention to the sections in the model comments that are
in italics where you will need to insert your own information.
Online:
You may submit comments electronically at
http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions there for submitting comments; or.
E-mail:
You may submit comments directly to USCIS by e-mail at
rfs.regs@dhs.gov. Include
DHS Docket No. USCIS-2005-0056 in the subject line of the message; or Mail -- You can
mail comments to:
The Chief, Regulatory Management Division
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Department of Homeland Security
111 Massachusetts Ave., NW, 3rd Floor
Washington DC 20529
Include DHS Docket No. USCIS-2005-0056 on
the envelope. This address may be used for paper, disk, or CD-ROM
submissions; or Hand Delivery/Courier:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
111 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20529
Contact telephone number is 202-272-8377.
Include DHS Docket No. USCIS-2005-0056 on the envelope. We would appreciate if
you also send us a copy of any comments you submit to USCIS.
For more information, contact Joan Friedland at
friedland@nilc-dc.org
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