FTC Reminds Immigrants to Beware of ICE and USCIS Imposters
FTC- Scammers are pretending to be from ICE and USCIS Like other government impersonators, they want to trick you into giving them your money or personal information.
They call or email saying you have violated immigration law. Or that your identity information is wrong or out of date. Or that you owe fees or need to pay an immigration bond. They then threaten to alert the police or to have you deported if you do not give them the information they want.
All of this can be very unsettling. Here are some things to know:
- ICE and USCIS never call out of the blue and demand money. So if the caller wants you to pay a fee or share personal details like your date of birth or bank account numbers, hang up.
- ICE and USCIS never accept payments using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. If someone asks you to pay this way, it is a scam. Always.
- Don’t trust caller ID. Scammers can make their phone numbers look real even if they’re not. Sometimes they will have you look up their number to confirm it’s what’s listed on the agency’s website — even if it matches, it could be a trick.
- Check with ICE or USCIS if you are unsure about whether a call or email is real. Never call back phone numbers in caller ID or left in voicemails or emails. Instead, type the agency name into a search bar and click on their webpage to find contact information.
For more information on these types of scams, visit ftc.gov/imposters. And if you spot this, or any scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
New STEM Resources Available on USCIS Website
USCIS has published additional online resources on uscis.gov to provide an overview of some of the temporary and permanent pathways for noncitizens to work in the United States in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This guide also highlights some of the most important considerations for STEM professionals who want to work in the United States.
New pages:
- Options for Noncitizen STEM Professionals to Work in the United States;
- Nonimmigrant Pathways for STEM Employment in the United States; and
- Immigrant Pathways for STEM Employment in the United States.
USCIS Extends COVID-19-related Flexibilities
USCIS extended certain COVID-19-related flexibilities through Oct. 23, 2022. Under these flexibilities, USCIS considers a response received within 60 calendar days after the due date set forth in certain notices if the request or notice was issued between March 1, 2020, and Oct. 23, 2022, including (full list can be found at uscis.gov):
- Requests for Evidence;
- Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
- Notices of Intent to Deny;
- Notices of Intent to Revoke
In addition, USCIS will consider a Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion, or a Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings if:
- The form was filed up to 90 calendar days from the issuance of a decision; and
- That decision was between Nov. 1, 2021, and Oct. 23, 2022, inclusive.
Also, the reproduced signature flexibility announced in March, 2020, will become permanent policy on July 25, 2022.
USCIS Provides Information on Form I-589 Intake and Processing Delays
USCIS is experiencing delays in issuing receipts for Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal. Due to these delays, applicants may not receive a receipt notice in a timely manner after properly filing their Form I-589. For purposes of the asylum one-year filing deadline, affirmative asylum interview scheduling priorities, and EAD eligibility based on a pending asylum application, the filing date will still be the date USCIS received the I-589 and not the date it was processed. Please note that Form I-589 should not be submitted to the Vermont Service Center Applicants should follow instructions in the Where to File section and Special Instructions section on USCIS’s Form I-589 webpage.
