Description
For those of you who missed our online conference, "Legal Remedies for Immigrant Survivors: Introductory Seminar Series - Part III: Getting Survivors and their Families to the Finish Line," the recordings are now available for purchase. The online conference is composed of four separate sessions. You can buy all four sessions togheter or individual sessions.
As part of our skills-based introductory seminar series, participants will learn best practices for navigating Consular Processing and Adjustment of Status for VAWA, U visa, and T visa survivors. Through interactive discussions, participants will also learn to spot issues relating to Derivative Beneficiaries and strategies for responding to (and overcoming) Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny. Some homework will be required.
This beginner-level course is intended for attorneys and legal staff who are new to representing immigrant survivors or who want to brush up on the basics.
See below the general agenda of the online training. Speakers include ASISTA’s national experts.
Session 1: All about Derivatives
Providing a pathway to family reunification is one of the most significant benefits of winning a U or T visa or VAWA self-petition. Each of these case types allows principal petitioners to include certain family members as derivatives, but each has its own rules about who is eligible and what they need to show. In this session, participants will learn what is required for derivative eligibility and how to assess it.
Session 2: Non-Immigrant and Immigrant Visa Consular Processing for Survivors and Derivatives outside the U.S.
Consular interview appointments for immigrant and nonimmigrant visas are faced by survivors abroad & their family members without their legal representatives. This means much of the decision is based only on what is submitted in writing without any opportunity to engage the consular officer in conversations about the nuances of your client’s eligibility, history, or character. Meticulous preparation and accuracy are paramount when preparing your client’s visa application. Participants will learn the basics and best practices in consular processing of survivor-based cases.
Session 3: Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Residence for Survivors and Derivatives inside the U.S.
Winning a U or T visa or VAWA self-petition is a tremendous victory that can change the lives of survivors and their derivatives, but without the ability to adjust status, that victory is limited. In this session, participants will learn how to assess eligibility for adjustment of status, screen for red flags, and address common barriers.
Session 4: Overcoming Requests for Evidence (RFE) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID)
Receiving a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) can often be a jarring moment in the course of representing your clients, but can also be an important opportunity to ensure that USCIS has all the information it needs to make an informed decision on the case. This interactive session will explore existing guidance on RFEs and NOIDs, provide assessment strategies, and review case preparation steps you can take to avoid them.
