In an effort to address some of its most glaring backlogs, the USCIS is opening a new service center called the HART Service Center. This facility, which will eventually operate fully remotely, will handle Humanitarian, Adjustments, Removing Conditions, and Travel Documents cases. USCIS aims to have the center fully operational by fall of 2024.
In this blog post, we will explore the four types of urgent cases that the HART Service Center will process and discuss the potential impact of this development on immigrants and their families.
Expedited Processing for U Visa Applicants’ Bona Fide Determinations (Form I-918):
U visa applicants, who are individuals that have suffered from criminal activities and cooperate with law enforcement during investigations, are currently confronted with an overwhelming five-year waiting period. The HART Service Center is dedicated to addressing bona fide determinations for these applicants, with the intention of minimizing the existing backlog and speeding up their access to essential services such as work authorization.
Streamlining VAWA Status Petitions for Immigrant Survivors (Form I-360):
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) offers immigrant survivors of domestic abuse a pathway to obtain legal status independently, without relying on their abusers. Regrettably, the current processing center takes an alarming 33 months to handle 80 percent of these applications. The HART Service Center aims to address this issue by expediting VAWA status petitions, enabling survivors to break free from dangerous situations more rapidly.
Accelerating Unlawful Presence Waivers for Green Card Hopefuls (Form I-601A):
Green card aspirants who have experienced unlawful presence in the United States can request waivers to avert prolonged separation from their loved ones. Regrettably, the processing duration for these waivers has increased sixfold between 2017 and 2022. The HART Service Center is committed to handling these waiver requests, with the objective of reducing the backlog and alleviating the difficulties encountered by numerous families.
Family Reunification Petitions for Families of Asylum-Granted Individuals (Form I-730):
Individuals granted asylum or refugee status in the United States have the right to bring their spouse and children to join them. Unfortunately, current backlogs lead to wait times of over a year for family reunification. The HART Service Center will address these backlogs, helping to expedite the process and reunite families more quickly.
The establishment of the HART Service Center is a step in the right direction towards resolving some of the most pressing immigration backlogs faced by USCIS. While much work still needs to be done to improve the agency’s performance, the HART Service Center offers hope to thousands of immigrants who are eagerly waiting for their cases to be resolved. By focusing on the most urgent cases involving violence, persecution, and family unity, this new service center aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.
If you or your family members have any questions about how immigration and nationality laws in the United States may affect you, or if you want to access additional information about immigration and nationality laws in the United States or Canada, please don’t hesitate to contact the immigration and nationality lawyers at NPZ Law Group. You can reach us by emailing info@visaserve.com or by calling us at 201-670-0006 extension 104. We also invite you to visit our website at www.visaserve.com for more information.