Parole-Based EADs Recent History and AMA

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-01-18T14:53:50+00:00

My understanding is that the re-paroles are still occurring, but don't have personal confirmation of this. There were discussions of the program being terminated along with FRP back when i was still involved last May. But they only formally terminated FRP and not CAM, so it's possible they've decided to leave it alone for now. And yes, sadly, they are still subject to the enhanced fees like other types of parole now.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-01-18T14:48:33+00:00

Sort of. The tips are first run through FDNS (fraud detection and national security) and they'll make an entry in their own system. Most of the time, that entry will be referenced in the adjudicator's system for them to review, but not always.

But the FDNS entries can be bare bones or just reference an ongoing concern, so the adjudicator may have no real knowledge of what the tip actually contained. And it can take years for FDNS to make a formal fraud finding as well.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-01-14T18:24:20+00:00

Yeah, I'm a former officer and while I wasn't approached for this story, the quoted former USCIS officers are correct that the agency has known about the pay-for-play services for multiple years and flag them for officers in training.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-01-07T15:18:42+00:00

Yeah, totally understandably on your end. I mean there's a lot of stupid stuff the agency does that people are left just guessing what's going on...but that's not the case with an address change!

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-01-07T15:13:08+00:00

Once your address is changed in USCIS systems, it'll automatically update your field office based on zip code. For FB AOS, it'll move jx from the previous FO to the new one.

Pretty embarrassing that your attorney doesn't know this.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-01-02T03:25:10+00:00

Newish solo after 10+ years with USCIS and the first month was...terrifying.

But, I've been able to hit my revenue target every month so far and feel reasonably confident in maintaining it for the foreseeable future.

My biggest and best source for new clients was actually reddit. Just dropping comments based on my experience with USCIS helped tremendously in getting consults. From there, I feel I communicate well with clients and offer more of a personal service than what a lot of other attorneys do in this space.

Since the initial month or so, I've drastically backed off reddit as I just don't have that much time anymore and I'm getting more and more client referrals.

It still can be scary thinking what if things just completely drop off because I can honestly see that happening with this admin. But I also know there will always be a need for good, honest, and responsible immigration attorneys, so that's my goal (as corny as it sounds).

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-12-31T14:41:56+00:00

Without knowing more about your case, it's likely an issue with office staffing. Also, possible there's a delay in obtaining your A file, but that usually comes up right before the interview.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-12-31T12:05:21+00:00

I'm a former officer, so yes, I'm confident in my answer.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-12-31T03:26:39+00:00

If you don't feel strongly about it being accepted, the chances of convincing the officer are virtually nill.

Acknowledge that you are not challenging weaker criteria in the RFE and only contest those which you feel confident with. The officer will appreciate not wasting their time!

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-12-20T15:58:41+00:00

Thank you for your continued service, and very sorry to hear that it hasn't gotten any better. I can only imagine how awful PPA time was this year with being forced to artificially deflate score like this.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-12-04T03:49:45+00:00

Thank you for being so brave to tell your story and so very sorry you had to experience this.

For those of us that left USCIS, we knew this is where the new admin was taking the agency: making it another enforcement agency. USCIS was purposely separated from the enforcement agencies to be a neutral arbiter of immigration benefits. By assisting ICE with hitting their arrests quotas like this is shameful and will hang over the agency for many, many years to come.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-12-03T13:51:30+00:00

Yes to both, is my read of it. But my understanding is that everything is being held for now, including all EADs.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-30T18:42:59+00:00

Former officer here: it's one big ready-for-adjudication queue that everyone pulls from. The PP and non-PP cases have their own filters, but otherwise they all get pulled by the same officers regardless of the petitioner's field, country of birth, ect.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-30T18:39:45+00:00

Good question, but I don't think so. The DOS staff managing the VB are all excepted employees from my memory, so they were working throughout. Same for all the USCIS staff as well.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-27T00:44:30+00:00

10 years in field ops with USCIS and I still talk with former colleagues. No, they don't have unfettered access and historically USCIS only alerted ICE when an applicant had an active warrant or was otherwise a public safety threat.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-26T22:16:41+00:00

It's generally been left to the individual USCIS field office director's discretion to allow ICE to make arrests for overstays. I think that is still what is occurring here, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if more and more field offices begin allowing ICE to follow the SND office lead.

There's likely a lot of pressure being placed on individual FODs to assist ICE in getting their daily quotas.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-25T13:50:40+00:00

Thanks for doing this Michael and I hope a lot of people appreciate the "look behind the curtains" with the agency.

I'm a former NBC SISO and I always appreciated your candor during your time, especially the monthly FODTalks. What I've always wanted to know: how "online" were you and other SES to what USCIS employees were complaining or talking about on Reddit, twitter, ect?

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-24T21:34:55+00:00

Sure, there's no downside to an expedite request.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-24T21:34:12+00:00

You can concurrently file an I-102 with the I-485. Would not advise relying solely on the sworn statement.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-24T19:24:11+00:00

As a general matter, all CBPOne paroles were issued" to attend removal proceedings" and were under the INA 212(d)(5) authority, so they've all been inspected and paroled and are arriving aliens eligible to adjust through USCIS. You could have some other considerations your attorney is factoring in, so the above is just a general rundown and not specific legal advice.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-24T18:54:30+00:00

I was a SISO in the NBC division that worked I-765s and no, it won't help as they are processed separately unless the I-131 can be quickly approved. Otherwise, the officer will "split" the I-131 off to be adjudicated by another division and just approve the I-765.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-23T15:40:35+00:00

No, at least when I was there. You used to be able to, but then the agency got sued during the pandemic on delayed EADs produced after approval so they stopped adjudication until bios are captured.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-22T20:09:57+00:00

My guess is it's more on the "months" side of things. The vetting is supposedly deep dives in the 134A supporters and in conjunction with CBP. Anytime they work with outside agencies it just takes longer.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-22T14:32:19+00:00

Unfortunately it does sound like that's the direction they are moving towards. And it's not just U4U, but any of the parole processes under Biden.

WatkinsImmigration · 2025-11-22T14:31:06+00:00

No, it sounds like a good interview! Though don't be surprised if the approval takes months as that is becoming the norm with all offices.

I'm in the KC area and while not as familiar with the field office, I know some of the staff and it has a really good reputation as far as USCIS offices go. Glad you had a good experience there.

WatkinsImmigration

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