Law Office of Joseph Muller

USCIS Begins Accepting Green Card Applications for Certain Liberians

Last updated on December 30, 2019

On December 26, 2019, USCIS announced that it had begun accepting application for adjustment of status based on the new law passed December 20th. It also provided some information about who is eligible or ineligible for the program. While this new law only applies to Liberians and their families, it contains some very generous provisions that might extend to non-Liberian family and even adult children. Schedule a consultation today to learn more.

Read the full announcement below:

Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it will begin accepting applications to adjust status to lawful permanent resident from certain Liberian nationals under Section 7611 of the National Defense Authorization Act (PDF) for fiscal year 2020, Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF), signed into law on Dec. 20, 2019.

To be eligible for permanent residence (a Green Card) under LRIF, a Liberian national must have been continuously physically present in the United States from Nov. 20, 2014, to the date they properly file an application for adjustment of status. USCIS will accept properly filed applications until Dec. 20, 2020, one year from the enactment of the LRIF.

Applicants must be otherwise eligible to receive an immigrant visa and be admissible to the United States. The spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried sons and daughters 21 or older of eligible Liberian nationals are also eligible for Green Cards.

The following grounds of inadmissibility do not apply to applicants under the LRIF:
– Public Charge (INA 212(a)(4));
– Labor Certification Requirements (INA 212(a)(5));
– Aliens Present Without Admission or Parole (INA 212(a)(6)(A)); and
– Documentation Requirements (INA 212(a)(7)(A).

Aliens are ineligible under LRIF if they have:

– Been convicted of any aggravated felony;
– Been convicted of two or more crimes involving moral turpitude (other than a purely political offense); or
– Ordered, incited, assisted or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.

For more information about filing for adjustment of status under the LRIF, see the LRIF page on the USCIS website and for Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.