00:00Right now there are new security checks for immigration applications meaning some case decisions are being delayed with one attorney
00:08saying his clients are definitely being impacted. This new policy for immigration applications comes after action from President Trump. News
00:158's Esmeralda Perez joins us now in studio with what's changed and what this all means. Esmeralda.
00:22Well that's right Steve. According to CBS News internal government documents they obtained indicate the enhanced screening started after the
00:29FBI gave U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services greater access to its criminal history database as part of executive order
00:37by the president back in February. Well a local immigration attorney I spoke with says anyone applying for green cards,
00:44renewals or citizenship could be vetted more thoroughly.
00:48All the interviews for this week were quite different from the interviews from the weeks before.
00:53That's San Diego immigration attorney Habib Hasbini who says he's noticed a change in his clients' cases. In a statement
01:02USCIS spokesman Zach Kuller notes they're implementing new checks saying in part quote,
01:08to strengthen the vetting and screening of applicants through expanded access to federal criminal databases. Processing is ongoing as we
01:18apply these enhanced background check requirements. Any delay in decision issuance should be brief and resolved shortly.
01:25We were told we have new screening vetting security check we must undergo so we will let you know in
01:32a matter of weeks, could be months, when we finish our vetting before you can receive the final decision.
01:39This is the notice Hasbini says was given to him and his client at the end of an adjustment of
01:44status interview. It states USCIS is unable to complete the case at this time and it will be continued until
01:50a final decision is made. It's checked under case being held for review.
01:54We have received a paper after a standard adjustment of status case. We were told part of the vetting process
02:01we need to put your case on hold and they will just give you the generic paper telling you we
02:08cannot make a decision at this point. Check back with us in a few weeks or months, up to four
02:17months before you can hear back from us.
02:18His client, who lives in San Diego, is applying for a marriage based green card. Hasbini notes she's a strong
02:25candidate and says that before April 27th, her case likely would have been approved on the spot.
02:31Because of the new vetting requirement, she will have to wait up to four months before she can hear back.
02:38And Hasbini believes this additional screening is possibly meant to cover the gap between the initial biometrics and the interview.
02:46And he explained that the biometric screening process is already extensive, reviewing criminal history and records, including information beyond the
02:54U.S.
02:55He says that the process has not changed, but now officials may possibly go over those checks again to ensure
03:01that they didn't miss anything the first time.
03:03Steve.
03:04All right, Esmeralda, thanks for the update there.
