PHILDEC and FALDEF to combat human trafficking from the Philippines to America

The Philippine Legal Defense Fund And Education Center, Inc (PHILDEC)

And The Filipino American Legal Defense And Education Fund (FALDEF)

To Combat Human Trafficking From The Philippines To America

 

 

 

Just before Christmas,  in a joint operation conducted by the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc (FALDEF)  and the Philippine Consulate of New York,   a Filipina was rescued who was the victim of involuntary servitude in the hands of an Egyptian employer in New York City.   In handling this case and other human/labor trafficking cases of Filipinos against placement agencies/employers in the United States, FALDEF has recognized that these can only proceed and, be more  effective,  if the illegal recruiters in the Philippines are simultaneously prosecuted.  Because of  the fear of persecution on their families back home,  Filipinos in the U.S. are extremely hesitant to seek legal  redress.  More importantly, unless  the human/labor trafficking issue  is addressed at its inception and  the individuals who initially recruit potential employees from the Philippines are prosecuted for labor trafficking, there will be no end to the stream  of human/labor trafficking victims from the Philippines.

 

(PHILDEC and FALDEF Directors with US Ambassador to the Philippines, Harry K. Thomas, Jr. and Ms. Loida Nicholas Lewis)

It was in the light of above-described reality that FALDEF sought the assistance of the US  Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr, with the end-in-view of finding common avenues by which we could jointly combat human/labor trafficking.  In this regard,  The Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. ( FALDEF ) accepted an invitation from US Ambassador Thomas to come to the Philippines and, which trip culminated in a dinner reception hosted by the US Ambassador at his residence on February 27, 2013.  

 

 

The first step taken in the long and arduous road to combat human/labor trafficking was the  setting up of  a pro-bono legal defense counterpart, an NGO, which as of this writing  has been successfully established. It is officially called PHILDEC, Philippine Legal Defense and Education Center, Inc.

 

It was recognized by none other than the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr.  who first met both the directors of FALDEF as well as the new Directors of PHILDEC at the reception he tendered at his residence on February 27, 2013.

 

 The more than week long sojourn was filled with meetings and discussions among and with the officers, volunteers and some identified NGOS on the matter of human/labor trafficking. 

 

PHILDEC  is comprised of two boards, one Advisory and another Working. In this connection, FALDEF is proud to announce that the following highly esteemed individuals have chosen to lend themselves, their expertise and commitment in the pursuit of justice, the majesty of the rule of law and the aristocracy of human dignity as members of PHILDEC boards.

 

Advisory Board Members:

1) Former Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr

2) Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ (one of the foremost authorities on Phil. Constitutional law, former law dean of the Ateneo Law School)

3) Fr. Romeo Intengan SJ (former Jesuit Provincial and noted social crusader )

4) Atty. Antonio La Vina (Dean, Ateneo School of Government)

5) Atty. Avelino Cruz, Jr. (former Secretary of National Defense;  Partner: Carpio Villaraza and Cruz Law Offices)

6) Atty. Rolando Mario Villonco (Managing Partner: Siguion Reyna Law Offices).

7) Fr. Nilo Tanalega, SJ  President of the UGAT Foundation

 

 

Working Board Members:

1). Atty. Clarence Guerrero (Private Practitioner and former Chief Counsel of Manila Bank).

2). Atty. Eva Laluna (Private Practitioner and Advocate of Women's Rights)

3). Atty. Eric Mallonga (Private Practitioner and former Counsel of Bantay Bata)

4). Rene  Madarang ( Community Development Specialist)

5). Fr. Julio Ramon Mallonga (CICM; Missionary with 21 years of experience in South America; a social advocate and community organizer).

6). Captain Nilo Du (Private Entrepreneur and owner of Shipping -related businesses).

7). Christian Laluna (Communications Director, Ateneo School of Government).

8). Engr. Felizardo Mercado, Jr., ( Community Dev. Manager, Philip Morris, Philippines).

FALDEF Directors who flew to Manila to attend the meeting and Global Summit:
1)  JT Mallonga, Esq.
2)  Merit Salud, Esq.
3)  Nimfa Du-Tinana
4)  Cely Deauna
5)  Patricia Astorga, Esq.
6)  Loida Nicholas Lewis
7)  Jose Ramos, Jr.
8)  Dr. Angie Cruz
9)  Ramon Tinana

In addition to the above, Prosecutor General, Claro Arellano of the Dept of Justice expressed interest on the issue of human/labor trafficking. Also, Dean Danilo Concepcion of the University of the Philippines College of Law (UP Law Center) and Dean Sedfrey Candelaria of the Ateneo College of Law (Ateneo Human Rights Center) manifested deep interest in working and partnering with PHILDEC on the educational aspect relating to human rights and labor trafficking.

 

Once operational, PHILDEC and its volunteer lawyers will work hand-in-hand with Philippine prosecutors, allied NGOS and government agencies.

 

Additional discussions and meetings are planned to flesh out, fully develop and make seamless the partnership between U.S. based Filipino American Legal Defense & Education Fund, Inc. (FALDEF) and Philippine based Philippine Legal Defense Fund and Education Center, Inc (PHILDEC). This, at least, begins one of the many little steps on the long, complex and arduous road to combat human/labor trafficking from the Philippines to America.

 

(Various community leaders and professionals at the Global Summit 2013)

The FALDEF team attended the 2nd D2D (Diaspora to Development) Global Summit of Filipinos in Diaspora, which was held on February 25-27, 2013 in Manila, Philippines. FALDEF President, Atty. JT S. Mallonga, was one of the resource speakers on "Legal Assistance to Filipinos in Distress in the US", a workshop on Global Legal Assistance on Advocacy.

 

For more information about FALDEF, please visit their website at www.faldef.org.

 

Photo credit: Ramon Tinana

Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers : USCIS Update

Beginning March 4, certain immigrant visa applicants who are the spouses, children and parents of U.S. citizens (immediate relatives), and have been unlawfully present in the United States, can start applying for provisional unlawful presence waivers through a new process.

The new provisional unlawful presence waiver process is for certain individuals who seek a waiver of inadmissibility only for unlawful presence. They can now apply for a provisional unlawful presence waiver while in the United States and before departing for their immigrant visa interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Under the current process, which continues to remain in effect, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who are not eligible to adjust status in the United States have to travel abroad and be found inadmissible at their immigrant visa interview before they can apply for an inadmissibility waiver.

The new process is expected to shorten the time U.S. citizens are separated from their immediate relatives while those family members go through the process of becoming lawful permanent residents of the United States. For eligibility details and information on the process, please visit: http://www.uscis.gov/provisionalwaiver

Received from USCIS email announcement

DEFEND, SERVE, EDUCATE Reinforcing FALDEF's Role in the Fil-Am Community: Asian Journal

As reported by Momar G. Visaya, Asian Journal

“In this age of darkness, there are two ways of spreading light. You may either be a candle, or the mirror that reflects its light.” - Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr.

Guided by this powerful statement written by former Philippine senator Benigno Aquino Jr. while he was in prison, a group of Filipino-American lawyers have banded together to be both - candle and mirror - in order to be of service to the community.

The group formed the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF), a non-profit organization that provides pro-bono legal services to immigrants in distress due to heir origin, status and financial situation. After collectively working on a case involving Filipino immigrants suffering injustices, they decided to create an organization that was dedicated to serving the migrant community.

“The vision was that this was going to be the first ever legal defense fund that will not only have lawyers as active members of the board, but also non-lawyers. Of the 15 original members, ten are not lawyers, they are community leaders. The idea was for FALDEF to always be in service to the community,” said JT Mallonga, FALDEF President.

Since its founding back in 2008, FALDEF has successfully helped Filipinos. Actively collaborating with the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), FALDEF has been able to take on cases throughout the United States.

2012 was a banner year for FALDEF.

The group was able to successfully close a deportation case in Texas. John Quidilla was picked up by ICE on his way to classes and detained just a few months shy of his college graduation. His mother found FALDEF by chance and contacted them immediately.

“We are proud to say that we made every effort to help this young man whose “American Dream” was to graduate from college and support his family-a dream that has successfully been fulfilled,” Mallonga added.

FALDEF also assisted the Regional Public Defender’s Office in Texas with a case involving Gabriel Hall, a Filipino adoptee on death row. Officers of FALDEF flew to the island of Cebu in the Philippines to help with background research.

Early in its inception, FALDEF officers helped Dr. Pedro Servano and his wife Salvacion, who were then both set to be deported. After consultations with several lawyers, he was told his case was hopeless. They were introduces to FALDEF through the Filipino community in Philadelphia and NaFFAA. FALDEF lawyers were able to stop his deportation and are now in the process of assisting him and his wife on obtaining status.

The Gulfin couple was detained with their son Miguel for six months in a detention center in New Jersey. FALDEF took on their case and successfully got them out of detention. Their deportation was stopped.

“We have very strong ties with the consulate. Most victims of legal injustice here are Filipino nationals.  We work with the NAACP legal defense fund, AALDEF, the 37-year old NYIC, an advocacy group,” Mallonga shared.

“When we founded FALDEF three years ago, we provided timely access to pro-bono legal services to the immigrant sector. We sought to empower them so that they could achieve their full potential as productive contributors to their families and communities. Bound by a common desire to help one of the currently most vulnerable groups in our society, volunteers from both legal and non-legal professions have devoted their time and efforts to extend relevant assistance where they are most needed,” he added.

Now, FALDEF is not just composed of lawyers, but community leaders such as Dr. Angie Cruz, author Jen Furer and documentary film director Diane Paragas.

Having gone through a tumultuous relationship with lawyers, Furer said that it is a welcome change now that she is working with a group of lawyers who are actually able to help those in need.

“I wish I knew back then what I know now,” Furer said.

The organization envisions a vibrant Filipino American community whose members can freely share their knowledge, talents and resources to fully advance the welfare of their family and society without fear of unjust treatment due to their heritage.

And this is what Paragas, a filmmaker wants to achieve.

The director is working on her first narrative feature film called Yellow Rose. The story is loosely based on her life growing up as the only Filipina-American in her small Texas town. After 10 years of developing this project, Diane felt that it was time to tell her story, not only for herself but for the Filipino-American community.

“If I saw this film when I was that troubled 15-year old, it would have changed my life as I know it will change the life of so many people who feel their voices are never heard,” Paragas said.

Indeed, FALDEF is a community undertaking, a collaborative effort of community leaders wanting to share their years of experience in order to help out kababayans.

(www.asianjournal.com)(NYNJ Mag February 22, 2013 pg.2)
Click HERE to view the online edition of the Asian Journal, Feb 20, 2013 

A Night of Hope: Friday, March 1, 2013

The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and US Pinoys 4 Good Governance (USP4GG) present "A Night of Hope", a charity reception on behalf of the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. (FALDEF) on Friday, March 1, 2013 at the residence of Consul General Mario de Leon, Jr.

 

The Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF) is a registered 501 (c)(3) not-for profit organization that provides pro-bono legal services to Immigrants in distress due to their origin, status and financial situation. FALDEF was founded in 2008 by a group of lawyers, professionals and community leaders working towards the same cause. After collectively working on a case involving Filipino Immigrants, suffering injustices, they decided to create an organization that was dedicated to serving the migrant community, in particular the Filipino Migrant Community.

 

(Victory Bolden, Sanford Rubenstein, Diane Paragas)

 Attorney Victor Bolden, Corporation Counsel of the City of New Haven, Connecticut is the evening's special guest speaker. An expert and advocate of civil rights, when Bolden chose to begin his post as New Haven's acting corporation counsel on Rev. Martin Luther

King, Jr.'s birthday, he said:

“A day of significance ... a day of new possibilities."

As Corporation Counsel, Bolden serves as the chief legal advisor of and the attorney for the City and all City officers and departments in matters relating to their official duties. Bolden was formerly General Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund. He served on the Counsel with the law firm of Wiggin and Dana LLP in New Haven, Connecticut. He also served as a Karpatkin Fellow and Staff Attorney at the ACLU, from1989-1994. Bolden completed his undergraduate studies, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Columbia University. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1989.

 Mr. Bolden has been a supporter of the Filipino-American community, even prior to the

actual incorporation of FALDEF. When the community needed help in defending 10 Filipino nurses who were wrongly sued, Bolden graciously offered the legal services of NAACP-LDF.

 

 

 

Attorney Sanford A. Rubenstein, senior partner at the Brooklyn law firm of Rubenstein & Rynecki, is one of the evening's guest speakers. He is one of New York's most sought after advocates for victim's rights in personal injury and civic rights matters. Described by the Melvin M. Belli Society of the American Trial Lawyers Association as one of the Nation's 25 top trial lawyers, described by New York Post's Page Six as "a high powered personal injury lawyer" and a "famed attorney" by the New York Daily News.

Rubenstein's career has been punctuated by high profile cases in which he represented victims in many tragic occurrences in New York City.

Mr. Rubenstein appears frequently on national and local T.V. news advocating for victims rights. He has appeared as a legal analyst on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News. Mr. Rubenstein has lectured and participated in panels for the New York Sate Trial Lawyers, The Harvard Law School Criminal Justice Institute, Brooklyn Law School and the Melvin M. Belli Society of the American Trial Lawyers Association.

Mr. Rubenstein is also an author of a new book entitled, "The Outrageous Rubenstein" , in which he writes about his experience as a media savvy trial lawyer fighting for justice and change.

The evening also features the premiere of a short documentary film by Diane Paragas.

Over the course of the last three months Ms. Paragas has been documenting candid interviews from FALDEF clients and Board Members. What started out as a public service announcement, has turned into a short documentary.

 

 

Ms. Diane Paragas is an award-winning documentary film director and commercial director.  Her films have appeared on Showtime, BET, Discovery, MTV, Bravo and PBS. . In 2012, Paragas produced and directed the feature documentary, "Brooklyn Boheme", which premiered in February on SHOWTIME networks and features Spike Lee, Chris Rock, to name a few. "Brooklyn Boheme" recently won Outstanding TV Documentary at the Black Reel awards.

 

Ms. Paragas is also the founder and owner of NYC based Civilian Studios. Ms. Paragas is a supporter of FALDEF and has lent her talent by offering to do a short documentary about the organization. She is currently working on her first feature film Yellow Rose, a film loosely based on her life growing up as the only Filipina-American in her small Texas town. For details visit www.yellowrosefilm.com .

 

"A Night of Hope" charity reception begins at 6:30pm and ends at 9:00 p.m. A suggested donation of two hundred dollars,  made out to "FALDEF", will be appreciated and accepted at the door, by mail or online. The event has limited seating and RSVP is required by February 20, 2013. For details please email hope@faldef.org or visit the website at www.faldef.org.

 

 

(FALDEF directors with Hon. Judge Lorna G. Schofield)

 

FALDEF is also hosting a press club meet and greet event with Hon. Judge Lorna G. Schofield, the first Filipino-American in the history of the United States to serve as an Article III federal judge.

RELATED LINKS: GMA Network.com International
                                 Asian Journal:  NaFFAA and USP4GG present "A Night of Hope"

 



DACA approved through PATH for DREAMS initiative

"The PATH for DREAMS program at the Philippine Consulate helped me in my application process. FALDEF was definitely a great choice in helping me fill out my application forms for DACA.

I'm very blessed to have found an organization that not only provides pro bono services to

assist me in my situation but also a place where the officers are very understanding, helpful, 

friendly, and supportive. Thank you for the great services that you consistently and graciously 

provide for the people in need. I would recommend your services to anyone who needs it." ~ S. M.

FALDEF vows to help root out human trafficking : Filipino Reporter

      

Saturday, 02 February 2013 17:10

Written by Edmund M. Silvestre                  

 

J.T. Mallonga, Esq. (standing) addresses the Fil-Am media at the Philippine Consulate Monday. With him in photo are (from left) Dr. Angie Cruz, Diane Paragas, Emerito Salud and Consul General Mario de Leon, Jr.  (Filipino Reporter photo)
 

The Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF) has officially partnered with the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the United States Embassy in Manila to nip in the bud the rising trend of alleged trafficking of Filipinos into the U.S. by setting sights on the “source” of the problem.

In its first ever press conference since its inception in 2009, FALDEF president J.T. Mallonga, Esq. said the biggest export of the Philippines to the world is manpower, and the issue of trafficking and other forms of labor abuse usually originate back home.

“We intend to set up a legal defense fund to prosecute cases from the source,” said Mallonga, announcing the creation of a Philippine Legal Defense and Education Fund (PHILDEF) in Manila.

The idea of PHILDEF was approved by U.S. ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas and will be formalized during a special reception to be hosted by Thomas himself for FALDEF officials at the embassy in Manila this Feb. 27.
Mallonga said the U.S. Embassy will play a major role in finding an end to the problem since all visas used by Filipinos to legally enter the U.S. are issued by the embassy.

“We may have strong partnership with all the Philippine consulates in the U.S. and we may have a strong legal representation in the Philippines (through PHILDEF), but without the U.S. Embassy helping us put a stop to this, by blacklisting the agencies involved in trafficking, then all of the efforts will go to waste,” Mallonga noted.

In its upcoming meeting with Thomas in Manila, FALDEF is hoping to seek an audience with representatives of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to obtain funding for PHILDEF.

Mallonga said assistance from USAID will give PHILDEF the proper logistics to bring the guilty parties to justice.
USAID is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid to provide economic, development and humanitarian assistance to people overseas struggling to make a better life in a free and democratic country, and in support of the foreign policy goals of the U.S.

USAID has been giving millions of dollars to various non-government agencies in the Philippines, but none of those NGOs or any other entity go after the perpetrators of trafficking and bring them to justice, Mallonga noted.
Aside from trafficking and labor-related matters, PHILDEF can also help look at cases of Filipino workers facing the death penalty overseas, particularly in China and the Middle East.

Consul General Mario de Leon, Jr. said the Philippine Consulate’s team up with FALDEF is the “first public-private partnership to assist our nationals.”

“We have broadened and deepened our relationship with FALDEF,” said de Leon, as he cited FALDEF’s solid track record in helping numerous Filipino nationals in distress.

Aside from stopping the deportation of several Filipinos and solving immigration-related matters, FALDEF is also helping save from the death row two Filipino nationals in Texas.

De Leon will host FALDEF’s dinner fund-raiser on March 1 at the consul general’s official residence on 63rd Street in Manhattan, in cooperation with the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and the US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG).

 

FALDEF short documentary excerpt directed by Diane Paragas

( An excerpt from the FALDEF short documentary directed by Diane Paragas of Civilian Studios)

Over the course of the last three months Diane Paragas has been documenting candid interviews from FALDEF clients and Board Members. What started out as a public service announcement, has turned into a short documentary. A short preview will be shown today and the final product will be premiered at the "Night of Hope" benefit dinner on March 1.

            

Diane Paragas is an award-winning documentary film director and commercial director.  Her films have appeared on Showtime, BET, Discovery, MTV, Bravo and PBS. Paragas started her career in advertising then went on to work at MTV and for Discovery Asia.  Ms Paragas is also the founder and owner of NYC based Civilian Studios. She has directed award winning commercials for Fortune 500 companies and is repped by the prestigious Rascal Films. In 2012, Ms Paragas produced and directed the feature documentary Brooklyn Boheme which premiered in February on SHOWTIME networks. The documentary which was co-directed and co-produced with Nelson George celebrates the post-civil rights artistic movement of Fort Greene Brooklyn and features Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Rosie Perez and Saul Williams to name a few. Diane is a supporter of FALDEF and has lent her talent by offering to do a short documentary about the organization. She is currently working on her first feature film Yellow Rose.



FALDEF working to combat human trafficking between the Philippines and the USA

(L-R: Atty. Merit Salud, Atty. J.T. Mallonga, Loida Nicolas Lewis, Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr., Dr. Angie Cruz, Atty. Patricia Astorga, Atty. Lindy Lachica)

The officers and supporters of the Filipino American Legal Defense & Education Fund, Inc. (FALDEF) met with the US Ambassador to the Philippines, Harry K. Thomas, Jr. on January 16, 2013, to discuss means and ways to combat human trafficking in the Philippines. The dinner event was hosted by community leader and FALDEF supported, Loida Nicolas Lewis.

Photo as twitted by Ambassado Thomas : 

Reporting human trafficking activities in your area is now just a text away: ABS-CBNnews

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 01/25/2013 7:23 PM | Updated as of 01/25/2013 7:23 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Reporting human trafficking activities is your area is now just a text away.

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and Globe/Touch Mobile recently launched the short message service or SMS-based Action Line 1343 Against Human Trafficking.

The new service will respond to requests for assistance, inquiries and referrals involving suspected human trafficking activities.

The CFO said that the text-based 1343 Action Line is also deemed to fast-track the referral and follow-up of cases, efficiently direct immediate assistance to human trafficking victims and disseminate information on human trafficking through text messages.

Globe and Touch Mobile subscribers who want to know how to access the service can text  <1343(space)HELP> or <help(space)1343> then send to 1343 free of charge.

"It is hoped that by making 1343 Action Line available through texts, more cases of human trafficking will be reported and resolved," the CFO said.

Meanwhile, the 1343 call-based Actionline against Human Trafficking began operations in March 2011.

For 2012, a total of 7,762 calls were received from the Action Line involving 198 actual cases with 130 victims, 19 of which were minors.

Secretary Napolitano Announces Final Rule to Support Family Unity During Waiver Process

From USCIS.gov.

Released: Jan. 2, 2013
Contact: DHS Press Office, (202) 282-8010

WASHINGTON— Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced the posting of a final rule in the Federal Register that reduces the time U.S. citizens are separated from their immediate relatives (spouse, children and parents), who are in the process of obtaining visas to become lawful permanent residents of the United States under certain circumstances. The final rule establishes a process that allows certain individuals to apply for a provisional unlawful presence waiver before they depart the United States to attend immigrant visa interviews in their countries of origin. The process will be effective on March 4, 2013 and more information about the filing process will be made available in the coming weeks at www.uscis.gov.

“This final rule facilitates the legal immigration process and reduces the amount of time that U.S. citizens are separated from their immediate relatives who are in the process of obtaining an immigrant visa,” said Secretary Napolitano.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received more than 4,000 comments in response to the April 2, 2012 proposed rule and considered all of them in preparing the final rule.  

“The law is designed to avoid extreme hardship to U.S. citizens, which is precisely what this rule achieves,” USCIS Director Mayorkas said. “The change will have a significant impact on American families by greatly reducing the time family members are separated from those they rely upon.”

Under current law, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who are not eligible to adjust status in the United States to become lawful permanent residents must leave the U.S. and obtain an immigrant visa abroad. Individuals who have accrued more than six months of unlawful presence while in the United States must obtain a waiver to overcome the unlawful presence inadmissibility bar before they can return to the United States after departing to obtain an immigrant visa. Under the existing waiver process, which remains available to those who do not qualify for the new process, immediate relatives cannot file a waiver application until after they have appeared for an immigrant visa interview abroad and the Department of State has determined that they are inadmissible.

In order to obtain a provisional unlawful presence waiver, the applicant must be an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, inadmissible only on account of unlawful presence, and demonstrate the denial of the waiver would result in extreme hardship to his or her U.S. citizen spouse or parent. USCIS will publish a new form, Form I-601A, Application for a Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver, for individuals to use when applying for a provisional unlawful presence waiver under the new process.

Under the new provisional waiver process, immediate relatives must still depart the United States for the consular immigrant visa process; however, they can apply for a provisional waiver before they depart for their immigrant visa interview abroad. Individuals who file the Form I-601A must notify the Department of State’s National Visa Center that they are or will be seeking a provisional waiver from USCIS. The new process will reduce the amount of time U.S. citizen are separated from their qualifying immediate relatives. Details on the process changes are available atwww.regulations.gov.