{"id":11901,"date":"2026-03-24T18:58:35","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T22:58:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ariasvilla.com\/?p=11901"},"modified":"2026-04-06T15:24:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T19:24:58","slug":"new-travel-precautions-opt-and-immigration-court-fee-payments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ariasvilla.com\/es\/new-travel-precautions-opt-and-immigration-court-fee-payments\/","title":{"rendered":"New Travel Precautions, OPT, and Immigration Court Fee Payments"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>In my recent interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@orianbrito\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Orian Brito<\/a>, I discussed several immigration concerns that many individuals and families are facing right now. Among the most important were domestic travel for people with pending immigration matters, the role of student documents such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/studyinthestates.dhs.gov\/students\/prepare\/students-and-the-form-i-20\">Form I-20<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/studyinthestates.dhs.gov\/sevis-help-hub\/student-records\/fm-student-employment\/f-1-optional-practical-training-opt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Optional Practical Training<\/a> for F-1 students, and the current payment rules for certain fees in immigration court.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_separator wpb_content_element vc_separator_align_center vc_sep_width_100 vc_sep_pos_align_center vc_separator_no_text vc_sep_color_grey\" ><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_l\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_r\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_video_widget wpb_content_element vc_clearfix vc_video-aspect-ratio-169 vc_video-el-width-70 vc_video-align-center wd-rs-69c311afac631\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpb_video_wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Precauciones al Viajar, Formulario I-20, OPT y Pagos ante EOIR | Martha Arias\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2X8E7CPwryg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\t\t<div id=\"wd-69c316540c362\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69c316540c362 text-left\">\n\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/creators.spotify.com\/pod\/profile\/attorney-martha-l-arias-e1\/embed\/episodes\/Precauciones-al-Viajar--OPT-y-Pagos-en-Corte-de-Inmigracin-con-Orian-Brito-e3gu6ro\/a-aci5c0b\" width=\"800px\" height=\"204px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\"><\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"wd-69c316540c362\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69c316540c362 text-left\">\n\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"wd-rs-69c316b4dbc93 wd-social-icons  wd-style-colored wd-size-large social-follow wd-shape-rounded color-scheme-dark text-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Ariasvillalaw\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wd-social-icon social-facebook\" aria-label=\"Facebook social link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wd-icon\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/martaLarias\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wd-social-icon social-twitter\" aria-label=\"X social link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wd-icon\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/martha_arias98\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wd-social-icon social-instagram\" aria-label=\"Instagram social link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wd-icon\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@AriasVilla\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wd-social-icon social-youtube\" aria-label=\"YouTube social link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wd-icon\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/martha-l-arias-b335a41b\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wd-social-icon social-linkedin\" aria-label=\"Linkedin social link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wd-icon\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/6hU6joLU13gmxmVOr5682b\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wd-social-icon social-spotify\" aria-label=\"Spotify social link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wd-icon\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\t\t<div id=\"wd-69c302f49b4ab\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69c302f49b4ab text-left\">\n\t\t\t<p>One of the most important messages I shared during the interview was this: people should not make decisions from panic, but they should also not make assumptions. Immigration matters are highly fact-specific. A person may feel that a case is \u201cpending\u201d or that a document is \u201cin process,\u201d but the practical risks can vary greatly depending on the type of case, the agency involved, and the person\u2019s current immigration position.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-8\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\t\t<div id=\"wd-69c302f4ccccb\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69c302f4ccccb text-left\">\n\t\t\t<p>For students, the <a href=\"https:\/\/studyinthestates.dhs.gov\/students\/prepare\/students-and-the-form-i-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Form I-20<\/strong><\/a> remains a very important document. DHS explains that Form I-20 is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ice.gov\/sevis\/students\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>\u201cCertificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,\u201d<\/strong><\/a> and students need it for important parts of the student process, including entry, status-related benefits, and maintaining their F-1 or M-1 records. DHS also explains that, to maintain status, students generally must remain enrolled in a full course of study at the SEVP-certified school that issued the Form I-20, unless a proper exception applies.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-4\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/ariasvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/attorney-Martha-Arias-Student-Visas.png\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full\" alt=\"attorney Martha Arias - Student Visas\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ariasvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/attorney-Martha-Arias-Student-Visas.png 800w, https:\/\/ariasvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/attorney-Martha-Arias-Student-Visas-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/ariasvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/attorney-Martha-Arias-Student-Visas-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/ariasvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/attorney-Martha-Arias-Student-Visas-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\t\t<div id=\"wd-69c302f4ccccb\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69c302f4ccccb text-left\">\n\t\t\t<p>That is why, during the interview, I stressed the importance of keeping immigration documents organized and current. For students in particular, it is not enough to assume that one document tells the whole story. A person should understand what documents reflect the underlying status and whether the person continues to meet the requirements of that status. That is not fear. That is caution.<\/p>\n<p>I also discussed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/working-in-the-united-states\/students-and-exchange-visitors\/optional-practical-training-opt-for-f-1-students\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Optional Practical Training<\/strong><\/a>, known as OPT. USCIS currently explains that OPT is temporary employment directly related to an F-1 student\u2019s major area of study. USCIS says eligible students may apply for up to 12 months of OPT, and certain students with qualifying STEM degrees may apply for a 24-month STEM extension. USCIS also explains that a designated school official must recommend the OPT on the <a href=\"https:\/\/studyinthestates.dhs.gov\/students\/prepare\/students-and-the-form-i-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Form I-20<\/strong><\/a> before the student properly files <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/i-765\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Form I-765<\/strong><\/a> with USCIS.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\t\t<div id=\"wd-69c302f4ccccb\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69c302f4ccccb text-left\">\n\t\t\t<p>This point matters because OPT has been an important bridge for many international students who complete their studies and want to gain practical experience in the United States. In public conversations, people often speak loosely about this benefit, but the official rules matter. The accurate framework, as USCIS currently describes it, is up to 12 months of OPT, with a possible 24-month STEM extension for eligible students, not an additional 36 months beyond the initial OPT period.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\t\t<div id=\"wd-69c302f4ccccb\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69c302f4ccccb text-left\">\n\t\t\t<p>Another issue I addressed in the interview was confusion about payments in immigration court. EOIR currently states that, as of February 23, 2026, it no longer accepts checks or money orders for immigration fees paid to EOIR. EOIR also states that immigration fees paid to EOIR must be submitted electronically through the <a href=\"https:\/\/epay.eoir.justice.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>EOIR Payment Portal<\/strong><\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/eoir\/eoir-payment-portal-frequently-asked-questions-faq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>The EOIR Payment Portal FAQ<\/strong><\/a> further explains that the portal allows parties to electronically pay certain Immigration Court and Board of Immigration Appeals filing fees and obtain a receipt showing proof of payment.<\/p>\n<p>This is an important distinction because not every immigration payment goes to the same agency. Some matters involve USCIS. Some involve EOIR. Some involve the Department of State. The correct agency and the correct payment process depend on the type of filing and where the case is pending. For that reason, people should confirm exactly which agency is handling their matter before making a payment or submitting anything.<\/p>\n<p>I also want to be careful here about broader claims. There is a great deal of discussion, confusion, and concern in the community about paused cases, slowed cases, and delays. But not every public statement about a \u201cpause\u201d is broad enough to support a general conclusion for all case types. For publication, I believe it is better to stay disciplined and accurate: people should review the exact category of their case, verify which agency is handling it, and get legal guidance specific to their situation.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\t\t<div id=\"wd-69c302f4ccccb\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69c302f4ccccb text-left\">\n\t\t\t<p>One official development that is current and <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/News\/visas-news\/immigrant-visa-processing-updates-for-nationalities-at-high-risk-of-public-benefits-usage.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>publicly posted by the Department of State<\/strong><\/a> is this: the Department states that, effective January 21, 2026, it paused immigrant visa issuances for nationals of listed countries under that Department announcement, while still indicating that affected immigrant visa applicants may continue to submit applications and attend interviews in certain circumstances. That is one example of why people should not assume that a scheduled appointment or a pending process will unfold exactly as expected without first checking the current rules.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\t\t<div id=\"wd-69d407035c5e6\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69d407035c5e6 text-left\">\n\t\t\t<p>My advice remains straightforward. Keep your records organized. Understand which agency is handling your case. Do not rely on rumors. And if you are thinking about travel, filing, or making a payment while your matter is still unresolved, take the time to understand the legal and practical consequences before you move forward.<\/p>\n<p>If you would like to learn more about your immigration options or need guidance about your case, you may <a href=\"https:\/\/ariasvilla.com\/es\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>contact my office<\/strong><\/a> or call <a href=\"tel:+13056710018\"><strong>305-671-0018<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1774389418934 wd-rs-69c308a49bc2f\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\t\t<div id=\"wd-69c30897a2b72\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69c30897a2b72 text-left\">\n\t\t\t<p><em>Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every immigration matter is different and should be evaluated on its own facts.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_separator wpb_content_element vc_separator_align_center vc_sep_width_100 vc_sep_pos_align_center vc_separator_no_text vc_sep_color_grey\" ><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_l\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_r\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\t\t<div id=\"wd-69c302f4ccccb\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69c302f4ccccb text-left\">\n\t\t\t<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<p><strong>1) What is Form I-20?<\/strong><br \/>\nForm I-20 is the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/studyinthestates.dhs.gov\/students\/prepare\/student-forms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status<\/strong><\/a>.\u201d DHS explains that it is issued by a designated school official at an SEVP-certified school and is used for student visa processing, entry, and certain benefits tied to student status.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2) Does Form I-20 alone prove that a student is fully maintaining status?<\/strong><br \/>\nNot necessarily by itself in every real-world situation. <a href=\"https:\/\/studyinthestates.dhs.gov\/students\/study\/full-course-of-study\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DHS explains<\/strong><\/a> that students generally must maintain a full course of study and continue complying with the rules of their student status. The Form I-20 is important, but continued status also depends on continued compliance with the underlying requirements.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3) What is OPT?<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/working-in-the-united-states\/students-and-exchange-visitors\/optional-practical-training-opt-for-f-1-students\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>USCIS defines OPT<\/strong><\/a> as temporary employment directly related to an F-1 student\u2019s major area of study. Eligible students may apply for OPT before or after completing their studies, depending on the category.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4) How long can OPT last?<\/strong><br \/>\nUSCIS says eligible students may receive up to 12 months of OPT. Students with qualifying STEM degrees may apply for a 24-month STEM extension.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5) Does a student need school involvement before applying for OPT?<\/strong><br \/>\nYes. USCIS explains that the student must first obtain a recommendation from the designated school official, and that recommendation must be reflected on the Form I-20 before the student properly files Form I-765 with USCIS.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6) Can immigration court fees still be paid by check or money order?<\/strong><br \/>\nNot for immigration fees paid to EOIR. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/eoir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>EOIR<\/strong><\/a> states that, as of February 23, 2026, it no longer accepts checks or money orders for immigration fees paid to EOIR.<\/p>\n<p><strong>7) How are EOIR filing fees paid now?<\/strong><br \/>\nEOIR states that covered immigration fees must be paid electronically through the EOIR Payment Portal. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/eoir\/eoir-payment-portal-frequently-asked-questions-faq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>EOIR also explains<\/strong><\/a> that the portal allows users to pay certain filing fees electronically and obtain a receipt.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8) Is every immigration payment made to USCIS?<\/strong><br \/>\nNo. Different immigration matters can involve different agencies, including USCIS, EOIR, and the Department of State. The correct agency depends on the type of filing or proceeding. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/eoir\/types-appeals-motions-and-required-fees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>EOIR\u2019s official pages<\/strong><\/a> make clear that certain court-related fees are paid through EOIR, while other immigration processes are handled elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p><strong>9) Should someone with a pending immigration matter travel without first reviewing the case?<\/strong><br \/>\nThat depends on the person\u2019s exact situation. The safest general advice is not to assume. The legal risks can depend on the type of case, the person\u2019s current status, and the agency involved. Because those facts vary, the prudent step is to review the case carefully before traveling.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10) Why is it important to confirm which agency is handling a case?<\/strong><br \/>\nBecause the rules, forms, payment methods, and procedures are not identical across agencies. USCIS, EOIR, <a href=\"https:\/\/studyinthestates.dhs.gov\/students\/prepare\/student-forms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DHS student systems<\/a>, and the Department of State each operate under their own processes. Using the wrong form, the wrong portal, or the wrong assumption can create avoidable problems.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_separator wpb_content_element vc_separator_align_center vc_sep_width_100 vc_sep_pos_align_center vc_separator_no_text vc_sep_color_grey\" ><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_l\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_r\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\t\t<div id=\"wd-69c302f4ccccb\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69c302f4ccccb text-left\">\n\t\t\t<p><strong>SPANISH TRANSCRIPT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nAmigos, feliz inicio de semana. Gusto saludarles. Los invito a que presten mucha atenci\u00f3n porque hay informaci\u00f3n importante para muchas personas, especialmente para todos aquellos que tienen un estatus pendiente aqu\u00ed en Estados Unidos. Y es que la presencia de agentes de ICE en al menos 13 aeropuertos del pa\u00eds ha encendido las alarmas entre miles de migrantes que hoy se preguntan si viajar dentro de Estados Unidos podr\u00eda convertirse en un riesgo. Aunque las autoridades aseguran que estos agentes no estar\u00e1n en los controles de seguridad y har\u00edan funciones propias del TSA, recordemos que hay un cierre parcial del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional que afecta al TSA. Su despliegue ya genera temor, confusi\u00f3n y muchas dudas legales.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bfPuede un inmigrante ser detenido en un aeropuerto? \u00bfQu\u00e9 pasa con quienes no tienen un estatus cierto? Hoy se lo preguntamos a la abogada de inmigraci\u00f3n, Martha Arias. Los invito a que se conecten y a que nos acompa\u00f1en en esta conversaci\u00f3n que va a ser instructiva para todos ustedes. Abogada, \u00bfc\u00f3mo est\u00e1?<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nMuy bien, muy bien, Ori\u00e1n. Gracias por invitarme a su canal y con mucho gusto para poder contestar sus preguntas y las que tenga su audiencia.<\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nClaro. Yo quiero comenzar porque, bueno, ya hay im\u00e1genes que comienzan a salir en redes sociales, incluso una que se ha hecho viral esta tarde, y es una supuesta detenci\u00f3n que hab\u00eda en un aeropuerto en San Francisco. Esto, repito, no ha sido confirmado. Es informaci\u00f3n extraoficial, porque me gusta cuando las autoridades nos dan cuenta, a pesar de la opacidad con la que se manejan algunos temas, y nos dicen: \u201cMira, esto es lo que est\u00e1 pasando\u201d. Lo cierto es que hay mucha incertidumbre por la presencia de funcionarios de ICE en algunos aeropuertos del pa\u00eds. \u00bfQu\u00e9 se le puede decir hoy al migrante que no tiene un estatus definido, incluso al que pueda tenerlo?<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nA ver, lo primero que yo le dir\u00eda es que no entre en p\u00e1nico. Si la persona tiene, por ejemplo, un estatus legal vigente, como por ejemplo si es residente de los Estados Unidos y tiene su residencia, o una persona tiene una visa de estudiante, una visa de inversionista o cualquier otra visa que est\u00e9 legal, que est\u00e9 activa, corriente, esa persona no deber\u00eda tener ning\u00fan problema. S\u00ed es aconsejable viajar con su pasaporte, si la visa est\u00e1 sellada en el pasaporte, y con cualquier otro documento de inmigraci\u00f3n que demuestre ese estatus migratorio.<\/p>\n<p>Parece que, por ejemplo, los estudiantes, si tienen un permiso de trabajo, obviamente tienen permiso de trabajo, pero lo que muestra el estatus de ellos realmente es la I-20, que es la carta de la universidad que les dice que est\u00e1n admitidos para este per\u00edodo lectivo. Pero la carta en s\u00ed sola no deber\u00eda ser suficiente prueba de estatus porque, si la persona est\u00e1 registrada pero no va al colegio hace una semana o dos semanas, pues t\u00e9cnicamente esa persona se puede considerar que est\u00e1 violando su estatus.<\/p>\n<p>Entonces yo mostrar\u00eda la prueba de la I-20, descargar\u00eda adem\u00e1s las clases en las que estoy registrado ese semestre y la prueba de que todav\u00eda estoy estudiando. Eso probar\u00eda el estatus legal de la persona en los Estados Unidos. Y as\u00ed, todos aquellos que tengan estatus, tratar de tener ese documento que lo pruebe.<\/p>\n<p>Ahora, hay personas que no tienen un estatus definido porque est\u00e1n pendientes de un asilo, por ejemplo, o est\u00e1n pendientes de un caso de corte. Entonces esas personas tambi\u00e9n deber\u00edan tener la prueba de eso. Si tiene un caso de asilo pendiente en la corte, la prueba de su pr\u00f3xima cita, la prueba de su permiso de trabajo.<\/p>\n<p>Ahora, yo s\u00e9 que esto es peligroso hoy en d\u00eda tambi\u00e9n. Muchas personas tienen un asilo pendiente y han sido detenidas por ICE y puestas en un proceso expedito, r\u00e1pido, de deportaci\u00f3n. Entonces, para esas personas, yo lo que les dir\u00eda es: si su viaje no es una emergencia, mejor que no viajen. Si su viaje no es una emergencia, es mejor que no se arriesguen porque no sabemos realmente cu\u00e1l es la intenci\u00f3n o el alcance del gobierno con esta acci\u00f3n de enviar oficiales de ICE a los aeropuertos.<\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nS\u00ed, incluso voy a poner la imagen, que es la que se ha hecho viral el d\u00eda de hoy. Este es el arresto de una mujer en el aeropuerto de San Francisco, en presencia, seg\u00fan dicen, de su hija de 10 a\u00f1os que estaba all\u00ed, y es un video que se ha hecho viral hoy. No han especificado por qu\u00e9 ella fue detenida.<\/p>\n<p>La cadena NBC hizo una investigaci\u00f3n sobre qu\u00e9 est\u00e1n haciendo los funcionarios de ICE, y la informaci\u00f3n que han dado dice que son al menos 50 miembros del personal de ICE por turno en cada aeropuerto. Otro funcionario de ICE vinculado al \u00e1rea de capacitaci\u00f3n de la agencia declar\u00f3 a NBC News que los oficiales y agentes de ICE no estaban capacitados para el uso de magnet\u00f3metros o m\u00e1quinas de rayos X, y que entre las cosas que har\u00edan era supervisar el Real ID, esa estrellita de la licencia.<\/p>\n<p>Los aeropuertos, quiero decir, cu\u00e1les son los que est\u00e1n en este momento con oficiales de ICE: el de Chicago, el de Cleveland, el de Atlanta, el de Houston, el John F. Kennedy de Nueva York, LaGuardia de Nueva York, el aeropuerto de Newark, el de Nueva Orleans, el de San Juan de Puerto Rico, el de Filadelfia, el de Pittsburgh, ya dije, el de Philadelphia, el de Phoenix y el de Fort Myers aqu\u00ed en Florida. Yo convers\u00e9 hace minutos con una portavoz del aeropuerto de Miami, quien me inform\u00f3 que en el caso de Miami no est\u00e1 previsto, y debo decirlo as\u00ed, no est\u00e1 previsto, la presencia de funcionarios de ICE por el momento.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nAh, qu\u00e9 bien. Esa informaci\u00f3n me parece excelente, Ori\u00e1n, para los que est\u00e9n escuchando esta entrevista, este documento, porque me parece que es muy informativo, sobre todo esto que usted habla de los aeropuertos. Son bastantes realmente; seg\u00fan la lista que usted menciona, son bastantes. Pero tambi\u00e9n es un alivio saber que Miami no lo sea. No s\u00e9 hasta cu\u00e1ndo, porque todos sabemos que Miami es un puerto de entrada muy grande para los inmigrantes, pero bueno. Interesante saber tambi\u00e9n, por ejemplo, que Fort Myers es un aeropuerto donde vienen muchos, muchos inmigrantes, sobre todo hispanos que viven en esa \u00e1rea del oeste de la Florida.<\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nO sea, importante recapitular: si usted no tiene necesidad y tiene un estatus pendiente y puede evitar el viaje, mejor lo hace. Si tiene que hacerlo, los documentos que prueben el tr\u00e1mite que usted est\u00e1 haciendo son como una forma de protecci\u00f3n, entre comillas.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nCorrecto.<\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nOk. Importante esta recomendaci\u00f3n que hace la abogada de inmigraci\u00f3n Martha Arias, y ojal\u00e1 la situaci\u00f3n en los aeropuertos cambie, porque hay un cierre parcial del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional y las largas filas en varios aeropuertos este fin de semana. Eso fue tendencia.<\/p>\n<p>Incre\u00edblemente hablamos de documentos que pueda tener un migrante, estatus pendientes. Muchos siguen paralizados. Es incre\u00edble, \u00bfno?, c\u00f3mo esta situaci\u00f3n los mantiene a muchos de ellos en un limbo.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nEfectivamente. Pues no solamente son los venezolanos y cubanos que tienen sus casos con USCIS, con Citizenship and Immigration Services, paralizados de acuerdo a esa pausa que orden\u00f3 el gobierno o la administraci\u00f3n. Es importante resaltar que esa pausa es solamente para los casos que est\u00e1n pendientes con USCIS, no para los casos que est\u00e1n pendientes con la corte. Entonces, los cubanos y los venezolanos que tengan alg\u00fan caso de corte, una petici\u00f3n de residencia o algo, esos casos en la corte no est\u00e1n paralizados, pero con USCIS s\u00ed.<\/p>\n<p>Entonces esa es una cosa que las personas tienen que tener en cuenta. Obviamente incluso peticiones de ciudadan\u00eda est\u00e1n paralizadas para cubanos y venezolanos. Ahora, a nivel de los consulados, usted tambi\u00e9n escuch\u00f3 que hay una pausa para la emisi\u00f3n de visas de inmigrantes o residencias tambi\u00e9n para 72 pa\u00edses. Esto fue demandado. Hay una demanda que se present\u00f3 en New York, en una corte federal, en contra de esta pausa de las visas de inmigrantes. Eso tambi\u00e9n debemos estar escuch\u00e1ndolo porque es tambi\u00e9n muy injusto, sobre todo para las personas que salieron de los Estados Unidos y no hab\u00edan ido a la cita, o fueron, pero no les hab\u00edan emitido su residencia y fueron encontrados con esta sorpresa de que no puede ser emitida la residencia por esta pausa.<\/p>\n<p>Tambi\u00e9n para las personas que han hecho perdones, el perd\u00f3n 601-A, que es el perd\u00f3n de la presencia ilegal, que llevan tres o cuatro a\u00f1os esperando el perd\u00f3n, invirtiendo mucho dinero en ese perd\u00f3n, y fueron a las citas y se encontraron ahora entonces con esta pausa. \u00bfQu\u00e9 est\u00e1 pasando con estas personas? O con los que tengan en los pr\u00f3ximos meses citas en los consulados. Imag\u00ednense ustedes, esas personas lo van a pensar dos veces. \u00bfQu\u00e9 va a pasar con sus casos si no van a la cita despu\u00e9s de invertir tanto dinero? Pero, pues, es un caos.<\/p>\n<p>Bueno, vamos a ver qu\u00e9 va a pasar con la demanda que se present\u00f3 en contra del gobierno por esta pausa. As\u00ed que s\u00ed, Ori\u00e1n, mucha pausa para estas peticiones, pero s\u00ed tambi\u00e9n tratando el gobierno de agilizar mucho los procesos de deportaci\u00f3n. Ya usted escuch\u00f3 que se nombraron 42 jueces la semana pasada o la semana anterior, y van a seguir nombrando jueces porque, acu\u00e9rdese, hay ya mucho dinero para financiar estas agencias de ICE, USCIS, CBP, entonces muchos jueces nuevos, muchos nuevos, y los abogados que defienden al gobierno. Y pues vamos a ver una maquinaria mucho m\u00e1s r\u00e1pida de deportaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nQue no pierda tiempo y ases\u00f3rese correctamente con un abogado porque en este momento es fundamental, aprovechando la pausa que hay, definir en qu\u00e9 situaci\u00f3n est\u00e1 usted y evitar un riesgo frente a lo que se est\u00e1 moviendo jur\u00eddicamente.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nExacto. Mucho cuidado.<\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nLa abogada Martha Arias, cuando defin\u00edamos el temario que \u00edbamos a manejar durante nuestra conversaci\u00f3n, me dec\u00eda: \u201cMira, una noticia importante de la que me gustar\u00eda hablar\u201d, y me dec\u00eda, y ten\u00eda especificaci\u00f3n en lo que tiene que ver con los OPT, o entrenamiento pr\u00e1ctico para estudiantes extranjeros, que la administraci\u00f3n estar\u00eda buscando eliminar este beneficio, y ya se hab\u00eda presentado un proyecto de ley en el Congreso para codificarlo. \u00bfMe puede ampliar cu\u00e1l es la estrategia del gobierno y c\u00f3mo impactar\u00eda este programa en nuestra comunidad?<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nS\u00ed, bueno, a ver. El OPT, como usted bien lo dice, es un programa que le permite un entrenamiento pr\u00e1ctico opcional a aquellos estudiantes internacionales que vienen aqu\u00ed a los Estados Unidos. El programa siempre ha existido. Les dan un entrenamiento, un OPT, por 12 meses despu\u00e9s de la graduaci\u00f3n, o pueden elegir, vamos a decir, seis meses antes de la graduaci\u00f3n; entonces usar\u00edan los otros seis meses despu\u00e9s de la graduaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n<p>Para las carreras que est\u00e9n en la categor\u00eda de STEM, que es tecnolog\u00eda, ingenier\u00eda, ciencias y matem\u00e1ticas, j\u00f3venes o estudiantes tienen 36 meses m\u00e1s. Lo que pasa es que este OPT o este programa es regulatorio, pero no est\u00e1 codificado, no est\u00e1 en el Estatuto de Inmigraci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n<p>Entonces, un proyecto bipartita fue presentado en el Congreso de Estados Unidos para codificar este derecho al OPT. Esto es importante porque si llegara a pasar, quiere decir que ese programa de OPT podr\u00eda continuar.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bfPor qu\u00e9 digo esto? Porque el gobierno actual ha expresado intenci\u00f3n de modificar la regulaci\u00f3n del OPT, hacerlo, vamos a decir, m\u00e1s dif\u00edcil, casi imposible para que una persona lo tenga. Entonces el proyecto de ley realmente le beneficiar\u00eda a estos estudiantes para poder continuar con este programa que ha sido por muchos, muchos a\u00f1os un programa aqu\u00ed en los Estados Unidos. Vamos a hacerle seguimiento a ese proyecto de ley. Ya se present\u00f3 en la C\u00e1mara de Representantes, en proceso de espera. Obviamente empieza todo el proyecto, los debates, y que Dios quiera que podamos lograr este beneficio.<\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nOja, me parece una contradicci\u00f3n porque una de las promesas que hac\u00eda el presidente durante su campa\u00f1a era que a todos esos estudiantes que han invertido tiempo, dinero, creyendo en la educaci\u00f3n de este pa\u00eds, ofrec\u00eda esa posibilidad de regularizarlo, no de complicar su obtenci\u00f3n de esta, por ejemplo, de esta herramienta que existe.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nExacto. O sea, unas personas que han invertido aqu\u00ed en los Estados Unidos y que el gobierno ha capacitado, y que muchos de ellos son personas que van a beneficiar enormemente a los Estados Unidos. Yo el otro d\u00eda estaba, en un fin de semana, revisando unos reportes de los grandes inventores de este pa\u00eds, y la mayor\u00eda, Ori\u00e1n, han sido inmigrantes. Solo para mencionar algunos, est\u00e1 Albert Einstein. Est\u00e1 Tesla. El Tesla, Tesla, el se\u00f1or&#8230; Elon Musk. Bueno, son cantidades de personas que podemos mencionar que son talentos que vienen a los Estados Unidos para continuar ese talento que tengan, continuarlo aqu\u00ed y darle un beneficio al pa\u00eds.<\/p>\n<p>Entonces no s\u00e9 por qu\u00e9 no se ve esta posibilidad si quiere cerrar la puerta. Tambi\u00e9n tenemos que ser conscientes, y lo han visto, lo han mostrado las estad\u00edsticas, que hay mucho joven nacido en los Estados Unidos, ciudadano americano, que en vez de estar aprovechando los beneficios educativos del pa\u00eds, no est\u00e1n estudiando, no est\u00e1n haciendo sus carreras universitarias. Entonces este talento que viene no deber\u00eda ser despreciado. Pero bueno, vamos a ver.<\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nQu\u00e9 va a pasar con este proyecto de ley. Conversamos con la abogada de inmigraci\u00f3n Martha Arias. Ya para concluir, abogada, y le agradezco el contacto, hay muchas dudas que tienen los solicitantes de asilo con el pago de los fees, \u00bfno? Hay gente que dice: \u201cBueno, \u00bfd\u00f3nde lo pago?, \u00bflo tengo que pagar?, \u00bfc\u00f3mo se paga?\u201d, etc\u00e9tera. Quisiera saber si este tipo de casos se est\u00e1n manejando en su oficina y qu\u00e9 recomendaci\u00f3n se le est\u00e1 dando a las personas que tienen un asilo pendiente.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nOk, s\u00ed, mira, hubo un poquito de confusi\u00f3n porque s\u00ed, el gobierno elimin\u00f3 el pago de ciertos fees, sobre todo con USCIS, pero los fees de la corte los est\u00e1n obligando a pagar. Entonces, si una persona tiene un caso en la corte de inmigraci\u00f3n, un caso de asilo, debe ir a la p\u00e1gina de la agencia de inmigraci\u00f3n que es de la corte, que es EOIR.<\/p>\n<p>O sea, EOIR, como EOIR, como de escuchar, EOIR. Y hay una parte que se llama E-Pay, o sea, Electronic Payment. Entonces, si quiere el link es E-Pay, o sea: epay.eoir.justice.gov.<\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nJusto yo lo voy a pegar en la descripci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nExacto. Entonces, epay.eoir.justice.gov, y ah\u00ed est\u00e1 el portal de la agencia, de EOIR, donde est\u00e1 el ePay y el portal para donde pueden hacer el pago. Ah\u00ed electr\u00f3nicamente se hace para los que est\u00e1n en la corte. As\u00ed que eso s\u00ed se los est\u00e1n exigiendo, el pago.<\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nPerfecto. Voy a dejar el link en la p\u00e1gina por si es su caso, si tiene esto pendiente de la corte, pueda realizar el pago sin problema. Abogada, me gustar\u00eda que, aprovechando este momento y medio de tanta incertidumbre, pues comparta con la audiencia su contacto para cualquiera que tenga dudas sobre sus casos en estos momentos.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nEfectivamente, a nosotros nos pueden contactar en mi p\u00e1gina web. Es la forma m\u00e1s f\u00e1cil de ir, y all\u00ed est\u00e1n los datos de la oficina, la direcci\u00f3n, los tel\u00e9fonos, el email y todas las redes sociales.<\/p>\n<p>La p\u00e1gina es AriasVilla.com. Arias, mi apellido; Villa, con v peque\u00f1a, v-i-l-l-a, ariasvilla.com. Hay una p\u00e1gina que realmente no es la p\u00e1gina oficial de la oficina, es una p\u00e1gina que est\u00e1 en desarrollo, que es marthaarias.com, pero lo puede redirigir a ariasvilla.com si no se acuerdan de Arias Villa, y m\u00e1s f\u00e1cil se graba en el nombre Martha Arias.<\/p>\n<p>En el tel\u00e9fono nos pueden llamar al 305-671-0018, 305-671-0018. Ese es el tel\u00e9fono de nuestra oficina. Ya les dije, en la p\u00e1gina web y en Instagram estamos como @Martha_Arias98.<\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nY Martha con H. Con H, correcto. Much\u00edsimas gracias a la abogada de inmigraci\u00f3n Martha Arias. Amigos, ante la duda, la informaci\u00f3n clara es precisa. No caigan en el p\u00e1nico. Importante informarse, tener los documentos consigo y, por supuesto, tener una excelente asesor\u00eda que nos evite cualquier contratiempo en la situaci\u00f3n que estamos viviendo.<\/p>\n<p>Les agradezco a ustedes su rato, que se conecten con nosotros, que compartan esta informaci\u00f3n, que dejen sus preguntas y comentarios, que nos definen la agenda para los pr\u00f3ximos d\u00edas. Y un gusto a la abogada Martha Arias, porque hoy logr\u00f3 conectarse con nosotros. Ten\u00eda d\u00edas tratando de que esta conexi\u00f3n se diera y hoy logramos hacerla realidad. En la descripci\u00f3n ya tengo el enlace que ella me lo acaba de hacer llegar. Usted lo va a encontrar para los pagos de los fees de la corte en caso de que usted tenga un asilo pendiente all\u00ed. Much\u00edsimas gracias, abogada, y a todos.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nGracias, Ori\u00e1n, y a toda su audiencia, todos sus seguidores. Much\u00edsimas gracias por la invitaci\u00f3n y s\u00ed, disculpe que la semana pasada hab\u00edamos quedado de vernos, pero se present\u00f3 un percance y bueno, aqu\u00ed estamos.<\/p>\n<p>ORI\u00c1N:<br \/>\nAqu\u00ed estamos, eso es lo importante. El tiempo de Dios es perfecto y aqu\u00ed nos encontramos. Le agradezco a usted y a todos sus colegas que brindan la interpretaci\u00f3n de la ley en medio de tantos cambios que se est\u00e1n dando en materia migratoria aqu\u00ed en el pa\u00eds. Un gran abrazo.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nGracias a ustedes. Feliz d\u00eda. Ciao.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_separator wpb_content_element vc_separator_align_center vc_sep_width_100 vc_sep_pos_align_center vc_separator_no_text vc_sep_color_grey\" ><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_l\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_r\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\t\t<div id=\"wd-69c302f4ccccb\" class=\"wd-text-block wd-wpb reset-last-child wd-rs-69c302f4ccccb text-left\">\n\t\t\t<p><strong>ENGLISH TRANSLATION<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nFriends, happy start of the week. It is a pleasure to greet you. I invite you to pay very close attention because there is important information for many people, especially for all those who have a pending status here in the United States. And it is that the presence of ICE agents in at least 13 airports in the country has set off alarms among thousands of migrants who today are asking themselves whether traveling within the United States could become a risk. Although the authorities assure that these agents will not be at the security checkpoints and would carry out functions belonging to TSA, let us remember that there is a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security that affects TSA. Their deployment is already generating fear, confusion, and many legal doubts.<\/p>\n<p>Can an immigrant be detained at an airport? What happens with those who do not have a certain status? Today we ask immigration attorney Martha Arias. I invite you to connect and to join us in this conversation that is going to be instructive for all of you. Attorney, how are you?<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nVery well, very well, Ori\u00e1n. Thank you for inviting me to your channel, and with great pleasure to be able to answer your questions and those that your audience may have.<\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nOf course. I want to begin because, well, images are already starting to appear on social media, including one that has gone viral this afternoon, and it is an alleged detention that took place at an airport in San Francisco. This, I repeat, has not been confirmed. It is unofficial information, because I like it when the authorities inform us, despite the lack of transparency with which some topics are handled, and they tell us, \u201cLook, this is what is happening.\u201d The truth is that there is a lot of uncertainty due to the presence of ICE officers in some of the country\u2019s airports. What can be said today to the migrant who does not have a defined status, even the one who may have one?<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nLet\u2019s see, the first thing I would say is do not panic. If the person has, for example, valid legal status, such as being a resident of the United States and having a green card, or a person has a student visa, an investor visa, or any other visa that is legal, active, current, that person should not have any problem. It is advisable to travel with the passport, if the visa is stamped in the passport, and with any other immigration document that shows that immigration status.<\/p>\n<p>It seems that, for example, students, if they have a work permit, obviously they have a work permit, but what really shows their status is the I-20, which is the university letter that says they are admitted for this academic term. But the letter by itself should not be sufficient proof of status because, if the person is registered but has not gone to school for a week or two, then technically that person can be considered to be violating status.<\/p>\n<p>So I would show proof of the I-20, I would also download the classes in which I am registered that semester, and proof that I am still studying. That would prove the person\u2019s legal status in the United States. And so, all those who have status should try to have the document that proves it.<\/p>\n<p>Now, there are people who do not have a defined status because they have a pending asylum case, for example, or they have a pending court case. So those people should also have proof of that. If you have a pending asylum case in court, proof of your next hearing, proof of your work permit.<\/p>\n<p>Now, I know that this is dangerous nowadays as well. Many people have a pending asylum case and have been detained by ICE and placed into an expedited, fast deportation process. So, for those people, what I would say is: if your trip is not an emergency, it is better not to travel. If your trip is not an emergency, it is better not to take the risk because we really do not know what the government\u2019s intention or scope is with this action of sending ICE officers to airports.<\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nYes, I am even going to put up the image, which is the one that has gone viral today. This is the arrest of a woman at the San Francisco airport, in the presence, they say, of her 10-year-old daughter who was there, and it is a video that has gone viral today. They have not specified why she was detained.<\/p>\n<p>NBC did an investigation into what ICE officers are doing, and the information they gave says there are at least 50 ICE staff members per shift at each airport. Another ICE official linked to the agency\u2019s training area told NBC News that ICE officers and agents were not trained in the use of magnetometers or X-ray machines, and that among the things they would do would be to supervise Real ID, that little star on the license.<\/p>\n<p>The airports, I mean, which ones are currently with ICE officers: Chicago, Cleveland, Atlanta, Houston, John F. Kennedy in New York, LaGuardia in New York, Newark airport, New Orleans, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, I already said Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Fort Myers here in Florida. A few minutes ago I spoke with a spokesperson for Miami airport, who informed me that in Miami\u2019s case it is not expected, and I must say it that way, it is not expected, for ICE officers to be present for the moment.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nAh, how good. That information seems excellent to me, Ori\u00e1n, for those who are listening to this interview, this document, because it seems very informative to me, especially all of this that you are saying about the airports. There are really quite a few; according to the list you mention, there are quite a few. But it is also a relief to know that Miami is not one of them. I do not know until when, because we all know that Miami is a very large port of entry for immigrants, but well. It is also interesting to know, for example, that Fort Myers is an airport where many, many immigrants come, especially Hispanics who live in that area of western Florida.<\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nSo, important to recap: if you do not need to and you have a pending status and you can avoid the trip, it is better that you do so. If you have to do it, the documents that prove the process you are carrying out are like a form of protection, in quotation marks.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nCorrect.<\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nOk. Important recommendation that immigration attorney Martha Arias is making, and hopefully the situation at the airports changes, because there is a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security and the long lines at several airports this weekend. That was trending.<\/p>\n<p>Incredibly, we are talking about documents that a migrant may have, pending statuses. Many remain paralyzed. It is incredible, right, how this situation keeps many of them in limbo.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nIndeed. It is not only Venezuelans and Cubans who have their cases with USCIS, with Citizenship and Immigration Services, paralyzed according to that pause ordered by the government or the administration. It is important to emphasize that this pause is only for the cases that are pending with USCIS, not for the cases that are pending with the court. So Cubans and Venezuelans who have some court case, a residency petition or something, those cases in court are not paralyzed, but with USCIS they are.<\/p>\n<p>So that is one thing people have to keep in mind. Obviously even citizenship petitions are paralyzed for Cubans and Venezuelans. Now, at the consular level, you also heard that there is a pause for the issuance of immigrant visas or residencies also for 72 countries. This was challenged. A lawsuit was filed in New York, in a federal court, against this pause of immigrant visas. We must also be following that because it is also very unfair, especially for people who left the United States and had not yet gone to the appointment, or they went but their residency had not yet been issued, and they were met with this surprise that the residency cannot be issued because of this pause.<\/p>\n<p>Also for people who have done waivers, the 601-A waiver, which is the unlawful presence waiver, who have spent three or four years waiting for the waiver, investing a lot of money in that waiver, and they went to the appointments and then found themselves now with this pause. What is happening with these people? Or with those who will have consular appointments in the coming months. Just imagine, those people are going to think twice. What is going to happen with their cases if they do not go to the appointment after investing so much money? But, well, it is chaos.<\/p>\n<p>Well, let us see what is going to happen with the lawsuit that was filed against the government over this pause. So yes, Ori\u00e1n, a lot of pause for these petitions, but also the government trying to speed up deportation processes a great deal. You already heard that 42 judges were appointed last week or the week before, and they are going to continue appointing judges because, remember, there is already a lot of money to fund these agencies, ICE, USCIS, CBP, so many new judges, many new ones, and the attorneys who defend the government. And so we are going to see a much faster deportation machine.<\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nDo not waste time and get properly advised by an attorney because at this moment it is essential, taking advantage of the pause that exists, to define what situation you are in and avoid a risk in light of what is moving legally.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nExactly. Be very careful.<\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nAttorney Martha Arias, when we were defining the topics we were going to cover during our conversation, was telling me, \u201cLook, important news that I would like to discuss,\u201d and she was referring specifically to OPTs, or practical training for foreign students, that the administration would be seeking to eliminate this benefit, and a bill had already been introduced in Congress to codify it. Can you expand for me on what the government\u2019s strategy is and how this program would impact our community?<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nYes, well, let\u2019s see. OPT, as you rightly say, is a program that allows optional practical training for those international students who come here to the United States. The program has always existed. They are given practical training, an OPT, for 12 months after graduation, or they can choose, let us say, six months before graduation; then they would use the other six months after graduation.<\/p>\n<p>For careers that are in the STEM category, which is technology, engineering, science, and mathematics, young people or students have 36 more months. What happens is that this OPT or this program is regulatory, but it is not codified, it is not in the Immigration Statute.<\/p>\n<p>So, a bipartisan bill was presented in the United States Congress to codify this right to OPT. This is important because if it were to happen, it means that this OPT program could continue.<\/p>\n<p>Why do I say this? Because the current government has expressed an intention to modify the OPT regulation, to make it, let us say, more difficult, almost impossible for a person to have it. So the bill would really benefit these students so they can continue with this program that has been, for many, many years, a program here in the United States. We are going to follow that bill. It has already been introduced in the House of Representatives, in the process of waiting. Obviously the whole process begins, the debates, and God willing, we will be able to achieve this benefit.<\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nWow, it seems like a contradiction to me because one of the promises the president made during his campaign was that all those students who have invested time and money, believing in this country\u2019s education, were offered that possibility of regularizing it, not of making it more difficult for them to obtain, for example, this tool that exists.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nExactly. In other words, these are people who have invested here in the United States and whom the government has trained, and many of them are people who are going to benefit the United States enormously. The other day, over a weekend, I was reviewing some reports about the great inventors of this country, and the majority, Ori\u00e1n, have been immigrants. Just to mention a few, there is Albert Einstein. There is Tesla. Tesla, Tesla, the gentleman&#8230; Elon Musk. Well, there are so many people we can mention who are talents that come to the United States to continue that talent they have, continue it here, and give a benefit to the country.<\/p>\n<p>So I do not know why this possibility is not seen if the intention is to close the door. We also have to be aware, and statistics have shown it, that there are many young people born in the United States, American citizens, who instead of taking advantage of the country\u2019s educational benefits, are not studying, are not pursuing their university degrees. So this talent that comes should not be disregarded. But well, we will see.<\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nWhat is going to happen with this bill. We are speaking with immigration attorney Martha Arias. To conclude, attorney, and I thank you for the contact, there are many doubts that asylum applicants have about paying the fees, right? There are people who say, \u201cWell, where do I pay it? Do I have to pay it? How is it paid?\u201d and so on. I would like to know whether these kinds of cases are being handled in your office and what recommendation is being given to people who have a pending asylum case.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nOk, yes, look, there was a little bit of confusion because yes, the government eliminated the payment of certain fees, especially with USCIS, but court fees are being required. So, if a person has a case in immigration court, an asylum case, they must go to the immigration agency\u2019s page that is for the court, which is EOIR.<\/p>\n<p>That is, EOIR, like EOIR, like hearing it, EOIR. And there is a section called E-Pay, that is, Electronic Payment. So, if you want the link, it is E-Pay, that is: epay.eoir.justice.gov.<\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nI am just going to paste it in the description.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nExactly. So, epay.eoir.justice.gov, and there is the agency\u2019s portal, EOIR, where the ePay and the portal are, where they can make the payment. It is done there electronically for those who are in court. So yes, they are requiring that payment.<\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nPerfect. I am going to leave the link on the page in case that is your situation, if you have this pending in court, so you can make the payment without problem. Attorney, I would like you, taking advantage of this moment and the uncertainty, to share your contact information with the audience for anyone who has doubts about their cases at this time.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nIndeed, people can contact us on my website. It is the easiest way to go, and there are the office details, the address, the phone numbers, the email, and all the social media.<\/p>\n<p>The page is AriasVilla.com. Arias, my last name; Villa, with a small v, v-i-l-l-a, ariasvilla.com. There is a page that really is not the office\u2019s official page, it is a page that is under development, which is marthaarias.com, but it can redirect you to ariasvilla.com if you do not remember Arias Villa, and the name Martha Arias is easier to remember.<\/p>\n<p>By phone, you can call us at 305-671-0018, 305-671-0018. That is our office phone number. As I already told you, on the website and on Instagram we are @Martha_Arias98.<\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nAnd Martha with an H. With an H, correct. Thank you very much to immigration attorney Martha Arias. Friends, when in doubt, clear information is precise. Do not fall into panic. It is important to get informed, to keep your documents with you, and of course to have excellent legal guidance that avoids any setback in the situation we are living through.<\/p>\n<p>I thank you for your time, for connecting with us, for sharing this information, for leaving your questions and comments, which define our agenda for the coming days. And it is a pleasure to have attorney Martha Arias because today she managed to connect with us. I had been trying for days for this connection to happen and today we made it a reality. In the description I already have the link that she just sent me. You will find it for the payment of court fees in case you have a pending asylum case there. Thank you very much, attorney, and to everyone.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nThank you, Ori\u00e1n, and to all your audience, all your followers. Thank you very much for the invitation, and yes, sorry that last week we had planned to see each other, but something came up, and well, here we are.<\/p>\n<p>ORIAN:<br \/>\nHere we are, that is what matters. God\u2019s timing is perfect and here we meet. I thank you and all your colleagues who provide interpretation of the law in the middle of so many changes that are taking place in immigration matters here in the country. A big hug.<\/p>\n<p>MARTHA:<br \/>\nThank you all. Have a happy day. Bye.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In my recent interview with Orian Brito, I discussed several immigration concerns that many individuals and families are facing right","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11904,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[86,81],"tags":[235,467,468,465,470,475,462,464,473,458,97,457,471,463,466,435,207,454,122,334,291,459,460,453,478,476,456,477,469,461,98,455,472,474],"class_list":["post-11901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-immigration-news-updates","category-videos","tag-abogada-de-inmigracion","tag-abogada-de-inmigracion-en-miami","tag-actualizacion-migratoria","tag-ariasvilla","tag-caso-migratorio-pendiente","tag-entrenamiento-practico-opcional","tag-eoir","tag-eoir-payment-portal","tag-estudiante-f-1","tag-f-1-student","tag-f-1-visa","tag-form-i-20","tag-formulario-i-20","tag-immigration-court-fees","tag-immigration-guidance","tag-immigration-lawyer-miami","tag-immigration-news","tag-immigration-update","tag-martha-arias","tag-miami-immigration-attorney","tag-noticias-de-inmigracion","tag-opt","tag-optional-practical-training","tag-orian-brito","tag-orientacion-migratoria","tag-pagos-en-corte-de-inmigracion","tag-pending-immigration-case","tag-portal-de-pagos-eoir","tag-precauciones-al-viajar","tag-stem-opt","tag-student-visa","tag-travel-precautions-immigration","tag-visa-de-estudiante","tag-visa-f-1","post_format-post-format-video"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.0 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Martha Arias on Travel Precautions, OPT, and EOIR Fee Payments<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Attorney Martha Arias discusses travel precautions, Form I-20, OPT for F-1 students, and current EOIR immigration court fee payment rules.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ariasvilla.com\/es\/new-travel-precautions-opt-and-immigration-court-fee-payments\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New Travel Precautions, OPT, and Immigration Court Fee Payments\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Attorney Martha Arias discusses travel precautions, Form I-20, OPT for F-1 students, and current EOIR immigration court fee payment rules.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ariasvilla.com\/es\/new-travel-precautions-opt-and-immigration-court-fee-payments\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Miami Immigration Lawyer - Attorney Martha L. 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