CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
256 S. OCCIDENTAL BOULEVARD
LOS ANGELES, CA 90057
Telephone:  (213) 388-8693 Facsimile:  (213) 386-9484
http://www.centerforhumanrights.org <http://www.centerforhumanrights.org> ; mail@centerforhumanrights.org <mailto:mail@centerforhumanrights.org>
 
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To:             CSS and LULAC/Newman “Late amnesty” class members           URGENT!!
From:        Peter A. Schey and Carlos R. Holguín                                          URGENTE!!
Date:          December 8, 2005
Re:             December 31, 2005, deadline to apply for legalization
                  Please distribute copies to all interested parties and community-based organizations
________________________________________________________________________________________    

Please read carefully. Please make copies of the attached memo for class members you know who may not receive this important notice.

The deadline to apply for CSS and LULAC/Newman legalization is December 31, 2005. Applications must be put into the mail AND postmarked by December 31, 2005. If you have not already applied, we recommend that you apply before the deadline.
 
To apply you must use a form I-687. You may obtain copies of this form with full instructions by visiting your local CIS district office (former INS office) or from the CIS web site: http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-687.htm <http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-687.htm> . You should do so immediately. If you discover that I-687 application forms are not available at your local CIS office, please immediately let us know by phone (call Linda Fang at 213 388-8693 ext 101), fax, or email. Also look at our web site for more information http://www.legalizationusa.org <http://www.legalizationusa.org> . The web site includes a list of trained lawyers in several cities. If you do not have internet connection, but have a friend or relative who does, ask them to help you connect to our web site and to the CIS web site.

When you fill in the I-687, to help you remember dates, etc., check your old I-687 (if you have one) that you used to apply for a work permit a long time ago. We encourage you to contact a lawyer or a local organization that helps immigrants, like a Catholic Charities, for assistance.

If you have a pending LIFE Act application, or a denied LIFE Act applications we recommend that you file under CSS or LULAC/Newman, even if you have appealed your LIFE Act denial. If you miss the December 31 deadline, you cannot file under CSS/LULAC later if your LIFE Act is denied. We recommend people who already filed under LIFE also file under CSS/LULAC so they have two options to legalize their status.

If before December 31 you cannot collect all of your declarations or evidence showing that you lived here from before 1/1/82 until 1987, you should still mail your application by December 31 with whatever evidence you have and send more evidence later. Include a check or money order for $255 for the filing fee and a separate check for $70 for biometrics—both payable to the “Department of Homeland Security.” No later than December 31, 2005, mail everything to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services P.O. Box 805876 Chicago, IL 60680-4120

We strongly recommend that you mail your application at a U.S. post office by “certified mail return receipt requested” (so that you have proof that you mailed by the deadline), and keep a complete copy of your application (this is very important).

Please forward this to any class members you know who are living abroad. We believe they may apply. The Government disagrees. We will ask the judges in the CSS and LULAC/Newman cases to decide. If people are abroad, they should send their applications by UPS or Federal Express, and clearly state that they are living abroad. They should send us copies of their applications addressed to Peter Schey.

We plan to go back to court in the CSS and LULAC/Newman cases because class members are not being treated fairly. We also are investigating a new lawsuit because many class members were not treated lawfully under the LIFE Act. If you have received a denial of any case and want us to review the file, please send a complete copy of your file to Attorney Linda Fang at our address above. Please organize your file with the oldest documents at the bottom. Thank you. Best wishes.

CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
256 S. OCCIDENTAL BOULEVARD
LOS ANGELES, CA 90057
Telephone:  (213) 388-8693 Facsimile:  (213) 386-9484
http://www.centerforhumanrights.org <http://www.centerforhumanrights.org> ; mail@centerforhumanrights.org <mailto:mail@centerforhumanrights.org>