INS Announces Relief for Families of Sept 11^th Victims
Posted Oct 19, 2001

The INS continues to exercise its favorable discretion for victims and family members of the September 11, 2001 tragedy. On October 12, INS Commissioner James W. Ziglar indicated that the INS would extend favorable immigration consideration to dependent family members of nonimmigrants (e.g. H1B holders), who perished in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Ordinarily, a dependent status such as H-4 or L-2 is valid only as long as the principal (i.e. the H-1 or L-1 worker) is legally in the United States. However, rather than terminating the status of the family member/s upon the death of the principal, INS will allow these victims’ families to remain in the U.S. for an extended period. Deferred action may be granted to these dependents; in other words INS might promise not to start removal (deportation) proceedings. Work authorization will perhaps be granted as well.

Apparently, INS is developing an agency-wide policy for handling various types of immigration cases affected by the September 11th incidents.