(To Our Readers: We will publish our “Simply Put” series the first week of the month. Volume 2 is an early special edition considering the timeline for the LRIF benefit)

As stated in our previous blog, Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) is a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that allows eligible Liberians to legally stay in the U.S. by applying for and obtaining Permanent Resident status.

To benefit from the LRIF, you must meet certain requirements. This is called being ELIGIBLE. In addition to admissibility, discussed in our last blog, some of these requirements are:

• Liberian Citizenship – you must be able to prove that you were born in Liberia, born to Liberian parents, or naturalized as a Liberian citizen. You can prove this using your passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate.
• Continuous Physical Presence in the U.S. from November 20, 2014 to the date you file under the LRIF benefit – You must be able to prove that you have continuously lived in the U.S. during this period. This may include your mortgage payments,rental agreements, your annual federal tax returns (1040), employment records, bank verification letters, etc.
• No Aggravated Felony Convictions – No guilty verdicts and/or imprisonment for any of the crimes listed under this category in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). As these crimesare considered serious within U.S. immigration processes, convictions of these crimes may result in deportation or inability to obtain U.S. citizenship. These crimes include: drug trafficking, unlawful distribution of drugs or chemicals that are controlled by law, rape, murder, sexual abuse of minors, theft that results in a year or more imprisonment, and possession of a firearm without license, and other crimes. Should you want to know more about this please contact ACISS Inc. – despite a conviction, you may still be eligible.
• No Convictions of Two or More of Crimes of Moral Turpitude – These are crimes that are considered excessively reckless, irresponsible, or intentionally harmful as understood in U.S. communities and society. These are crimes committed against a person, property, family members or the government.

For more information and assistance, contact the ACISS team at 240-893-1160 to discuss these terms of eligibility, and the possibilities of applying. You must act fast – the deadline is December 20, 2021!