Year: 2024

Protests by disgruntled members halted the Local Government congresses of the Benue State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday.

The protests followed alleged alteration of the list from the last ward congresses and diversion of congress materials.

There has been confusion in the party since the inconclusive ward congresses in July.

Daily Post reports that the list from the ward congresses that was released to party stakeholders in Makurdi on Friday did not tally with was collated at the wards during the congressess.

There was a charged atmosphere at the party secretariat with large presence of security operatives deployed to prevent breakdown of law and order.

Several youths suspected to be political thugs converged at the secretariat, chanting solidarity songs.

Distraught party stakeholders and members had kept vigil at the secretariat awaiting the arrival of the electoral officials from the national secretariat in Abuja.

The conduct of the recent congresses at the ward level has generated so much confusion and heat over the gale of suspensions and counter suspensions of members for anti-party activities.

After a very long wait by members of the party secretariat in Makurdi, pandemonium broke out when electoral officials arrived from Abuja.

Fight broke out as the officials were prevented from distributing materials for the conduct of the local government congresses.

Members of the party demanded for the list of candidates for the local government congresses and results of the last ward congresses which the officials could not produce.

The electoral officers from Abuja were chased out of the party secretariat by protesting members.

The caretaker chairman of the party, AVM Napoleon Bali and members of his committee fled the secretariat in a convoy to an unknown destination.

The immigration laws in the United States are complicated, and after a petition has been granted, there may be more steps needed in some circumstances. An essential tool in these situations is Form I-824, the Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition. To successfully navigate the immigration process, it is crucial to know when and why to file this form, which enables people to request specific steps on petitions that have been approved.

What is Form I-824 Used For?

There are several uses for Form I-824, all of which include requests for additional action on an immigration application or petition that has been granted. Among the principal applications are:

1. Requesting a Duplicate Approval Notice: You can ask the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a duplicate approval notice using Form I-824 if you misplace, destroy, or need an extra copy of your original approval notice (Form I-797).
2. Consular Processing: You may choose to pursue consular processing for a family member who is abroad after your Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) petition has been approved. Using Form I-824, you can request that USCIS forward your authorized petition to either the National Visa Center (NVC) or a U.S. consulate located in the target country.
3. Correcting Errors: Form I-824 can be filed to request corrections from USCIS if the approval notification or supporting documents contain errors, such as erroneous personal information.
4. Follow-to-Join Benefits: Those who have already received a Green Card through employment- or family-based immigration may “follow to join” their primary beneficiary in the United States by using Form I-824 to expedite the immigration of qualifying family members who were not included in the initial application.

These varied uses make Form I-824 a versatile tool for addressing post-approval immigration needs.

Who Needs to File Form I-824?

If an individual or entity needs USCIS to proceed with an application that has already been granted, they must file Form I-824. Typical filers consist of:

• Primary Petitioners: To start consular processing or request a duplicate approval notice, the original petitioners—such as a citizen or permanent resident of the United States who completed Form I-130—may need to file Form I-824.
• Beneficiaries: If the petition’s beneficiaries—such as family members or employees—ask USCIS to send it for consular processing, they may need to file Form I-824.
• Legal Representatives: In order to make further requests or adjustments, attorneys or employers who initially submitted the petition on behalf of another party may additionally need to submit Form I-824.

Understanding whether you need to file this form is crucial for ensuring that your immigration process continues without unnecessary delays.

Form I-824 Filing Fee

Form I-824 Processing Time

Although it might vary based on a number of factors, the processing period for Form I-824 typically takes between six and twelve months. The following are some important variables that influence processing time:

• Service Center Workload: The workloads handled by the various USCIS service centers vary, and processing times may be longer for those with greater case volumes. I-824 form.
• Complexity of the Request: Requests that are straightforward, like getting a duplicate approval notification, may be handled faster than those that are more complicated, such starting the consular procedure for several family members.
• Requests for Evidence (RFEs): USCIS will issue an RFE, which may lengthen the processing period, if they need more information or proof to handle your request.

The mother-of-five was attacked by a Bullmastiff-type breed at her ground-floor flat in Southend, Essex, on July 29 and suffered lacerations to her left arm.

Neighbours described how Ms Hempstead had clambered over the railing of her balcony to escape, before collapsing near a play area.

Bystanders rushed to give her first aid after hearing her screams. She was taken by paramedics to Southend Hospital before being transferred to the Royal London Hospital where she died the next day.

Yesterday it emerged that Ms Hempstead’s daughter died just weeks earlier on June 4.

In an online appeal to help pay for her funeral and support her children, Ms Hempstead’s friend, Liah Smith said it was the second time that tragedy had struck the family.

An inquest into Ms Hempstead’s death was opened today but adjourned while a police investigation continues.