US Citizenship and Immigration Services
US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on May 26, 2020 that it would begin reopening its public offices. Starting on June 4, 2020 USCIS offices will gradually start to reopen with new procedures and protections against the coronavirus. Most USCIS public offices have been completely closed with rare exceptions only for very urgent cases; however,…
The New York Times reports on May 17, 2020, that US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is asking Congress for emergency funding. The agency plans to recover those funds with a 10% fee surcharge on immigration applications. At this time, it is unclear how soon those fee increases might take effect or whether they will…
USCIS announced changes to its policy manual on April 24, 2020. These changes relate to “false claims to U.S. Citizenship,” a type of issues that many prevent immigrants from entering the United States or becoming Lawful Permanent Residents. It can also result in removal (deportation) as well as other negative effects. These changes are the…
USCIS announced on April 13, 2020, that a certain level of flexibility will be applied, on a case-by-case basis, in processing changes of status and late applications. It is still important to timely-file if at all possible, but in certain circumstances, such as someone becoming ill and unable to file a request, those requests might…
On April 24, 2020, USCIS announced that it was planning to reopen its offices to the public. Those offices have been closed out of concerns for safety and due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The June 4th date could be extended, and USCIS will make another announcement at a later date if it does so. Read…
On May 1, 2020, USCIS announced that it was extending measures to allow for flexibility in responding to certain agency requests. These requests are frequently made to request additional evidence or allow for appeals and motions to reconsider and reopen. Read the full announcement below. In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and…
USCIS is proposing revisions to its affidavit of support forms, including the widely-used form I-864. You can review the proposed changes here: The changes are consistent with the implementation of the public charge rule and attempts to restrict family-based immigration. That is being done principally through requesting more and more sensitive information which tends to…
USCIS updated its policy manual on April 7, 2020, to include additional information and eligibility requirements for Liberians and family applying for green cards under the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (LRIF). The new policy guidance provides clarity on who qualifies for residency under the law and explains how USCIS interprets other provisions of this…
USCIS announced on April 1, 2020, that it would extend the closure of its offices due to the coronavirus pandemic. At this time, USCIS plans to reopen its offices on May 4th. While public-facing offices are being closed, USCIS is still processing applications at its other offices. Read the announcement below. On March 18, U.S.…
USCIS announced on March 27, 2020, that it was automatically extending Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID) deadlines for certain people. These deadlines are common for people applying for benefits, such as adjustment of status, where USCIS asks them to submit additional evidence for the case or indicates that the…
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is closing several types of public-facing offices in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. The following types of offices are impacted: Field offices, which conduct interviews and sometimes naturalization ceremonies Application Support Centers, where applicants go to have fingerprints and biometrics taken Asylum offices Further announcements will…
