USCIS has been providing flexibility with some deadlines during the pandemic, but that was set to expire on September 11, 2020. USCIS has now provided a last minute extension, which will now apply to all listed requests that are issued between March 1 2020 and January 1, 2021. This should help people who are continuing…
USCIS
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
USCIS Launches SAVE Initiative Aimed at Sponsors of Immigrants
On September 10, USCIS announced that it was implementing a new initiative called SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements). This initiative is aimed at sponsors of immigrants, which usually includes family filing petitions as well as other individuals who complete affidavits of support at some point during the process of becoming a lawful permanent resident.…
US Citizenship Office in Austin – Is There a USCIS Office in Austin, Texas?
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) operates many offices across the United States and even internationally. You can check for the nearest USCIS Office at https://egov.uscis.gov/office-locator/. As of today, USCIS does not have an immigration office in Austin, Texas, despite many immigrants living in the area. There are many USCIS offices in Texas. Most people…
New Changes Besides Prices in the USCIS Fee Rule
While the new DHS/USCIS fee rule adjusted the fees for many forms and benefit types, it also made some important changes to fee waivers and areas other than price. Here is a list of notable changes to the regulations as a result of the new rule: Explicitly require checks to be dated no more than…
USCIS Price Increases Coming Soon for Many Forms
USCIS announced on July 31, 2020, that it has finalized the rule for increases to many form types. The most important questions are when does it go into effect and what processes are becoming more expensive? When Are USCIS Prices Going Up? On October 2, 2020, the new USCIS price changes are going into effect.…
USCIS Updates Guidance on Discretion
USCIS announced updates to its guidance on discretion in immigration decisions on July 15, 2020. While this guidance is aimed at adjudicators who are deciding whether to approve a benefit, it should be useful for arguing positive discretionary factors as well. The updates can be found in the USCIS Policy Manual: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-1-part-e-chapter-8 https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-10-part-a-chapter-5
USCIS Preparing to Reopen Offices
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,…
USCIS Fee Increases Coming
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 Updates Policies Related to False Claims of U.S. Citizenship
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 Allowing Flexibility for Changes of Status Requests
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…
USCIS Preparing to Reopen Offices to the Public on June 4, 2020
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…
USCIS Announces Flexibility in Responding to Agency Requests
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…