USCIS Has Extended Deadlines for Several Pandemic Related Flexibilities
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended the flexibility periods for responding to requests. In addition, filing for Form N-336 and Form I-290B received an extension through October 23, 2022.
The USCIS first extended some flexibilities to applicants, requesters, and petitioners in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, after the first extension, the USCIS pushed the date back through July 25, 2022. At the time, they declared they would not extend the flexibilities again.
Recently, the USCIS decided it would consider responses received within 60 days of their due dates. This exception applies only to notices or requests with issuance dates between March 1, 2020, through October 23, 2022.
In addition, USCIS will consider a Form I-290B (Notice of Appeal or Motion) or a Form N-336 (Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings under Section 336 of the INA) if:
The USCIS also permanently extended its policy of allowing electronically reproduced original signatures. This policy allowed the reproduction of documents and benefits forms as long as the original document had an original signature. Additionally, the petitioner, requestor, or applicant submitting the reproduced documents must keep the documents containing the wet signature, which the USCIS can request at any time. Failure to produce the original document upon request may harm the adjudication of the immigration benefit.
The USCIS allowed these flexibilities to make the application process more manageable with the continuing processing delays and backlogs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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