USCIS has officially ended its policy allowing additional time to respond to certain requests which began in March 2020 and was extended until March 23, 2023. This means that applicants will now once again be expected to adhere to the deadlines listed on all USCIS notices. This includes notices for which USCIS’ Covid policies allowed for additional flexibility, such as:
Requests for Evidence;
Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
Notices of Intent to Deny;
Notices of Intent to Revoke;
Notices of Intent to Rescind;
Notices of Intent to Terminate regional centers;
Notices of Intent to Withdraw Temporary Protected Status; and
Motions to Reopen an N-400 Pursuant to 8 CFR 335.5, Receipt of Derogatory Information After Grant.
Fortunately, one Covid-era policy change has been made permanent: USCIS will continue to allow forms to be submitted with copies of original handwritten signatures.
For more information, see the official USCIS Announcement.
Without discussing the specifics of a person’s case, it is not possible to give legal advice. If you are seeking help, I recommend scheduling a consultation with an experienced immigration attorney. This post is intended as only general information and is not a substitute for legal advice.
Vance Berry, Principal Attorney
Photo Credit: Jan Vasek