On October 24, 2022, USCIS announced its extension of certain Covid-19 related flexibilities through January 24, 2023. This is to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors whose filing of responses, notices, or motions with USCIS could be affected by Covid-related circumstances.

Under the flexibilities, USCIS provides certain applicants, petitioners, and requestors with the following arrangements:

1. Additional 60-day period for USCIS to consider certain responses

USCIS considers a response received within 60 calendar days after the due date in the following requests or notices, if USCIS issued the request or notice between March 1, 2020, and January 24, 2023:

• 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.

2. Additional 90-day period for USCIS to consider certain notices

In addition, USCIS will consider the following notice or request filed within 90 calendar days from a USCIS’s decision, if USCIS made that decision between November 1, 2021, and January 24, 2023:

• Form I-290B (Notice of Appeal or Motion); or
• Form N-336 (Request for a Hearing on a Naturalization Proceedings)

Note: USCIS’s another Covid-19 related flexibilities on signature

USCIS’s another Covid-related flexibilities on signature announced in March 2020 became permanent policy on July 25, 2022.

Under the flexibilities, USCIS accepts all forms and documents with reproduced original signatures. This means that applicants, petitioners, or requestors may use a scanned, faxed, photocopied, or similarly reproduced document of its original that contains an original handwritten signature, unless otherwise specified.

Individuals or entities that submit documents bearing an electronically reproduced original signature must also retain copies of the original documents containing the handwritten signature. USCIS has announced that it may, at any time, request the original documents, which if not produced, could negatively impact the adjudication of the immigration benefit.

USCIS’s original announcement can be found here.

Disclaimers