USCIS Extends March 30, 2020 Flexibility for Applicants and Petitioners Responding to Agency Requests

In its continued effort to extend leniency to those directly affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it will continue to extend the flexibility measures that it previously announced on March 30, 2020 in order to help applicants and petitioners who are responding to certain:

• Requests for Evidence;
• Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
• Notices of Intent to Deny;
• Notices of Intent to Revoke;
• Notices of Intent to Rescind and Notices of Intent to Terminate regional investment centers;
• Filing date requirements for Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA); or
• Filing date requirements for Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion.

Issuance Date: These extended flexibility measures will apply to all of the above documents if their issuance date was between March 1, 2020 and September 11, 2020. The date of issuance will be the date listed on the request, notice, or decision.

Response Due Date: USCIS advises that it will consider a response to the above requests and notices received within 60 calendar days after the response due date that is set the request or notice before USCIS takes any action on the application or petition. In addition, USCIS advises that they will “consider” a Form N-336 or Form I-290B received up to 60 calendar days from the date of the decision before we take any action. The N-336 form is a Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings form and the I-290B is a Notice of Appeal or Motion form.

By announcing and implementing these flexibility measures, USCIS seeks to protect the workforce and community and to minimize the immigration consequences for applicants and petitioners who are seeking immigration benefits during this difficult time.

If you have questions about this blog or your U.S. Immigration case, call or write Attorney Sean D. Hummel to schedule a consultation at (954) 385-3111 or sean@hummelaw.com