USCIS Changes Policy on the Validity of I-693 Medical Exams
USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) has updated its rules about the medical exam form used in immigration applications – Form I-693 (Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record). What is changing? Starting June 11, 2025, if a civil surgeon signs Form I-693 on or after November 1, 2023, the form is only valid…
USCIS Announces that Applicants for Adjustment of Status no longer need to prove that they have received the COVID-19 Vaccination
On January 22, 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service announced a new policy that it will waive the requirement that applicants for adjustment of status (Form I-485) present proof that they have received the COVID-19 vaccination on their I-693 Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. USCIS further confirmed that from and…
USCIS announces additional extension of time to respond to certain Agency Requests
USCIS again announced that in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic it would extend (for the fourth time) additional flexibility measures and grant additional time to certain applicants, petitioners, and requestors who were responding to certain agency requests. This extension is a continuation of the original extension that USCIS announced on March 30, 2020. This…
USCIS Extends Additional Flexibility Measures for Responding to Certain Requests
On September 11, 2020, USCIS again announced that in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic it would extend additional flexibility measures and grant additional time to certain applicants, petitioners, and requestors who were responding to certain agency requests. Q: Which USCIS Requests, Notices, and Decisions are covered by the Extension? A: The Extension of Additional…
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…
USCIS Offices will Reopen on June 4 for In-Person Services
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that it is readying field offices to reopen on or after June 4, 2020 for In-Person services, including Interviews, Naturalization Oath Ceremonies, and InfoPass appointments. Although these offices have been closed to the public since March 18, 2020, USCIS reports that its employees in these offices have been…
Immigrants and Recovery Rebates under the CARES Act
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law, providing the U.S. economy with a $2 trillion dollar economic recovery package. The package offers financial relief to state and local governments, individuals, small and large businesses, and hospitals that were affected by Coronavirus pandemic. Of particular interest…
COVID-19 Related Delays in I-539 Extension/Change of Status Applications
The Department of Homeland Security has issued an advisory acknowledging that temporary non-immigrants are facing challenges in regards to maintaining their immigration status due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While nonimmigrants are generally advised to depart the U.S. before their authorized period of stay expires, where COVID-19 related circumstances cause them to remain in the U.S….
USCIS announces Flexibility for Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny
In recognition of the challenges and difficulties that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have brought to the Immigrant Community, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that it will adopt certain “flexibility” measures to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to Requests for Evidence; Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14); Notices of Intent to Deny; Notices…
USCIS announces that Coronavirus testing will not be considered in the Public Charge Rule analysis
On March 13, 2020, after President Trump declared a national emergency on account of the Coronavirus pandemic, USCIS made the following announcement to confirm that it will not count Coronavirus testing against aliens applying for immigration benefits: “USCIS encourages all those, including aliens, with symptoms that resemble coronavirus (COVID-19) (fever, cough, shortness of breath) to…
