USCIS Updates Policies to Improve Immigration Services

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers has issued new coverage updates within the USCIS Coverage Guide to make clear the factors and circumstances for expedited processing; enhance request for proof (RFE) and see of intent to disclaim (NOID) steering; and enhance the validity interval for preliminary and renewal employment authorization paperwork (EADs) for sure noncitizens with pending adjustment of standing purposes.

“We’re taking motion to remove insurance policies that fail to advertise entry to the authorized immigration system, and can proceed to make enhancements that assist people navigate the trail to citizenship, and that modernize our immigration system,” mentioned Secretary of Homeland Safety Alejandro N. Mayorkas.

“These coverage measures are in step with the Biden-Harris administration’s priorities to remove pointless boundaries to our nation’s authorized immigration system and cut back burdens on noncitizens who could also be eligible for immigration advantages,” mentioned Performing USCIS Director Tracy Renaud. “USCIS is dedicated to selling insurance policies and procedures that guarantee we function in a good, environment friendly, and humane method that displays America’s heritage as a land of alternative for many who search it.”

Expedited Processing

Beneath the up to date expedite standards coverage (PDF, 293.62 KB), profit requestors and USCIS officers are offered additional steering on when expedited processing could also be warranted. Moreover, nonprofit organizations whose request is in furtherance of the cultural and social pursuits of the US might request {that a} profit be thought-about for expedited processing, even when premium processing is out there for that profit.

Expedited processing is a special-situation service that USCIS considers for profit requestors who urgently want their request for immigration advantages adjudicated. USCIS critiques such requests on a case-by-case foundation. Expedited requests for noncitizens with a remaining order of removing or noncitizens in removing proceedings are coordinated between USCIS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Requests for Proof and Notices of Intent to Deny

USCIS is returning to the adjudicative ideas of a June 2013 memo (PDF) that instructed company officers to subject an RFE or NOID when further proof may doubtlessly display eligibility for an immigration profit. As a part of the up to date RFE and NOID coverage (PDF, 319.1 KB), USCIS is rescinding a July 2018 memo that permitted company officers to disclaim sure immigration profit requests as a substitute of first issuing an RFE or NOID.

This up to date coverage will make sure that profit requestors are given a possibility to right harmless errors and unintentional omissions. Typically, a USCIS officer will subject an RFE or NOID when the officer determines further data or clarification might doubtlessly set up eligibility for an immigration profit.

Employment Authorization Paperwork

Up to date coverage steering (PDF, 296.76 KB) will enhance the present one-year validity interval on each preliminary and renewal EADs to 2 years for sure adjustment of standing candidates. Growing the validity interval on EADs for sure adjustment candidates is predicted to cut back the variety of employment authorization requests USCIS receives and permit the company to shift restricted sources to different precedence areas.

This steering was issued as a result of ongoing processing delays affecting the completion of adjustment of standing purposes. Renewing EADs on this class is usually free, and USCIS obtained practically 370,000 adjustment-related employment authorization requests in fiscal 12 months 2020.

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