USCIS Temporarily Accepting Forms With Reproduced Signatures Due to Coronavirus

On March 20, 2020, The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it will accept all benefit forms and documents with reproduced original signatures, including the Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, for submissions dated March 21, 2020, and beyond [PDF version]. The USCIS's decision is due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

The USCIS notes in its news release that it already accepts various petitions, applications, and other documents with electronically reproduced original signatures. By this, the USCIS “means a document may be scanned, faxed, photocopied, or similarly reproduced provided that the copy must be of an original document containing an original handwritten signature, unless otherwise specified.” The USCIS's new temporary policy applies to forms which otherwise require an original “wet” signature, as set forth in form instructions.

The USCIS notes that this policy is temporary. Furthermore, all other form instructions other than those pertaining to original signatures on affected forms still apply. The USCIS may, in its discretion, request original documents. If such documents are not produced upon request by USCIS, the USCIS's may weigh such failure negatively in adjudicating the applicable petition, application, or benefit request.

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USCIS Suspends Public Access to Offices Due to Coronavirus

On March 17, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and Application Support Centers (ASCs) due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The suspension will be effective at least until April 1, 2020 [PDF version].

The USCIS will send notices to applicants and petitioners with previously scheduled appointments and naturalization ceremonies affected by the USCIS office closures.

USCIS asylum officers will send interview cancellation notices and automatically reschedule interviews. Asylum applicants will receive new interview notices when interviews are rescheduled.

When the USCIS offices reopen, USCIS ASCs will automatically reschedule previously scheduled appointments that were cancelled due to the temporary office closures.

Individuals who had InfoPass or other appointments must reschedule through the USCIS Contact Center once USCIS offices are open to the public again.

The USCIS will continue to provide limited emergency services while the offices are closed to the public. Those who need emergency services may call the USCIS Contact Center.

We will update the site with more information on USCIS office closures when it becomes available.

Please visit the nyc immigration lawyers website for further information. The Law Offices of Grinberg & Segal, PLLC focuses vast segment of its practice on immigration law. This steadfast dedication has resulted in thousands of immigrants throughout the United States.

Lawyer website: http://myattorneyusa.com

USCIS Suspends Premium Processing Due to Coronavirus

On March 20, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) suspended the premium processing service for all Form I-129 and Form I-140 visa petitions due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak [PDF version].

The suspension only applies prospectively. The USCIS will reject any Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, filed on or after March 20, 2020, while premium processing remains suspended.

In cases where the petitioner mailed a request for premium processing before March 20, 2020, but the USCIS had not yet accepted it, the USCIS will reject the Form I-907 and return the $1,440 filing fee to the petitioner.

The USCIS will continue to process Form I-129 and Form I-140 petitions previously accepted with the Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, under the premium processing criteria. In those cases, however, the USCIS will not send notices using pre-paid envelopes. If the USCIS fails to process any petitions previously filed with a request for premium processing within the 15-day premium processing timeframe, the petitioner will be refunded the premium processing fee.

The following categories are affected by the temporary suspension of premium processing:

• Form I-129: E1, E2, H1B, H2B, H3, L1A, L1B, LZ, O1, O2, P1, P1S, P2, P2S, P3, P3S, Q1, R1, TN1, and TN2.
• Form I-140: EB1, EB2, and EB3

The USCIS will update its website with new information when it resumes the premium processing service for Form I-129 and Form I-140 petitions.

Please visit the nyc immigration lawyers website for further information. The Law Offices of Grinberg & Segal, PLLC focuses vast segment of its practice on immigration law. This steadfast dedication has resulted in thousands of immigrants throughout the United States.

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USCIS Accepting CW-1 Petitions Under CNMI Disaster Recovery Act

On February 19, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is now accepting CW1 nonimmigrant visa petitions under the CNMI Disaster Recovery Workforce Act [PDF version].

In order for a CW1 petition to be considered under the CNMI Disaster Recovery Workforce Act, the petitioner must submit the following:

• Form I-129CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker;
• A cover sheet stating “CNMI Disaster Recovery Workforce Act Eligible” in large, bold letters; and
• Evidence to show that the beneficiary meets the CNMI Disaster Recovery Workforce Act eligibility criteria.

In order to be eligible for CW1 status under the CNMI Disaster Recovery Workforce Act, the evidence must show that the CW1 beneficiary:

• Is performing service or labor under a contract or subcontract for construction, repairs, renovations or facility services directly connected to, or associated with recovery from a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency (as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. section 5122)); or
• Is performing service or labor under a contract or subcontract for construction, repairs, renovations or facility services directly connected to preparation for a future disaster or emergency. (Quoted)

In order to be eligible for CW1 classification under the CNMI Disaster Recovery Workforce Act, the beneficiary must be the national of a country eligible to participate in the H2B visa program during calendar year 2018. You may find the list of eligible countries on site [see article].

In ordinary cases, construction workers are ineligible for CW1 classification unless they fall under a special exception for certain construction workers who maintained CW1 status since before October 1, 2015. While these restrictions and exceptions for construction workers do not apply in CNMI Disaster Recovery Workforce Act cases, they continue to apply for all other CW1 cases.

Please visit the nyc immigration lawyers website for further information. The Law Offices of Grinberg & Segal, PLLC focuses vast segment of its practice on immigration law. This steadfast dedication has resulted in thousands of immigrants throughout the United States.

Lawyer website: http://myattorneyusa.com