U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended the flexibilities it announced on March 30, 2020, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. At the outset of the coronavirus outbreak, USCIS announced it would give certain applicants, petitioners, and requestors more time to respond to certain agency requests and notices. Specifically, USCIS granted applicants, petitioners, and requestors an additional sixty days to submit their responses to the following agency documents:
- 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;
- Motions to Reopen an N-400 Pursuant to 8 CFR 335.5, Receipt of Derogatory Information After Grant;
- 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
For the flexibility to apply, the issuance date listed on these documents must be between March 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021. USCIS will consider a response to these requests and notices received within 60 calendar days after the response due date before taking any action. USCIS will also consider a Form N-336 or Form I-290B received up to 60 calendar days from the date of the decision before taking any action.
In extending its policy of flexibility, USCIS provided: “We are adopting several measures to protect our workforce and community and to minimize the immigration consequences for those seeking immigration benefits during this time.”
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