Extension of the Current COVID-19 Accommodations on Requests for Evidence, Notices of Intent to Deny, Appeals and Other Responses

Extension of the Current COVID-19 Accommodations on Requests for Evidence, Notices of Intent to Deny, Appeals and Other Responses
  • 15.05.2020

Extension of the Current COVID-19 Accommodations on Requests for Evidence, Notices of Intent to Deny, Appeals and Other Responses

In response to the existing COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it announced to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to certain:

  • Requests for Evidence (RFE);
  • Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
  • Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID),
  • Notices of Intent to Revoke (NOIR);
  • Notices of Intent to Terminate EB-5 Regional Investment Centers (NOIT),
  • Notices of Intent to Rescind; and
  • Filing date requirements for Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion.

The accommodations, firstly announced in March as a means of minimizing negative consequences of the existing pandemic, were originally set to expire today.  

Details About the Extension of Covid-19 Accommodations

Notice/Request/Decision Issuance Date

This flexibility applies to the aforementioned documents if the issuance date listed on the request, notice, or decision is between March 1 and July 1, 2020, (inclusive). 

Response Due Date

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will consider a response to the abovementioned requests and notices received within 60 calendar days after the response due date set in the request or notice before taking action. USCIS will consider a Form I-290B received up to 60 calendar days from the date of the decision before it takes any action.

USCIS is implementing some measures to protect the US workforce and community and to eliminate the immigration-related consequences for those seeking immigration benefits during this pandemic time. 

What it says to employers and non-American citizens

The extended deadlines discussed here are expected to ease the pressure on employers and non-nationals to respond to inquiries or file appeals with USCIS whereas American businesses continue temporarily closed and employees continue to work distantly.

Please note that this accommodation has no impact on applications for extensions of stay or employment authorization. Those have to continue to be filed timely, unless and until the agency provides interim relief.

Please contact our attorneys for your inquiries:

Fatih Yigit, Esq. (New Jersey Office)

28 Summit Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601

 (201) 508-0808

 info@jonallaw.com

Ahmed Davut Atik, Esq. (Texas Office)

3 Sugar Creek Center, Suite 100, Sugar Land, TX 77478

 (281) 909-4030

info@jonallaw.com