Articles Posted in Receipt Notices

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In this blog post, we provide an immigration roundup regarding the latest immigration news.


USCIS Recommends AOS applicants submit all evidence with Form I-485, including Medical Examination


Those who are applying for adjustment of status should be aware that USCIS has recommended green card applicants submit all required initial evidence and supporting documentation at the time of filing the Form I-485.

This practice is recommended to avoid the issuance of a Request for Evidence (RFE). An RFE is issued where USCIS finds that further evidence or supporting documentation is needed to complete the adjudication of your case. It is also beneficial to submit all supporting evidence at the time of filing Form I-485 to avoid delays in the long-run, and where the immigration officer may find that an in-person interview is unnecessary, electing to waive the interview requirement.

Additionally, applicants are advised to submit Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, at the same time of filing Form I-485. USCIS points out that the I-693 Medical Examination is valid for two years after the date the civil surgeon signed the examination. USCIS has also temporarily waived the requirement that the civil surgeon’s signature be dated no more than 60 days before filing Form I-485 until March 31, 2023.


Changes to Filing Location for Form I-360 and Form I-485 for Self-Petitioning Abused Spouses, Children, and Parents


USCIS has announced that beginning Friday, February 10, 2023, self-petitioning abused spouses, children, and parents must file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, and Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, at the Nebraska Service Center instead of the Vermont Service Center.

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In this post, we bring you great news regarding COVID-19-related flexibilities for responses to Requests for Evidence, NOIDs, and such related notices issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.


What do I need to know about this new update?


USCIS RFE/NOID Flexibility Continued for Responses to Agency Requests


USCIS announced that it will continue its flexibility policy giving applicants and petitioners more time to respond to Requests for Evidence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On January 24, 2023, USCIS made the announcement that it will grant one FINAL extension to applicants who have received a request for evidence, notice of intent to deny, or such a related document, an additional 60 calendar days after the response deadline indicated on the notice or request, to submit a response to a request or notice, provided the request or notice was issued by USCIS between March 1, 2020, through March 23, 2023. This is great news because it will allow applicants and petitioners more time to gather documents that are hard to obtain during the COVID-10 pandemic.


What documents qualify for this flexibility in responding?


Applicants who receive any of the below mentioned documents dated between March 1, 2020 and March 23, 2023 can take advantage of the additional 60 days to respond to the request or notice:

  • Requests for Evidence;
  • Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
  • Notices of Intent to Deny;
  • Notices of Intent to Revoke;
  • Notices of Intent to Rescind;
  • Notices of Intent to Terminate regional investment centers;
  • Notices of Intent to Withdraw Temporary Protected Status; and
  • Motions to Reopen an N-400 pursuant to 8 CFR 335.5, Receipt of Derogatory Information After Grant.

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girls-gd854827cc_1280Welcome back to the start of a brand-new week! In this blog post we share with you an exciting new update from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Today, January 23, 2023, USCIS announced that it is extending the green card validity period of conditional permanent residents who have a pending Form I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence or Form I-829 Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status for EB-5 immigrant investors, as well as those filing new petitions.


What is this all about?


USCIS is extending validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) for a period of 48 months (4 years) beyond the green card’s expiration date for petitioners who properly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status.

USCIS began to implement this extension on January 11, 2023, for Form I-829 petitioners and has announced that it will start to implement the extension starting on January 25, 2023, for Form I-751 petitioners.

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Welcome back to Visalawyerblog! We kick off the start of the week with some important updates.

For the past few months, our followers have raised concerns regarding substantial delays they have been experiencing waiting for their receipt notices to arrive in the mail for applications and petitions filed at USCIS lockboxes.

On January 8, 2021, USCIS announced that the agency has indeed been overcome with delays caused by the pandemic and other factors, that has resulted in the delayed issuance of receipt notices for at least some applications and petitions filed at USCIS lockbox facilities.

USCIS lockbox facilities are located in Chicago, Phoenix, Lewisville, and Dallas.

For a list of forms processed at USCIS Lockbox Facilities click here.


What is happening?

Several factors including COVID-19 related restrictions, increases in filings, current postal service volume, and other factors, have caused applicants and petitioners to wait 4-6 weeks on average (after properly filing an application or petition with a USCIS lockbox) to receive a receipt notice in the mail.

USCIS has announced that these delays do not affect the date of receipt of your application. Applicants should be aware that delays vary depending on the type of form submitted and the lockbox location. Cases which are most affected by the delays include non-family based Form I-485 Applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and Form I-765 Applications for Employment Authorization based on eligibility categories relating to F-1 students.


How is USCIS working to improve these delays?

The agency continues to take all necessary COVID-19 related precautions including social distancing and frequent cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

To help alleviate the workload, USCIS lockbox personnel are working extra hours and redistributing their workload to reduce these delays.

As soon as an application is opened and processed, the agency is printing and mailing receipt notices to the mailing address on file.

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