USCIS Extends Temporary Signature Flexibility and Other COVID-Related Measures

USCIS is extending certain COVID-19-related flexibilities, including temporary signature flexibility. The Services has made the temporary signature flexibility, first announced March 20, 2020, permanent as of July 25, 2022. It is making other flexibilities such as RFE response times, available through Oct. 23, 2022. The Service is establishing these measures to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors during this global epidemic.

Under this measure, USCIS considers a response received within 60 calendar days after the due date in the following requests or notices before taking any action, if USCIS issued such request or notice between March 1, 2020, and October 23, 2022, inclusive.

• 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 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.

In addition, USCIS will consider a Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion, or a Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA), in the following circumstances:

• The petitioner or applicant filed the form up to 90 calendar days from the issuance of a USCIS decision. And,
• USCIS made that decision between November 1, 2021, and October 23, 2022, inclusive.

In an effort to impose the lessons learned from the Agency’s pandemic posture, USCIS has been evaluating which flexibilities can and should be extended permanently. As a result of this evaluation, the reproduced signature flexibility announced March 20, 2020, became permanent policy on July 25, 2022.

See USCIS Notice on Temporary Signature Flexibility and Other COVID Related Measures.