USCIS Extends COVID-19-related Flexibilities – perhaps a Final Extension

Certain COVID-19-related flexibilities are being extended by US Citizenship and Immigration Services until March 23, 2023. Under these flexibilities, if the request or notice was issued between March 1, 2020, and March 23, 2023, inclusive, USCIS considers a response received within 60 calendar days of the due date in the following requests or notices before taking any action:

• Request for Evidence;
• Continuation 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.

Furthermore, 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), if any of the following conditions are met:

• The form was filed within 90 calendar days of the issuance of a decision it made;
• Decision was made between November 1, 2021, and March 23, 2023, inclusive.

USCIS anticipates that, barring any changes brought about by the pandemic, this will be the final extension of these accommodations, and requesters must follow the response requirements outlined in any request or notice dated after March 23, 2023.

To refresh your memory, the reproduced signature flexibility announced in March 2020 became permanent on July 25, 2022.