USCIS Deadlines for Weekend and Holiday Submissions
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently announced an update to its Policy Manual for filing deadlines to address situations when the last day to file a benefit request or respond to a USCIS action falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday. This update aims to increase flexibility for applicants and beneficiaries by allowing an extra day for submission of paper-based documents in certain cases. In this blog post, we will discuss the key points of this update and how it affects those interacting with USCIS.
The Update: Providing Flexibility for Paper-Based Submissions
According to the updated USCIS Policy Manual, when the last day to file a benefit request or respond to a USCIS action falls on a non-business day (Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday), a paper-based submission will be considered timely if received by the end of the next business day. While the receipt date for these cases will continue to reflect the date USCIS physically received the request, USCIS will consider the benefit request to have been filed on time. The change takes effect immediately and applies to all paper benefit requests or responses to USCIS actions received on or after March 29, 2023.
Filing a paper-based benefit request on the last day before a requestor’s or beneficiary’s birthday, the last day of a qualifying time period for filing or responding to a Request for Evidence or a notice of intent to deny, rescind, revoke, or terminate within the specified time frame for a response are examples of such time-sensitive submissions.
Electronic Filings Remain Unaffected
It is important to note that this update does not affect electronic filings or responses submitted electronically. These submissions are considered received immediately upon submission, and the flexibility with deadlines granted for paper-based submissions will not apply.
Non-Retroactive Application
The updated policy is not retroactive. This means that it will not apply to submissions that were made before the effective date of the update (March 29, 2023). In such cases, the original deadlines and rules will still apply.
Conclusion
The USCIS Policy Manual update provides additional flexibility for individuals who need to submit time-sensitive paper-based benefit requests or responses to USCIS actions when the deadline falls on a non-business day. By extending the deadline to the next business day, USCIS aims to better accommodate the needs of applicants and beneficiaries. However, it is crucial to remember that this update does not apply to electronic submissions, and the policy will not be applied retroactively. If you have any questions about your immigration case or would like to speak with one of our experienced professionals, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to the opportunity to assist you in achieving your immigration goals.