Anxious About Not Having Received a Receipt Notice? Ask Emma

As USCIS continues to grapple with backlogs and extended processing delays, the issuance of receipt notices has also be impacted with some taking 3 weeks or longer to arrive by mail. Coupled with mail delivery issues at USPS, it has now become a challenge just to get the receipt notice in hand. It is no longer easy or expected to receive the receipt notice within a few short days. Receipt...

I-601A RFEs

Since 2013, certain aliens who are only inadmissible based on the 3-year or 10-year unlawful presence bar may seek a provisional unlawful presence waiver while present in the United States by filing Form I-601A, Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver. An approved provisional unlawful presence waiver is not effective unless and until the alien departs from the United States, appears...

Sample RFE Template Targeting Green Card Applications for Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF)

Below is a sample Request for Additional Evidence (RFE) which is a form of challenge issued by USCIS. The RFE focuses on a pending green card application filed under the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness program (LRIF). This form of RFE may be considered a template RFE because it can be easily adapted and sent out to any pending green card application filed under LRIF. You may receive a...

COVID Vaccination is Now Required for USCIS Medical Exams

Update Post 09/16/2021 USCIS releases policy guidance highlighting the following: "..beginning October 1, 2021, applicants who are required to undergo the immigration medical examination must complete the COVID-19 vaccine series before the civil surgeon can complete the immigration medical examination and sign Form I-693." Original Post 08/31/2021 On August 25, 2021, the CDC announced that...

Did You Receive a Text from USCIS about I-693?

Update August 18, 2021 We responded to one I-693 RFE on 08/16/2021. Green card was approved today, 08/18/2021. Please respond to I-693 RFEs ASAP! It does not seem like USCIS is working hard to approve I-485s before 10/01/2021. Original Post August 10, 2021 On or around August 3, 2021, some of our clients informed us that they received an odd text from USCIS requesting that they submit I-693...

Children Born Outside of the U.S. / Born Through Assisted Reproductive Technology

On August 5, 2021, USCIS updated its guidance on children born outside of the U.S. and for children born through assisted reproductive technology (ART). USCIS will consider a child to be born in wedlock when their legal parents are married to one another at the time of birth and at least one of the legal parents has a genetic or gestational relationship to the child. USCIS considers the...

New I-485 Allows Applicants to Apply for SSN or Replacement Card

Update Post 09/28/2021 Original Post 08/10/2021 USCIS announced on August 9, 2021 that a new Form I-485 (edition date 03/29/2021) will allow applicants to apply for social security number (SSN) or a replacement SSN card. Previously, applicants had to apply for SSN at their local Social Security Office and may require multiple trips. The new form contains the following new section regarding SSN:...

How to Reschedule Biometrics Services Appointment as of July 28, 2021

USCIS no longer accepts written requests. Reschedule requests must now be made via the USCIS Contact Center by calling 1-800-375-5283. Your request to reschedule must: 1) be made before and time of the original appointment and 2) establish good cause for rescheduling. Please also see a sample recent biometrics appt notice without the option to mail in rescheduling requests.

I-751 Processing updates

Update 05/18/2023 Here's a sample I-751 approval without Interview. Total processing time is about 28 months. Update Post 08/25/2022 Sample I-751 approval that took 2 years to process. Update Post 09/17/2021 We received an I-751 approval on 09/04/2021. Interview was waived. Filed on 12/06/2019 Approved on 09/04/2021 Update Post 08/20/2021 We received an I-751 approval on 08/17/2021. The...