USCIS News Updates: January 2021

It's 2021! We are looking forward to some good changes on immigration laws this year. Firs thing first, what's new with USCIS this January? In case you missed them, I put them all together for your reference. Let's find out!

USCIS News Updates: January 2021

• USCIS Cancelled Thousands of Immigration Biometric Appointments: If you are still waiting for your biometric appointment to be rescheduled, don't worry, it's coming up! Read this post to learn what USCIS is doing to minimize delays.
• Biden's First Day in the Office - 8 Key Immigration Changes You Should Know About: Biden has a lot of immigration plans in his agenda! Check out this post to see the key changes he already started!
• USCIS Replaces Green Card Extension Stickers: If you have a sticker for your I-551 (Green Card), pay attention to this new update from USCIS! USCIS is going to issue revised I-797 as your temporary extension proof. 
• USCIS Clarifies Certain Green Card Holders' Ineligibility for Naturalization: Some Green Card holders may not be eligible for naturalization, make sure you are not disqualified!
• USCIS Suspending In-Person Services: USCIS suspended in-person services temporary for the 19th & 20th. Make sure you check with your field office before you visit there!
• Watch Out! USCIS Updated the I-485 Form Filing Locations: Are you using the correct mailing address? Time to check again. 
• How Long Does it Take to Receive My Receipt Notice During COVID-19? Many applicants are still waiting for their receipt notice. If you are one of them, read this post to see what you can expect!
• USCIS Extends Response Time for RFEs During COVID-19 - Updated Jan 2021 Don't forget that you have additional time to prepare for your RFEs during COVID-19. USCIS recently issued another extension on the response time. 

That's it for now! Check back to see more updates soon. Meanwhile, don't forget to keep reading and staying on top of immigration updates:

• DIY How I Applied for my Green Card with No RFEs (Updated January 2021)!
• Form I-944 Declaration of Self-Sufficiency In the Know - Updated July 2020
• How to Overcome Public Charge I-944 Declaration of Self-Sufficiency

Is Your Biometric Appointment Cancelled by USCIS?

Is your biometric appointment cancelled? Or maybe you are still waiting for yours to be scheduled? Don't worry, you did not do anything wrong. It's very common during the COVID-19 pandemic!

USCIS Cancelled Thousands of Biometric Appointments

In order to protect their staff and implement proper measurements on sanitizing the offices, USICS has cancelled many biometric appointments since March 2020, which affected thousands of immigrations. USCIS indicated that these cancelled appointments will be rescheduled once the agency get back to normal operations. However, this has not happened yet, which is why many applications are "paused" in the process. 

As we can see, USCIS continues to experience delays in scheduling and rescheduling appointment at Application Support Centers where they collect biometric data from immigrations.  The agency is working extra hours to minimize delays. No delays beyond the payment validity date are anticipated. 

So be patient! Your appointment will come up eventually, it just takes time. 

Check out more related USCIS news updates:

• USCIS Replaces Green Card Extension Stickers
• Biden's First Day in the Office - 8 Key Immigration Changes You Should Know About
• How Long Does it Take to Receive My Receipt Notice During COVID-19?

Biden's First Day in the Office - 8 Key Immigration Changes You Should Know About

Within hours of his inauguration, President Biden has already begun implementing changes on immigration regulations. Let's take a quick peek at what he is proposing:

8 Key Immigration Updates from President Biden

The first biggest highlight goes to the farm workers. These workers serve important roles to keep the whole country fed throughout the pandemic, and Biden is going to offer a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.

Green Card holders would also be able to shorten the wait time for presuming their citizenships. More updates include:

1. Provide path to citizenship for Dreamers including farm workers
2. Shorten wait time for Green Card holders to gain their citizenships 
3. Provide path to legal status for undocumented people residing in the United States
4. Extend overtime pay to all who toil in the agriculture industry
5. Provide 8-year path to citizenship for millions of undocumented Americans (5 years of temporary status and 3 years of Green Card)
6. Provide people who were brought to the US as children and/or adults who fled natural and human disasters immediate permanent residency
7. Reverse Muslim ban which prohibits travelers from countries including Iran, Iraq, Libya, and Somalia
8. Possibly provide temporary legal status to minors from Central America

What do you think about these immigration changes? I am sure there will be more coming up. Looking forward to seeing more exciting updates in the next few months!

Before you go, have you checked out these updates?

• Watch Out! USCIS Updated the I-485 Form Filing Locations
• DIY How I Applied for My Green Card with No RFE! (Updated January 2021)
• USCIS Clarifies Certain Green Card Holders' Ineligibility for Naturalization

USCIS Replaces Green Card Extension Stickers

Do you have a sticker for your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Car(Green Card)? USCIS is about to replace it with a revised Form I-797 Notice of Action starting this January!

Who is affected?

This only affects Green Card holders who files Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card when their Green Cards expire or are about to expire. 

How do I prove my Green Card validity now?

The revised From I-797 notice that will soon be issued by USCIS will serve as a receipt notice for your Form I-90. Together with your Green Card, this From I-797 notice will be able to extend your Green Card validity for one year (12 months) from the date on your Green Card. This is your temporary proof of your permeant radiance status.

The revised Form I-797 notice will also serve as evidence of identity and employment authorization when presented with your expired Green Card. 

A few more things to know:

• Applicants who are scheduled for a biometrics appointment will receive an extension sticker at their appointment
• Other Form I-90 applicants will no longer have to visit the support center to obtain temporary evidence of LPR status
• Starting in January, applicants who file Form I-90 will receive the revised receipt notice in the mail in 7 to 10 days after USCIS accepts the application.

Read the USCIS release here. 

More USCIS updates for you....

• Watch Out! USCIS Updated the I-485 Form Filing Locations
• USCIS Clarifies Certain Green Card Holders' Ineligibility for Naturalization
• USCIS Suspending In-Person Services

USCIS Clarifies Certain Green Card Holders' Ineligibility for Naturalization

Did you receive your green card (permanent residency status) unlawfully or have abandoned your green card? Attention - USCIS has updated their policy guidance in the manual to clarify the circumstances when they would find applicants ineligible for naturalization because of the unlawful admission of permanent residence (green card).

USCIS Updates Guidance to Clarify Certain Green Card Holders' Ineligibility for Naturalization

What has been updated?

In a nutshell, on top of other requirements under the pertinent naturalization provision, as a naturalization applicant, you will need to establish that you were lawfully admitted to the US for permanent residence in accordance with all provisions under the INA at the time of filing the naturalization application. A few important guidance updates include: 

• If you obtained your lawful permanent resident (LPR) status in error, by fraud or not in compliance with the law, you won't be eligible for naturalization. 
• Another important update is that if you have abandoned your permanent resident status, you are not eligible for naturalization. You will then be placed in removal proceedings with a Notice to Appear (NTA)
• If you are in removal proceedings pursuant to a warrant of arrest, USCIS would generally deny your naturalization application

See the full policy alert here.

Check out USCIS's Policy Manual here.

Read about my Green Card application experience here: DIY How I Applied for My Green Card without RFE!

USCIS Suspending In-Person Services

If you are planning to visit USCIS in person these two days, you will have to change your plan! USCIS announced on January 15th, 2021 that they will be temporarily suspend all in-person service. See more details here:

What dates will USCIS suspend in-person services?

This is a temporarily suspension only on January 19th and January 20th.

Which Offices will be Suspended? 

All field offices, asylum offices and application support centers. 

Why are they suspending in-person visits?

This is to secure the safety of the USCIS employees and individuals with appointments. 

What happens if I have an appointment on January 19th or 20th? 

You will be notified by USCIS with your new appointment dates. All appointment during these two days will be rescheduled. USCIS website and contact center will operate as normal otherwise with information, case status updates, and more resources. 

See more USCIS news updates here!

It's always a good idea to check if your field office is open before you go even if you already have an appointment scheduled. The office operation hours vary a lot during COVID-19!

Watch Out! USCIS Updated the I-485 Form Filing Locations

Hi! It's been a while since my last update, but don't worry, you are not missing out anything critical! And here I am, I will be updating more content over the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled! 

First thing first, if you are filing your forms after January 8th, watch out! USCIS has adjusted their filing locations. Let's check them out:

USCIS Adjusted the I-485 Form Filing Locations

If you are applying for your adjustment of status under your spouse, parent, unmarried son/daughter under age 21 of a US citizen with an approved Form I-130 or you are concurrently filing Form I-485 and I-130 together (like we did), your filing addresses are the following:

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: FBAS
131 South Dearborn - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

For other categories, be sure to check USCIS's website for the correct locations! I am just giving you an example here. It's always the best to double check your filing address on the official website before you submit to avoid any mistakes!

For those who are just about to assemble their applications, check here for more tips:

• How to organize your I-485 Application Package
• About Assembling your Green Card application in one package
• Download my ebook to learn more filing tips and avoid simple mistakes!

We will talk soon!

How Long Does it Take to Receive My Receipt Notice During COVID-19? (Updated Nov 2021)

If you are still waiting for your receipt number, you are not alone! During the pandemic, everything at USCIS is slow. So how long should you expect to receive your receipt notice during COVID-19 exactly? Don't panic, let me give you more information here.

How Long Does it Take to Receive My Receipt Notice During COVID-19?

What's taking so long?

Normally, in pre-COVID time, it takes around 2 to 3 weeks after you mail your package to receive your I-797 receipt notice in the mail. This will ensure you that USCIS has received your case and it has been moved along in the process. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other short-staff factors, USCIS is experiencing delays in issuing receipt notices for many applications filed at a USCIS lockbox. Here are a few reasons:

• More people are filing through mailing because of COVID-19 restrictions
• Across all USCIS  offices including lockbox facilities, the agency is taking measures to increase social distancing and frequent cleaning to mitigate the spread of COVI-19
• Stricter local guidelines in locations that have been severely impacted by COVID-19

Check out some 2021 real timelines from my readers here! 

How long will it take to receive my I-797 notice during COVID-19?

You may experience a delay of four to six weeks in receiving your receipt notice after properly filing your application with a USCIS lockbox. Some non-family based Form I-485 or Form I-765 based on F-1 student visas can experience significant delays. 

Not to mention that if you didn't file it correctly such as using the wrong address, including the wrong fees, etc., your application can be delayed even longer than that. 

Does it affect my receipt date? 

No, it will not affect the receipt date. USCIS still follows 8 C.F.R.103.2(a)(7) rule to determine the receipt date. 

Remember, when you file your petition, you can always attach a Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, which will give you text alert and/or email notice when USCIS accept your forms! 

Read about my experience or download my ebook to get more filing tips and tricks!