USCIS offices begin reopening June 4, with COVID-related changes

USCIS is now readying offices to reopen on or after June 4, 2020. Some domestic offices will be resuming routine in-person services at field offices, asylum offices and application support centers (ASCs) that have been suspended since March 18, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the announcement made by USCIS, there will be some adjustments made to protect the public and employees from potential COVID infection.

Among the changes are reduced number of appointments and interviews to allow for social distancing and time for cleaning between appointments. Facial coverings that cover both the mouth and nose must be worn by members of the public when entering facilities. Hand sanitizer will be provided at entry points and individuals are encouraged to bring their own pens. The waiting room capacity will be reduced, with limitations on how early individuals will be able to enter the facility prior to their appointments (15 minutes, or for naturalization ceremonies, 30 minutes). Appointment notices will contain information on safety precautions that visitors to USCIS facilities must follow.

USCIS will not permit visitors to enter the facility if any of the following apply:

• They have symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, fever or difficulty breathing;

• They have been in close contact with anyone known or suspected to have COVID-19 in the last 14 days; or

• They have been individually directed to self-quarantine or self-isolate by a health care provider or public health official within the last 14 days.

USCIS urges anyone who is sick or starting to experience any symptoms to cancel and reschedule their appointment. Applicants will not be penalized for rescheduling an appointment due to illness and can make a new appointment once they are healthy again. An officer may cancel an appointment or interview if the applicant (or someone accompanying the applicant) appears ill.

As changes continue to occur quickly, USCIS directs individuals to check its website dedicated to announcements regarding office closures on the day of their appointment for any updates or important information.

For those who had interviews, naturalization ceremonies and appointments cancelled due to office closures, USCIS will be rescheduling the appointments automatic ally and will send notices to applicants and petitioners with their new appointment date. For necessary ASC appointments that are rescheduled (such as biometrics), USCIS notes that “Individuals who appear at a date or time other than what is listed on the ASC appointment notice may encounter significant processing delays, except for military members.”

Serotte Reich will be continuing to provide updates as new developments affecting immigration continue to occur frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact our office via our website or by phone at (716) 854-7525 to schedule a consultation if you have an immigration matter that has been affected by the pandemic and have questions or require assistance.

USCIS extends office closures to May 3

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that its temporary suspension of in-person services at field offices, asylum offices and application support centers will now continue through May 3, 2020. This is an extension of the office closures previously announced by USCIS in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, which had been anticipated to last until early April. According to the most recent press release, offices will start to reopen May 4 unless the public closures are extended further. Operations at USCIS offices that do not involve in-person contact with the public continue, but are limited to performing services that are deemed mission-essential as well as emergency services upon discretion.

Appointments originally scheduled for dates during the office closures will be automatically rescheduled when USCIS resumes normal operations. These include biometrics appointments, interviews, naturalization ceremonies and asylum appointments. Notices will be sent to applicants and petitioners with appointments affected by the temporary suspension of in-person services. New appointment notices will be sent by mail. InfoPass appointments are also canceled but in order to have it rescheduled, individuals must go through the USCIS Contact Center by calling 1-800-375-5283 to set up a new appointment upon the reopening of offices to the public.

Between now and at least May 3, USCIS in-person public engagements and outreach events are also postponed. Those with questions pertaining to these engagements are directed to contact public.engagement@uscis.dhs.gov.

 Applicants and petitioners should note that office closures have already been extended more than once – first effective March 18 to April 1, and an additional extension to April 7 was announced on March 25, 2020. Updates regarding USCIS services impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can be found at uscis.gov/coronavirus.