USCIS Updates Policies to Improve Immigration Services
On June 9, USCIS issued a memo outlining several new updated policies that are aimed at easing the immigration process for applicants and promoting access to legal immigration. These policies include:
Expedited Processing
An updated USCIS Expedite Criteria and Circumstances policy clarifies criteria and circumstances under which USCIS will generally consider expedite requests, restore the ability for a nonprofit organization whose request is in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States, to request discretionary expedited service, even when premium processing is available for that benefit, and clarifies that expedite processing of benefit requests for noncitizens with final orders of removal or noncitizens in removal proceedings is coordinated between USCIS and ICE.
Requests for Evidence (RFE) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID)
USCIS is rescinding a July 2018 memo that permitted agency officers to deny certain immigration benefit requests instead of first issuing an RFE or a NOID. This policy will help protect applicants who may have made innocent mistakes or omissions in applications and give them a chance to provide additional information.
Employment Authorization Documents (EADs)
Due to the high number of EAD requests and short period of validity of the card, USCIS is extending the validity time of certain EAD cards to two years. This will apply to Adjustment of Status applicants who have applied for work authorization while their green card is pending. This policy was implemented to shorten processing times. In fiscal year 2020, USCIS received nearly 370,000 adjustment-related employment authorization requests.
