USCIS Offers Flexibility During and After Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances
On December 19, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an update to their policy manual that provides clarity on the flexibilities that may be available for individuals requesting immigration benefits.
This update explains that if certain emergencies or unforeseen circumstances present unanticipated challenges to immigration benefit requestors, USCIS may exercise their discretion to implement certain flexibilities. This relates to requests for “extension of stay and change of status, applications for employment authorization, requests for document replacement, abandonment or failure to respond to requests for evidence, fee waivers, expedited processing, and satisfactory departure.”
The emergencies and unforeseen circumstances outlined by this policy update include:
- Natural disasters (for example, hurricanes, wildfires, or other severe weather events)
- National emergencies (for example, public health emergencies)
- Conflicts abroad
- Other unforeseen circumstances (for example, terrorist attacks, mass shootings, or cyber-attacks) that may present unanticipated challenges to those requesting immigration benefits.
USCIS will inform the public if they decide to implement flexibilities due to a specific event. This policy update signals USCIS’ commitment to help immigrants navigate difficult times and ensure that their immigration processes are not disrupted by unforeseen events. As this matter is subject to further developments, we encourage our readers to check our website regularly for updates on this and all matters related to immigration law.