U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that it is extending office closures and suspension of in-person services until May 4.

Key points:

  • USCIS temporarily closed its field offices, asylum offices and Application Support Centers on March 18 to slow the spread of COVID-19. The closures were already extended once before.
  • Offices are now scheduled to reopen May 4 unless the closures are extended again.
  • The closures do not affect USCIS Service Centers, where immigration petitions are processed.

Additional information: The closures affect in-person services, including interviews, biometric appointments and naturalization ceremonies. USCIS will send cancelation notices to applicants and petitioners with scheduled appointments affected by the closures. The agency will automatically reschedule Application Support Center appointments, and affected individuals will receive a new appointment letter in the mail. Applicants who had InfoPass or other appointments at a field office must reschedule through the USCIS Contact Center when field offices reopen. The agency continues to provide limited emergency services, and those with emergencies should call the Contact Center. USCIS also posts updates to its COVID-19 webpage.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2020 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.