USCIS Updates Guidance on Flexibilities Available During and After Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating our Policy Manual to clarify flexibilities that may be available to benefit requestors during and after an emergency or unforeseen circumstance. 

The update explains that during certain emergencies or unforeseen circumstances that may present unanticipated challenges to immigration benefit requestors, we may use our discretion to implement certain flexibilities relating 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. 

Emergencies and unforeseen circumstances may include:

• Natural disasters (for example, hurricanes, wildfires, or other severe weather);

• National emergencies (for example, public health emergencies); 

• Conflicts abroad; or 

• Other unforeseen circumstances (for example, terrorist attacks, mass shootings, or cyber attacks) that may present unanticipated challenges to benefit requestors.  

If we are implementing flexibilities due to a specific event, we will inform the public of the availability of flexibilities through our Immigration Relief in Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances webpage.