The USCIS offices open after closing for more than two months

The global coronavirus pandemic greatly affected immigration. The offices of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) have been closed for more than two months due to the health emergency.

Face-to-face services are not currently available, except for some specific emergency cases.

Some of the on-site services that are currently suspended are:

• Naturalization ceremonies.
• Asylum or refuge requests.
• Face-to-face hearings.
• Biometric data updates.

The USCIS decided to temporarily close its offices primarily to:

• Avoid mass contagion inside the offices, among USCIS employees.
• Protect the health of the local population.
• Avoid massive contagion among immigrant communities.
• Mitigate the impact of the virus in North American territory.
• Reduce the number of people infected with COVID-19 in the country.
• Protect immigration attorneys.

The USCIS offices reopen mid-year

After postponing the office opening date twice in less than two months, USCIS officially announced that its offices will reopen on June 4, 2020.

Due to the health crisis caused by the Coronavirus, immigration requests are delayed and it is very possible that USCIS employees have accumulated a considerable amount of work.

Therefore, USCIS recommends some protective measures to prevent a massive COVID-19 outbreak inside the offices after resuming face-to-face services and for applications to be more effective.

Some of the precautions recommended by USCIS are:

• Applicants can enter the USCIS facilities no more than 15 minutes before the scheduled time for their appointment.
• Immigrants who have naturalization ceremonies can enter the offices 30 minutes before their appointment.
• If applicants have flu symptoms, they should not, under any circumstances, go to the USCIS offices.
• If an applicant had COVID-19 symptoms in the past 14 days, she/he should not go to the USCIS offices.
• In the event that the applicant has been in contact with someone who may have symptoms of the flu or has tested positive for COVID-19 during the last 14 days, he/she should avoid going to the USCIS facilities.
• Visitors will have hand sanitizer available before entering the offices.
• It is mandatory to wear a protective mask to enter the USCIS offices. If the applicant does not have one, USCIS staff will provide one or he/she will need to reassign the appointment.
• USCIS offices will have recommended social distancing signs that must be strictly followed.

It is important to take into account the USCIS recommendations to avoid conglomerates in the offices and to make processes faster and more efficient.

Excellent news for immigrants

This is very encouraging news for immigrants who might need face-to-face processes at the USCIS offices.

It is imperative for you to find the right guidance for your application to be complete and to avoid possible rejection by USCIS.

Immigration experts can help you fill out the necessary forms online and request the face-to-face appointment to resolve your immigration case.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.