The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announces closure of its offices and reports on measures to reduce the adverse impact of this decision on the immigrant community

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) recently reported that due to the coronavirus pandemic that plague us, services involving direct contacts with people on its premises will be widely suspended until May this year; in this regard, it is reported that they would re-examine the protocol that the Federal Government follows on social restrictions because of the pandemic that afflicts us; clarifying further the USCIS Agency will continue to provide limited services and that the closure of its offices does not represent a total suspension of its services.

It is important to note that the USCIS Immigration Agency will report on the rescheduling of appointments that are scheduled for the Green Card or other Visa classes, as well as the rescheduling of the dates set for Naturalization Ceremonies.
The reprogramming will also apply to Asylum Seekers who will receive a new interview notice, with the new time, date and place; Appointments for Biometric data at the Support Center (ASC) will also be automatically rescheduled and must be rescheduled through the Contact Center when they are open.

On the other hand, the USCIS Immigration Office implements measures to minimize the adverse effects that the closure of its offices may have on the immigrant community; one of them is to facilitate the renewal of Employment Authorization for Asylums, Refugees or Non-Immigrants with U Visa, even for those who applied for Permanent Residences or have Withholding of Deportation; F-1 Visa students and Dreamers say to those protected under the DACA Program.
For the foreigners’ procedures, the information already held in the Biometric Data System will be reused; in this regard, the USCIS Office notes that the Biometric data previously submitted to process Form I-765 application for Employment Authorization will be reused, in addition to valid extension applications.

The USCIS office reported that it will facilitate the submission of proof for Visas, including Permanent Residence; since all those Requests for Evidence (RFE) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID) dated between March 01 and May 01, 2020, will have 60 calendar days to be answered.

For Spanish assistance from the Limited Services offered by the USCIS Immigration Office, call the Contact Center’s phones at 800-375-52831