USCIS Closes Offices and Other Public-Facing Services Until At Least June 4th (Updated: Was May 3rd)

USCIS has just announced that in an effort to protect its workforce and the public amidst the Coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak, they are suspending all routine face-to-face services with applicants at all offices, including all interviews and naturalization ceremonies.

April 24, 2020 Update: USCIS has extended the closure to be at least until June 4th, until further extended.

April 1, 2020 Update: USCIS has extended the closure to be at least until May 3rd, until further extended.

March 25, 2020 Update: USCIS has extended the closure to be at least until April 7th, until further extended.

No Interviews, No Naturalizationss and No Biometrics Until At Least June 4th May 3rd April 7 April 1

All USCIS field offices, asylum offices and Application Support Centers (ASCs) will not provide in-person services until at least June 4th May 3rd April 1 April 7. This includes interviews, naturalization ceremonies and biometric collection appointments.

According to USCIS, field offices will send de-scheduling notices to applicants and petitioners with scheduled appointments impacted by this closure. They will send de-scheduling notices to naturalization applicants scheduled for naturalization ceremonies. All applicants will be rescheduled when USCIS resumes normal operations. USCIS will also automatically reschedule ASC biometrics appointments due to the office closure. Those impacted will receive a new appointment letter in the mail.

USCIS will attempt to accommodate emergency requests on a case by case basis and such requests will have to be directed to the USCIS Contact Center.

Service Centers Appear to Continue Normal Operations

As of the time of this article, it appears that central processing service centers (California, Vermont, Texas, Nebraska, National Benefits Center) are operational and continuing to process applications and petitions. However, we expect that staffing and other operating challenges will result in longer processing times for any applications or petitions that are pending at a service center.

Conclusion

We urge our clients and readers, especially those who have USCIS appointments to check status updates and monitor our alerts and USCIS alerts about operations.

USCIS has indicated that they will provide further updates as the situation develops and will continue to follow CDC guidance in response to this situation. They invite visiting uscis.gov/coronavirus for updates and this site for office closure (and reopening) information.

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