Tagged #policy-alert
Every article we've published on this topic, sorted by the agency's own announcement date.
Federal Court Stays USCIS Policy: NGOs Can Again Provide Voter Registration at Naturalization Ceremonies
A Maryland federal court has issued a stay blocking USCIS's August 2025 policy that restricted voter registration services at administrative naturalization ceremonies to state and local officials only. NGOs can now participate again pending final court resolution.
USCIS Expands Authority to Deny Filings Without Request for Evidence
USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-05 eliminates the expectation of RFE/NOID consideration and grants adjudicators full discretion to deny incomplete filings. Effective immediately, it reshapes filing completeness expectations.
USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-05: Officers Can Now Deny Cases Without RFE for Missing Initial Evidence
USCIS revises evidence and RFE/NOID guidance effective immediately. Officers may now deny benefit requests without issuing an RFE or NOID if required initial evidence is missing or eligibility is not established at filing.
USCIS Policy Alert: Officers Must Suggest DNA Testing in Family-Based Cases
USCIS requires adjudicators to suggest DNA testing when primary evidence of genetic relationships is unavailable, unreliable, or insufficient. Understand the new mandatory guidance and how it affects RFEs.
USCIS Tightens Evidentiary Standards: Denials Without RFE, Shorter Response Deadlines
USCIS Policy Alert effective August 5, 2026 permits officers to deny benefit requests without issuing a Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny if required initial evidence is missing—and cuts response time to RFEs/NOIDs from 14 days to 3 days for all international correspondence.
USCIS Policy Alert: Deferred Action Standards Tightened for DACA and Beyond
USCIS issued a Policy Alert on May 8, 2026, recharacterizing deferred action as an extraordinary use of prosecutorial discretion, with immediate effect on pending and future DACA renewals. Key implications for practitioners and clients.
USCIS Narrows Deferred Action to Extraordinary Cases—Policy Alert Raises Bar for DACA Renewals
USCIS Policy Alert PA-2026-01 reframes deferred action as limited prosecutorial discretion, applying immediately to pending DACA renewals and other DA-based relief. Practitioners must revise filing strategy.
EB-2 NIW Adjudications After the January 2025 USCIS Policy Update
USCIS clarified EB-2 National Interest Waiver adjudication standards on January 15, 2025. Learn what changed in evidence requirements, threshold eligibility, and petition structure for practitioners.