USCIS Lockboxes are experiencing delays issuing receipt notices for some applications and petitions
USCIS Lockboxes are experiencing delays issuing receipt notices for some applications and petitions
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Since the Covid-19 pandemic arrived, USCIS has had to take extraordinary measures to maintain their services and to continue operating to accept applications and allow people to continue their immigration journey.
However, some recent setbacks are “delays in issuing receipt notices for some applications and petitions filed at a USCIS lockbox facility,” as they informed on their website. They are located in Chicago, Phoenix, Lewisville, and Dallas.
What is the current situation?
It seems as if many things began to add up, reading up to this point: Covid-19 quarantine restrictions, an increase in filings, a high postal service volume, and other external factors. All of these have impacted the USCIS being able to deliver the receipt notices in time. In fact, they say that they have about a six-week delay.
These receipts are issued after properly filing an application or petition with a USCIS lockbox. However, you must know that USCIS confirmed that the delays would not affect the receipt date, which is determined to be pursuant to 8 C.F.R. 103.2(a)(7).
Significant delays are occurring mostly in non-family based Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, or Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, based on eligibility categories described in 8 C.F.R. 274a.12(c)(3), relating to F-1 students.
Delays are also occurring because USCIS is taking their workforce’s health and safety as a top priority. They have increased social distancing and frequent cleaning. Those locations that have been severely impacted by Covid-19 have had to adhere to stricter local guidelines.
How is USCIS solving the delays?
USCIS said that the lockbox workforce is working extra hours to catch up and minimize the delays. The new applications that they are receiving are being processed as soon as they are opened. ·Once we open and process your application, we print and mail the receipt notice. We do not anticipate any receipting delays that would result in a payment that is past its validity date”, they explain.
They are asking for applicants to please be patient since they are working as quickly as possible to complete the intake of all filings. You can also decrease the time it takes for them to process and send your receipt notice by:
- Filing online (if this option is available for your form type) and receive immediate confirmation that USCIS has received your form instead of waiting for the mail;
- Create a free USCIS online account and check the status of your case from your mobile device, anywhere, anytime using their case status online tool; or
- Complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and clip it to the front of your form when filing at a USCIS lockbox to request a text message and/or email when they accept your form.
What forms are processed in a USCIS lockbox facility?
The forms that you can file at a USCIS lockbox facility are the following. You can pay with a credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions.
If you need assistance with your immigration process or filing an application with the USCIS, don’t hesitate to contact an immigration attorney in San Diego, California. We are ready to be of assistance at Kannan Law!