美国移民局：5月17日起这些申请人无需再打指模

美国移民局官网发布通知，5月17日起正式暂停对部分I-539身份延期、身份转换申请要求提交生物特征识别信息的规定，具体受影响的身份包括H-4、L-2及E类非移民类签证身份。

美国移民局宣布以下几类I-539申请人暂停生物识别要求

根据通知，从2021年5月17日开始，移民局在审理受影响申请时将不再要求申请人重新提供指模信息和新照片，该政策一直执行至2023年5月17日，之后移民局再做决定是彻底取消该政策还是再恢复执行。

受这份新政策指引影响的具体I-539申请类别包括：

• H-1B配偶H-4的身份延期或身份转换

• L-1配偶L-2的身份延期或身份转换

• E-1、E-2、E-3的身份延期或身份转换

以上这些受影响的I-539身份，只要在2021年5月17日政策生效前还处于pending审理阶段、尚未收到打指模通知的，或者是5月17日之后才递交的申请，都无需前往当地移民局申请支持办公室完成生物识别采集流程。

但申请还在pending审理阶段、已经安排了打指模具体日期的申请人还是应该按照原预约时间正常前往移民局申请支持办公室完成生物识别采集流程。

根据这份通知，符合要求的申请人不需要再缴纳85美元的生物识别费用，如果有把370美元的I-539费用与生物识别费用分开提交的申请，移民局将会退回$85的生物识别费用。

移民局会为这此次策调整设定一个缓冲期，2021年5月27日之前提交的相关申请，如果提交了$85的生物识别费，移民局将不会拒绝这份I-539申请，但如果从5月27日开始再收到的新申请中还包含了85美元的生物识别费用，移民局将以此为由拒批这份I-539申请。收到被拒通知后申请人再次提交申请时，就要再缴纳一次I-539申请费。

生物识别申请积压严重

2019年3月，移民局毫无征兆地宣布将调整I-539身份转换或延期的申请规定，新规定要求大多数办理I-539身份转换或延期的申请人必须本人前往当地移民局申请支持办公室完成生物识别采集，受影响的申请包括H-1B的配偶H-4、L-1的配偶L-2、B-1/B-2、F-1和J-1等。

再次采集指纹意味着移民局需要会花费更长时间才能给出审批结果，这使大量需要延续工卡的申请人被迫中止工作。

原本政策未改的情况下，H-4可以和H-1B延期申请一起提交，这样如果缴纳额外的费用申请PP加急，H-4也可以在15天内拿到审批结果。但新规实施后，导致H-4与H-1B的申请必须分开处理。

此外，因为去年受新冠疫情影响，有长达数月时间移民局整个关闭了对外办公，原本约好的打指模申请全部被取消，直接造成了更多的申请积压。

疫情之前，一份I-539的处理时间是3个月起，但受到特朗普政府政策以及疫情影响，申请积压最严重时处理时间是10个月左右。这导致很多延期有效期限只有一年且最早续签不得早于身份到期前半年的移民申请人失去工作、医疗保险和驾照。

此次移民局暂停生物识别的I-539类别仅为H-4、L-2及E-1、E-2和E-3申请，包括B-1/B-2、F-1和J-1等申请并没有暂停生物识别要求。

USCIS Temporarily Suspends Biometrics Requirement for Certain Form I-539 Applicants

Effective May 17, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will temporarily suspend the biometrics submission requirement for certain applicants filing Form I-539, Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, requesting an extension of stay in or change of status to H-4, L-2, and E nonimmigrant status. USCIS will allow adjudications for those specific categories to proceed based on biographic information and related background checks, without capturing fingerprints and a photograph. This suspension will apply through May 17, 2023, subject to affirmative extension or revocation of the suspension period by the USCIS director.

This temporary suspension will apply to applicants filing Form I-539 requesting the following:

Extension of stay in or change of status to H-4 nonimmigrant status;

Extension of stay in or change of status to L-2 nonimmigrant status;

Extension of stay in or change of status to E-1 nonimmigrant status;

Extension of stay in or change of status to E-2 nonimmigrant status (including E-2C (E-2 CNMI Investor)); or

Extension of stay in or change of status to E-3 nonimmigrant status (including those selecting E-3D).

This suspension will apply only to the above categories of Form I-539 applications that are either:

Pending as of May 17, 2021, and have not yet received a biometric services appointment notice; or

New applications postmarked or submitted electronically on or after May 17, 2021.

However, USCIS retains discretion on a case-by-case basis to require biometrics for applicants who meet the criteria above, and any applicant may be scheduled for an application support center (ASC) appointment to submit biometrics.

Form I-539 applicants who have already received a biometric services appointment notice should still attend their scheduled appointment.

Effective May 17, 2021, Form I-539 applicants meeting the criteria above are not required to submit the $85 biometric services fee for Form I-539 during the suspension period. USCIS will return a biometric services fee if submitted separately from the base fee. USCIS will allow a short grace period during which USCIS will not reject Form I-539 filed with the biometric services fee. USCIS will begin rejecting paper Form I-539 applications postmarked May 27, 2021, or later (while this suspension of the biometrics requirement is in effect), if applicants meeting the above criteria submit a single payment covering both the filing fee and the $85 biometrics services fee. If USCIS rejects the paper application because the applicant included the $85 biometrics service fee after the grace period, the applicant will need to re-file Form I-539 without the biometric services fee.

Background

Beginning March 2019, USCIS required certain Form I-539 applicants and co-applicants to appear in person at an ASC to submit their biometrics. In March 2020, USCIS temporarily suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and ASCs to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Although ASCs have since reopened to the public, they are not yet operating at full appointment capacity due to necessary COVID-19 health and safety protocols. These temporary closures and capacity limitations at the ASCs, accompanied by other processing delays, created a substantial volume of cases awaiting biometrics appointments at ASCs.

The significant volume of pending cases related to Form I-539 are particularly impacting the timeframe for USCIS to adjudicate the related employment authorization applications (Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization) for H-4 nonimmigrants (spouses and children of H-1B nonimmigrants), L-2 nonimmigrants (spouses and children of L-1 nonimmigrants), and certain E nonimmigrants (dependents of E-1, E-2 and E-3 principal nonimmigrants).

While DHS regulations provide for an automatic extension of employment authorization for certain EAD renewals, H-4, L-2, and E nonimmigrants are not included in the applicable automatic renewal provisions. Form I-765 cannot be approved until after the dependent spouse’s underlying H-4, L-2, or E nonimmigrant status is granted or extended upon approval of Form I-539.

Suspending biometrics requirements for 24 months for H-4, L-2, and E nonimmigrants filing Form I-539 who meet the criteria above will provide sufficient time for USCIS to address the processing delays that have been exacerbated by limited ASC capacity due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols. USCIS has decided to suspend biometrics submission for all H-4, L-2, and E nonimmigrants (in other words, both dependent spouses and children) filing Forms I-539 rather than limiting the suspension to only those dependent spouses who are also filing Form I-765 because it would not be operationally feasible to treat dependent children differently from dependent spouses. USCIS will continue to monitor ASC capacity and adjudication processing times for Form I-539 and Form I-765 and may adjust or extend this suspension as circumstances change.

USCIS has general authority to require the submission of biometrics from applicants, petitioners, and beneficiaries for immigration or naturalization benefits or requests. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) at section 103(a), 8 U.S.C. 1103(a), provides general authority for DHS to collect or require submission of biometrics. DHS regulations provide specific authority to require biometrics submission at 8 CFR 103.2(b)(9) and 103.16.

This alert is intended solely for the guidance of USCIS personnel in the performance of their official duties. It is not intended to, does not, and may not be relied upon to create any right or  benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law, or by any individual or other party in removal proceedings, in litigation with the United States, or in any other form or manner.

Last Reviewed/Updated:

05/13/2021