Update: All applicants whose benefit request did not receive a receipt in a timely manner or was rejected due to processing delays or expired filing fees when submitted at a lockbox facility will have a second chance, says USCIS. Applicable to all rejected/expired benefits and petitions submitted between Oct. 1, 2020 and April 1, 2021, USCIS will offer lockbox filing flexibilities allowing them to resubmit their request with a new fee payment.
These flexible measures are effective until Aug. 9, 2021.
Delays vary among different form types and different lockbox locations. Certain categories of benefit applications are particularly impacted by these processing delays. These include non-family based Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and for F-1 students who filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
What Are The New Options Available For Lockbox Filing?
Covid-19 induced lockdowns caused processing delays, high postal service volumes and an increase in filings. This in turn, caused delayed receipt issuances, more rejection notices and expired filing fee submissions.
This applies to any applicant who may have aged out due to processing delays as well.
To mitigate these issues, USCIS will allow applicants to resubmit those benefit requests to a USCIS lockbox if the initial request was rejected for the above reasons. USCIS will deem the request to have been received on the initial filing date it was first received. The agency will also waive the $30 dishonored check fee that would normally apply in such situations.
PLEASE NOTE THESE EXCEPTIONS
These flexibilities only apply to benefit requests submitted to a USCIS lockbox and not to USCIS service centers or field offices.
Additionally, this flexible measure does not apply to Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322.
Lockbox Filing Location Updates
In order to balance our incoming workload for timely processing, USCIS periodically adjusts filing locations among the lockbox facilities. Petitioners can keep track of which lockbox form filing location to utilize for their forms.
Petitioners should access the following ways to identify an appropriate Lockbox:
- Always check the “Where to File” section of your form’s webpage for the most current information on where to mail your form.
- Visit the Lockbox Filing Location Updates page to keep abreast of any changes.
- Subscribe to the “Forms Updates” GovDelivery distribution list.
- Read USCIS’ GovDelivery’s email which has each filing location update.
- Join USCIS’ social media pages for their announcements.
How To Resubmit An Application To A Lockbox – What The Applicants Should Know?
If you feel you’re your benefit request was rejected due to lockbox processing delays, you can do the following until August 9, 2021 to be considered again:
- All applicants, co-applicants, beneficiaries, or derivatives should resubmit their benefit application along with documentation proving that they lost out on the benefit approval due to processing delays.
- Write in black ink “Delayed Intake Rejection Request” on top of the resubmission
- All documentation should Include your A-Number on the resubmitted benefit request
- Include a copy of the original rejection notice printed on blue paper
They can even contact USCIS to get clarification. And USCIS will evaluate each resubmission on a case-by-case basis. You can send an email to [email protected] with “Delayed Intake Rejection Resubmission” in the subject line.
Alternatives To Filing At Lockbox Facilities
While USCIS is offering flexible solutions to the delayed processing for petitions from October 1, 2020, here are a few things you can do too to alleviate such delays –
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 we accept your form.
File 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 our case status online tool;
For more Form Filing Tips, contact USCIS at their online tools for help with managing your application.
