On March 30, 2020, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the agency would allow flexibility in responding to certain agency notices, in an effort to minimize the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals seeking immigration benefits. The agency provided an additional 60 calendar days beyond the due date for responding to the following notices:
- Requests for Evidence;
- Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
- Notices of Intent to Deny;
- Notices of Intent to Revoke;
- Notices of Intent to Rescind and Notices of Intent to Terminate regional investment centers;
This flexibility applied initially to notices issued between March 1, 2020 and May 1, 2020. The window was later extended to notices issued between March 1, 2020 and September 11, 2020 and now, by agency alert posted on September 11, 2020, individuals receiving one of the specified notices, issued between March 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021, will have an additional 60 calendar days within which to respond to USCIS.
In addition, USCIS will consider a Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA); or a Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion, it receives up to 60 calendar days following the date of the agency decision to have been timely filed. Such filings are normally due within 30 calendar days of the agency decision.