In its pursuit to increase flexibility related to filing deadlines, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced a Policy Manual update regarding filings and responses whose due dates fall on Saturdays, Sundays, or federal holidays. Effective immediately, USCIS will consider a filing or response submitted on paper timely filed if it is received “by the end of the next business day” after the weekend or federal holiday. The Service notes that although the receipt date for these cases will continue to “reflect the date USCIS physically received the request, USCIS will consider the benefit request timely filed.”

This update applies to all benefit requests or responses to a USCIS action that are received physically on paper on or after March 29, 2023. The update however does not affect electronic filings or responses submitted electronically, which the service considers “received immediately upon submission.” The Service affirms the policy will not be applied retroactively.