newly launch United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that the $85.00 biometric services fee will be waived.
In essence, this will apply in the case of Form I-539. By filing, an applicant seeks to extend his or her immigration status while his or her permanent residency case is pending.
USCIS explains that those who want to file their Form I-539 before October 1 must make and attend an appointment. The place will be the Application Support Center (ASC) where experts will be responsible for registering the applicant’s biometric services.
After that first day of October, applicants will not be called for the said procedure. This will only happen if USCIS determines that it is necessary to obtain specific biometric data from the immigrant. If so, the applicant will receive a Notice to Appear.
Combined cost
If an applicant mistakenly submits the biometric services fee separately from the form, USCIS will refund the biometric fee and accept the petition. Experts explain what would happen if the cost of biometrics fees and form fees were combined into one payment. In this case, it will be considered an invalid submission and Form I-539 will be rejected.
USCIS will only collect a single payment if a credit card is authorized which includes the biometric services fee and application fee. Biometric data requirements will be suspended effective September 30, 2023. In this case, participants will be those applying for an extension of stay or change of status to H-4, L-, or E nonimmigrant.
USCIS reminds all applicants that biometric data is highly secure. They are harder to forge or steal than passwords or traditional ID cards. At the same time, they are used in a variety of applications, such as identification of individuals at airports, mobile security, among other aspects.
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