USCIS Announces Changes to Signature Requirements

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services have announced a change to the policy on any signatures that are submitted to the agency for those who are seeking immigration benefits. Beginning on March 18, 2018, USCIS will no longer accept power of attorney signatures. In addition, if a corporation fills out the forms, they must be signed someone who is authorized by the USCIS. In order to be considered authorized, the individual must be employed by the petitioner. This will impact those seeking petitions for H-2B visas, as well as other employment-based immigration statuses. The purpose of this change is to maintain consistency across the board and avoid fraud. If the USCIS believes the signature is not authorized, they may simply reject the form as opposed to sending it back to fix the issue. Therefore, it is important that those who are petitioning make themselves aware of this change.

In addition, it is important to note that even though the policy prohibits power of attorney signatures, they will still be accepted for children under the age of 14 or on behalf of those who have disabilities. In the announcement, the USCIS stated that they plan to release additional instructions to clarify all requirements for both written and electronic signatures.

If you need legal guidance on immigration matters, contact our firm today.

John Sesini is an experienced immigration attorney with offices in Green Bay and Milwaukee Wisconsin. If you have any questions regarding immigration law matters, please contact the Sesini Law Group, S.C. and obtain your initial consultation.

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