Update on COVID-19 and Immigration Offices
/The global COVID-19 pandemic has caused lockdowns, closures, and general disruptions in many parts of the country. Immigration offices at both the local and national level have been impacted.
What is the current status of the various immigration offices and what does it mean for your case?
USCIS Applications
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is still accepting and processing many types of applications. The processing times for cases may be longer than usual because of the disruptions caused by COVID-19.
Biometric Appointments
Were you scheduled for an appointment to have your biometric information (this often includes your fingerprints, photograph, and signature) collected, but that appointment was canceled because of COVID-19 restrictions in Washington State? Be sure to check your mail regularly and keep an eye out for a new appointment notice. Appointments that were canceled due to COVID-19 closures are currently being rescheduled. If you were expecting an appointment and have not yet received a reset date, we recommend checking your case status at https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do or calling USCIS customer service at 1-800-375-5283. We also recommend checking in with your attorney as things can change quickly.
ICE Check-Ins
If you have been attending regular check in appointments with an ICE officer, you are expected to comply with all conditions, including speaking with an ICE officer on the day of your appointment. The Seattle ICE office has resumed many activities, including in person check in appointments. If you cannot attend your appointment in person due to COVID-19 concerns, contact your attorney as soon as possible.
Immigration Court
Is your case currently in Immigration Court? Do you have an upcoming hearing or other court date? Hearings that were supposed to happen when the Seattle Immigration Court was closed will be rescheduled for a future date. Some immigration courts have reopened, but the rapid spread of COVID-19 may cause them to temporarily close again in the future. If you have a hearing that is scheduled in the coming months, we encourage you to check your mail regularly and to contact your attorney with any questions about the status of your hearing. You can also check your next hearing date by calling 1-800-898-7180 or online at https://portal.eoir.justice.gov/InfoSystem.
Have an appointment with Immigration? Don’t forget your mask!
Please be aware that in order to enter a USCIS Field Office, you must be wearing a face mask that covers both your nose and mouth. Be sure to observe social distancing and follow any signs or floor markings instructing you to keep a safe distance away from other people. You may bring your own pen (with black or blue ink) to avoid touching pens at the office, which may be used by many people.
You should NOT attend an appointment at a USCIS office if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 (such as a fever, cough, trouble breathing, or the loss of your sense of smell or taste), have recently been in close contact with someone who has, is suspected to have, COVID-19, or you have been told by a healthcare professional within the past two weeks that you should quarantine or self-isolate.
If you are unable to attend an upcoming appointment because you are sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you may ask to have your appointment rescheduled. Please contact your attorney as soon as possible if this happens.
Have other questions?
If you have other questions about your case, or you are in need of an immigration attorney, please call our office at (425) 374-1681.
In order to help avoid the spread of COVID-19 and keep our clients safe, attorneys Mary Beth and Brittan are available for appointments via telephone or video conferencing at this time.
We encourage everyone to wear your masks, practice good hand hygiene, and avoid crowded areas. Together, we can help to slow the spread of this new coronavirus.
Attorneys Mary Beth Sheehan and Brittan Schwartz
