Source: http://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-11185/0-0-0-11549/0-0-0-11565.html
Timestamp: 2013-05-23 15:01:25
Document Index: 625275453

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 103', '§ 103', '§ 103', '§ 1', '§\n292', '§\n292', 'art 204', 'art 245', 'art 245', 'art 101', '§\n103', '§\n103', '§ 103']

§ Sec. 103.2 Applications, petitions, and other documents.
\ slb \ SERVICE LAW BOOKS MENU \ TITLE 8 OF CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (8 CFR) \ 8 CFR PART 103 -- POWERS AND DUTIES; AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS \ § Sec. 103.2 Applications, petitions, and other documents.
. Every application, petition, appeal, motion, request, or other document submitted on any form prescribed by this chapter I, notwithstanding any other regulations to the contrary, must be filed with the location and executed in accordance with the instructions on the form, such instructions being hereby incorporated into the particular section of the regulations in this chapter I requiring its submission. The form must be filed with the appropriate filing fee required by § 103.7
. Except as exempted by paragraph (e) of this section, forms which require an applicant, petitioner, sponsor, beneficiary, or other individual to complete Form FD-258, Applicant Card, must also be filed with the service fee for fingerprinting, as required by § 103.7(b)(1)
for each individual who requires fingerprinting. Filing fees and fingerprinting service fees are non-refundable and, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, must be paid when the application is filed. (Amended effective 7/6/09; 74 FR 26933
)(Amended 7/1/94, 59 FR 33903
) (Paragraph (a)(1) revised effective 3/29/98; 63 FR 12979
in this chapter, an acceptable signature on an application or petition that is being filed with the BCIS is one that is either handwritten or, for applications or petitions filed electronically as permitted by the instructions to the form, in electronic format. (Revised effective 5/29/03; 68 FR 23010
An applicant or petitioner may be represented by an attorney in the United States, as defined in § 1.1(f)
of this chapter, by an attorney outside the United States as defined in §
292.1(a)(6)
of this chapter, or by an accredited representative as defined in §
292.1(a)(4)
of this chapter. A beneficiary of a petition is not a recognized party in such a proceeding. An application or petition presented in person by someone who is not the applicant or petitioner, or his or her representative as defined in this paragraph, shall be treated as if received through the mail, and the person advised that the applicant or petitioner, and his or her representative, will be notified of the decision. Where a notice of representation is submitted that is not properly signed, the applica
tion or petition will be processed as if the notice had not been submitted.
Translation of name.
If a document has been executed in an anglicized version of a name, the native form of the name may also be required.
An application or petition must be filed
as indicated in the instructions on the respective form. (Revised effective 7/6/09; 74 FR 26933
(Amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
An application or petition received in a USCIS office shall be stamped to show the time and date of actual receipt and, unless otherwise specified in part 204
or part 245
or part 245a
of this chapter, shall be regarded as properly filed when so stamped, if it is signed and executed and the required filing fee is attached or a waiver of the filing fee is granted. An application or petition which is not properly signed or is submitted with the wrong filing fee shall be rejected as improperly filed. Rejected applications and petitions, and ones in which the check or other financial instrument used to pay the filing fee is subsequently returned as non-payable will not retain a filing date. An application or petition taken to a local USCIS office for the completion of biometric information prior to filing at a service center shall be considered received when physically received at a service center. (Amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
If a check or other financial instrument used to pay a filing fee is subsequently returned as not payable, the remitter shall be notified and requested to pay the filing fee and associated service charge within 14 calendar days, without extension. If the application or petition is pending and these charges are not paid within 14 days, the application or petition shall be rejected as improperly filed. If the application or petition was already approved, and these charges are not paid, the approval shall be a
utomatically revoked because it was improperly field. If the application or petition was already denied, revoked, or abandoned, that decision will not be affected by the non-payment of the filing or fingerprinting fee. New fees will be required with any new application or petition. Any fee and service charges collected as the result of collection activities or legal action on the prior application or petition shall be used to cover the cost of the previous rejection, revocation, or other action. (Paragrap
h (a)(7) revised effective 3/29/98; 63 FR 12979
Evidence and processing
Demonstrating eligibility at time of filing
An applicant or petitioner must establish that he or she is eligible for the requested benefit at the time of filing the application or petition. All required application or petition forms must be properly completed and filed with any initial evidence required by applicable regulations and/or the form's instructions. Any evidence submitted in connection with the application or petition is incorporated into and considered part of the relating application or petition. (Revised effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
. Where a record does not exist, the applicant or petitioner must submit an original written statement on government letterhead establishing this from the relevant government or other authority. The statement must indicate the reason the record does not exist, and indicate whether similar records for the time and place are available. However, a certification from an appropriate foreign government that a document does not exist is not required where the Department of State's Foreign Affairs Manual indicat
es this type of document generally does not exist. An applicant or petitioner who has not been able to acquire the necessary document or statement from the relevant foreign authority may submit evidence that repeated good faith attempts were made to obtain the required document or statement. However, where USCIS finds that such documents or statements are generally available, it may require that the applicant or petitioner submit the required document or statement. (Amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
Submitting copies of documents
Application and petition forms, and documents issued to support an application or petition (such as labor certifications, Form DS 2019, medical examinations, affidavits, formal consultations, letters of current employment and other statements) must be submitted in the original unless previously filed with USCIS. Official documents issued by the Department or by the former Immigration and Naturalization Service need not be submitted in the original unless required by USCIS. Unless otherwise required by the applicable regulation or form's instructions, a legible photocopy of any other supporting document may be submitted. Applicants and petitioners need only submit those original documents necessary to support the benefit sought. However, original documents submitted when not required will remain a part of the record. (Revised effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
Request for an original document
. Request for an original document
USCIS may, at any time, request submission of an original document for review. The request will set a deadline for submission of the original document. Failure to submit the requested original document by the deadline may result in denial or revocation of the underlying application or benefit. An original document submitted in response to such a request, when no longer required by USCIS, will be returned to the petitioner or applicant upon completion of the adjudication. If USCIS does not return an origina
l document within a reasonable time after completion of the adjudication, the petitioner or applicant may request return of the original document by submitting a properly completed and signed Form G-884 to the adjudicating USCIS office. (Revised effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
. An applicant or petitioner may withdraw an application or petition at any time until a decision is issued by USCIS or, in the case of an approved petition, until the person is admitted or granted adjustment or change of status, based on the petition. However, a withdrawal may not be retracted. (Amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
. USCIS may require the taking of testimony, and may direct any necessary investigation. When a statement is taken from and signed by a person, he or she shall, upon request, be given a copy without fee. Any allegations made subsequent to filing an application or petition which are in addition to, or in substitution for, those originally made, shall be filed in the same manner as the original application, petition, or document, and acknowledged under oath thereon. . (Amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
Evidence of eligibility or ineligibility
If the evidence submitted with the application or petition establishes eligibility, USCIS will approve the application or petition, except that in any case in which the applicable statute or regulation makes the approval of a petition or application a matter entrusted to USCIS discretion, USCIS will approve the petition or application only if the evidence of record establishes both eligibility and that the petitioner or applicant warrants a favorable exercise of discretion. If the record evidence establish
es ineligibility, the application or petition will be denied on that basis. (Paragraph (b)(8) revised effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
(ii) Initial evidence
If all required initial evidence is not submitted with the application or petition or does not demonstrate eligibility, USCIS in its discretion may deny the application or petition for lack of initial evidence or for ineligibility or request that the missing initial evidence be submitted within a specified period of time as determined by USCIS.
If all required initial evidence has been submitted but the evidence submitted does not establish eligibility, USCIS may: deny the application or petition for ineligibility; request more information or evidence from the applicant or petitioner, to be submitted within a specified period of time as determined by USCIS; or notify the applicant or petitioner of its intent to deny the application or petition and the basis for the proposed denial, and require that the applicant or petitioner submit a response wi
thin a specified period of time as determined by USCIS.
A request for evidence or notice of intent to deny will be in writing and will specify the type of evidence required, and whether initial evidence or additional evidence is required, or the bases for the proposed denial sufficient to give the applicant or petitioner adequate notice and sufficient information to respond. The request for evidence or notice of intent to deny will indicate the deadline for response, but in no case shall the maximum response period provided in a request for evidence exceed twel
ve weeks, nor shall the maximum response time provided in a notice of intent to deny exceed thirty days. Additional time to respond to a request for evidence or notice of intent to deny may not be granted.
. An applicant, a petitioner, a sponsor, a beneficiary, or other individual residing in the United States at the time of filing an application or petition may be required to appear for fingerprinting or for an interview. A petitioner shall also be notified when a fingerprinting notice or an interview notice is mailed or issued to a beneficiary, sponsor, or other individual. The applicant, petitioner, sponsor, beneficiary, or other individual may appear as requested by USCIS, or prior to the dates and times for fingerprinting or of the date and time of interview: (Introductory text amended 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
(i) The individual to be fingerprinted or interviewed may, for good cause, request that the fingerprinting or interview be rescheduled; or (ii) The applicant or petitioner may withdraw the application or petition. (Paragraph (b)(9) revised effective 3/29/98; 63 FR 12979
-(i) Effect on processing
. The priority date of a properly filed petition shall not be affected by a request for missing initial evidence or request for other evidence. If an application or petition is missing required initial evidence, or an applicant, petitioner, sponsor, beneficiary, or other individual who requires fingerprinting requests that the fingerprinting appointment or interview be rescheduled, any time period imposed on USCIS processing will start over from the date of receipt of the required initial evidence or reques
t for fingerprint or interview rescheduling. If USCIS requests that the applicant or petitioner submit additional evidence or respond to other than a request for initial evidence, any time limitation imposed on USCIS for processing will be suspended as of the date of request. It will resume at the same point where it stopped when USCIS receives the requested evidence or response, or a request for a decision based on the evidence. (Paragraph (b)(10) amended 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
)(Paragraph (b)(10) heading and (b)(10)(i) revised effective 3/29/98)
(ii) Effect on interim benefits
. Interim benefits will not be granted based on an application or petition held in suspense for the submission of requested initial evidence, except that the applicant or beneficiary will normally be allowed to remain while an application or petition to extend or obtain status while in the United States is pending. USCIS may choose to pursue other actions to seek removal of a person notwithstanding the pending application. Employment authorization previously accorded based on the same status and employme
nt as that requested in the current application or petition may continue uninterrupted as provided in 8 CFR 274a.12(b)(20) during the suspense period.
In response to a request for evidence or a notice of intent to deny, and within the period afforded for a response, the applicant or petitioner may: submit a complete response containing all requested information at any time within the period afforded; submit a partial response and ask for a decision based on the record; or withdraw the application or petition. All requested materials must be submitted together at one time, along with the original USCIS request for evidence or notice of intent to deny. Sub
mission of only some of the requested evidence will be considered a request for a decision on the record. (Revised effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
. An application or petition shall be denied where evidence submitted in response to a request for evidence does not establish filing eligibility at the time the application or petition was filed. An application or petition shall be denied where any application or petition upon which it was based was filed subsequently. (Amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
--(i) Failure to submit evidence or respond to a notice of intent to deny
If the petitioner or applicant fails to respond to a request for evidence or to a notice of intent to deny by the required date, the application or petition may be summarily denied as abandoned, denied based on the record, or denied for both reasons. If other requested material necessary to the processing and approval of a case, such as photographs, are not submitted by the required date, the application may be summarily denied as abandoned. (Paragraph (b)(13) revised effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
(ii) Failure to appear for biometrics capture, interview or other required in-person process
if USCIS requires an individual to appear for biometrics capture, an interview, or other required in-person process but the person does not appear, the application or petition shall be considered abandoned and denied unless by the appointment time USCIS has received a change of address or rescheduling request that the agency concludes warrants excusing the failure to appear. (Revised effective 3/29/98; 63 FR 12979
Effect of request for decision
. Where an applicant or petitioner does not submit all requested additional evidence and requests a decision based on the evidence already submitted, a decision shall be issued based on the record. Failure to submit requested evidence which precludes a material line of inquiry shall be grounds for denying the application or petition. Failure to appear for required fingerprinting or for a required interview, or to give required testimony, shall result in the denial of the related application or petition. (Revi
sed effective 3/29/98; 63 FR 12979
Withdrawal or denial due to abandonment does not preclude the filing of a new application or petition with a new fee. However, the priority or processing date of a withdrawn or abandoned application or petition may not be applied to a later application or petition. Withdrawal or denial due to abandonment shall not itself affect the new proceeding; but the facts and circumstances surrounding the prior application or petition shall otherwise be material to the new application or petition. (Amended effecti
ve 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
. Classified information
(i) Department records
The status of an applicant or petitioner who claims that he or she is a permanent resident of the United States or was formerly a permanent resident of the United States will be verified from official Department records. These records include alien and other files, arrival manifests, arrival records, Department index cards, Immigrant Identification Cards, Certificates of Registry, Declarations of Intention issued after July 1, 1929, Permanent Resident Cards (Form I-551), Alien Registration Receipt Cards (F
orm I-151), other registration receipt forms (Forms AR-3, AR-3a, and AR-103, provided that such forms were issued or endorsed to show admission for permanent residence), passports, and reentry permits. An official record of a Department index card must bear a designated immigrant visa symbol and must have been prepared by an authorized official of the Department in the course of processing immigrant admissions or adjustments to permanent resident status. Other cards, certificates, declarations, permits, and
passports must have been issued or endorsed to show admission for permanent residence. Except as otherwise provided in 8 CFR part 101
. A district director may authorize withholding adjudication of a visa petition or other application if the district director determines that an investigation has been undertaken involving a matter relating to eligibility or the exercise of discretion, where applicable, in onnection with the application or petition, and that the disclosure of information to the applicant or petitioner in connection with the adjudication of the application or petition would prejudice the ongoing investigation. If an investi
gation has been undertaken and has not been completed within one year of its inception, the district director shall review the matter and determine whether adjudication of the petition or application should be held in abeyance for six months or until the investigation is completed, whichever comes sooner. If, after six months of the district director's determination, the investigation has not been completed, the matter shall be reviewed again by the district director and, if he/she concludes that more time is needed to complete the investigation, adjudication may be held in abeyance for up to another six months. If the investigation is not completed at the end of that time, the matter shall be referred to the regional commissioner, who may authorize that adjudication be held in abeyance for another six months. Thereafter, if the Associate Commissioner, Examinations, with the concurrence of the Associate Commissioner, Enforcement, determines it is necessary to continue to withhold adjudication pending completi
on of the investigation, he/she shall review that determination every six months.
. An applicant or petitioner shall be sent a written decision on his or her application, petition, motion, or appeal. Where the applicant or petitioner has authorized representation pursuant to §
103.2(a)
, that representative shall also be notified. Documents produced after an approval notice is sent, such as an alien registration card, shall be mailed directly to the applicant or petitioner.
. USCIS regulations in this chapter, including the instructions to benefit applications and petitions, require certain applicants, petitioners, beneficiaries, sponsors, and other individuals to be fingerprinted on Form FD-258, Applicant Card, for the purpose of conducting criminal background checks. On and after December 3, 1997, USCIS will accept Form FD-258, Applicant Card, only if prepared by a USCIS office, a registered State or local law enforcement agency designated by a cooperative agreement with USCIS
to provide fingerprinting services (DLEA), a United States consular office at United States embassies and consulates, or a United States military installation abroad. (Amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
Fingerprinting individuals residing in the United States
. Beginning on December 3, 1997, for naturalization applications, and on March 29, 1998, for all other applications and petitions, applications and petitions for immigration benefits shall be filed as prescribed in this chapter, without completed Form FD-258, Applicant Card. After the filing of an application or petition, USCIS will issue a notice to all individuals who require fingerprinting and who are residing in the United States, as defined in section 101(a)(38)
of the Act, and request their appearance for fingerprinting at a USCIS office or other location designated by USCIS, to complete Form FD-258, Applicant Card, as prescribed in paragraph (b)(9) of this section. (Amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
Fingerprinting individuals residing abroad
. Individuals who require fingerprinting and whose place of residence is outside of the United States, must submit a properly completed Form FD-258, Applicant Card, at the time of filing the application or petition for immigration benefits. In the case of individuals who reside abroad, a properly completed Form FD-258, Applicant Card, is one prepared by USCIS, a United States consular office at a United States embassy or consulate or a United States military installation abroad. If an individual who requires fingerprinting and is residing abroad fails to submit a properly completed Form FD-258, Applicant Card, at the time of filing an application or petition, USCIS will issue a notice to the individual requesting submission of a properly completed Form FD-258, Applicant Card. The applicant or petitioner will also be notified of the request for submission of a properly completed Form FD-258, Applicant Card. Failure to submit a properly completed Form FD-258, Applicant Card, in response to such a request within t
he time allotted in the notice will result in denial of the application or petition for failure to submit a properly completed Form FD-258, Applicant Card. There is no appeal from denial of an application or petition for failure to submit a properly completed Form FD-258, Applicant Card. A motion to re-open an application or petition denied for failure to submit a properly completed Form FD-258, Applicant Card, will be granted only on proof that: (Introductory text amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
(i) A properly completed Form FD-258, Applicant Card, was submitted at the time of filing the application or petition; (ii) A properly completed Form FD-258, Applicant Card, was submitted in response to the notice within the time allotted in the notice; or (iii) The notice was sent to an address other than the address on the application or petition, or the notice of representation, or that the applicant or petitioner notified USCIS, in writing, of a change of address or change of representation subsequent to filing and before the notice was sent and the USCIS’ notice was not sent to the new address. (Amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
(4) Submission of service fee for fingerprinting
--(i) General
. USCIS will charge a fee, as prescribed in §
103.7(b)(1), for fingerprinting at a USCIS office or a registered State or local law enforcement agency designated by a cooperative agreement with USCIS to provide fingerprinting services. Applications and petitions for immigration benefits shall be submitted with the service fee for fingerprinting for all individuals who require fingerprinting and who reside in the United States at the time of filing the application or petition. (Amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
--(A) Individual residing abroad
. Individuals who require fingerprinting and who reside outside of the United States at the time of filing an application or petition for immigration benefits are exempt from the requirement to submit the service fee for fingerprinting with the application or petition for immigration benefits. (B) Asylum applicants
. Asylum applicants are exempt from the requirement to submit the service fee for fingerprinting with the application for asylum. (iii) Insufficient service fee for fingerprinting; incorrect fees
. Applications and petitions for immigration benefits received by USCIS without the correct service fee for fingerprinting will not be rejected as improperly filed, pursuant to paragraph (a)(7)(i) of this section. However, the application or petition will not continue processing and USCIS will not issue a notice requesting appearance for fingerprinting to the individuals who require fingerprinting until the correct service fee for fingerprinting has been submitted. USCIS will notify the remitter of the fili
ng fee for the application or petition of the additional amount required for the fingerprinting service fee and request submission of the correct fee. USCIS will also notify the applicant or petitioner, and, when appropriate, the applicant or petitioner's representative, as defined in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, of the deficiency. Failure to submit the correct fee for fingerprinting in response to a notice of deficiency within the time allotted in the notice will result in denial of the application or
petition for failure to submit the correct service fee for fingerprinting. There is no appeal from the denial of an application or petition for failure to submit the correct service fee for fingerprinting. A motion to re-open an application or petition denied for failure to submit the correct service fee for fingerprinting will be granted only on proof that: (Introductory text amended 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
) (A) The correct service fee for fingerprinting was submitted at the time of filing the application or petition; (B) The correct service fee for fingerprinting was submitted in response to the notice of deficiency within the time allotted in the notice; or (C) The notice of deficiency was sent to an address other than the address on the application or petition, or the notice of representation, or that the applicant or petitioner notified USCIS, in writing, of a change of address or change of representation subsequent to filing and before the notice of deficiency was sent and the USCIS’ notice of deficiency was not sent to the new address. (Amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
(iv) Non-payment of service fee for fingerprinting
. If a check or other financial instrument used to pay a service fee for fingerprinting is subsequently returned as not payable, the remitter shall be notified and requested to pay the correct service fee for fingerprinting and any associated service charges within 14 calendar days. USCIS will also notify the applicant or petitioner and, when appropriate, the applicant or petitioner's representative as defined in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, of the non-payment and request to pay. If the correct service
fee for fingerprinting and associated service charges are not paid within 14 calendar days, the application or petition will be denied for failure to submit the correct service fee for fingerprinting. (Amended effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
) (Paragraph (e) Added 6/4/96; 61 FR 28003
) (Amended effective 11/1/96; 61 FR 57583
) (Revised effective 3/29/98; 63 FR 12979
(f) Requests for Premium Processing Service
.-- (1) Filing information
A petitioner or applicant requesting Premium Processing Service shall submit Form I-907 with the appropriate fee to the Director of the service center having jurisdiction over the application or petition. Premium Processing Service guarantees 15 calendar day processing of certain employment-based petitions and applications. The 15 calendar day processing period begins when USCIS receives Form I-907, with the fee, at the designated address contained in the instructions to the form. USCIS will refund the fee
for Premium Processing Service, but continue to process the case, unless within 15 calendar days of receiving the application or petition and Form I-907, USCIS issues and serves on the petitioner or applicant an approval notice, a denial notice, a notice of intent to deny, a request for evidence, or opens an investigation relating to the application or petition for fraud or misrepresentation. (Paragraph (f)(1) revised effective 6/18/07; 72 FR 19100
(2) Applications and petitions eligible for Premium Processing Service
. USCIS will designate and terminate petitions and applications and classifications within such petitions and applications as eligible for Premium Processing Service by publication of notices in the Federal Register
. USCIS will announce by its Web site at http://www.uscis.gov
the dates upon which the availability of Premium Processing Service begins and ends for a designated petition or application and any designated classifications within a designated petition or application, and applicable conditions of availability. (Revised 5/23/06; 71 FR 29571
(3) Fees for Premium Processing Services
. The fee for Premium Processing Service may not be waived. The fee for Premium Processing Service is in addition to all other filing fees for the application or petition as provided for in § 103.7
. A separate remittance must be submitted for the filing fee for Form I-907. If the Service fails to process a petition or application with the 15 calendar day period, the fee for Premium Processing Services will be automatically refunded to the petitioner or applicant, and the Service will continue to process the application/ petition on the premium processing track.
(4) Temporary termination of Premium Processing Service
. The Service may designate as eligible for Premium Processing Service certain petitions or applications filed on behalf of nonimmigrant aliens that are subject to annual numerical limitations. In order to ensure equitable access to these limited visa programs, the Service may temporarily terminate the availability of Premium Processing Service for certain petitions or applications. The Service will announce a temporary termination by publication of a notice in the Federal Register
. Upon temporary termination of a classification the petition or application will not be rejected. Instead, the petition or application will be moved into the pool of normal processing cases and only the Form I-907 will be rejected and the Fee for Form I-907 will be returned to the applicant or petitioner. (Paragraph (f) added 6/1/01; 66 FR 29682