On July 25, 2022, USCIS announced that it will continue accepting copies of original signatures on all forms and documents. This makes permanent the temporary signature policy that USCIS announced in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What This Means

USCIS will accept copies of original signatures on all benefit forms and documents, even if the form instructions require an original handwritten (“wet”) signature. This means that you can submit a scanned, faxed, photocopied, or similarly reproduced copy of a document to USCIS as long as the copy is of an original document containing an original handwritten signature. You must keep the original document with the wet signature and provide it to USCIS if requested.

This exception only applies to signatures. You must follow all other form instructions when completing a form.

Why This Matters

During the CIS Ombudsman’s engagements, stakeholders have repeatedly expressed concern that requiring wet signatures on forms was both unnecessary and inefficient. We appreciate the stakeholders who shared their concerns. USCIS’ policy change will make preparing immigration filings easier.

More Information

Please visit USCIS’ Forms and Response to COVID-19 pages for more information on filing requirements and COVID-19 flexibilities.

For more information on our office, please visit www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman or follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Helpful Resources

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