USCIS Updates Policy Guidance Clarifying Expedite Requests
March 28, 2024
USCIS updated the Policy Manual to clarify how we consider expedited requests related to government interests and requests related to emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations, including travel-related requests. This update also clarifies how to make an expedited request and explains how we process expedited requests.
Government Interests
This update clarifies that we may expedite cases identified as urgent by federal, state, tribal, territorial, or local governments of the United States because they involve public interest, public safety, national interest, or national security interests. This update clarifies that when an expedited request is made by a federal government agency or department based on government interests, we generally defer to that agency or department’s assessment.
Travel-Related Requests
We issue several types of travel documents. This update clarifies that we will consider expediting Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, for benefit requestors in the United States when they have a pressing or critical need to leave the United States, whether the need to travel relates to an unplanned or planned event, such as a professional, academic, or personal commitment.
When the need is related to a planned event, we consider whether:
- The applicant timely filed Form I-131; and
- Processing times would prevent us from issuing the travel document by the planned departure date.
Submission and Processing of Expedite Requests
This update also clarifies how to make an expedited request, including how requestors can use USCIS online tools with secure messaging, such as submitting their expedited request and uploading evidence to support their expedited request if they have a USCIS online account.
This update explains how we process expedited requests by clarifying that we will generally respond to benefit requestors who submit their request through the USCIS Contact Center to inform them when we have decided on their expedited request.
This guidance is effective immediately and is controlling and supersedes any related prior guidance.
Specific content can be found here:
https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual