Hey everyone! 📢
Just stumbled upon some fantastic news that might be of interest to many of you here. Starting October 1st, 2023, USCIS is ditching the biometrics service fee for the I-539 form! 🎉
A Little Background:
Remember when, during the Trump era, they brought in this rule of collecting biometric data? It was all part of some executive order to safeguard America. While the intentions might have been noble, many visa holders, especially our H4 and L2 folks, saw increased processing times. 😓
So, Why This Change Now?:
Looks like USCIS finally realized the challenges and issues it was causing. They had already put a temporary hold on biometrics for H4, L2, and E visa filings. But this new announcement seems like they're making it official.
What It Means for Us:
- Save Money: No more shelling out for that biometrics fee from October 1st, 2023! 💰
- Save Time: With this out of the way, we can expect faster processing times. 🚀
- Refund Shenanigans: If you end up paying the biometrics fee by mistake (separately), USCIS will give it back. But if you combine the I-539 and biometrics fees, they'll reject your form. So, heads up on that!
The Big Impact:
This is bound to speed up the visa application process and reduce those annoying backlogs. We might even see processing times similar to what we had in 2018 (fingers crossed 🤞).
Wrap Up:
So, what do y'all think about this policy change? Feels like a breath of fresh air to me! Anyone here directly impacted by this? Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences!
Cheers! 🍻
Source: USCIS Exempts Biometric Services Fee for all Form I-539 Applicants