USCIS to Eliminate Biometric Fee for Form I-539 Extensions and Changes of Status Starting October 1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that, effective October 1 (for mailed applications, based on the postmark date), all Form I-539 applications are exempt from the biometrics fee. The article explains that applications submitted before October 1 still require the fee and biometrics; that for applications submitted after October 1 with the fee mistakenly included, the handling differs depending on whether payment is made separately or combined; and that the policy is expected to cover extension and change of status applications such as H-4, L-2, E, and B1/B2.
USCIS announced today that, effective October 1 (for mailed applications, based on the postmark date), all Form I-539 applications—including extensions and changes of status—will no longer require the biometrics fee:
- If the application was submitted before October 1, the fee is still required and biometrics must still be attended.
- If the application is submitted after October 1 and mistakenly includes the biometrics fee, but the fee is paid separately from the application fee (i.e., one check for the application fee and another for the biometrics fee), USCIS will collect the application fee and refund the biometrics fee.
- If the application is submitted after October 1 and mistakenly includes the biometrics fee, and a single check is used to pay both the application fee and the biometrics fee, USCIS cannot collect only a portion of the payment and will therefore reject the application as improperly filed.
The USCIS notice states that this applies to all Form I-539 applicants, and therefore should cover all extension and change of status applications, including H-4, L-2, E, and B1/B2.
