Family & childrenPOLICY UPDATE
Family-Based Immigrant Visa Petition Approvals
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on family-based immigrant visa petitions, including explaining how USCIS handles correcting approval notice errors, requests for consular processing or adjustment of status, and routing procedures for approved petitions.
Effective date and application
This guidance, contained in Volume 6 of the Policy Manual, is effective immediately
Key changes
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on family-based immigrant visa petitions, including explaining how USCIS handles correcting approval notice errors, requests for consular processing or adjustment of status, and routing procedures for approved petitions.
- Provides that in cases where the petitioner does not clearly indicate the intent of the beneficiary to consular process or adjust status, USCIS uses discretion to decide whether to send the petition to the NVC or retain the petition for adjustment of status processing based on evidence of the beneficiary’s most recent location, including the beneficiary’s address on the petition.
- Provides information about how a petitioner may notify USCIS to correct an error or provide an update on a pending or approved Form I-130 petition, including an update related to the beneficiary’s location and intent to adjust status or consular process.
- Provides general guidance on how USCIS determines whether to approve or deny a family- based immigrant petition.
