NIW Adjudications on Hold

A couple of weeks ago we informed you that the AAO decided a case in which they changed the standard for adjudicating NIW cases (See this blog post).  USCIS has confirmed today that ALL pending NIW cases are on hold pending training for officers on the new standard.  USCIS did indicate, however, that processing of these cases should resume by the end of February of this year.

What does this mean for your case?  The chances are that USCIS has not adjudicated any cases since the decision was handed down, more than 1.5 months ago.  The backlog created by this stoppage will take some time to clear out, and will probably delay adjudications by up to 2 months. We will update you if additional information is made available.

Please remember, as always, this blog does not offer legal advice. If you need legal advice, consult with a lawyer instead of a blog. Thank you.

Author: Adam Frank, Esquire

I am an immigration attorney with over 20 years of experience. I was graduated from Brandeis University undergrad in 1990 and then spent a year traveling around Central America. In 1991 I began attending the University of Baltimore School of Law and was graduated in 1994. I began working in Immigration Law in 1998 when I joined a small law firm and, in 2000 opened my own firm with my law partner Ed Leavy. Sadly, Ed passed away in 2011. I am still a partner in my own firm with my current partner Brendan Delaney. Our firm is Frank & Delaney Immigration Law, LLC. View all posts by Adam Frank, Esquire