Immigration Relief in Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances
Alert Type info
ALERT: We have issued guidance in the Policy Manual, Volume 1, Part H, on certain flexibilities that may be available during and after an emergency or unforeseen circumstance.
For more information, see the web alert or policy alert.
Alert Type info
ALERT: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reminds the public that the United States offers immigration and related services that may help people affected by emergencies and unforeseen circumstances, including the Israel-Hamas conflict. The following resources provide information that may be helpful to those impacted.
Unforeseen circumstances, such as natural catastrophes (hurricanes, wildfires, severe weather, etc.), national emergencies (public health emergencies), severe illness (including COVID), or conflicts abroad, can sometimes affect the processing of your USCIS application, petition, or immigration request.
USCIS has discretion to take the below measures on a case-by-case basis upon request, if you have been affected by an unforeseen circumstance.
You can request assistance by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283. For people with disabilities: (TTY) 800-767-1833 or (VRS) 877-709-5797. In order to request an expedite through the Contact Center, you must have already filed a benefit request and have a receipt number.
When you request help, please explain how the impact of an unforeseen circumstance (domestic or international) created a need for the requested relief. For example, if you lost all evidence of status or employment authorization, include an explanation in your description and a copy of a police report, insurance claim, or other report, if available, to support your request.
Domestically, USCIS will apply flexibilities as appropriate to individuals affected by natural catastrophes who live in a location that FEMA has identified as a disaster area for purposes of public assistance. When you request assistance, please include evidence that you reside in one of the affected counties, in addition to how the catastrophe created a need for the requested relief. USCIS may also apply such flexibilities as appropriate to individuals affected by emergent situations independent of any FEMA designation.
Please update your address with USCIS to ensure you receive all correspondence and benefits from us in a timely manner and avoid possible delays related to your case. To update your address with USCIS, visit our How to Change Your Address page. Please note that changing your address with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will not change your address with USCIS. Please contact USPS if you need to temporarily hold or forward your mail due to unforeseen circumstances or a temporary relocation.