Last fall, the USCIS introduced another roadblock modification to the immigration system making it harder for foreign nationals to come to the US. It began rejecting applications unless every single field was filled in, even those that obviously did not pertain to the applicant which is called the No-Blank Policy.
No-Blank Policy
Immigration lawyers and applicants started noticing that applications were starting to be denied because of being “incomplete”, when the only blank spaces were those that didn’t relate to the applicant, for example, a middle name.
This is what they are calling the No-Blank Policy that has affected forms like the I-918 (Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status) and the I-589 (Application for Asylum or Withholding of Removal).
The USCIS website stated this about the No-Blank Policy:
“We may reject your Form I-918 or your Form I-918 Supplement A if you leave a field blank, unless the field is optional. Optional fields include the safe mailing address as well as fields you should only complete if you answered yes to a previous question. You must provide a response to all other questions, even if the response is “none,” “unknown” or “n/a.” We will reject a Form I-918 or a Form I-918 Supplement A that has, for example, an empty field for middle name, for current immigration status, or for information pertaining to a spouse or child.”
With that being said, it’s vital to always fill in blanks within your immigration forms even if it’s with “N/A,” “UNKNOWN,” or “NONE.” The USCIS is being strict on this policy and willing to reject these forms.
Why You Need An Immigration Lawyer!
There are a number of reasons you can benefit from hiring an immigration lawyer. Its times like these when you need another set of experienced eyes to look over your immigration documents before processing. This is to make sure your documents are correctly completed to avoid denial. Many of these immigration processes can be complicated and long so you wouldn’t want to be rejected because of a simple policy like the No-Blank Policy. Hire an immigration lawyer today!
Interested in Immigrating to the United States?
If you find yourself affected by this announcement and need legal assistance, contact VisaPlace today. All of our cases are handled by competent and experienced immigration professionals who are affiliated with VisaPlace. These professionals consist of lawyers, licensed paralegals, and consultants who work for Niren and Associates an award-winning immigration firm that adheres to the highest standards of client service.
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VisaPlace Immigration News Contributor
Sierra
Hi there! I am one of VisaPlace's immigration content writers. If you have any questions regarding this article, please comment below!
