USCIS reviews Form I-130 for migrant family petitions; electronic filing push continues

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a notice to review the information collection process for Form I-130, the document used by U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to petition for a foreign relative to immigrate. The announcement, made July 16, opened a public comment period that will extend until September 14.

This review is happening concurrently with the Trump administration's push for a rule that would mandate electronic filing for Form I-130 and other immigration applications. This move aims to streamline processes but could pose challenges for some applicants.

The proposed rule includes a provision for an exemption via a new Form I-936 for individuals for whom electronic filing would cause "undue hardship." This exemption would carry a $25 fee, though humanitarian applicants might qualify for fee waivers. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that approximately 249,000 individuals might seek this exemption annually.

USCIS has detailed the legal obligations for registration and fingerprinting for foreigners in the U.S. as part of this review. The agency is also exploring other reforms impacting the I-130 process. The article notes that this content was produced with the assistance of AI.