USCIS to Reject Migrant Visa and Green Card Applications with Invalid Signatures from July 10

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began enforcing a new procedural rule on July 10, altering the evaluation of applications for immigration benefits, including visas and green cards. This measure allows the agency to reject or deny applications when it identifies signatures that fail to meet established requirements.

Previously, if a signature was deemed invalid during the initial document review, the application was rejected and returned to the applicant with their payment. Under the new regulation, USCIS can also take action when such an irregularity is discovered after the application has been accepted for processing. The agency emphasizes that a valid signature is required on all applications, petitions, and other submitted documents.

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To maintain the integrity of the system and validate the identity of the applicants, USCIS rejects any form with an incorrect signature and returns it to the applicant.

USCIS stated on its website that it rejects any form submitted with an incorrect signature and returns it to the applicant to maintain system integrity and validate applicant identity. The agency does not provide an opportunity to correct a deficient signature, but individuals can resubmit their application with a valid one. This update aims to strengthen verification mechanisms and reduce situations linked to potential document fraud, responding to an increase in cases involving irregular signatures on immigration forms.

Invalid signatures that can lead to rejection or denial include those that are not personal, are illegible, are photocopied, or are not the applicant's own. The agency indicated that each form must contain the applicant's personal signature, executed according to current rules. Failure to comply can result in the rejection or denial of that specific application. When USCIS denies an application due to an invalid signature, it retains the submission fee for administrative costs and the requested immigration benefit is denied for that specific filing. However, the affected individual can still request a review of the decision through an appeal or motion.

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The agency does not offer the opportunity to correct a deficient signature. However, the interested party can resubmit the application with a valid stroke.