Effective May 17, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will temporarily suspend the biometrics requirement for certain applicants filing Form I-539 application to request an extension of stay in or change of status to H-4, L-2, and E nonimmigrant status.  This suspension will apply through May 17, 2023.

This suspension will apply only to the above categories of Form I-539 applications that are either:

• Pending as of May 17, 2021, and have not yet received a biometric services appointment notice; or
• New applications postmarked or submitted electronically on or after May 17, 2021.

Applicants meeting the criteria above are not required to submit the $85 biometric services fee for Form I-539 during the suspension period. USCIS will begin rejecting paper Form I-539 applications postmarked May 27, 2021, or later (while this suspension of the biometrics requirement is in effect), if applicants meeting the above criteria submit a single payment covering both the filing fee and the $85 biometrics services fee.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services retains discretion on a case-by-case basis to require biometrics for applicants who meet the criteria above during the suspension period.

See more details here:

https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-temporarily-suspends-biometrics-requirement-for-certain-form-i-539-applicants

Please contact Shuyuan Michelle Tian, Esq. of Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP for questions regarding the temporary suspension of biometrics and I-539 applications.