On Friday, March 19, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a suspension of the “wet” signature requirement for certain filings, allowing for copies of handwritten signatures to be accepted. The original “wet” signature must be maintained by the person filing in case it is later requested to prove the validity of the application. 

USCIS also announced a suspension of premium processing for all I-129s and I-140s not already filed by March 20, 2020. They will process those pending, but will not use overnight mailers to return the approvals. The suspension is related to COVID-19 measures and no end date was stated. 

Employers and individuals with immigration questions are encouraged to contact an attorney. Procedures are changing almost daily.