U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently undertaken an effort to issue refunds to certain petitioners of U nonimmigrant status after several clerical mistakes were made between June 14 and Sept. 29.
During the time frame, USCIS mistakenly denied applications for employment authorization (Forms I-765) that were submitted without a fee, a USCIS press release said. They also mistakenly accepted fees from certain petitioners that did not require a fee with their I-765 form.
“Individuals who filed an initial bona-fide-determination-related Form I-765 under the (c)(14) eligibility category from Jun. 14 through Sept. 29, 2021, whose Form I-765 was rejected for lack of fee, and who have not refiled, may resubmit Form I-765 without a fee.” the release said.
USCIS will also provide refunds to those who paid a fee with Form I-765 either when first submitted or in response to a rejection for lacking the fee prior to Sept. 30, the release said.
USCIS is working towards identifying those affected and correcting the error, the release said. The office expects to begin issuing refunds on March 22, 2022.
The I-918 petition for U Nonimmigrant Status applies to noncitizens that are victims of qualifying criminal activity, the USCIS said. It allows individuals to receive temporary immigration benefits for themselves and their families.
