Reproduced Original Signatures Temporarily Accepted by USCIS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that, due to the ongoing COVID-19,  the agency will accept reproduced original signatures in all immigration applications and petitions, including the Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, for submissions dated March 21, 2020, and beyond.  

USCIS already accepts reproduced original signatures in some forms. This means that a document may be scanned, faxed, photocopied, or similarly reproduced provided that the copy must be of an original document containing an original handwritten signature,  Even for forms that require an original “wet” signature, per form instructions, USCIS will accept electronically reproduced original signatures for the duration of the National Emergency. This temporary change only applies to signatures. All other form instructions still apply.

Applicants who submit documents bearing an electronically reproduced original signature must also retain copies of the original documents containing the “wet” signature.  USCIS may, at any time, request the original documents, which if not produced, could negatively impact the adjudication of the immigration benefit.