USCIS announced that biometric requirements will continue to be suspended through September 30, 2023, for applicants filing Form I-539 for their H-4, L-2, E-1, E-2, or E-3 derivative status. Although these applicants will not be required to attend a biometrics appointment for fingerprinting and photos, USCIS may require biometrics on a case-by-case basis. Any Form I-539 applicants who receive a biometrics appointment notice should attend their interview, as a failure to do so may be deemed as abandonment of the application. Later this year USCIS plans to remove the biometrics requirement entirely for all Form I-539 applicants. By eliminating the biometrics requirement, USCIS hopes to alleviate backlogs and reduce processing times.
