U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the customer service options for petitioners filing Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition.
Effective immediately (June 25, 2024), USCIS Contact Center personnel may respond to an inquiry about Form I-730 after they verify both the identity and that the requestor is authorized to receive this protected information. The petitioner and their authorized legal representative are the only people who may receive information about a Form I-730.
When calling the USCIS Contact Center with a question or to request a service related to a Form I-730, the caller should have their receipt notice on hand for reference. USCIS also recommends that, if possible, the caller have a copy of the Form I-730 that they are calling about.
When appropriate, USCIS may refer callers to other online resources, such as:
- USCIS Tools and Resources;
- The Case Status Online tool (which may help you determine the current status of your pending petition); or
- The Form I-730 webpage.
If Contact Center personnel cannot resolve an inquiry, they will submit a service request to the office with jurisdiction for resolution.
Federal regulations at 8 CFR 208.6 generally prohibit USCIS from disclosing information about or contained in asylum applications, credible fear determinations, and reasonable fear determinations to third parties. It is Department of Homeland Security policy that these confidentiality protections include Form I-730. USCIS is committed to maintaining confidentiality for individuals protected under 8 CFR 208.6 and responsibly disclosing information while reducing barriers to benefits and services for this population.
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For more information, please see the policy alert [PDF]. Visit the Policy Manual Feedback page to provide feedback on this update.
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.