Department of Homeland Security lets U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services require online filing of immigration forms
As of our last check on November 3, 2026, this is in effect, since August 11, 2026.
We check the Federal Register daily for later actions. We check federal court opinions for rulings on published rules weekly, on Mondays. A ruling can take time to reach us, so not finding one here does not mean there is none.
In short
- What changed
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an interim final rule, effective August 11, 2026, that lets U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) require online filing of any form that has been available online for 180 days, after posting 60 days' notice on its website. It also creates Form I-936, a $25 request to waive online filing for undue hardship.
- Who's affected
- Any employer that files immigration petitions with USCIS, such as petitions for foreign workers, and the attorneys who file for it. DHS expects that business filers will generally not qualify for a waiver.
- What to do
- This rule creates no new duties for employers yet: no form must be filed online until USCIS posts a 60-day notice for it, which it says will not happen before the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approves the waiver form. Consider watching the USCIS website and preparing to file petitions online; comments are due October 13, 2026.
What changed
-
From the source8 CFR 103.2(a)(1)(ii)
A form filed with USCIS, as defined in 8 CFR 1.2, must be filed electronically, unless waived pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section, where:
Also: 8 CFR 103.2(a)(1)(ii)(A)
The form has been available for e-filing for more than 180 days;
Also: 8 CFR 103.2(a)(1)(ii)(C)
USCIS has published 60 days of advance notice on https://www.uscis.gov providing the date that the paper form will no longer be accepted and the request must be e-filed (either in general or in specified circumstances).
A form filed with USCIS must be filed online, unless waived, when the form has been available for online filing for more than 180 days, USCIS has decided to require online filing for it, and USCIS has posted 60 days of advance notice on its website giving the date paper will no longer be accepted.
-
From the sourceSection IV.B.1, Required Form Types
This rule does not impose or announce a requirement to e-file any benefit request, but this rule authorizes USCIS to do so and provides the procedures USCIS will follow to impose the requirement.
The rule itself does not require any form to be filed online. It gives USCIS the authority to do so and sets the steps USCIS will follow.
-
From the sourceSection V.A, Administrative Procedure Act
the changes will have no practical effect until Form I-936 is approved by OMB and USCIS issues a notice that a form or forms must be e-filed no earlier than 60 days in the future.
The changes have no practical effect until the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approves Form I-936 and USCIS issues a notice that a form must be filed online no earlier than 60 days later.
-
From the source8 CFR 106.2(a)(64)
Request for Waiver of E-Filing Requirement, Form I-936. To request that USCIS waive the requirement that a benefit request must be e-filed: $25.
Also: Section IV.C.1, Qualifying for a Waiver
Requestors may seek a waiver of the e-filing requirement by submitting Form I-936, Request for Waiver of E-Filing Requirement, before submitting a paper filing.
The rule creates Form I-936, Request for Waiver of E-Filing Requirement, with a $25 fee. A waiver must be requested before a paper filing is submitted.
-
From the sourceSection IV.C.2, Submitting a Waiver Request
A waiver approval notice will be valid for 30 days from its date of issue for new filings.
An approved waiver is valid for 30 days from its date of issue for new filings.
-
From the source8 CFR 1.2
E-filing means electronically filing or submitting a benefit request, supporting evidence, document, notice, or communication in a manner made available and approved by USCIS for that purpose
The rule adds a definition of e-filing that covers completing a form online or uploading a completed form through an approved online account.
-
From the sourceSection IV.B.2, Required Fields
Clarifying the regulatory text in this manner will not change the effect of form instructions or result in fewer or more requests being rejected.
The rule restates in plainer language that requests must follow form instructions, and DHS says this does not change the effect of form instructions.
Who is affected
-
From the sourceSection II.C, Summary of the Regulatory Action
For purposes of this rule, DHS uses the term ``requestor'' to refer to anyone submitting any benefit request to USCIS for any purpose.
Also: Section II.C, Summary of the Regulatory Action
Attorneys and accredited representatives are included in the term ``requestor.''
The rule covers anyone who submits a benefit request to USCIS, including attorneys and accredited representatives.
-
From the sourceSection IV.B.7.c, Employers
Employers may file both immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions on behalf of foreign workers.
Also: Section V.B.4.a, Quantifiable Impact
employment-based immigration requests--such as Forms I-129, I-907, I-140, and I-485J--are filed by employers such as HR specialists.
Employers file immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions for foreign workers, and DHS describes employment-based requests such as Forms I-129, I-907, I-140 and I-485J as filed by employers.
-
From the sourceSection IV.C.1, Qualifying for a Waiver
DHS expects certain groups will generally not be eligible for a waiver, such as requestors who have legal representation and requestors who are business entities (as opposed to individuals).
Also: Section IV.C.1, Qualifying for a Waiver
Nevertheless, USCIS will evaluate each request for a waiver on a case-by-case basis
DHS expects that business entities and requestors with legal representation will generally not be eligible for a waiver, though USCIS will review each request case by case.
-
From the sourceSection IV.B.1, Required Form Types
As of December 16, 2025, USCIS offers 22 forms for e-filing, which have all been available for at least 180 days.
Also: Section IV.B.1, Required Form Types
USCIS may announce that some or all of these forms must be e-filed after this rule's publication.
As of December 16, 2025, 22 USCIS forms were available for online filing, all for at least 180 days, and USCIS may announce that some or all of them must be filed online.
What it means in practice
-
From the sourceSection II.D, Summary of Costs and Benefits
Organizations with established paper-based software and workflows may see smaller time savings and incur one-time transition costs to learn the new process, update procedures, train staff, and modify tools.
DHS says organizations with paper-based software and workflows may face one-time costs to learn the new process, update procedures, train staff and modify tools.
-
From the sourceSection II.C, Summary of the Regulatory Action
The e-filing requirement, when mandated, will require individuals to use an online account to submit benefit requests to USCIS
Also: Section IV.B.5, Fees
When a request is e-filed, USCIS requires any fees associated with the request to be paid online.
Online filing requires an online account, and fees for online filings must be paid online.
-
From the sourceSection IV.C.4, Waiver Validity Period and Filing Date Preservation
Requesting a waiver from e-filing will not effectively reserve a spot in line for the intending requestor.
Requesting a waiver does not hold a filer's place in line, so the extra mailing and processing time counts against filing deadlines and priority dates.
-
From the sourceSection IV.B.1, Required Form Types
the online account will prevent a requestor from submitting a benefit request if it does not meet defined acceptance criteria.
Also: Section V.B.4.a, Transfers
DHS currently provides a $50 fee reduction for eligible forms e-filed.
Guided online filing blocks a submission that does not meet acceptance criteria, which DHS says reduces rejected filings. USCIS also currently gives a $50 fee reduction for eligible forms filed online.
-
Our analysisSection IV.C.1, Qualifying for a Waiver
DHS expects certain groups will generally not be eligible for a waiver, such as requestors who have legal representation and requestors who are business entities (as opposed to individuals).
Because DHS expects business filers generally not to qualify for a waiver, employers should plan on filing petitions online once a form is mandated, rather than relying on paper.
What to do
AmendSignal analysis sorts these by whether this document changes them.
Already required
-
From the source8 CFR 103.2(a)(1)(i)
Every form, benefit request, or other document must be submitted and executed in accordance with this section, other applicable provisions of this chapter, and the form instructions designated by DHS for that request.
Also: Section IV.B.2, Required Fields
Clarifying the regulatory text in this manner will not change the effect of form instructions or result in fewer or more requests being rejected.
Submit and complete every form and benefit request in line with the regulations and the form instructions DHS designates for it. The rule restates this duty in plainer language and DHS says it does not change its effect.
Worth considering
-
Our suggestion8 CFR 103.2(a)(1)(ii)(C)
USCIS has published 60 days of advance notice on https://www.uscis.gov providing the date that the paper form will no longer be accepted and the request must be e-filed (either in general or in specified circumstances).
Consider watching the USCIS website (uscis.gov) for notices that a form your organization files, such as Form I-129 or I-140, must be filed online. Each notice gives at least 60 days before paper is no longer accepted.
-
Our suggestionSection II.C, Summary of the Regulatory Action
The e-filing requirement, when mandated, will require individuals to use an online account to submit benefit requests to USCIS
Also: Section IV.B.1, Required Form Types
As of December 16, 2025, USCIS offers 22 forms for e-filing, which have all been available for at least 180 days.
Consider setting up USCIS online accounts for the staff who prepare your petitions and trying online filing now for forms already available online.
-
Our suggestionSection II.C, Summary of the Regulatory Action
Attorneys and accredited representatives are included in the term ``requestor.''
Also: Section IV.C.1, Qualifying for a Waiver
DHS expects certain groups will generally not be eligible for a waiver, such as requestors who have legal representation and requestors who are business entities (as opposed to individuals).
Consider asking your immigration counsel how they plan to move your filings online, since attorneys are covered and DHS expects represented and business filers generally not to qualify for a waiver.
-
Our suggestionSection II.D, Summary of Costs and Benefits
Organizations with established paper-based software and workflows may see smaller time savings and incur one-time transition costs to learn the new process, update procedures, train staff, and modify tools.
Consider reviewing internal procedures, training and tools built around paper petitions so they can support online filing and online fee payment.
-
Our suggestionSection IV.C.4, Waiver Validity Period and Filing Date Preservation
Requesting a waiver from e-filing will not effectively reserve a spot in line for the intending requestor.
Consider building extra lead time into deadline-driven filings if you might seek a waiver, since a waiver request does not hold your place in line.
-
Our suggestionDATES
Comments must be received on or before October 13, 2026.
Consider submitting comments if mandatory online filing would cause problems for your petitions.
Open questions
The source leaves these open. We'll update this record if a later document answers them.
-
When will USCIS first require online filing of the petitions employers file, such as Form I-129 or I-140?
-
Which forms, or which visa categories within a form, will USCIS require to be filed online first?
-
Under what circumstances could a business filer get a waiver of online filing?
Related changes
History
-
Mandatory Electronic Filing (e-Filing) Source (opens in a new tab)