Related videos:
A new regulation from the Department of Homeland Security went into effect last Thursday, July 10, and significantly changes the consequences of submitting a petition for immigration benefits to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with an invalid or missing signature.
Under the previous rules, when the agency detected a signature issue, it would return the form to the applicant for correction without any financial loss or case closure.
Starting July 10, that correction margin disappears: if USCIS accepts an application and later determines that the signature is not valid, it can reject or deny it outright, without issuing a Request for Evidence or providing an opportunity to correct the error.
In case of denial, the submitted fee will not be refunded and the applicant will have to start the process from scratch.
The regulation, published in the Federal Register on May 11, 2026, as a final interim rule, applies exclusively to applications submitted starting July 10; processes already underway before that date continue to be governed by the previous practice.
What signatures does USCIS accept and which ones does it reject?
The regulation precisely specifies which types of signatures are valid: the original handwritten signature in ink, scanned or photocopied copies of an original handwritten signature, and electronic signatures generated within the online submission systems authorized by the agency itself.
On the contrary, signatures generated by word processing software, copied and pasted signature images in the document, digital signatures from platforms not authorized by USCIS—such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign—automatic stamps or devices, and typed names instead of a handwritten signature are considered invalid.
The agency justified the measure by stating that "all these types of invalid signatures raise doubts about the integrity of the application," including risks of fraud or forgery.
Affected forms and one exception
The regulation practically covers all immigration forms that require a signature, including the I-485 (adjustment of status or green card), the I-765 (work permit), the I-601, the I-360, and the I-912.
There is a limited exception: the N-600 and N-600K forms, related to citizenship by birth or derivation, can only be rejected—not denied—if the only detected deficiency is an invalid signature.
Warnings from experts
Adam Klein, former DHS official, warned the magazine Newsweek that the consequences may extend beyond losing the money paid.
"For many applicants and employers, a denial can mean restarting the entire process," Klein pointed out, also warning about possible "gaps in work authorization or the loss of immigration status."
Although the government argues that it aims to regulate the system and prevent irregularities, the practical impact is a more complex and risky process for applicants.
"If the benefit is denied... they will not be on the list to receive that status. Applicants have to go back to the end of the line," Klein explained.
Context of migration hardening
This regulation complements other measures adopted under the Trump administration that have tightened the requirements for obtaining permanent residency, including a memorandum that reframes the adjustment of status as an "extraordinary discretionary relief" and the stringency of interviews before USCIS.
The new rules not only tighten the technical requirements. They also reinforce the discretionary nature of the status adjustment process, which means that meeting the requirements no longer guarantees approval.
An internal memorandum from USCIS instructs officials to evaluate each case individually, taking into account multiple factors beyond the basic criteria. This introduces a higher level of uncertainty for applicants.
Klein described a fundamental shift in institutional culture: "From a body of officers that aimed to ensure the right benefits reached the right person, to one that seems focused simply on not providing benefits."
Morgan Bailey, another former DHS official, pointed out that "the concern is not with the clarity itself, but with how the agency will use that authority."
The current restrictions will remain in place at least until September 30, 2026, when the federal fiscal year ends and the visa quotas are renewed.
Filed under: