Home/Family (K)/USCIS Updates Policy Guidance for the “Sought to Acquire” Requirement Under the Child Status Protection Act

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance for the “Sought to Acquire” Requirement Under the Child Status Protection Act

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Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm deadlines on the official notice or with a qualified professional.

USCIS has updated its policy manual to clarify how it applies exceptions to the 'sought to acquire' requirement under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), following a February 2023 policy change. This guidance affects family-based immigration cases where children's ages and derivative status eligibility are at stake. The update provides clearer standards for when extraordinary circumstances may excuse delays in filing family petitions.
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We are updating the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify how we will apply the extraordinary circumstances exception to the “sought to acquire” requirement under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) in light of a Feb. 14, 2023, policy change.

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