In pursuance of the District Court Order in Ruiz-Diaz v. United States, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Acting Associate Director, Donald Neufeld has issued a memorandum implementing the court direction regarding I-360 religious workers. The district court directed USCIS to accept properly filed Forms I-360, Forms I-485 and Applications for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) from certain religious workers affected by USCIS implementation of regulation at 8 C.F.R. §245.2(a)(2)(i)(B). Eligible applicants may also file an Application for Travel Document, Form I-131, as long as they properly filed the application. Effective immediately, USCIS personnel are advised to comply instructions outlined in the Neufeld Memo.

For readers’ understanding, the decision in Ruiz-Diaz v. United States is the result of a class action lawsuit challenging implementation by the USCIS of the concurrent filing regulation at 8 C.F.R. §245.2(a)(2)(i)(B). The said regulation precluded individuals from seeking classification as religious workers and their ability to concurrently file a Petition for Amerasian, Widower, or Special Immigrant (Form I-360) with an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485).

For detailed information, please read: Neufeld Memo Enforces District Court Order in Ruiz-Diaz v. United States