USCIS will be able to deny filings over an improper signature even after accepting the case

DHS has published a new interim final rule that establishes a stricter procedure for applications and petitions with an invalid signature.

Starting July 10, 2026, if USCIS accepts a filing, issues a receipt notice, and later determines that the signature was invalid, the agency will be able to either reject the filing or issue a denial. The new rule will apply to requests submitted on or after July 10, 2026. Comments on the rule will also be accepted until that same date.

The key point is that a signature problem may be discovered not at the initial intake stage, but only after the case has already been accepted for processing and the person believes everything was filed correctly.

If USCIS chooses denial, the agency will be able to:

• keep the filing fee that was paid;
• treat the request as fully adjudicated;
• state that the applicant failed to establish eligibility for the requested benefit.

DHS emphasizes that this is not an entirely new policy. Since 2018, USCIS has already taken the position that an accepted filing with a defective signature discovered later may be denied. But now this is being expressly added to the federal regulations so that officers have a formal basis to act this way.

What USCIS considers a problematic signature

The document specifically mentions situations such as:

• an image of a signature copied and pasted into a form;
• the same signature inserted into several different documents;
• a signature made not by the applicant personally, but by an attorney, preparer, or interpreter;
• a signature created through signature software;
• a stamped signature, if that type of signature is not permitted by the instructions for the specific form.

At the same time, it is important not to confuse this with copies: USCIS will still accept a scan, copy, or fax of a form if it is a copy of a document that was originally and validly signed by hand. In other words, the problem is not that a copy is submitted, but that the signature was never actually placed on the original document.

Also, in certain online filings through myUSCIS, a secure electronic signature offered by the system during the filing process is acceptable. But outside of those procedures, a regular electronic or graphic signature is not considered valid.

Why USCIS is introducing this rule

The agency writes that Lockbox is not always able to determine during initial screening whether a signature is genuine. At intake, it is often possible to see only that the form contains some handwritten mark. But determining that it is, for example, a pasted image from another document may only be possible later - during a more detailed review of the case.

USCIS also points to the scale of the issue. In FY 2025, the agency received more than 13 million benefit requests. The number of denials for signature-related reasons increased from 300 in FY 2021 to 2,953 in FY 2025.

What this means in practice

A receipt notice should now be viewed even less as confirmation that everything in the form is definitely correct. If USCIS later determines that the signature was invalid, the agency may return to this issue after months or even years of waiting.

This may be especially sensitive for filings where the following matter:

• deadlines;
• priority or queue position;
• age-related limitations;
• visa limits;
• preserving pending status or benefits connected to it.

USCIS separately states that an invalid signature cannot be corrected retroactively. An officer may request evidence that the signature is genuine or ask for the original signed document if there are doubts. But if the signature is ultimately found invalid, the case may be rejected or denied - simply replacing the signature in a filing that has already been accepted will not be possible.

In practice, the rule is aimed first of all at mass preparation of filing packets with copy-paste signatures and other practices USCIS considers unacceptable. But for ordinary applicants, the takeaway is also very simple: the signature on a form must be completed strictly under USCIS rules, not pasted as an image into a PDF and not created through third-party signature generators where that is not allowed.

Source: Federal Register.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Translations are provided for convenience and may contain errors or omissions. For guidance on your specific situation, always consult official sources or a qualified attorney.