Coronavirus Grounds for USCIS Expedite?

[cbro 59]

I am a USC petitioning for my spouse.  We live in Hong Kong with our 2 younger children.   Does anyone think its worth a shot asking USCIS for an expedite with the coronavirus??  Its not getting hit like the mainland parts of China but there is a lot of local concern that it will be.

[Going through 5,669]

40 minutes ago, cbro said:

I am a USC petitioning for my spouse.  We live in Hong Kong with our 2 younger children.   Does anyone think its worth a shot asking USCIS for an expedite with the coronavirus??  Its not getting hit like the mainland parts of China but there is a lot of local concern that it will be.

USCIS may consider an expedite request if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

• Severe financial loss to a company or person, provided that the need for urgent action is not the result of the petitioner’s or applicant’s failure to:
  1. File the benefit request or the expedite request in a reasonable time frame, or
  2. Respond to any requests for additional evidence in a reasonably timely manner;
• Urgent humanitarian reasons;
• Compelling U.S. government interests (such as urgent cases for the Department of Defense or DHS, or other public safety or national security interests); or
• Clear USCIS error.

 

Humanitarian reasons can be the general catch-all at times in the minds of applicants, however it must also be urgent in nature.  I don't see them granting an expedite based on the possibility that someone "might" contract a virus.  

 

Of course you are free to request one---doesn't cost anything to do so.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[Just Paul 4,595]

Since it is free to ask, it is worth contacting USCIS about.  Hong Kong is only a level 2 alert right now with the Department of State.  Same as it has been since the protest started.

[cbro 59]

Thanks guys - will perhaps give it a shot.  I tried before when the protests were at their peak in our neighborhood especially - and got denied, obviously.  Perhaps this is a slightly stronger/less avoidable case/situation but I imagine they would just deny saying I can take my kids with me and leave my wife here to wait it out.  (I am USC wife is AUS cit but we live here in HK)