The Department of Homeland Security has announced a regulatory change allowing the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to deny immigration benefit requests based on invalid signatures discovered after the initial acceptance of a filing.

國土安全部已宣布一項監管變更，允許美國公民及移民服務局 (USCIS) 在申請文件初步受理後，若發現簽名無效，可拒絕其移民福利申請。

The interim final rule, published on May 11 and scheduled for implementation on July 10, 2026, amends 8 CFR 103.2(a)(7)(ii). This modification grants USCIS officers the discretionary authority to either reject a filing at intake or deny a request following adjudication if a signature is deemed invalid. A critical distinction exists between these two actions: a rejection permits the return of filing fees and the subsequent correction of the document, whereas a denial constitutes a final adjudication. Consequently, a denial results in the forfeiture of fees and necessitates the submission of a new petition, thereby resetting the applicant's priority date in the processing queue.

該臨時最終規則於 5 月 11 日公布，預計於 2026 年 7 月 10 日實施，修訂了 8 CFR 103.2(a)(7)(ii)。此次修訂賦予 USCIS 官員酌情權，若簽名被視為無效，可選擇在受理申請時予以退回（reject），或在審理後予以拒絕（deny）。這兩種處置有顯著區別：退回（reject）允許退還申請費並隨後修正文件，而拒絕（deny）則構成最終審理結果。因此，拒絕將導致申請費被沒收，且必須提交新申請，從而重置申請人在處理隊列中的優先日期（priority date）。

Institutional justifications for this shift center on the preservation of systemic integrity. The Department of Homeland Security cited an escalation in fraudulent practices, specifically the proliferation of 'copy-and-paste' signatures. Data from the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office indicates 758 appeals were processed concerning denials predicated on such duplicated signatures. To mitigate these risks, the agency has specified acceptable formats, including original wet-ink signatures, scanned copies of original signatures, and approved electronic signatures. Conversely, the use of signature stamps, digitally created signatures, and unauthorized third-party signatures is explicitly prohibited.

機構對此轉變的理由集中在維護系統的完整性。國土安全部指出詐欺行為有所增加，特別是「複製貼上」簽名的泛濫。根據 USCIS 行政上訴辦公室的數據，共有 758 宗涉及因簽名重複而被拒絕的案件。為了降低風險，該機構指定了可接受的格式，包括原件濕墨簽名、原簽名的掃描件以及經批准的電子簽名。相反，明確禁止使用簽名章、數位生成簽名以及未經授權的第三方簽名。

Stakeholder perspectives on the measure are bifurcated. Former DHS official Adam Klein posited that the rule reflects a shift in institutional culture toward the restriction of benefits, noting that the expanded discretion could disproportionately affect applicants lacking legal counsel and lead to lapses in lawful status. Conversely, Morgan Bailey of Mayer Brown suggested that the rule provides necessary regulatory clarity, although the practical outcome remains contingent upon whether the agency targets genuine fraud or technical, curable errors.

利益相關者對該措施的看法分歧。前國土安全部官員 Adam Klein 認為，該規則反映了機構文化轉向限制福利，並指出擴大的酌情權可能會對缺乏法律顧問的申請人造成不相稱的影響，並導致合法身份中斷。相反，Mayer Brown 的 Morgan Bailey 認為該規則提供了必要的監管清晰度，儘管實際結果仍取決於該機構是針對真正的詐欺，還是可修正的技術錯誤。

The new regulation establishes a more stringent enforcement mechanism for signature validity, shifting the risk of technical errors from the agency to the applicant.

新法規為簽名有效性建立了更嚴格的執行機制，將技術錯誤的風險從機構轉移至申請人身上。