Data / Federal rules / 2026-16313
Mandatory Electronic Filing (e-Filing)
The Homeland Security Department published this final rule in the Federal Register on August 11, 2026. It took effect on August 11, 2026. Comments closed on October 13, 2026.
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What the agency says
This interim final rule (IFR) amends U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations to provide: USCIS may require mandatory electronic filing (e-filing) of certain benefit requests; the process USCIS will follow to require a benefit request to be e-filed; and how a waiver of the e-filing requirement for those individuals unable to file electronically may be requested. This rule is intended to increase digital intake and processing to move USCIS and requestors from a mostly paper process to an electronic process and further enhance the integrity of the immigration system and the security of the United States.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2026-16313
- Type
- Final rule
- Action
- Interim final rule (IFR) with request for comments
- Agency
- Homeland Security Department
- Published
- August 11, 2026
- Takes effect
- August 11, 2026
- Comments due
- October 13, 2026
- Dates
- This IFR is effective August 11, 2026.
- Docket
- CIS No. 2853-26; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2026-0232
- Regulation ID (RIN)
- 1615-AD19
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 8 CFR 1; 8 CFR 103; 8 CFR 106
- Topics
- Administrative practice and procedure; Authority delegations (Government agencies); Citizenship and naturalization; Fees; Freedom of information; Immigration; Privacy; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Surety bonds
- Pages
- 48
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Everything from the Homeland Security Department · Rules on administrative practice and procedure · Rules on authority delegations (government agencies) · Rules on citizenship and naturalization · Published in August 2026
Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.