On Aug. 11, 2026, DHS published an interim final rule authorizing USCIS to require electronic filing for benefit requests that have been e-filing-eligible for at least 180 days — a threshold DHS said 22 forms met as of Dec. 16, 2025 (91 FR 51924).
The rule does not make e-filing mandatory for any specific form today: USCIS must give at least 60 days' advance notice before requiring it for a given form, and applicants who can show e-filing would cause undue hardship may request a waiver on a new Form I-936 ($25 fee, granted at USCIS's discretion, valid for 30 days for initial filings).
The comment period closed on Oct. 13, 2026. As of Oct. 19, 2026, USCIS has not announced a mandate for any specific form. USCIS has not yet posted the Form I-936 waiver form, and the rule says its changes have no practical effect until OMB approves that form and USCIS gives at least 60 days’ notice for a specific form. We’re watching for a form-specific announcement and will flag it here if one is issued.