Mandatory Electronic Filing (e-Filing)

What it does

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.

The Homeland Security Department's summary, as published in the Federal Register.

What changed in the regulation

3 parts of Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

8 CFR 1, 8 CFR 103, 8 CFR 106

Wording on eCFR: the day before it took effect and from the day it took effect (first part listed).

Compared with

The Homeland Security Department has published 23 final rules in 2026 so far, compared with 16 in all of 2025.

Counted by the Tribune from Federal Register records since Jan. 1, 2025.

Before this

No earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 1615-AD19 since Jan. 1, 2025.

What happens next and when

This IFR is effective August 11, 2026.

The agency's dates, word for word.

Check it yourself

• The document in the Federal Register
• Docket USCIS-2026-0232 on Regulations.gov
• Title 8 on eCFR

The record as published

Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register