A simplified step for immigrants with disabilities
Yesterday, U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is making an update to a form which will help streamline the immigration process.
The N-648 form, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, has long been criticized for being outdated with unpractical and redundant questions.
The updated N-648 form has been shortened and now has the option to include telehealth medical records. It also allows an applicant’s doctor to indicate their need for an oath waiver, which streamlines the process of compiling necessary documents.
This update to the immigration process is closely tied to two executive orders (E.O.) which were rolled out within the first month of the Biden-Harris administration.
The first is E.O. 14012, Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for new Americans. A convoluted immigration process with cumbersome bureaucratic requirements have long given the U.S. immigration system a bad reputation. By finding lawful ways to simplify the process, a higher degree of justice can be served.
The second is E.O. 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. This specific update affects immigrants with disabilities, one of the most underserved communities in our nation.
Squarely falling under the government’s commitment to “pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all,” this small adjustment to the N-648 form has the potential to vastly improve the lives of many underserved U.S. residents.