USCIS Denials Over Signature Irregularities: A Critical Compliance Alert for H-1B Filings

August 13, 2025
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USCIS Denials Over Signature Irregularities: A Critical Compliance Alert for H-1B Filings

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has intensified scrutiny of signature compliance in H-1B petitions, leading to a growing number of Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) and outright denials. At the center of this enforcement action is the requirement that all signatures on Form I-129 must be valid handwritten signatures, either originally ink-signed or properly reproduced from an original, not electronically inserted or duplicated.   Under 8 CFR § 103.2(a)(2), a valid signature is defined as one made by hand on the original document. During the COVID-19 pandemic, USCIS allowed temporary flexibility in accepting photocopies, scans, or faxes of documents containing original handwritten signatures—but the original had to be physically signed by hand [USCIS COVID Signature Policy]. Importantly, this flexibility did not authorize the use of electronically pasted images of signatures, nor the use of identical signature copies across multiple pages.   In recent adjudications, USCIS identified multiple I-129 petitions in which all required signatures appeared identical across pages, suggesting the use of a scanned image or digital copy. USCIS emphasized that such uniformity is inconsistent with the natural variation of genuine ink signatures and determined these signatures were not compliant with applicable regulations and instructions. The agency concluded that the petitions had not been properly signed and therefore could not be adjudicated favorably.   USCIS further clarified that:
  • A valid signature must be handwritten by the signatory;
  • A photocopy or scanned copy of a document containing an original ink signature is acceptable, as long as the original document was physically signed;
  • Signatures created by typewriter, word processor, auto-pen, or pasted as images do not satisfy the requirement;
  • USCIS does not provide an opportunity to cure or correct a deficient signature once filed—such petitions may be denied outright.
  In one decision, USCIS noted that all three signatures required on Form I-129 were identical, indicating that the same digital signature image may have been applied across multiple pages. In another instance, the agency rejected newly submitted signature pages where the ink signatures did not match or could not be verified as originating from the original submission, reaffirming its position that only true handwritten signatures—made on the original or validly reproduced from an original—are acceptable under USCIS policy and regulations.   According to Volume 1, Part B, Chapter 2 of the USCIS Policy Manual, every benefit request must include a valid signature to be accepted. Petitions that fail this requirement are rejected, and USCIS does not offer a chance to correct the deficiency.   Employers, attorneys, and preparers must ensure that all Form I-129 filings contain valid handwritten signatures—either in original ink or a proper reproduction of an originally signed page. Identical signatures appearing across multiple pages can be interpreted as noncompliant, especially if they resemble digitally inserted images or stamps. Retaining original signed copies and carefully reviewing the consistency of each signature page is essential to avoid fatal defects in the petition process.   Given the high stakes of visa adjudication, failure to comply with USCIS’s signature requirements—however technical—can result in the denial of petitions that would otherwise be approvable. Strict procedural compliance remains critical for successful H-1B processing.
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