United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the main government agency that processes immigration applications in the United States. USCIS is one of many agencies involved in immigration governance and falls under the management of the Department of Homeland Security. Show
USCIS evaluates a person’s eligibility for citizenship, naturalization, immigration based on familial status, permanent residency status, visa extensions, and humanitarian aid. USCIS also plays a major role in evaluating eligibility for asylum and work visas that involves other agencies and immigration courts. The authority as shared between agencies is rather complex. For example, USCIS, the Department of Labor, and the Bureau of Consular Affairs all play a role in granting H-1B visas. USCIS along with court cases at the Executive Office of Immigration Review are renowned for their backlog of applications and cases. A person may face a year or longer before having determinations on their immigration status for certain kinds of applications. Compare with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). [Last updated in May of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team] U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)[3] is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that administers the country's naturalization and immigration system. It is a successor to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), which was dissolved by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and replaced by three components within the DHS: USCIS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). USCIS performs many of the duties of the former INS, namely processing and adjudicating various immigration matters, including applications for work visas, asylum, and citizenship. Additionally, the agency is officially tasked with safeguarding national security, maintaining immigration case backlogs, and improving efficiency. Ur Jaddou has been the director of USCIS since August 3, 2021. Functions[edit] USCIS Office in Atlanta, Georgia USCIS processes immigrant visa petitions, naturalization applications, asylum applications, applications for adjustment of status (green cards), and refugee applications. It also makes adjudicative decisions performed at the service centers, and manages all other immigration benefits functions (i.e., not immigration enforcement) performed by the former INS. The USCIS's other responsibilities include:
While core immigration benefits functions remain the same as under the INS, a new goal is to process immigrants' applications more efficiently. Improvement efforts have included attempts to reduce the applicant backlog and providing customer service through different channels, including the USCIS Contact Center with information in English and Spanish, Application Support Centers (ASCs), the Internet, and other channels. Enforcement of immigration laws remains under Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). USCIS focuses on two key points on the immigrant's path to civic integration: when they first become permanent residents and when they are ready to begin the formal naturalization process. A lawful permanent resident is eligible to become a U.S. citizen after holding the Permanent Resident Card for at least five continuous years, with no trips out of the country of 180 days or more. If the lawful permanent resident marries a U.S. citizen, eligibility for U.S. citizenship is shortened to three years so long as the resident has been living with their spouse continuously for at least three years and the spouse has been a resident for at least three years. Forms[edit]USCIS handles all forms and processing materials related to immigration and naturalization. This is evident from USCIS' predecessor, the INS, (Immigration and Naturalization Service) which is defunct as of March 1, 2003.[4][circular reference] USCIS currently handles two kinds of forms: those relating to immigration, and those related to naturalization. Forms are designated by a specific name, and an alphanumeric sequence consisting of one letter, followed by two or three digits. Forms related to immigration are designated with an I (for example, I-551, Permanent Resident Card) and forms related to naturalization are designated by an N (for example, N-400, Application for Naturalization). List of directors of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services[edit]
1 Ken Cuccinelli served from July 8, 2019 to December 31, 2019 as de facto Acting Director. His tenure as Acting Director was ruled unlawful. He remained Principal Deputy Director at USCIS for the remainder of his tenure. Immigration courts and judges[edit]The United States immigration courts and immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals which hears appeals from them, are part of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) within the United States Department of Justice. (USCIS is part of the Department of Homeland Security.)[5] Operations[edit]Internet presence[edit]USCIS' official website was redesigned in 2009 and unveiled on September 22, 2009.[6] The last major redesign before 2009 was in October 2006. The USCIS website now includes a virtual assistant, Emma, who answers questions in English and Spanish.[7] Inquiry and issue resolution[edit]USCIS's website contains self-service tools, including a case status checker and address change request form. Applicants, petitioners, and their authorized representatives can also submit case inquiries and service requests on USCIS's website. The inquiries and requests are routed to the relevant USCIS center or office to process. Case inquiries may involve asking about a case that is outside of normal expected USCIS processing times for the form. Inquiries and service requests may also concern not receiving a notice, card, or document by mail, correcting typographical errors, and requesting disability accommodations.[8] If the self-service tools on USCIS's website cannot help resolve an issue, the applicant, petitioner, or authorized representative can contact the USCIS Contact Center. If the Contact Center cannot assist the inquirer directly, the issue will be forwarded to the relevant USCIS center or office for review. Some applicants and petitioners, primarily those who are currently outside of the United States, may also schedule appointments on USCIS's website Funding[edit]Unlike most other federal agencies, USCIS is funded almost entirely by user fees, most of it via the Immigration Examinations Fee Account (IEFA).[9] USCIS is authorized to collect fees for its immigration case adjudication and naturalization services by the Immigration and Nationality Act.[10] In fiscal year 2020, USCIS had a budget of US$4.85 billion; 97.3% of the budget was funded through fees and 2.7% through congressional appropriations.[11] Staffing[edit]USCIS consists of approximately 19,000 federal employees and contractors working at 223 offices around the world.[12] Mission statement[edit]USCIS's mission statement was changed on February 9, 2022. USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou announced the new mission statement. In 2021, USCIS leadership empowered employees to submit words that they felt best illustrated the agency's work. The new mission statement reflects this feedback from the workforce, the priorities of the Biden administration, and Jaddou's vision for an inclusive and accessible agency.[13] The mission statement now reads:
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What does the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services?The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is responsible for processing immigration and naturalization applications and establishing policies regarding immigration services.
Why is USCIS taking so long to process 2022?Many factors may affect how long it takes USCIS to complete an application, petition or request, such as the number of applications, petitions, or requests we receive, workload and staffing allocations, the time a benefit requestor takes responding to a request for more information, as well as policy and operational ...
How do I become a 2022 US citizen?What to do:. Complete the questionnaire on Form N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony.. Report for your naturalization ceremony and check in with USCIS. ... . Turn in your Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).. Take the Oath of Allegiance to become a U.S. citizen.. How can I check the status of my citizenship application?You only have to access USCIS' Case Status Online directly through uscis.gov. The Case Status Online landing page shows other quick reference online tools, such as how to change your address online, how to submit an inquiry about your case (e-Request), case processing times and how to locate a USCIS office.
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The united states citizenship and immigration services
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