The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is responsible for processing immigration and naturalization applications and establishing policies regarding immigration services.
It is a component of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), performing many administrative functions formerly carried out by the former United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), which was part of the Department of Justice.
The stated priorities of USCIS are to promote national security, to eliminate immigration case backlogs, and to improve customer services.
Functions Of US Citizenship And Immigration Services (USCIS)
The USCIS is saddled with various responsibilities, including the processing of immigrant visa petitions, naturalization petitions, asylum applications, 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.
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Other functions and responsibilities of the USCIS include:
- Administration of immigration services and benefits
- Adjudicating asylum claims
- Issuing employment authorization documents (EAD)
- Adjudicating petitions for non-immigrant temporary workers (H-1B, O-1, etc.)
- Granting lawful permanent resident status
- Granting United States citizenship
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, as well as providing customer service through different channels, including the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) with information in English and Spanish, Application Support Centers (ASCs), the Internet and other channels.
The 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 journey towards civic integration: when they first become permanent residents and when they are ready to begin the formal naturalization process.
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A lawful permanent resident is eligible to become a citizen of the United States after holding the Permanent Resident Card for at least five continuous years, with no trips out of the United States lasting 180 days or more.
If, however, 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 the spouse continuously for at least three years and the spouse has been a resident for at least three years.
US Citizenship And Immigration Services Forms – USCIS Immigration Forms
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.
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).
Agency Details
Acronym:
USCIS
Website:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Contact:
Contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Local Offices:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Local Offices
International Immigration Offices
Main Address:
Information and Customer Service Division
111 Massachusetts Ave., NW
MS 2260
Washington, DC 20529-2260
Toll Free:
1-800-375-5283
1-877-247-4645 (Military Help Line)
TTY:
1-800-767-1833
Forms:
Citizenship and Immigration Services Forms
Government branch:
Executive Department Sub-Office/Agency/Bureau
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