USCIS and Immigration 101

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USCIS and Immigration 101
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About US

Privacy Information & Enforcement Sensitive Issues

About Resources

About Immigration Benefits

Case Status

Processing Time

InfoPass

OLA Contact

Department of State
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USCIS and Immigration 101
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ABOUT US
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INS to DHS - March 3, 2003:
1 Agency into 3 Agencies
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Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration
Services
U.S. Immigration
and Customs
Enforcement
U.S. Customs and
Border Protection
Immigration Key players
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Department of
Labor
Department of Justice
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STATE Department (Consular Affairs) is the only agency that issues visas

Agency Functions

USCIS includes, but not limited to: Family and Employment-based
Application Adjudication (e.g. Adjustment of Status and Naturalization) and
International Benefit Programs

ICE includes, but not limited to: Investigations, Detention and Removal,
Interior and International Enforcement

CBP includes, but not limited to: Inspections (Port-of-Entry), Border Patrol
and International Enforcement (including Container Security)
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18,000 USCIS Government Employees and Contractors Work in 250
offices around the World on Programs Including:

E-Verify Work Authorization
Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)
Green Card (permanent residence) Issuance
Permanent and Temporary Employment-based Visa Programs
Citizenship through Civilian and Military Naturalization
Humanitarian Parole
Refugee and Asylum
Temporary Protected Status
Inter-Country Adoptions
Family based immigration
USCIS PROGRAMS
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On an average day, USCIS will
Process 135,000 national security background checks
Answer 41,000 calls at our toll free Customer Service line
See 12,000 visitors at 86 local offices
Fingerprint and photograph 11,000 applicants at 129 Application Support
Centers
Screen employment eligibility of more than 80,000 new hires
Adjudicate 30,000 applications
Welcome 18,300 new permanent residents, issue 18,300 green cards
Welcome 3,400 naturalized citizens, 30 in the U.S. military
Process 400 refugees applications, grant asylum to 40 individuals
Help American parents adopt 100 foreign-born orphans
USCIS Agency-Wide Daily Statistics
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North East Region
(Districts 1-7)

South East Region
(Districts 8-11)

Central Region
(Districts 12-19)

Western Region
(Districts 20-26)
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USCIS Service Centers:
California (CSC), Nebraska (NSC), Texas (TSC) and Vermont (VSC)
Mail-based facilities that adjudicate and process petitions and applications for immigration
benefits that typically do not require an interview.

Congressional Constituent Services:
Each service center has a Congressional Inquiry Unit.
Each of these units is responsible for addressing inquiries brought to the service
centers by Congressional offices.
2 Types of Service Center Jurisdiction:
By Geography: Jurisdiction for a particular service center is geographically divided
according to the state/district/territory where an applicant resides.
By Form Type: Particular service centers may also possess exclusive nationwide
jurisdiction for a particular caseload. Typically, two service centers share jurisdiction
over a form type.

National Benefit Center (NBC):
Performs centralized front-end processing of applications and petitions that do require field
office interviews (primarily family-based I-485s and N-400s).
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Service Center Statistics
On an average day, USCIS Service Centers
Process 15,000 applications and petitions
Issue 15,000 green cards
Process 2,700 Requests for Evidence (Initial issue as well as responses)
Receive 900 pieces of correspondence
Process 2,400 Service Request Management Tool inquiries on cases
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The Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA)
OLA serves as the principal point of coordination to Congress regarding
USCIS operations and policies.
OLA conducts/manages responses to all Congressional casework inquiries.
OLA Consists of:
1. A Washington DC based headquarters unit with 3 branches;
Legislative
National Coordination (Partnering with USCIS local leadership and
liaisons)
Operations
2. Over 120 Congressional liaisons located across our USCIS domestic
offices.
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A Year in the Life of OLA-FY 2011
Telephone Inquiries from Congressional Offices
> 76,000 relating to immigration policy and casework nationwide
10,028 HQ OLA
Written Inquiries
> 9,400 relating to immigration policy and casework nationwide
1,767 HQ OLA
E-Mail Inquiries
> 123,000 relating to immigration policy and casework nationwide
9,730 HQ OLA
Meetings and Briefings
HQ OLA organized almost 130 meetings/briefings with Members and/or
staff.
Numerous field meetings/briefings for Congressional District
caseworkers.
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Inquiries: Helpful Tips
Telephonic: Best when dialogue is required, or
an emergency exists that requires immediate
attention.
Written: Recommended when a case is
complicated, and USCIS will need to review
documents. Should be limited in number, as
they take longer to resolve.
Email: Great for simple status checks and
requests regarding USCIS policies and
procedures
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Telephone Inquiries
USCIS OLA national response goals require that telephone inquiries receive an
initial response by the close of the next business day.










Even if a liaison is not able to completely resolve the matter by that time, the
liaison must make contact and offer a definite plan of action.

Phone
inquiry
received
Initial
response
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E-mail Inquiries
E-Mail inquiries shall be resolved, or at least acknowledged with an initial
response, within 5 business days of receipt.









An acknowledgement should detail the next steps and a plan for resolution of
the inquiry. If only an acknowledgement can be given in the first 5 business
days, we will strive to resolve or at least provide a meaningful response on all
pending inquiries within 30 days of receipt.
E-mail
inquiry
received
Initial
response
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Written or
Faxed
inquiry
received
Initial
response
Formal Written and Faxed Inquiries
Formal written correspondence and faxes shall be resolved or initially
acknowledged within 10 business days of receipt.









Acknowledgement should detail next steps and a plan for resolution. If only an
acknowledgement can be given in the first 10 business days, we will strive to
resolve or at least provide a meaningful response on all pending inquiries
within 30 days of receipt.
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Privacy Information and Enforcement
Sensitive Issues
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Privacy Release Requirements


To remain in compliance with the Privacy Act, as well as the Department
of Homeland Security policy and regulations, USCIS may not disclose,
any information without the consent from the subject of the records.

Family members, friends, and attorney or authorized representative
(even if there is a G-28) or other interested parties may not authorize the
release of information on behalf of the person who is the subject of the
record.

Inquires requesting general information or non-case specific
information do not require a privacy release.
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Privacy Release Requirements
(Continued)

Congressional staffers must possess a privacy release for all case
specific inquiries.

Even if the individual who is the subject of the records is outside of the
United States, there must still be a release. Common examples are
approved form 1-730s when the inquiry is really about the beneficiarys
processing or interview, Form I-601 (Application for Waiver of Grounds of
Inadmissibility), of Refugee applications.
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Requests for Expedited or Special Processing

USCIS cannot expedite solely on the basis of an expedite request from a
congressional office.

Expedited processing may be considered in line with USCIS policy, for
example:

Severe financial loss to a company or individual
Extreme emergent or humanitarian situation
Military readiness or other national interest situation
USCIS error or other compelling interest of USCIS

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www.uscis.gov

Become familiar with the USCIS website,
it is an excellent tool at your disposal!
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RESOURCES
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How Do I? Customer Guides
These guides answer questions regarding immigration benefits. The series
provides information on 50 main application procedures.
U.S. Citizens

Permanent Residents

Nonimmigrants

Refugees and Asylees

Employers

General Information
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Congressional Staff FAQ
The link below will show you some of the
most frequently asked questions from
congressional staffers.

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Forms
USCIS FORMS ARE FREE: Your constituent should never pay anyone for copies of our
forms.

USCIS forms are always FREE to download on our site, or order by mail or phone at 1-
800-870-3676. Most USCIS forms can be downloaded and filled out using the latest
version of Adobe Reader . "DS" forms are available on the Department of State
website.

Shortcut links now on all forms pages: For example, Form I-130 is at www.uscis.gov/i-
130 - Form N-400 is at www.uscis.gov/n-400 - and so on.

E-Notification: When filing at Lockbox facilities in Chicago, Phoenix, or Lewisville, TX,
your constituent may sign up to receive an email and/or text notification that their
application has been accepted. See "G-1145,E-Notification of Application/Petition
Acceptance" for more.
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Laws and Regulations
The USCIS LAWS section provides information on laws, regulations and
interpretations controlling immigration and the work of the immigration-related
components of the Department of Homeland Security.

The LAWS section includes several legal resources linked on the left column of
this page. These links include information on:

Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations (8 CFR)
Immigration Nationality Act
Administrative Decisions
Finding Legal Advice
Handbooks and guides
Immigration Policy and Procedural Memoranda

And much more.
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Glossary
Immigration law has a number of highly technical terms that may not
mean the same thing to the average reader.

To inform USCIS.gov users, we provide this glossary of immigration
terms and acronyms.
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ABOUT IMMIGRATION BENEFITS
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CASE STATUS
Your constituent can view the status of their case online.
They must enter the corresponding application receipt
number in the location identified in the USCIS website. The
13-character application receipt number can be found on
application notices your constituent received from USCIS.
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PROCESSING TIMES
USCIS usually processes cases in the order
they are received. For each type of application
or petition we have specific workload
processing goals.

We have created a table you can use to
determine how long we are taking to process
an application or petition at a particular office.
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INFO PASS
InfoPass is a free service that lets your constituent
schedule an appointment with a U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) Immigration Officer by
using the Internet at any time of day or night. If your
constituent has an immigration issue that is best
handled by a trained USCIS Immigration Officer,
InfoPass will let them schedule their appointment
instead of requesting it in person at your local USCIS
office.
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IMMIGRATION BENEFITS
Table of Contents
Permanent Residence


Working in the US


Humanitarian


Visit the US
Citizenship


Family


Adoption


Military

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LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENCE
A permanent resident is someone who has been
granted authorization to live and work in the United
States on a permanent basis. As proof of that status,
your constituent is granted a permanent resident
card, commonly called a "green card." Your
constituent can become a permanent resident
several different ways. Most individuals are
sponsored by a family member or employer in the
United States. Other individuals may become
permanent residents through refugee or asylee
status or other humanitarian programs. In some
cases, your constituent may be eligible to file for
themselves.
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CITIZENSHIP
Deciding to become a U.S. citizen is one of the most
important decisions in your constituents life.

Citizenship Through Naturalization
Generally, permanent residents (green card holders)
age 18 or older who meet all eligibility requirements for
naturalization may submit a Form N-400, Application for
Naturalization. For more information, visit our
Citizenship Through Naturalization page.

Citizenship Through Parents
If eligible, you can acquire or derive U.S. citizenship
through a qualifying U.S. citizen parent(s). For more
information, visit our Citizenship Through Parents page.
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NATURALIZATION TEST
Most naturalization applicants are required to
take a test on:

- English
- U.S. History
- Government

We provide resources to help your constituent
prepare. For more information, visit
our Naturalization Test page. Get study materials
from the Citizenship Resource Center.
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WORKING IN THE U.S.
The United States welcomes thousands of foreign
workers in multiple occupations or employment
categories every year. These include artists,
researchers, cultural exchange participants,
information technology specialists, religious workers,
investors, scientists, athletes, nurses, agricultural
workers and others. All foreign workers must obtain
permission to work legally in the United States. Each
employment category for admission has different
requirements, conditions and authorized periods of
stay. It is important that your constituent adhere to
the terms of their application or petition for admission
and visa. Any violation can result in removal or denial
of re-entry into the United States.
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WORKING IN THE U.S.
(Continued)
Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Worker
A temporary worker is an individual seeking to
enter the United States temporarily for a
specific purpose. Nonimmigrants enter the
United States for a temporary period of time,
and once in the United States, are restricted to
the activity or reason for which their
nonimmigrant visa was issued.
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Permanent (Immigrant) Worker
A permanent worker is an individual who is
authorized to live and work permanently in the
United States. Immigrants enter the United
States to take up permanent residence.
WORKING IN THE U.S.
(Continued)
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WORKING IN THE U.S.
(Continued)
Information for Employers & Employees

Employers must verify that an individual whom
they plan to employ or continue to employ in the
United States is authorized to accept employment
in the United States. Individuals, such as those
who have been admitted as permanent residents,
granted asylum or refugee status, or admitted in
work-related nonimmigrant classifications, may
have employment authorization as a direct result
of their immigration status. Other aliens may need
to apply individually for employment
authorization.
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WORKING IN THE U.S.
(Continued)
Temporary Visitors For Business

To visit the United States for business purposes
your constituent will need to obtain a visa as a
temporary visit or for business (B-1 visa), unless
they qualify for admission without a visa under
the Visa Waiver Program. For more information on
the topics, select the category related to your
constituents situation to the left side of the
webpage.
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STUDENTS AND EXCHANGE VISITORS
The United States welcomes thousands of foreign
students and exchange visitors every year.

If your constituent wishes to pursue full-time
academic or vocational studies in the U.S., they may
be eligible for one of two nonimmigrant student
categories. The F category is for academic
students and the M is for vocational students.
If they wish to participate in an exchange program
they may be eligible for the J category for
exchange visitors. The J visa is for educational and
cultural exchange programs designated by the
Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs.
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FAMILY
Your constituents status determines which relatives (or
future relatives) may be eligible to receive immigration
benefits. In order to help a family member immigrate,
your constituent must be a:

-U.S. Citizen

-Lawful Permanent Resident

-Refugee admitted as a refugee within the past 2 years

-Asylee granted asylum within the past 2 years
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HUMANITARIAN
USCIS provides a number of humanitarian programs and
protection to assist individuals in need of shelter or aid
from disasters, oppression, emergency medical issues
and other urgent circumstances.

Listed below are the humanitarian benefits we offer:

-Battered Spouse, Children and Parents

-Victims of Human Trafficking and Other Crimes

-Humanitarian Parole

-Temporary Protective Status

-Special Situations

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MILITARY
Citizenship for Military Members & Dependents
Members and veterans of the U.S. armed forces, and their dependents may be eligible
for citizenship under special provisions of law.

Family Based Survivor Benefits (for Relatives)
A person who is the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a United States citizen, whose
citizen spouse, parent, or child dies during a period of honorable service in an active
duty status in the U.S. Armed Forces may be eligible for certain "survivor" immigration
benefits, including citizenship.
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FAMILY BASED SURVIVOR BENEFITS
A person who is the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a United States citizen,
whose citizen spouse, parent, or child dies during a period of honorable service in
an active duty status in the U.S. Armed Forces may be eligible for naturalization.

Generally, service in the armed forces means service in one of the following
branches: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, certain reserve
components of the National Guard, and the Selected Reserve of the Ready
Reserve.

Surviving family members seeking immigration benefits are given special
consideration in the processing of their application for permanent residence or for
classification as an immediate relative.
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ADOPTION
Each year, thousands of U.S. citizens adopt children from
overseas. This is known as an intercountry adoption.

Adopting a child from another country is often a complicated
journey. We will define the process and provide information to
help you make informed decisions for you and your family.

USCIS is Responsible For:
Determining the eligibility and suitability of the Prospective
Adoptive Parents (individuals) looking to adopt.

Determining the eligibility of the child to immigrate to the
United States.
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VISIT THE U.S.
There are two types of nonimmigrant visas
available for people who want to visit the United
States.

The B-1 visa is for individuals who wish to visit
the United States temporarily for business
purposes, (e.g. conferences) or for medical
treatment, or to accompany a family member
who requires medical treatment.

The B-2 visa is for individuals who wish to visit
the United States temporarily or to visit family
or friends.
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Department of State
Visa Services
The Visa section of the Department of State
website is all about U.S. visas for foreign
citizens to travel to the U.S. Before traveling to
the U.S., a citizen of a foreign country must
generally obtain a nonimmigrant visa for
temporary stay or an immigrant visa for
permanent residence. The type of visa your
constituent will need is based on the purpose of
their travel.
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Visa Bulletin
Under the current statutes, many immigrant
visa and lawful permanent resident (LPR)
applicants must wait a period of time prior to
receiving their LPR card. This is because
the United States puts limits on the number
of certain types of immigrants that can be
approved each year. To help everyone keep
track of their petitions the Department of
State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin.
The bulletin summarizes the availability of
immigrant petitions.
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Contacting OLA
Your Local USCIS Office Congressional Liaison Is The Best Initial Contact:
For Constituent Casework (there are exceptions to this rule)
For Details on USCIS Events in Your Area
NOTE: Please first inquire at our local office working the case. If
need be, elevate to your Regional Congressional Liaison. If need
be, elevate to Headquarters.
Please Contact HQ OLA For the Following:
Subject Matter
Administrative Appeals - Humanitarian Parole
Overseas case inquiries - National policy questions
Prior attempts to obtain casework assistance unsuccessful
Email: usciscongressionalinquiries@uscis.dhs.gov
Phone: (202) 272-1940; Fax: (202) 272-1955
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