Citizenship

As announced in Ref A, 9 FAM 40.92 has been updated with information and guidance to consular officers related to a new final rule permitting certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens to apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) for an I-601A provisional waiver of unlawful presence before leaving the United States for their immigrant visa appointments. This cable provides supplemental information for posts in processing these cases.

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UNCLASSIFIED
STATE
00112850
AUG 13
SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS ON DOMA

GUIDANCE FOR POSTS

On Aug. 5, USCIS will start issuing redesigned certificates including:

• Form N-578, Special Certificate of Naturalization;
• Form N-645, Certificate of Citizenship (Posthumous);
• Form N-645A, Certificate of Citizenship (Posthumous).

The redesigned certificates feature state-of-the-art technology to deter counterfeiting, prevent tampering, and allow for quick and accurate authentication.

WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Treasury Jacob J. Lew, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas will help USCIS celebrate our nation’s 237^th birthday as the agency welcomes more than 7,800 new citizens during more than 100 naturalization ceremonies across the country and overseas from July 1 to July 5.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today began issuing redesigned certificates for citizenship and naturalization for individuals who request replacement certificates (Form N-561, Replacement Certificate of Citizenship, and Form N-570, Replacement Certificate of Naturalization).

The replacement certificates incorporate state-of-the-art technology to help deter counterfeiting, prevent tampering, and facilitate quick and accurate authentication. Additionally, USCIS employs a new and more secure printing process for the certificates to further prevent tampering.

USCIS is reopening the FY 2013 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program funding opportunity announcement (DHS-13-CIS-010-002). Applications may be filed through Grants.gov from June 3, 2013 through June 5, 2013 at 11:59:59 PM EDT. USCIS learned after the close of the original application period on May 22, 2013 that Grants.gov rejected a significant percentage of applications to this funding opportunity. Given those rejections, USCIS is reopening this opportunity for a brief period to allow potential applicants to resubmit an application.

On April 18, USCIS announced the availability of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, a competitive grant opportunity which promotes immigrant civic integration and prepares permanent residents for citizenship. Applications are due by May 22, 2013.