USCIS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Earlier known as INS. USCIS is responsible for providing immigration benefits to applicants. Homepage http://wwww.uscis.gov

USCIS Processing Time Information for the Immigrant Investor Program Office

Instructions on Using the Chart

Below is a chart that shows the form number, form name and processing times for the following forms that are processed by the Immigrant Investor Program Office (IPO).

Find the particular form number (in the left column) or form name (in the center column) in which you are interested. In the right column you will find a timeframe in months representing the average processing time for that form type. Please note some cases may take longer to process.

Memorandum: Employment Eligibility for Derivatives of Conrad State 30 Program Physicians

USCIS does not believe that a J-2 dependent of a J-1 foreign medical graduate can change to H-1B status, or any other employment-authorized nonimmigrant classification (with the exception of T or U status) until the principal Conrad State 30 waiver recipient has fulfilled his or her three-year employment obligations in a medically underserved area.However, USCIS is open to reviewing current regulations and considereing whether steps should be taken to enable such J-2 dependents to engage in employment while in H-4 status.

Exception to the Two - Year Custody and Two - Year Residency Requirement for Abused Adopted Children

This policy memorandum (PM) provides guidance to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers in adjudicating Form I - 360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er) or Special Immigrant , filed by a self - petitioning adopted child, when the adopted child has been battered or abused.

Please click on the attachment to read more.

Characteristics of Individuals Requesting and Approved for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Existing data currently published by USCIS for DACA provides statistics on program operations (e.g.,number of receipts accepted, rejected and approved, etc.). In contrast, this data table
release disseminates information on the characteristics of DACA requestors in a manner which sufficiently protects their privacy.

Please click on the attachment for more information on statistics and data table.

USCIS Will Naturalize Nearly 9,000 New Citizens During Independence Day Celebrations

Release Date: July 01, 2014

 

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Acting Director Lori Scialabba will help USCIS celebrate our nation’s 238th birthday as the agency welcomes approximately 9,000 new U.S. citizens during more than 100 naturalization ceremonies across the country from June 30 to July 4.

National Hockey League (NHL) and Vermont Service Center Meeting

The National Hockey League (NHL) requested USCIS to hold a teleconference during its annual conference. During that teleconference, NHL counsel posed several questions to USCIS. The question and answers are provided below (see attachment) for the benefit of interested stakeholders.In order to avoid repetition in the answers, USCIS notes that it stated several times that each petition mustestablish visa eligibility on its own merits. The Vermont Service Center (VSC) does not maintain acentral document depository for O and P nonimmigrant visa petitions.

H-2B Cap Count for FY 2014

The H-2B Program

The H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs.
For more information about the H-2B program, see the link to the left under "H-2B Non-Agricultural Workers." 

USCIS Field Operations Directorate Meeting with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

On April 10, 2014 USCIS Field Operations Directorate hosted an engagement with AILA representatives. USCIS addressed questions related to same sex marriage adjudications, customer identity verification, and interview rescheduling and delays among several other topics. The information in that attached file provides a review of the questions solicited by AILA and the responses provided by USCIS. 

Please click the attachment for more information.