Latest News

USCIS Announces Fiscal Year 2013 Grant Recipients on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will welcome more than 18,000 new citizens during more than 180 naturalization ceremonies from Sept. 16 to Sept. 23 in honor of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.Museums, historic libraries, government landmarks and national park sites will provide the backdrop for this week-long celebration of citizenship and the achievements of our newest citizens.

USCIS Updates Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Statistics

  • USCIS statistics on DACA cases through 8/31/13, showing a total of 567,563 DACA requests accepted for processing, 555,958 biometric appointments scheduled, 455,455 requests approved, and 9,578 requests denied. 13,960 applications were accepted and 2,154 applications were denied in August 2013. Please check attached DACA Statistics.

Extension of Validity of Medical Certifications on Form I-693

This policy memorandum (PM) temporarily extends the validity of civil surgeon endorsements on Form I-693 for adjustment of status and temporary residence applicants.This PM updates the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) by revising Chapter 40.1(c), (AFM Update AD 13-13). The guidance contained in this PM is controlling and supersedes any prior guidance on the subject.

Click the attachment to read more about the memorandum.

State Department Releases Instructions for the 2015 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

Online registration for the DV 2015 Program will begin on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and conclude on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4). See the attached Diversity Visa Program Instructions for the DV 2015 Instructions and any available translations.

USCIS Enhances TNC Process

  • TNC Enhancements

     

    We have rolled out a new set of E-Verify enhancements improving the Tentative Nonconfirmation (TNC) communication process. The highlight of the latest enhancements is the combining of the TNC Notice and Referral Letter into one document – the Further Action Notice.

    The Further Action Notice simplifies the TNC communication process by combining the employee’s biographical information, the reason for the TNC, the employee’s decision to contest, and employee instructions for contesting a TNC into a single document.

USCIS Efforts Result in Successful Case

SAN FRANCISCO – The efforts of an Immigration Services Officer during an interview at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ San Francisco Field Office uncovered two violations of law by Jie Zhong. The officer suspected Zhong took part in a fraudulent marriage with the purpose of cementing his claim to permanent residency and, later, U.S. citizenship.  

USCIS Approves 10,000 U Visas for Fourth Straight Fiscal Year

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has approved the statutory maximum 10,000 petitions for U nonimmigrant status (U visas) for fiscal year 2013. This marks the fourth straight year that USCIS has reached the statutory maximum since it began issuing U visas in 2008.

Each year, 10,000 U visas are available for victims of crime who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse and are willing to help law enforcement authorities investigate or prosecute those crimes. A U-visa petition requires certification of assistance from law enforcement.

USCIS Implements Customer Identity Verification at Field Offices

Beginning September 9, 2013, USCIS will employ a new verification tool called Customer Identity Verification (CIV) in its field offices. Customers will now submit biometric data, specifically fingerprints and photographs, when appearing at USCIS offices for interviews or to receive evidence of an immigration benefit.