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New educational tools on Citizenship available for learners, teachers and organizations.

The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants from all parts of the world. During the last decade, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) welcomed more than 6.8 million naturalized citizens into the fabric of our nation. Thus far in fiscal year 2010, approximately 495,232 individuals have been naturalized.

USCIS seeks your input on the interim guidance memoranda listed below.  These memoranda are current guidance of proposed or revised guidance to USCIS Field Offices and Service Centers. These memoranda have been provided to the field offices and service centers as interim guidance. Adjudicators will begin using the current memoranda understanding that the guidance may be revised after the comment period closes. Final guidance will be issued to the Field Offices and Service Centers following review and consideration of the comments from the public.

Please check the attachment.

Contacting Lockbox on rejected applications

 Lockbox can be reached via lockboxsupport@dhs.gov. Applicants can mark outside the package “Attention supervisor” and include a copy of the email received from lockboxsupport@dhs.gov giving instructions to refile while re-filing a rejected case.  

 I-485 receipt for EAD and Advance Parole applications 

After Public Comment, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Announces Final Rule Adjusting Fees for Immigration Benefits

Please check the attachment to get detail information for the 2012 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2012), updated on 9/22/10.

September 23, 2010

SAN JUAN-Puerto Rico Governor Luis G. Fortuño extended last night the validity of birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010 to American citizens born in Puerto Rico for 30 additional days, until October 30, according to Secretary of State, Kenneth D. McClintock.

This fact sheet provides an agency overview for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice; nor does it constitute any legal opinion by the Department of Justice, or create any rights or benefits.  This fact sheet is not fully inclusive, does not address all applicable laws or case interpretation, and may be subject to change as new laws and regulations are enacted.

Effective from Thursday, September 16, 2010 there will be no further visa authorizations in response to requests for any FAMILY preference category, Employment based cases (EB-2, EB-3, Other workers, EB-4, and Certain Religious Workers). FY2011 numbers will be available on 10/01/10.

For detail please check the attachment.

WASHINGTON—Under an executive order signed by the Governor of Puerto Rico, certified copies of Puerto Rico birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, will now be valid through Oct. 30, 2010.  The validity of those certificates had previously been set to expire on Sept. 30, 2010.

Important Service Transition Announcement for All Visa Applicants

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced that it has completed the installation of its Digital Audio Recording (DAR) system in all of its courtrooms, four weeks ahead of schedule. The DAR system is a state-of-theart recording tool designed to achieve a better quality and more easily accessible recording of immigration court hearings.

On August 13, 2010, President Obama signed into law Public Law 111-230. The new law contains provisions that require petitioners to pay an additional $2,000 for certain H-1B petitions and an additional $2,250 for certain L-1 petitions. To begin public outreach on this legislation, USCIS held a teleconference on August 19, 2010 to share how USCIS will implement it.