What's New?

USCIS Makes Major Strides During 2008
November 6, 2008 - More than one million new citizens took the Oath of Allegiance during fiscal year 2008, just one of the significant accomplishments of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the past year

USCIS Issues TPS Registration Reminder to Eligible Hondurans, Nicaraguans and Salvadorans
October 28, 2008 — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today reminded Hondurans, Nicaraguans and Salvadorans, who are eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), to file a re-registration application for TPS before the end of the re-registration period, (Dec. 1, 2008 for Hondurans and Nicaraguans, and Dec. 30, 2008 for Salvadorans).

A Better, Not Harder Citizenship Test
Leadership Journal October 15, 2008 entry by Jonathan “Jock” Scharfen, Acting Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCIS Delays Implementation of Direct Mail Program For N-400, Application for Naturalization
October 9, 2008 - USCIS announced today it will delay implementation of the Direct Mail Program for the N-400, Application for Naturalization. A Federal Register notice is scheduled to be published Oct 10, 2008, announcing the delay.

USCIS Announces 18-Month Extension of Temporary Protected Status for Nationals of Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador
September 26, 2008 - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that it will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to nationals of Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador. The extension will last 18 months. (Link to USCIS Update on Nicaragua; links to Updates on Honduras and El Salvador can be found in this article.)

USCIS Reminds Naturalization Applicants of the New Naturalization Test
September 2 - USCIS will begin administering a new naturalization test on October 1, 2008. USCIS has issued a revised list of civics questions and answers. Applicants and organizations should use the list dated 8/08 when preparing for the new naturalization test.

USCIS Establishes Genealogy Program
August 13, 2008 - Customers can now turn to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for help in researching their family’s immigration history through the agency’s new Genealogy Program.

Zoster Vaccine Shortage
August 12, 2008 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have informed USCIS that the Zoster vaccine is currently unavailable due to shipping delays by the manufacturer.

USCIS Updates Projected Naturalization Processing Times
August 11, 2008 - USCIS now anticipates naturalization application processing will average 10-12 months nationally by the end of September 2008 – a substantial improvement from its estimated average processing time of 16-18 months first announced last year.

USCIS Extends Validity Period of Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for Refugees
July 11, 2008 - In an effort to provide better customer service to refugees, USCIS will extend the validity of initial work authorization documents for refugees to two years after arrival in the U.S.

USCIS Issues Fact Sheet on Iraqi Refugee Processing
June 23, 2008 - Since the program began last spring, a total of 27,940 Iraqi individuals have been referred for resettlement. USCIS has interviewed 18,926 applicants, approved 13,067 for resettlement and 6,480 Iraqi refugees have arrived in the U.S. as of June 4, 2008.

USCIS to Offer Premium Processing for Certain I-140 Petitions
June 11, 2008 - USCIS announced today that on June 16, 2008, it will begin accepting Premium Processing Service requests for Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) filed on behalf of alien workers who are nearing the end of their sixth year in H-1B nonimmigrant status.

USCIS Moves Lockbox to New Site in Chicago
Private Courier Deliveries Automatically Forwarded For 90 Days - Does Not Affect U.S. Mail

USCIS Modifies Application for Temporary Protected Status
May 28, 2008 - USCIS announces that it has revised the Application for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Form I-821. The new form must be used as of June 27, 2008.

We're Listening: USCIS Acting Director Jonathan Scharfen writes to the DHS Leadership Journal
"We all appreciate that immigration benefits granted by USCIS, including citizenship, employment authorization, and permanent residency for immigrants and their families, are incredibly important to you"

USCIS Issues Revised Guidance on Child Status Protection Act (CSPA)
Policy changes toward aliens who had aged out prior to enactment of the CSPA

USCIS Releases Projected Naturalization Processing Times for Local Offices
April 22, 2008 - USCIS released the projected times for local offices to complete processing of applications for citizenship filed by individuals during the summer of 2007.

USCIS to Allow F-1 Students Opportunity to Request Change of Status
Short-term, Immediate Measure for Beneficiaries of Selected H-1B Petitions

USCIS National Benefits Center Provides Helpful Hints to Applicants
Important information to assist applicants, petitioners, attorneys and representatives in filing applications and petitions with the National Benefits Center or Chicago Lockbox.

USCIS Reaches H-1B Cap for FY 2009
April 8, 2008 - USCIS announced today that it has received enough H-1B petitions to meet the cap for fiscal year 2009. USCIS also received more than 20,000 H-1B petitions under the "advanced degree" exemption.

USCIS and FBI Release Joint Plan to Eliminate Backlog of FBI Name Checks
April 2, 2008 - USCIS and the FBI announced a joint plan to eliminate the backlog of name checks pending with the FBI by June 2009.

Statement by USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez on Naturalization Application Processing
March 14, 2008 - USCIS has lowered its original processing projections for naturalization applications received during the summer of 2007 to 14-16 months.

USCIS Issues Revised Instructions for Travel Document Application
Revised March 7, 2008 - USCIS has issued revised instructions for Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. The instructions require applicants for re-entry permits and refugee travel documents to provide biometrics at USCIS Application Support Centers. The changes became effective March 5.

USCIS Announces Centralized Filing Location for Certain H-1B Cap Exempt Petitioners (54KB PDF)

Naturalization Delays: Causes, Consequences and Solutions (203KB PDF)
January 17, 2008 - Emilio T. Gonzalez, Director, USCIS, testifed before the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law, January 17, 2008

USCIS Answers Frequently Asked Questions about Receipting and Processing Delays
Updated January 16, 2008 - USCIS has revised and updated its frequently asked questions on receipt and processing delays to reflect the current situation.

USCIS Issues Update on Permanent Resident Card Replacement Proposal
December 13, 2007 - On August 22, 2007, USCIS published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that, when implemented, would require lawful permanent residents to replace permanent resident cards (Form I-551) with no expiration date. The comment period closed on September 21, 2007. USCIS is currently reviewing the 298 comments received.

Secretary Chertoff Extends Temporary Protected Status for Eligible Hondurans, Nicaraguans, and Salvadorans (27KB PDF)
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced his decision to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for eligible nationals of Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador for 18 months.

USCIS Advises I-130 Petitioners Overseas: Do Not Re-File (28KB PDF)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services advises anyone who filed a Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130), with an American embassy or consulate since July 2006 that they do not need to re-file the petition. USCIS is working with the Department of State to process those petitions.

Change Your Address Online
You can now change your address with USCIS online. Before using this online tool, you should have: (1)USCIS receipt number (if you have a case pending with USCIS); (2) New and old addresses; (3) Names and biographical information for any family members for whom you've filed; and (4) Date and location (port of entry) of your last entry into the United States.