U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and performs some of the functions formerly carried out by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, which was part of the Department of Justice.

Related Topics:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security - United States Immigration and Naturalization Service - Department of Justice

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The name changes reflect the disorganization that is typical of this agency. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was transformed into the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) on March 1st, 2003 under the new Department of Homeland Security. The agency was formed to help protect the United States against terrorist attacks through better screening and enforcement of immigration laws. The general consensus was that the INS was not doing a very good job of screening its applicants. Eduardo Aguirre was appointed Acting Director of the department by President Bush.

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Then on September 18th 2003, another name change went into affect. The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services became US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

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The new agency is charged with processing immigrant visa petitions, naturalization petitions, and asylum and refugee applications, as well as making judicial decisions performed at the service centers, and managing all other judicial decisions performed by the former INS. Other responsibilities include:

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• Administration of immigration services and benefits
• Adjudicating asylum claims
• Issuing employment authorization documents (EAD)
• Granting lawful permanent resident status (getting your "Green Card")
• Granting citizenship.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review, which includes the U.S. Immigration Courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals, and which reviews decisions made by USCIS, remains under the jursidiction of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Related Topics:
Executive Office for Immigration Review - U.S. Immigration Court - Board of Immigration Appeals - Department of Justice

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What is supposed to be different under the new name are faster processing of applications, more efficient and thorough processing, and tighter security. Customer service was supposed to become a main priority. The new bureau consists of approximately 15,000 federal employees and contractors who work in 250 local and field offices in the US and around the world. While core functions remain the same, a new goal is to process applications more effectively, or in other words, faster. A way to achieve this goal is the provision of customer service through different channels, including the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) with information in English and Spanish, Application Support Centers, the Internet and other channels.

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In July 1st 2005, Robert Divine became the Acting Deputy Director.

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: See also ►