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Revised Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent
Residence or Adjust Status, and Revised Filing LocationsWASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that it has
posted a revised Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Form I-485. In
addition to a revised form, there are new filing locations. The changes are part of an overall effort
to transition the intake of USCIS benefit forms from Service Centers to Lockbox facilities.
Centralizing form and fee intake allows USCIS to provide the public more efficient and effective
initial processing of applications and fees.
Beginning February 25, 2010, most applicants must submit Form I-485 to a USCIS Lockbox
facility, depending on the eligibility category under which they are filing, as provided in the form
instructions. USCIS Service Centers will forward all Form I-485 applications to the appropriate
Lockbox facility until March 29, 2010. USCIS will accept previous versions of Form I-485 until
March 29, 2010. After March 29, 2010, USCIS will only accept the Form I-485 dated “12/03/09.”Any
previous versions of the the form that are submitted will be rejected. After the transitional period,
the Service Centers will return any incorrectly filed Form I-485 with instructions to send the
application to the correct location.
At this time, applicants should not concurrently file Form I-485 with an Immigrant Petition for Alien
Worker (Form I-140) at a USCIS Lockbox facility. Refer to the Form I-140 filing Instructions for
information on how to file forms concurrently.
When filing Form I-485 at a Lockbox facility, you may elect to receive an email and/or text message
notifying you that USCIS has accepted your application. To receive notification, you must complete
an E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (Form G-1145), and attach it to the first page of
your application.
For more information on USCIS programs, visit
Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.www.uscis.gov or call the National Customer
USCIS Update Dec. 9, 2009
USCIS Launches Immigration Inquiry Mailbox for Canadian Customers
WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced the creation of a general inquiry mailbox for customers in Canada. Currently Canadians cannot access the National Customer Service Center through the 1-800 number to ask about general immigration questions. Canadian customers may now inquire about general immigration information at USCIS.Canada@dhs.gov in addition to obtaining immigration information at www.uscis.gov.
The creation of this mailbox signifies a major step in USCIS’ outreach to Canadians since the dissolution of the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) Ottawa office in 2003.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE
HISTORIC PASSAGE OF THE BILL TO
END THE WIDOW PENALTY
For further information, please visit the website: http://www.ssad.org
MYTH: The Government Gives Social Security Benefits to “Illegal” Aliens Who Have Never Contributed to the SystemCite as "AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 09021163 (posted Feb. 11, 2009)"
FACT: Contrary to what people think, undocumented workers are not (and have never been) eligible to claim social security benefits. Moreover, most undocumented workers will use a false social security number to prove work authorization, therefore paying money into a benefit system that they will never be eligible to use.
FACT: According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), undocumented immigrants "account for a major portion" of the billions of dollars paid into the Social Security system under names or social security numbers that don't match SSA records. As of October 2005, the reported earnings on which these payments are based-which are tracked through the SSA's Earnings Suspense File (ESF)-totaled $520 billion.
USCIS Extends TPS for Nationals of Somalia (.pdf 87 KB) On July 27, 2009, USCIS released an Update and Q&As announcing that DHS will extend TPS for nationals of Somalia from its current expiration date of Sept. 17, 2009, through March 17, 2011
Extending H-1B Status Beyond the Six-Year Limitation Period - Part ICite as "AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 09031066 (posted Mar. 10, 2009)"
As noted in the AILA-VSC liaison meeting minutes from October 23, 2008, the AFM was recently amended by the Neufeld Memorandum from May 30, 2008 (AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 08103066 and AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 08120363, respectively). The key point was that the VSC noted that only one of the following conditions need to be met as of the date of filing of the extension request:
1) 365 or more days have passed since the filing of any application for labor certification; and, the labor certification, if approved, has not been revoked, is unexpired, or has been timely filed with an EB petition within the labor certification's validity period; or
2) 365 or more days have passed since the filing of an EB immigrant petition that is still pending; or
3) The alien is the beneficiary of an approved EB immigrant petition and is not able to file an adjustment of status application or, if such application has already been filed, is unable to adjust status due to the unavailability of an immigrant visa number.
With respect to the first two conditions, the VSC has confirmed that the Neufeld memo amends previous guidance to allow eligibility for an extension beyond the 6th year as long as one of these criteria are met prior to the alien's requested start date, regardless of whether the H-1B extension application was filed prior to the passage of such period of time. For an alien who has already reached the six-year maximum, they are eligible to extend H-1B status beyond the six-year "cap" if the labor certification application or I-140 petition has been pending for at least 365 days prior to the alien's requested start date on the petition.
Update from U.S. Consulate at Ciudad Juarez: Delivery of Visas
The U.S. Consulate at Ciudad Juarez has posted the following information on delivery of visas to the consulate's website:
"DHL Courier Service will deliver approved visas effective Nov. 12. Applicants will be responsible for a service fee of US $8.80 or the equivalent in Mexican pesos for delivery of each visa. If a visa is approved, the applicant is directed to the DHL courier service counter to make arrangements for pick-up or delivery. Processing times for BCC (laser) visas is typically 4 to 5 weeks. All other types of visas will be printed in the passport and typically take 2 to 3 days to process."For more information, please Visit the consulate's website.
USCIS Publishes Notice on Revision to Direct Mail Program for N-400s
SUMMARY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising its Direct Mail Program so that certain filings of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, will now be filed at a designated lockbox facility instead of a USCIS Service Center. Furthermore, if you are the spouse of a current member of the Armed Forces, this notice instructs you to now file your Form N-400 at the Nebraska Service Center (NSC), whether you are filing from within the U.S. or abroad. This notice does not change the filing location for Forms N-400 filed by members or certain veterans of the Armed Forces who are eligible to apply for naturalization under sections 328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act). All naturalization applicants filing under the military provisions, sections 328 or 329 of the Act, should file their application at the NSC regardless of geographic location.
DATES: This notice becomes effective January 22, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Stanley, Chief, Lockbox Operations Division, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20529-2130, Telephone (202) 233-2385.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
What Is the Direct Mail Program?
The Direct Mail Program allows applicants for certain immigration benefits to send their application or petition directly to a USCIS service center or lockbox facility instead of submitting it to their local USCIS office.
The Direct Mail Program allows USCIS to:
Standardize and more efficiently process applications by eliminating duplicative work;
Increase staff productivity; and
Introduce better information management tools.
The purpose and strategy of the Direct Mail Program has been discussed in detail in previous rulemaking and notices. (See 59 FR 33903, 59 FR 33985, 60 FR 22408, 61 FR 2266, 61 FR 56060, 62 FR 16607, 63 FR 891, 63 FR 892, 63 FR 13434, 63 FR 13878, 63 FR 16828, 63 FR 50584, 63 FR 8688, 63 FR 8689, 64 FR 67323, 69 FR 3380, 69 FR 4210, 70 FR 30768, 72 FR 3402, 73 FR 50336 and 73 FR 53034.)
Explanation of Changes
Will this notice change my eligibility for naturalization?
No. This notice will not affect your eligibility for naturalization. This notice only affects the filing instructions where certain Form N-400s must be mailed. Some Form N-400s that were previously filed at USCIS Service Centers must now be sent to a designated lockbox facility.
Please note that applicants filing under the military provision, sections 328 or 329 of the Act, as well as spouses of current members of the Armed Forces, have separate filing instructions. Filing changes will be discussed in detail in the following charts.
Where should I send my Form N-400 and all supporting documentation?
Please refer to the following charts for the filing location to send your completed Form N-400 and supporting documentation.
Armed Forces Applicants and Spouses of Current Members of the Armed Forces
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Non-Armed Forces Applicants
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What happens if I file a Form N-400 covered by this notice at the wrong location?
During the first 30 days after this notice takes affect, USCIS will forward incorrectly addressed Form N-400s to the proper address, rather than reject it. USCIS will forward any improperly addressed Form N-400s covered by this notice as follows:
Any Form N-400 from non-Armed Forces applicants will be forwarded to either the Dallas or Phoenix lockbox facilities.
Any Form N-400 from Armed Forces applicants and the spouses of current members of the Armed Forces will be forwarded to the Nebraska Service Center.
Any applications forwarded within this time period will be considered properly filed when received at either the Dallas or Phoenix lockbox facilities, or the Nebraska Service Center. After this 30-day transition period, any Form N-400 covered by this notice, which is received at a location other than the appropriate location as defined in the updated Form N-400 filing instructions provided in this notice, will be returned with an explanation directing the applicant to mail it to the appropriate processing facility.
Is USCIS amending the Form N-400 Instructions?
Yes. USCIS is currently amending the instructions to the Form N- 400. The revisions will include the new filing addresses, the requirement for passport style photos and the revision will provide clarification of the grounds for rejection of an application. When available, the new form will be posted on the USCIS Web site (http:// www.uscis.gov).
Where may I find information related to eligibility requirements for naturalization?
You may find general eligibility requirements for naturalization at our Web site (http://www.uscis.gov). You may also download ``A Guide to Naturalization (Form M-476),'' which provides information on the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship, an overview of the naturalization process, and eligibility requirements.
Paperwork Reduction Act
We will be amending the instructions to the Form N-400 to reflect the new filing instructions. Accordingly, we will provide the Office of Management and Budget with a copy of the amended form through the automated Regulatory Office Combined Information System (ROCIS). Changing the filing instructions will not have any effect on the reporting burden hours. The OMB control number for this collection is 1615-0052
USCIS H-2B Count for the Second Half of Fiscal Year 2009 (Updated 12/23/08)
December 19, 2008 H-2B Cap Count
On December 23, 2008 USCIS updated the count of H-2B petitions received and counted towards the H-2B cap on the USCIS website. As of December 19, 2008, 27,111 petitions have been counted towards the 33,000 cap for the second half of FY 2009.
Average Bond Amounts at ICE Offices (.pdf 13 KB) This document is a list of average bond amounts at ICE offices. Information provided by ICE Community Outreach Program.
ICE Updates List of SEVP Approved Schools (Updated 1/16/09)
On 1/14/09 ICE updated its list of Student and Exchange Visitor Program approved schools
http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/ApprovedSchools.pdf
