United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)

Scope

Through a network of local offices, Application Support Centers, Service Centers, local area immigration services field offices, National Customer Service Call (NCSC) Centers, Forms Centers, and the Internet, USCIS processes all immigrant and non-immigrant benefits provided pursuant to the immigration laws of the United States, including family-based petitions, employment-based petitions, and document issuances and renewal.

Regulatory citations

• None

Key definitions

• Family-based petitions: The UCSIS facilitates the process for close relatives to immigrate, gain permanent residency, work, etc.
• Employment-based petitions: The UCSIS facilitates the process for current and prospective employees to immigrate or stay in the U.S. temporarily.
• Document issuance and renewal: The USCIS handles verification of eligibility, production, and issuance of immigration documents.

Summary of requirements

The main functions of the USCIS include:

• Adjudication of immigrant visa petitions,
• Adjudication of naturalization petitions,
• Adjudication of asylum and refugee applications,
• Adjudications performed at the service centers, and
• All other adjudications performed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

The USCIS implements the employment eligibility verification and employer sanctions provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. This includes maintaining the Form I-9 and administering the E-Verify program.