At Buhler Thomas Law. P.C., our immigration attorneys are here to help you with any and all citizenship- or immigration-related issues. Many of our dealings are directly with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, abbreviated USCIS.
What exactly is the USCIS, and what are its primary purposes and functions? Let’s take a look.
The primary functions of the USCIS are twofold: Processing petitions and applications for naturalization, visas or asylum, and making adjudicative decisions at specific service centers. They also manage all immigrations benefits and related functions, with responsibilities including:
The USCIS is a continuation of the former INS, which handled many of these responsibilities. The USCIS does not enforce immigration laws – this designation remains under the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The primary focus of the USCIS is on permanent residence and the naturalization process, which are both vital factors for immigration.
Any forms related to immigration or naturalization are handled exclusively by the USCIS. Forms will have a name, then a sequence featuring one letter followed by two or three digits. Forms for naturalization will contain an N, where forms for immigration will contain an I.
There are a few specific operations in which the USCIS is involved:
Want to learn more about the USCIS, or how our immigration attorneys can help you interact with them properly? Speak to a citizenship attorney at Buhler Thomas Law. P.C. today.