What is the USCSIS? For this answer and more, we encourage you to contact Pozo Goldstein, LLP to speak with a New York immigration lawyer from our firm.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, more commonly referred to as the USCIS, is the federal agency that officially oversees lawful immigration to the United States. Recognized as a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the USCIS is responsible for performing numerous administrative duties, all of which are related to the different processes involved in immigrating to the U.S.

Whether you are entering the U.S. on a visitor visa or you are seeking permanent residency through a green card, the USCIS will inevitably be involved; most likely, it will be a crucial component of your immigration procedures throughout the entire process. Accordingly, it is essential that your dealings with the USCIS are carried out by professional who is intimately familiar with the handlings of the USCIS.

We therefore encourage you to contact Pozo Goldstein, LLP to speak with a New York immigration lawyer from our firm who can help guide you through whatever process you are currently undergoing. With the knowledge of a legal team with more than 90 years of immigration experience, you can rest assured that your case is in the hands of professionals who know what it takes to successfully address any immigration-related matter as it pertains to dealing with the USCIS.

Will your immigration case involve the USCIS?

As we stated earlier, there is virtually no case which involves immigration that will not pass through the USCIS at one point or another. In fact, the USCIS is usually prominently involved throughout the entire process of any immigration-related matter. As identified by the USCIS, some of the key aspects in which it is directly involved are:

Adoption

According to the Department of Homeland Security, an estimated 20,000 adoptions take place each year. The USCIS is responsible for managing the first step in the adoption process for U.S. citizens who wish to adopt a child from another country.

Citizenship

All applications for U.S. citizenship through the process of naturalization must be submitted to the USCIS. The USCIS is responsible for determining eligibility for citizenship, processing applications, and scheduling approved applicants for a ceremony to take the Oath of Allegiance.

Civic Integration

At the USCIS, instruction and training is provided on the rights and responsibilities connected with citizenship. Here, immigrants can find information, support, and helpful tools that can be used to help them effectively complete the immigration process into the U.S.

Genealogy

The USCIS offers a fee-for-service Genealogy Program that is designed to provide researchers with prompt access to historical Immigration and naturalization records of immigrants who are deceased.

Humanitarian Programs

Humanitarian Programs offered by the USCIS ensure protection for individuals both inside and outside the U.S. who have been displaced by political or civil unrest, war, or famine. These humanitarian programs are also extended to individuals who’ve fled their country in order to escape death or torture.

Immigration of Family Members

Current U.S. citizens and permanent residents are permitted the privilege of bringing close relatives into the U.S. to live alongside them. Acting as the manager of the procedures involved when a relative is brought to the U.S., the USCIS is a key component in this process.

Verifying an Individual’s Right to Work in the U.S.

The USCIS is responsible for managing the system that has been designated as the E-Verify system. This system allows employers to verify a potential employee’s eligibility to work through an electronic process that is overseen by the USCIS.

Working in the U.S.

Any process that provides non-U.S. citizens the right to work in the U.S. is managed by the USCIS. Whether the work opportunity is temporary, or it is a beginning step to obtaining a green card for permanent residency, the USCIS will be involved.

It is important to note that the above list is not a comprehensive portrayal of the services that are handled by the USCIS. If you do not see your particular situation described above, don’t assume that you will not be made to deal with the USCIS as you proceed through your immigration process. Rather, speak to an attorney at our office to ensure that you fully understand the components that will be involved as you address the nuances of your particular situation.

History of the USCIS

In 2002, the Department of Homeland Security proposed an act that would dismantle the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) which was formerly responsible for handling all matters of immigration in the U.S. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 systematically separated the INS into three separate components within the DHS. On March 1, 2003 the USCIS was officially made responsible for all immigration service functions of the federal government.

Formed for the specific purpose of enhancing the security of national immigration, while simultaneously improving its efficiency, the USCIS is responsible for handling only the administration of benefit applicants. Matters related to immigration enforcement and the functions of border security are delegated to the other two components of the DHS: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The history of federal immigration and naturalization administration is nothing less than a legacy, dating back to more than a century ago. Since 1891, immigration matters have been under the jurisdiction of the federal government, slowly making advances and changes along the way. Today, the USCIS is a prominent component of the immigration process, and it is one that you will likely be made to deal with in your pursuit of citizenship, naturalization, and the like.

Why You Need a New York City Immigration Attorney

The USCIS is carefully designed to best promote the efficiency and safety of all immigration matters as they relate to the U.S. These designations, however, can be difficult to understand and complex to carry out if not advised by a professional attorney. It is therefore critical to the wellbeing of your case and the success of your immigration pursuit to involve an immigration attorney in the matter as soon as possible.

When you work with Pozo Goldstein, LLP, you can benefit from the experience of a team of former immigration prosecutors and a former judge. In total, we have more than half a century of experience working in the legal of field of immigration law, and we are prepared to put this experience to work for you. To review the logistics of your case or to learn more about the USCIS in general, contact a New York City immigration attorney at our office.