Table of Contents
Definition
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that oversees the country’s lawful immigration system. It is responsible for processing applications related to immigration, naturalization, visas, and citizenship.
USCIS was created in 2003 after the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was dismantled, and its functions were split into three agencies:
USCIS (immigration services)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE – enforcement)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP – border security)
Mission of USCIS
The official mission of USCIS is to:
Administer the nation’s lawful immigration system.
Ensure integrity, security, and efficiency in the immigration process.
Provide accurate information and customer service to immigrants and citizens.
Safeguard national security while promoting lawful immigration.
In short, USCIS balances welcoming immigrants who contribute to U.S. society with protecting the nation against illegal or fraudulent immigration.
Key Functions of USCIS
USCIS handles a wide variety of immigration-related services and applications, including:
1. Citizenship & Naturalization
Processes applications for U.S. citizenship (Form N-400).
Conducts naturalization interviews and citizenship tests.
2. Green Cards (Lawful Permanent Residency)
Reviews applications for Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards) (Form I-485).
Family-based, employment-based, refugee/asylee, and other categories.
3. Work Authorization
Issues Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to eligible non-citizens (Form I-765).
4. Asylum & Refugee Processing
Decides asylum applications filed by individuals seeking protection.
Supports the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
5. Immigrant Petitions
Reviews family-based petitions (Form I-130) and employment-based petitions (Form I-140).
6. Temporary Immigration Benefits
Processes applications for temporary visas like student visas, work visas, or humanitarian programs (e.g., TPS – Temporary Protected Status, DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).
7. Verification & Fraud Prevention
Manages E-Verify, a system for employers to confirm employee eligibility.
Detects and prevents immigration fraud.
Organizational Structure
USCIS is led by a Director, appointed by the U.S. President and confirmed by the Senate.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with field offices, service centers, and application support centers across the U.S. and abroad.
USCIS by the Numbers (Recent Years)
Processes over 7–8 million applications annually.
Manages hundreds of thousands of naturalizations every year.
Employs around 19,000 staff and contractors in more than 200 offices worldwide.
🔑 Importance of USCIS
Acts as the gateway for immigrants to legally live, work, and eventually become citizens of the United States.
Ensures that the immigration system remains fair, transparent, and secure.
Balances humanitarian responsibility (refugees/asylum seekers) with national security concerns.
In summary:
The USCIS is the primary U.S. agency responsible for managing immigration services, including citizenship, green cards, asylum, work permits, and family/employment petitions. It plays a central role in shaping how people legally migrate and integrate into American society.