Immigration 101 USCIS overview AIFC Prescott, Arizona
USCIS Mission Secure America s promise as a nation of immigrants provide accurate, useful information to customers grant immigration benefits promote an awareness of citizenship, and ensure the integrity of our immigration system USCIS Director Leon Rodriguez
INS to DHS - March 3, 2003: 1 Agency into 3 Agencies
Department of Homeland Security Secretary ------------------ Deputy Secretary Transportation Security Administration U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) U.S. Secret Service Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S. Coast Guard Law enforcement Inspects travelers at ports of entry Makes arrests Deports people Holds people in detention Customer service Issues work permits and green cards Interviews applicants for citizenship No arrest authority Law Enforcement Investigates crimes Makes arrests Deports people Holds people in detention * highlighted boxes indicate immigration authority
USCIS Domestic Offices 4 Regions, 26 Districts, 80+ Field Offices 4 Service Centers (VT, NE, TX & CA)
USCIS International Offices 3 Districts (Rome, Bangkok & Mexico City) 28 Field Offices
USCIS: Domestic Map with 26 Districts
USCIS Programs 19,000 USCIS government employees and contractors work in 223 offices around the world on programs, including: E-Verify Work Authorization Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Green Card (permanent residence) Issuance Permanent and Temporary Employment-based status Citizenship through Civilian and Military Naturalization Humanitarian Parole Refugee and Asylum Temporary Protected Status Inter-Country Adoptions 8
USCIS Agency Statistics On an average day, the USCIS workforce Conducts 160,000 national security background checks Answers 54,200 calls to our toll-free customer service lines Serves 6,500 visitors at 87 local offices Fingerprints and photographs 13,000 applicants at 137 Application Support Centers Ensures the employment eligibility of more than 61,000 new hires Completes 28,400 applications for various immigration benefits Grants permanent residence to 2,100 people Issues 6,000 Permanent Resident Cards Welcomes 3,400 naturalized citizens, with typically 35 serving in the U.S. military Processes 320 refugees applications, grants asylum to 55 individuals; and conducts credible fear screening for 166 individuals; and, Help American parents adopt 68 foreign-born orphans 9
District 25 PHOENIX TUCSON LAS VEGAS RENO
Jurisdiction Phoenix Field Office: Jurisdiction over 10 of Arizona s 15 counties Considered a east/west gateway for enforcement purposes Tucson Field Office: Jurisdiction over remaining 5 Arizona counties High border-crosser concentration from 7 land border Ports of Entry Las Vegas Field Office: Jurisdiction over 4 counties in southern Nevada Also a major east/west gateway for interior enforcement Reno Field Office: Jurisdiction over 13 Nevada counties
District Staffing Levels Leadership 5 Supervisory Immigration Services Officers 18 Immigration Services Officers 100 Records and Support 50 Administration 11 Contract 40 FDNS 11
Arizona Statistics On an average month, the Arizona workforce Assist customers through InfoPass Phoenix 1,200 Tucson 564 Total 1,764 Interview for lawful permanent residence Phoenix 250 Tucson 112 Total 362 Interview for citizenship Phoenix 1100 Tucson 240 Total 1,340 Welcome new citizens Phoenix 1340 Tucson 217 Total 1,557
The Complexity of Immigration Law Numerous Regs Precipitated by Frequent Changes 100+ Types of Visas Processed 200+ Different Forms and Applications that can be filed 100+ Immigrant and Non- Immigrant Classifications
Visitors to the United States (nonimmigrants) Nonimmigrant visas are for temporary visits Visitors Temporary workers Students Humanitarian purposes 15
Four Pillars of U.S. Immigration The policies for managing immigration into the United States are based on four principles: Family-based Employment-based Humanitarian Diversity
How to Get a Green Card? Humanitarian Avenues Asylum or refugee status Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) (victim of domestic violence) T visa (victim of trafficking) U visa (victim of a crime) 17
Contact Information Juan M Moran Community Relations Officer 1330 South 16 th Street, Phoenix AZ 85034 Office number 602-462-2522 Juan.m.moran@uscis.dhs.gov 18