U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Created in 2003, the Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. USCIS is in charge of all immigration-related applications and authorizations for foreign individuals who are inside the borders of the U.S. When a foreign individual seeks entry into the United States, he or she is subject to the authority of the USCIS and the Department of Homeland Security -- including the power to authorize or deny admission into the U.S. -- even though the individual may have received a valid visa from a U.S. embassy or consular overseas.

USCIS processes all immigrant and non-immigrant benefits provided to visitors of the United States, including:

• Family-based petitions -- facilitating the process for close relatives to immigrate, gain permanent residency, work in the U.S., etc.;
• Employment-based petitions -- facilitating the process for current and prospective employees to immigrate or stay in the U.S. temporarily;
• Asylum and Refugee processing -- deciding asylum and the processing of refugees; and
• Naturalization -- approving citizenship of eligible persons who wish to become U.S. citizens.

Learn more: USCIS website