Legal Definitions - United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the primary federal government agency responsible for overseeing lawful immigration to the United States. It operates under the Department of Homeland Security.

USCIS processes a wide range of applications related to immigration benefits, including:

• Applications for U.S. citizenship through naturalization.
• Petitions for permanent residency (often called "green cards") based on family relationships or employment.
• Requests for asylum and refugee status.
• Various types of non-immigrant visas, such as extensions for temporary stays or certain work visas.
• Humanitarian programs and other immigration benefits.

Essentially, if an individual or an employer needs to apply for an immigration benefit or status within the United States, USCIS is typically the agency that reviews and decides on that application.

Here are some examples of when individuals or entities would interact with USCIS:

• Example 1: Applying for U.S. Citizenship

  After living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for the required number of years, Ms. Chen decides she wants to become a U.S. citizen. She will prepare and submit her application for naturalization (Form N-400) to USCIS. USCIS will then review her eligibility, conduct a background check, schedule an interview, and administer the civics and English tests before making a decision on her citizenship application.

• Example 2: Sponsoring a Spouse for a Green Card

  Mr. Rodriguez, a U.S. citizen, recently married Ms. Lee, who is a citizen of South Korea. Mr. Rodriguez wants to help Ms. Lee obtain lawful permanent resident status so she can live and work indefinitely in the United States. He will file an immigrant petition for alien relative (Form I-130) with USCIS on behalf of his wife. USCIS will evaluate their marriage and relationship to determine if Ms. Lee is eligible for a family-based green card.

• Example 3: Requesting a Work Visa for a Professional Employee

  A technology startup in Boston needs to hire Dr. Anya Sharma, an expert in artificial intelligence from India, for a highly specialized research position. To enable Dr. Sharma to work legally in the U.S., the startup will file a petition for a nonimmigrant worker (such as an H-1B visa petition) with USCIS. USCIS will assess whether the position qualifies for the visa category and if Dr. Sharma meets the necessary professional qualifications.