If you have had troubles dealing with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) ora U.S. Embassy abroad, my staff may be able to help. Please contactthe Rockville office at (301) 424-3501.
According to the Privacy Act of 1974, in order for me to assist you withan immigration matter, written authorization is needed. Please completethe Immigration PrivacyRelease Form and return it to me at the following address:
51 Monroe Street, Suite 507
Rockville, MD 20850FAX: (301) 424-5992
If you require assistance with respect to a nonimmigrant visa issue,please send the applicant’s full name, date of birth, passport number andthe time, date and location of the scheduled interview to me at theaddress above.
NOTE: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently unveiled a redesigned USCIS website available in English and Spanish. Among other features, the new USCIS website boasts a service called My Case Status, which allows immigration customers to receive alerts regarding the status of their applications and petitions via text message and e-mail.
Please be sure to visit the new sites at www.uscis.gov and www.uscis.gov/espanol.
How can I get help expediting theprocessing of my immigration case?
If you believe that your case meets one of the seven available expedite criteria that have been established by USCIS, then my staffmay be able to help you request expedited processing.
Where can I access multilingualinformation about immigration and citizenship issues?
Visit the Federal Citizenship Information Center website whereyou can access information in twenty-five languages.
How can I adjust legal status inthe United States?
There are only 2 ways immigrants may adjust their legal status:
- Family-Based: U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents may apply for an immediate family relative such as a spouse, child under 21 years old, unmarried child over 21 years old, parent, brother, or sister. To start this process, applicants must file an I-130 petition with USCIS. For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
- Employment-Based: U.S. employers may file for prospective employees who are foreign-born. For more information The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website contains information related to hiring people who live outside of the U.S. Please refer to the USCIS Fact Sheet on How do I Apply for Immigrant Status Based on Employment? You may also refer to the U.S. Department of Labor website by visiting www.dol.gov.
How do I renew my green card?
If your card has not expired, you need to complete Form I-90 and take the completed form along with twopictures and the applicable filing fee to a local USCIS Application Support Center. You will need avalid photo ID to get into the building.
If your card has expired or was lost or stolen, you need to schedule anappointment called an "Info Pass" through the USCIS Web site. You may visitwww.uscis.gov/INFOPASS toschedule an appointment. You should try to schedule an appointment wellin advance of when you need to use your card.
How do I let USCIS know if I havemoved?
If you have an application or petition pending with Immigration, youshould complete Form AR-11 and attach a copy of your receipt noticefrom USCIS.
I recently filed for naturalizationor a green card with USCIS. How long will that take?
You may obtain information regarding processing times by visitingwww.uscis.gov and click on ProcessingTimes.
If your immigration case is outside of normal USCIS processing times andyou would like my staff to inquire about the status of your case, pleasefill out an ImmigrationPrivacy Release Form.
USCIS will only allow me and my staff to check the status of yourapplication/petition if you provide your consent by filling out theprivacy form.
I am waiting for an immigrant visa to become available. How will Iknow when a visa is available to me?
Information of visa availability can be found by visiting www.state.gov and clicking on Visa Bulletin.
I need a form from USCIS, but thelocal office won't give me one. How do I get a USCIS form?
Forms may be downloaded from the USCIS web site. You can also request that forms be mailed to you fromthe U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, orby calling 1-800-870-FORM (3676).
I've tried calling USCIS to ask asimple question, but can't get through. How do you call USCIS?
You can also try the USCIS toll-free number for general questions:1-800-375-5283.
How do I become a U.S. citizen?
Visit the USCIS website for information about U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services -Naturalization. Also, you can download a "Guide to Naturalization". This 45-page bookletanswers most questions you may have regarding citizenship. You must haveAdobe Acrobat to access it.
You can now download software from the USCIS website that willallow you to complete your naturalization form on your personal computer,then print a special bar-coded application that greatly improves theaccuracy and speed of the data input by USCIS staff.
If you prefer, you can also call 1-800-870-3676 and request form N-400,the Naturalization application, or download it from the U.S. Citizenship and ImmigrationServices website.
I am a member of the U.S. ArmedForces. Who do I contact to find out the status of my case?
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website containsimmigration-related information and links to resources gearedspecifically for members of the military and their families.
USCIS is working with the Department of Defense to ensure the militarycommunity has accurate and up-to-date information about immigrationservices and benefits.
Military Help Line
USCIS has established a toll-free military help line, 1-877-CIS-4MIL(1-877-247-4645), exclusively for members of the military and theirfamilies. USCIS customer service specialists are available to answercalls Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (CST), excludingfederal holidays. After-hours callers will receive an email address thatthey can use to contact USCIS for assistance. Callers will receiveassistance with immigration-related information, such as:
- Tracking their application for naturalization (Form N-400);
- Notifying USCIS of a new mailing address or duty station;
- Checking the status of an application or petition;
- Bringing a spouse, fiancé(e) or adopted child to the United States;
- Obtaining posthumous citizenship for a deceased member of the Armed Services; and
- Submitting an application for expedited processing.
Service members and their families stationed in the United States oroverseas may access the help line using the toll-free number, throughtheir base telephone operator or using the Defense Switched Network(DSN). Operators will ask members of the general public to call theirmain customer service line: 1-800-375-5283.
How can I adopt a child outside ofthe United States?
You may adopt a child from a Hague country or a Non-Hague country. TheHague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation inRespect of Inter-Country Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention) is aninternational agreement to safeguard intercountry adoptions. Concluded onMay 29, 1993 in The Hague, the Netherlands, the Convention establishesinternational standards of practices for intercountry adoptions. TheUnited States signed the Convention in 1994, and the Convention enteredinto force for the United States in April 2008.
The Hague Adoption Convention applies to all adoptions between the UnitedStates and the other counties that have joined it (Conventioncountries). Adopting a child from a Convention country is similar inmany ways to adopting a child from a country not party to theConvention. However, there are some key differences. In particular,those seeking to adopt receive greater protections if they adopt from aConvention country. To begin this process, please visit the IntercountryAdopption, Office of Children’s Issues website at www.adoptions.state.gov You mayalso visit the Adoptions section on the USCIS website by visitingwww.uscis.gov.
If I am a victim of domesticviolence, can I adjust permanent residency in the U.S.?
Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passed by Congress in 1994,the spouses and children of United States citizens or lawful permanentresidents (LPR) may self-petition to obtain lawful permanent residency.Applicants must file Form I-360, with the appropriate fee anddocumentation.
The immigration provisions of VAWA allow certain battered immigrants tofile for immigration relief without the abuser's assistance or knowledge,in order to seek safety and independence from the abuser. Victims ofdomestic violence should know that help is available to them through theNational Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224[TDD] for information about shelters, mental health care, legal adviceand other types of assistance, including information aboutself-petitioning for immigration status. For more information, pleasevisit www.uscis.gov.
If I am a victim of humantrafficking, can I adjust permanent residency in the U.S.?
Congress passed the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of2000 (VTVPA) in order to provide individuals who have been victimized inthe most severe fashion with the ability to remain in the U.S.(temporarily and in some cases longer) and receive federal and stateassistance; protections for certain crime victims including victims ofcrimes against women; and law enforcement agencies with a comprehensivelaw that will enable them to pursue the prosecution and conviction oftraffickers.
Under this provision, applicants may qualify for a T visa (Victims ofTrafficking) or the U visa (Victims of Criminal Activity). For U visaapplicants, immediate family members may also qualify as a derivative.For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
What is Temporary Protected Status(TPS)?
TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible nationals ofdesignated countries (or parts thereof). In 1990, as part of theImmigration Act of 1990 (“IMMACT”), P.L. 101-649, Congress established aprocedure by which the Attorney General may provide TPS to aliens in theUnited States who are temporarily unable to safely return to their homecountry because of ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, orother extraordinary and temporary conditions.
During the period for which a country has been designated for TPS, TPSbeneficiaries may remain in the United States and may obtain workauthorization. However, TPS does not lead to permanent resident status.When the Secretary terminates a TPS designation, beneficiaries revert tothe same immigration status they maintained before TPS (unless thatstatus had since expired or been terminated) or to any other status theymay have acquired while registered for TPS. Accordingly, if an individualhad unlawful status prior to receiving TPS and did not obtain any statusduring the TPS designation, the individual reverts to unlawful statusupon the termination of that TPS designation.
Participating Countries: El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, andthe Sudan. For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
I am afraid to return to my homecountry, can I claim asylum? How does asylum differ from refugeestatus?
Asylum is a form of protection granted to individuals in theUnited States who have been persecuted or fear they will be persecuted onaccount of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particularsocial group, or political opinion. Individuals who meet this definitionof a refugee and who are already in the United States or who are seekingentry into the United States at a port of entry may qualify for a grantof asylum and be permitted to remain in the United States as long as theyare not barred from either applying for or being granted asylum.Individuals who are granted asylum are eligible to apply to adjust theirstatus to that of a lawful permanent resident.
Unlike the U.S. Refugee Program, which provides protection to refugees bybringing them to the United States for resettlement, the U.S. AsylumProgram provides protection to qualified applicants who are already inthe United States or are seeking entry into the United States at a portof entry. Asylum-seekers may apply for asylum in the United Statesregardless of their countries of origin and regardless of their currentimmigration status. There are no quotas on the number of individuals whomay be granted asylum each year. For more information, please visitwww.uscis.gov.
Refugees are displaced by war, famine, and civil and politicalunrest. Others are forced to flee their countries in order to escape therisk of death and torture at the hands of persecutors. The U.S. workswith other governmental, international, and private organizations toprovide food, health care, and shelter to millions of refugees throughoutthe world. In addition, the United States considers persons forresettlement to the U.S. as refugees. Those admitted must be of specialhumanitarian concern and demonstrate that they were persecuted, or have awell-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion,nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular socialgroup.
Each year, the State Department prepares a Report to Congress on proposedrefugee admissions. The U.S. President then consults with Congress andestablishes the proposed ceilings for refugee admissions for the fiscalyear. For the 2005 fiscal year (i.e. October 1, 2004 - September 30,2005), the total ceiling is set at 70,000 admissions and is allocated tosix geographic regions: Africa (20,000 admissions), East Asia (13,000admissions), Europe and Central Asia (9,500 admissions), LatinAmerica/Caribbean (5,000 admissions), Near East/South Asia (2,500admissions) and 20,000 reserve. For more information, please visitwww.state.gov and www.uscis.gov.
If my loved one is detained myimmigration, what do I do?
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement require Congressional offices toobtain a signed privacy release form from the person who is detained, toobtain detailed information on his/her whereabouts.
If a privacy release form is not signed by the detainee, our officerequires the full name, date of birth, and an alien registration numberto locate your loved one. For more information, please visit www.ice.gov.
Congressman Chris Van Hollen
