Services: Immigration

Connecticut's fourth district is a diverse and dynamic part of the nation. It is part of the greater New York City metro region and the gateway to New England. As you might expect, my district is home to people from all parts of the world, and many have questions about federal immigration procedures or specific cases.

A good place to start is the homepage of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). There, you can find links to information about obtaining citizenship, green cards, working in the U.S. and more.

The USCIS website also has a very useful tool called "My Case Status" which will let you know where a case stands. You can also sign up to receive case updates by email or text message when using this tool on the USCIS website. Here's a brief introduction and demonstration of the My Case Status feature.

If you are preparing for the U.S. citizenship test, USCIS has made a number of preparation materials available for both the Civics and English portions of the test. These include printable flashcards, MP3 podcasts of lessons, videos and more.

If you'd like to schedule an appointment to speak to a USCIS Immigration Officer, you can do so 24 hours a day through the InfoPass system. InfoPass, and information about it, is available in 12 languages.

Connecticut's CIS Field Office is in Hartford, at 450 Main Street, on the 1st Floor. You can also call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or 1-800-767-1833 (TDD for the hearing impaired).

Visas for Foreign Nationals Entering the United States

The U.S. Department of State evaluates visa petitions and issues vias for entry. You find general information at the State Department website about rules and procedures for those seeking visas.

Specific information is available for:

Other Organizations That Offer Help

There are non-profit organizations in Connecticut that help people with immigration issues. These are not government agencies, but I am providing these links as additional resources that might be helpful to constituents who need immigration help.

The Immigration Institute of Connecticut helps "new Americans become self-sufficient," and ensures "that low income persons in Connecticut have access to affordable immigration services." Part of its mission is to "strengthen families by helping them to obtain US citizenship and reunite with family members." You can find phone numbers and directions to their Bridgeport and Stamford offices here.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association is "the national association of over 11,000 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. AILA Member attorneys represent U.S. families seeking permanent residence for close family members, as well as U.S. businesses seeking talent from the global marketplace. AILA Members also represent foreign students, entertainers, athletes, and asylum seekers, often on a pro bono [free] basis." You can search their site for a list of lawyers in your area with immigration law expertise.

As always, constituents are welcome to call my Connecticut offices for help with services and federal agencies at the numbers below.