U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

#What this actually means

USCIS is the branch of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that handles immigration benefits — green cards, citizenship, work permits, travel documents, and more. If you're filing an immigration application from inside the United States, USCIS is almost certainly the agency processing it.

USCIS was created in 2003 when the old Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was broken into three separate agencies. USCIS handles benefits. ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) handles enforcement. CBP (Customs and Border Protection) handles the borders and ports of entry. Understanding which agency does what can save you a lot of confusion.

#What USCIS does

USCIS processes millions of applications every year across a wide range of immigration benefits:

• Green card applications (family-based, employment-based, diversity lottery, humanitarian)
• Naturalization (citizenship) applications
• Work permits (Employment Authorization Documents)
• Travel documents (Advance Parole, reentry permits)
• Removal of conditions on green cards
• Waivers of inadmissibility
• Asylum and refugee applications

#Where this comes up

You'll interact with USCIS at several points during your immigration journey. You'll mail applications to USCIS lockbox facilities for initial filing, visit an Application Support Center (ASC) for biometrics, and potentially attend an interview at a local USCIS field office. You can check case status, schedule appointments, and manage your account online at uscis.gov.

#Key things to know

• USCIS is funded almost entirely by application fees, not tax dollars. This is why filing fees can feel steep — it's how the agency operates.
• USCIS is not the State Department. If you're applying for a visa from outside the U.S. at a consulate or embassy, that's the State Department's jurisdiction. USCIS handles applications filed from within the U.S.
• Processing times vary dramatically depending on the form type, your location, and current backlogs. Always check the USCIS processing times page for current estimates before filing.