ABOUT THE USCIS

 USCIS was created in 2003 as part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the dissolution of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The agency is tasked with processing immigrant visa petitions, naturalization petitions, and asylum and refugee applications. It also makes adjudicative decisions performed at the service centers and manages all other immigration benefits functions.

USCIS in California:

California hosts several USCIS field offices and service centers, which handle a variety of immigration applications and petitions. The state’s diversity and the volume of its immigrant population mean that USCIS facilities are critical for managing the administrative aspects of immigration, such as interviews, naturalization ceremonies, and the processing of various petitions and applications.

Field Offices:

USCIS field offices in California are located in several cities including, but not limited to, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, and Sacramento. These offices handle tasks such as:

• Scheduling and conducting interviews for non-asylum related applications.

• Handling naturalization ceremonies.

• Offering information services to applicants.

California is home to one of the major USCIS Service Centers:

 California Service Center (CSC), located in Laguna Niguel, which handles a large volume of case processing, including many types of petitions and applications, such as those for work visas, student visas, and certain green card categories.

The location to which you send an immigration application depends on the type of application or petition and your location. USCIS has streamlined most of the application processes through designated service centers and online submissions. Here are general guidelines:

1. Online Submissions: USCIS encourages online filing for many types of applications and petitions via their official website, which can expedite processing and is accessible for status checks.

2. Mail Submissions: For applications that require mailing, you must send them to the specific service center designated for that type of application. For example:

• Family-Based Applications: Often sent to the Chicago Lockbox (for paper filings), which then routes them to the appropriate service center, including CSC.

• Employment-Based Applications: Depending on the visa category, these might go to the California Service Center or another service center that handles specific types of work visas.

Specific addresses for these centers and detailed filing instructions are available on the USCIS website, which provides precise guidance based on the form type and the applicant’s location.