USCIS International Operations
While U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is a domestic agency, it also has an international footprint. Its global mission involves supporting U.S. embassies and consulates, processing refugee applications, and serving U.S. citizens abroad.
USCIS International Offices (Now Largely Closed)
Until 2019, USCIS operated over 20 international field offices in countries like Mexico, the Philippines, Kenya, and Germany. These offices handled:
Family reunification petitions for U.S. citizens living abroad
Refugee resettlement processing
Adoptions and citizenship applications
Due to budget constraints, most of these offices were closed. Their functions were transferred to U.S. embassies, consulates, and the Department of State.
Overseas Refugee Processing
USCIS plays a critical role in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Officers are deployed to locations around the world to interview refugee applicants in coordination with:
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM)
These interviews ensure that only individuals meeting U.S. legal criteria for refugee status are admitted, focusing on humanitarian need, persecution, and security vetting.
USCIS Workforce, Training, and Organizational Culture
USCIS employs thousands of federal workers spread across the U.S. and a few foreign locations. Its workforce includes adjudication officers, asylum officers, fraud investigators, policy analysts, and administrative support staff.
Hiring and Staffing
USCIS staff must often meet specific qualifications:
Adjudication Officers typically require experience in legal review or government regulations.
Asylum Officers need specialized training in refugee law and often have backgrounds in law, psychology, or international relations.
Fraud Detection Officers have investigative experience and often work in collaboration with ICE and CBP.
USCIS routinely hires from civil service pools, with opportunities for both entry-level and specialized professionals.
Training and Development
New employees undergo rigorous training at the USCIS Academy Training Center, including:
Legal foundations of immigration law (INA, CFR, and policy memoranda)
Adjudication techniques and documentation standards
Fraud detection and national security protocols
Interview skills and applicant interaction strategies
Training ensures adjudicators interpret laws consistently and accurately, despite the complex and often subjective nature of immigration cases.
Data, Metrics, and Performance Indicators
USCIS tracks extensive data related to immigration processing, backlogs, and outcomes. This information is critical for transparency, accountability, and operational improvements.
Case Volumes and Trends
Each year, USCIS processes millions of applications across various categories. For example:
Over 800,000 naturalization applications annually
2–3 million employment authorization document (EAD) applications
Hundreds of thousands of family-based immigration petitions
Processing Times and Backlogs
USCIS publishes average processing times by form and field office on its website. However, actual times may vary significantly depending on:
Application complexity
Field office workload
Policy changes or legal challenges
As of recent years, backlogs have exceeded 8 million pending cases across all forms—a result of increased demand, COVID-19 disruptions, and staffing issues.
Approval and Denial Rates
USCIS publishes approval/denial rates to ensure transparency. For example:
Naturalization approval rates consistently exceed 85%
H-1B visa approval rates dropped during 2017–2020 due to stricter adjudication standards but have since rebounded
Asylum denial rates are more variable, often depending on nationality and policy guidance
Case Studies: Real-World USCIS Impact
Case Study 1: DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
Introduced in 2012, DACA allows undocumented individuals brought to the U.S. as children to obtain work authorization and temporary protection from deportation. Administered by USCIS, DACA has:
Benefited over 800,000 individuals
Provided access to employment, education, and healthcare
Been subject to ongoing legal battles and executive orders
USCIS plays a key role in DACA renewals and ensuring applicants meet program guidelines.
Case Study 2: Afghan Refugee Processing Post-2021
Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, USCIS rapidly adapted to process tens of thousands of humanitarian parole and asylum applications for Afghan nationals:
Officers worked overtime to process urgent filings
USCIS created expedited pathways for allies, translators, and at-risk groups
Special considerations were granted for document availability and country conditions
This scenario highlights USCIS’s capacity to scale and adapt during crises.
Case Study 3: Marriage Fraud Investigation
In a high-profile fraud case, FDNS uncovered a marriage fraud ring involving dozens of staged marriages. Through interviews, site visits, and background checks, USCIS identified fraudulent patterns, leading to:
Revocation of copyright
Arrests and federal prosecutions
Policy revisions on spousal visa adjudications
Fraud prevention efforts protect the integrity of immigration pathways and U.S. national security.
USCIS in Times of National Emergency
USCIS has demonstrated flexibility during national and global emergencies, including pandemics, wars, and natural disasters.
COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges:
Office closures and restricted in-person interviews
Application slowdowns due to illness and remote work transitions
Emergency extensions for certain benefits
Creation of contactless biometric collection and video interviews
Despite these hurdles, USCIS continued critical operations, focusing on healthcare workers, DACA renewals, and emergency parole cases.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Designations
In response to wars and natural disasters, USCIS designates countries for TPS, allowing nationals already in the U.S. to remain and work legally. Recent designations have included:
Haiti (earthquake and political instability)
Venezuela (economic collapse)
Ukraine and Sudan (armed conflicts)
TPS programs highlight USCIS’s humanitarian mission and global awareness.
Integration and Citizenship Preparation
USCIS is not only a gatekeeper but also a facilitator of immigrant integration into U.S. society.
Office of Citizenship
This division promotes naturalization and civic assimilation by:
Creating resources for English and civics instruction
Funding organizations that offer citizenship preparation classes
Hosting naturalization ceremonies and public education campaigns
The goal is to help immigrants become active, informed participants in American democracy.
The Naturalization Test
A key step in the citizenship journey is passing the naturalization test. USCIS provides study materials, mobile apps, and interactive resources to help applicants prepare.
Test topics include:
U.S. history and founding documents
Structure of the federal government
Rights and responsibilities of citizens
The civics test reinforces civic knowledge as part of the immigration process.
Public Feedback, Transparency, and Reform
Public Comment and Rulemaking
Before implementing major changes to fees, forms, or processes, USCIS is required by law to publish proposed rules and allow public comment through the Federal Register.
This feedback loop ensures:
Stakeholder involvement (lawyers, advocacy groups, the public)
Transparency in decision-making
Legal compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act
Congressional Testimony and Reports
USCIS regularly provides data and testimony to Congress regarding backlogs, fraud prevention, and implementation of laws like the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). These interactions help shape funding and legislative reforms.
Calls for Reform
Policy experts and legislators frequently propose reforms to:
Streamline USCIS forms and reduce redundancy
Decrease processing times
Provide additional funding to reduce reliance on application fees
Establish permanent protections for populations like Dreamers (DACA recipients)
While some reforms require new legislation, others can be enacted through executive policy or internal rule changes.
Conclusion
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continues to evolve as a cornerstone of the American immigration system. Beyond simply adjudicating petitions, USCIS serves as a national gateway for refugees, families, skilled workers, and aspiring citizens.
Its reach extends globally through refugee programs, domestically through integration efforts, and politically through its central role in immigration policy. Despite facing budget limitations, backlogs, and political pressures, USCIS continues to operate with a mission grounded in law, service, and national interest.
As global migration increases and technology transforms governance, USCIS will need to modernize further, invest in its workforce, and preserve the balance between security and humanitarian values. At its best, USCIS represents the promise of America: a nation of immigrants with a future shaped by both tradition and innovation.