Quick Answer: What Is USCIS?
USCIS stands for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It is a federal agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that handles immigration benefit requests in the United States.
USCIS reviews applications and petitions for Green Cards, U.S. citizenship through naturalization, work authorization, and certain humanitarian protections.
It checks whether applicants meet the legal requirements before deciding whether to approve their requests.
The agency also issues immigration documents and provides online tools that help people check their case status and manage eligible applications.
What Does USCIS Do?
USCIS handles several types of immigration benefit requests. Its main responsibilities include:
- Green Cards and permanent residence: USCIS reviews applications from eligible people seeking lawful permanent residence in the United States. It also handles requests to renew or replace Green Cards and remove conditions on permanent residence.
- U.S. citizenship: USCIS reviews naturalization applications, conducts required interviews and tests, and arranges citizenship ceremonies. It also provides citizenship documents to eligible people who acquired or derived citizenship through their parents.
- Family and employment petitions: USCIS reviews petitions filed by qualifying family members and employers as part of family-based and employment-based immigration processes.
- Employment authorization: USCIS reviews work authorization applications and issues Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to eligible applicants.
- Humanitarian protection: USCIS handles certain asylum, refugee, and other humanitarian benefit requests. Eligibility and procedures depend on the type of protection requested.
- Eligibility and security reviews: USCIS examines supporting evidence, verifies identities, and conducts background and security checks. Some applicants must attend biometrics appointments or interviews or provide additional evidence before USCIS makes a decision.
When Was USCIS Created? What Happened to INS?
USCIS began operations on March 1, 2003, following the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Before that, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) handled both immigration services and enforcement.
The law ended INS and divided its responsibilities among three agencies within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
USCIS took over immigration services and benefit applications. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) took on enforcement and border-security responsibilities.
Learn more about this change on the official USCIS history page.
USCIS vs. ICE, CBP and the Department of State
USCIS, ICE, and CBP are three different agencies within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Each handles a different part of immigration law.
The Department of State operates separately from DHS and manages U.S. visa services abroad.
| Agency | Part of | Primary Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| USCIS | DHS | Reviews immigration benefit applications and petitions, including Green Card and naturalization requests. |
| ICE | DHS | Investigates immigration violations and handles immigration detention and removals. |
| CBP | DHS | Protects borders, inspects travelers at ports of entry, and makes admission decisions. |
| Department of State (DOS) | Separate federal executive department | Processes visa applications and issues visas through U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. |
USCIS may approve an immigration petition, but that approval does not mean a visa has been issued. Consular officers at U.S. embassies and consulates generally decide whether applicants qualify for visas.
USCIS mainly administers immigration benefits. However, under a federal rule effective October 6, 2025, certain designated USCIS personnel have authority to enforce immigration laws within the agency’s jurisdiction.
Which Immigration Forms Does USCIS Handle?
USCIS processes immigration forms for Green Cards, citizenship, employment authorization, travel documents, and other immigration benefits. The form you need depends on the benefit you are requesting and your situation.
Here are some commonly used USCIS forms:
| USCIS Form | What It Is Used For |
|---|---|
| Form I-130 | Petitions for eligible family members to establish a qualifying relationship for immigration purposes. Read the Form I-130 guide. |
| Form I-485 | Allows eligible people in the United States to apply for lawful permanent residence (a Green Card). Read the Form I-485 guide. |
| Form N-400 | Used to apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization. Read the Form N-400 guide. |
| Form I-90 | Used to renew a 10-year Green Card or replace a Green Card for an eligible reason. Read the Form I-90 guide. |
| Form I-765 | Requests employment authorization and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Read the Form I-765 guide. |
| Form I-131 | Requests certain travel or parole documents, including advance parole and reentry permits. |
| Form I-751 | Requests removal of conditions on permanent residence for qualifying marriage-based conditional residents. Read the Form I-751 guide. |
| Form N-600 | Requests a Certificate of Citizenship for someone who acquired or derived U.S. citizenship. Read the Form N-600 guide. |
Each form serves a different purpose. Check the official USCIS form instructions to confirm which application applies to your situation.
What Types of USCIS Offices Are There?
USCIS has different offices for receiving applications, reviewing cases, collecting biometrics, and providing in-person services. Each office has a specific role:
- Field offices: Conduct scheduled interviews, make decisions on certain immigration applications, and hold naturalization ceremonies.
- Service centers: Process and decide designated immigration applications and petitions. They do not accept walk-in visits.
- Application Support Centers (ASCs): Collect fingerprints, photographs, and signatures when USCIS requires a biometrics appointment.
- Lockbox facilities: Receive certain mailed applications, process filing fees, and forward accepted applications for further review. They do not decide cases.
Use the official USCIS Office Locator to find office information. If USCIS schedules an appointment, follow the instructions on your appointment notice.
How Can You Contact USCIS or Check Your Case?
USCIS provides online tools and contact services to help you track an application, manage your case, or request assistance. Choose the option that matches what you need.
| If You Need To… | Use |
|---|---|
| Check a pending application’s status | USCIS Case Status Online |
| Manage an eligible application online | USCIS Online Account |
| Ask a question or request assistance | USCIS Contact Center or Emma virtual assistant |
| Find or request an in-person service | Request an in-person appointment |
| Update your mailing address | USCIS Change of Address |
To check your case, enter the 13-character receipt number from your USCIS notice. It usually contains three letters followed by ten numbers.
You do not need to sign in to use the public Case Status Online tool. For detailed instructions, read our How to Check Your USCIS Case Status Online guide.
A USCIS online account may let you view notices, receive alerts, upload evidence, or send secure messages. Available features depend on your case.
For additional help, use Emma or call 800-375-5283. USCIS schedules in-person appointments for certain services that cannot be handled remotely. Field offices do not provide routine walk-in case updates.
Where Can You Check USCIS Fees and Processing Times?
USCIS filing fees: Fees depend on the form, filing category, and applicable fee rules. Some forms have different fees for online and paper filing.
See our USCIS Filing Fees guide for an overview. Confirm the amount for your application using the official USCIS Fee Calculator before filing.
USCIS processing times: Processing times vary by form, filing category, and the USCIS office or reporting unit handling the case. These are estimates, not guaranteed decision dates.
Read our USCIS Processing Times guide and check the official USCIS processing times tool for current estimates.
Need Help Preparing a USCIS Form?
USCIS provides official immigration forms and filing instructions free of charge. ImmigrationDirect offers guided online preparation for supported USCIS forms, helping you complete your application and review your answers.
You can explore USCIS form preparation options. Preparing a form online does not always mean you can file it electronically. Some applications must be mailed to USCIS.
ImmigrationDirect is a private service, not USCIS. Service fees are separate from government filing fees. USCIS makes decisions on the applications and petitions it handles.
