The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants from all over the globe. Each year, more than eight million applications, petitions, and other immigration-related requests are received by the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS. Given the complexity and size of the U.S. immigration system, through the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Congress established the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman to act as a liaison between the public and DHS on immigration benefits. At the CIS Ombudsman's Office, our mission is to assist individuals and employers in resolving problems with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, also known as USCIS. USCIS is the agency responsible for the administration of immigration benefits, including naturalization, lawful permanent resident status, work permits, and asylum. We also are responsible for studying persistent problems in the delivery of immigration benefits, making recommendations to USCIS, and providing an Annual Report to Congress that highlights systemic issues encountered by those seeking immigration benefits. As an Ombudsman, our office is independent of USCIS, and we perform our statutory functions in an impartial and confidential manner - only sharing information with USCIS after receiving consent from the individual or employer. The CIS Ombudsman receives thousands of requests for case assistance each year. And we advocate for a fair and consistent process, not for a specific outcome. Some examples of our work include: Assisting an individual who had been brought to the United States as an orphan from a displaced persons camp following World War II gather the evidence needed by USCIS to replace a lost green card. In another case, we helped secure delayed individual employment authorization documents for seasonal workers employed at a petitioner's fourth-generation family farm. And helping an individual secure proof of U.S citizenship required for a new driver's license. In this case, more than one naturalization certificate number had been assigned to this individual. Working with USCIS, this error was corrected and we facilitated the issuance of a replacement Certificate of Citizenship. Our website makes it easy to submit a request for case assistance. You can file online using Form DHS-7001, Case Assistance Form. There is no fee associated with our services. However, because our office is a resource of last resort, you should first attempt to resolve concerns directly with USCIS through its various public service channels, which include: checking Case Status Online, requesting assistance from the agency using its e-Request tool, and verifying that your case is outside of the published processing times. If you cannot submit our form electronically, emailing your request is the next best option. Instructions and a pdf version of Form DHS-7001 are available at www.dhs.gov/case-assistance. You will need to include key information such as receipt numbers, USCIS notices, and other supporting documentation. At the CIS Ombudsman's Office, it is our privilege and duty to improve the delivery of immigration services and benefits by working with USCIS, other government partners, and the public.
