USCIS and its names

Research into U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency history is complicated by the many name changes it experienced over time.  From the Bureau of Immigration in the 1890’s to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in the 1930’s to USCIS today, you may have to search many agency names to identify all possible resources for all years. Read more in our Organization Timeline.

In an effort to prepare for the Department of Homeland Security’s 10th anniversary in 2013, the USCIS History Office and Library uncovered yet another forgotten name for the agency.  Initially christened “Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration,” or BCIS, at its founding in 2003, the agency was renamed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in 2004.  Today that momentary moniker is practically forgotten.