Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures
Resources
13 U.S.C. 8 - Authenticated transcripts or copies of certain returns; other data; restriction on use; disposition of fees received
29 U.S.C. 701 - Rehabilitation Act
44 U.S.C. 31 - Federal Records Act of 1950, as amended - Records management by federal agencies
5 U.S.C. 552 - Freedom of Information Act - Public information; agency rules, opinions, orders, records, and proceedings
5 U.S.C. 552a - Privacy Act of 1974, as amended - Records maintained on individuals
5 U.S.C. 552a(b) - Conditions of disclosure
8 CFR 1.2 - Definitions
8 CFR 103.16 - Collection, use and storage of biometric information
8 CFR 103.2 - Submission and adjudication of benefit requests
8 CFR 103.2(b) - Evidence and processing
8 CFR 103.7 - Fees
8 CFR 103.7(c) – Waiver of fees
8 CFR 103.8 - Service of decisions and other notices
8 CFR 208.6 - Disclosure to third parties
8 CFR 244.16 - Confidentiality in temporary protected status for nationals of designated states cases
8 CFR 245a.2 - Application for temporary residence
8 CFR 245a.21 - Confidentiality in Legal Immigration Family Equity (LIFE) Act cases
8 CFR 245a.3 - Application for adjustment from temporary to permanent resident status
8 U.S.C. 1367 - Penalties for disclosure of information
8 U.S.C. 1641 - Restrictions on public assistance
Delegation of Authority 0150.1 - Delegation to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services
INA 101(i)(1) - Referral to nongovernmental organization
INA 105 - Liaison with internal security officers
INA 245A(c)(4) - Limitation on access to information
INA 286(m) - Immigration examinations fee account
INA 291 - Burden of proof upon alien
Pub. L. 101-649 (PDF) - Section 153 of the Immigration Act of 1990 (IMMACT 90) - Special immigrant status for certain aliens declared dependent on a juvenile court
Pub. L. 107-296 (PDF) - Homeland Security Act of 2002
Appendices
On Sept. 29, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in Immigration Legal Resource Center et al., v. Wolf, et al., 20-cv-05883-JWS, preliminarily enjoined DHS from implementing or enforcing any part of the USCIS Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements rule (PDF).
While the rule is preliminarily enjoined, we will continue to:
- Accept USCIS forms with the current editions and current fees; and
- Use the regulations and guidance currently in place to adjudicate applications and petitions. This includes accepting and adjudicating fee waiver requests as provided under Adjudicator's Field Manual (AFM) Chapters 10.9 (PDF, 2.55 MB) and 10.10 (PDF, 2.55 MB).
|
Category and Definition |
Examples and Contact Information |
|---|---|
|
Complaint Any communication received by USCIS expressing dissatisfaction with USCIS. Complaints can be categorized as either “case-specific” or “non-case-specific.”[1] Case-specific complaints directly relate to cases processed by USCIS. Non-case-specific complaints refer to any dissatisfaction with USCIS that does not relate to a specific case. |
Case-Specific Complaints
Non-Case-Specific Complaints
Contact Information USCIS offices, in-person or by mail. See Find a USCIS Office page on the USCIS website. USCIS Contact Center |
|
Misconduct Actions of a USCIS employee or contractor that can be considered extreme or outrageous, including, but not limited to, criminal activity.[2] |
Contact Information DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) Mail: DHS, OIG/MAIL STOP 0305 USCIS Office of Security and Integrity (OI) Mail: Office of Investigations |
Footnotes
[^ 1] See Volume 1, Public Services, Chapter 9, Feedback, Complaints, and Reporting Misconduct [1 USCIS-PM A.9].
[^ 2] See Volume 1, Public Services, Chapter 9, Feedback, Complaints, and Reporting Misconduct [1 USCIS-PM A.9].
Healthcare Certification[1]
[Date]
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a licensed [counselor, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant, psychologist, social worker, or therapist], and I have treated or evaluated [patient’s name] in relation to [patient’s name]’s gender identity. In my professional opinion, [patient’s name]’s gender identity is consistent with a designation of [male or female].
Patient’s Information:
Full Name:
Date of Birth:
Healthcare Professional’s Information:
Full Name:
Organization (if any):
Address:
Phone Number:
License Type: [counselor, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant, psychologist, social worker, or therapist]
License Number:
Issuing State, Country, or other Jurisdiction of License:
Sincerely,
[Healthcare Professional’s Signature]
[Healthcare Professional’s Printed Name]
Footnote
[^ 1] This format and language is one example of an acceptable healthcare certification letter; officers should accept other language and formats as long as they satisfy the requirements set out in the instructions to the Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document (Form N-565).
Updates
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address procedures related to biometric services appointments at an Application Support Center (ASC).
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to provide guidance on mailing address and case handling procedures for persons protected under 8 U.S.C. 1367. This guidance becomes effective July 11, 2023. Note: The effective date for this policy has changed. USCIS anticipates that this policy will become effective on or before March 29, 2024, barring unforeseen circumstances.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that benefit requestors may select their gender on USCIS forms (or change a prior gender selection) without the need to provide supporting documentation. Documents issued by USCIS as a result of the benefit adjudication will reflect the gender selected by the benefit requestor.
1 USCIS-PM E.5 - Chapter 5 - Verification of Identifying Information
11 USCIS-PM A.2 - Chapter 2 - USCIS-Issued Secure Identity Documents
12 USCIS-PM K.2 - Chapter 2 - Certificate of Citizenship
12 USCIS-PM K.3 - Chapter 3 - Certificate of Naturalization
12 USCIS-PM K.4 - Chapter 4 - Replacement of Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address instances where the last day of filing a benefit request or response to a Request for Evidence or a Notice of Intent to Deny, Revoke, Rescind, or Terminate, falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address mobile biometrics collection and the biometrics collection of benefit requestors in remote locations.
This technical update to Volume 1, General Policies and Procedures provides that anyone, including asylum and NACARA 203 applicants, may submit a disability accommodation request online.
This technical update to Volume 1, Part A, incorporates the new USCIS mission statement: USCIS upholds America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding criteria used to determine whether a case warrants expedited treatment.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is incorporating and superseding existing guidance into the USCIS Policy Manual addressing topics in the context of general adjudications, including evidence, sworn statements, and adjudicative decisions.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is rescinding policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on discretionary employment authorization for parolees.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address the circumstances in which officers should issue Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs).
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding criteria used to determine whether a case warrants expedited treatment.
This technical update replaces all instances of the term “alien” with “noncitizen” or other appropriate terms throughout the Policy Manual where possible, as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].
1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures
2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants
7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status
8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility
9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief
10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising its policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to align with the Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2020. This guidance becomes effective October 2, 2020. For information regarding implementation, see Appendix: 2020 Fee Rule Litigation Summary.
1 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Public Services
1 USCIS-PM B - Part B - Submission of Benefit Requests
2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
7 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Adjustment of Status Policies and Procedures
7 USCIS-PM F - Part F - Special Immigrant-Based Adjustment
7 USCIS-PM M - Part M - Asylee Adjustment
11 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Secure Identity Documents Policies and Procedures
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is consolidating existing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the discretionary analysis required in the adjudication of certain benefit requests, including certain applications for employment authorization.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating and incorporating relevant Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) content into the USCIS Policy Manual. As that process is ongoing, USCIS has moved any remaining AFM content to its corresponding USCIS Policy Manual Part, in PDF format, until relevant AFM content has been properly incorporated into the USCIS Policy Manual. To the extent that a provision in the USCIS Policy Manual conflicts with remaining AFM content or Policy Memoranda, the updated information in the USCIS Policy Manual prevails. To find remaining AFM content, see the crosswalk (PDF, 317.68 KB) between the AFM and the Policy Manual.
1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures
2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
3 USCIS-PM - Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole
4 USCIS-PM - Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees
5 USCIS-PM - Volume 5 - Adoptions
6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants
7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status
8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility
9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief
This technical update is part of an initiative to move existing policy guidance from the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) into the Policy Manual. This update does not make major substantive changes but consolidates and incorporates existing AFM guidance into the Policy Manual, streamlining USCIS’ immigration policy while removing obsolete information. This guidance replaces Chapters 1, 3.4, 10.2, 10.3(a), 10.3(c), 10.3(e), 10.3(i), 10.4, 10.22, 11.1(c), 13, 14, 17, 23.8, 31.7, 33.10, 34.5, 35, 41.6, 42, 44, 56.1, 56.3, 56.4, 62, 81, 82, 83.1, 83.2, and 83.3 of the AFM, related appendices, and policy memoranda.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is incorporating general information on USCIS’ use of photographs as biometrics.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding submission of benefit requests to USCIS.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address the availability of mobile biometrics services and clarify guidance on the validity period for fingerprint waivers.
This technical update incorporates into Volume 1 the policy guidance that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced October 25, 2019, regarding submission and acceptance of fees for immigration benefit requests. USCIS published this guidance with an effective date of December 2, 2019. Note: On December 11, 2019, the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California in Seattle v. DHS enjoined the Department of Homeland Security from requiring use of the new version of Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver. USCIS has noted this in the corresponding Policy Manual guidance and reinstated the prior fee waiver policy guidance at AFM 10.9 (PDF, 2.55 MB) and 10.10 (PDF, 2.55 MB).
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding submission and acceptance of fees for immigration benefit requests, with an effective date of December 2, 2019. Note: On December 11, 2019, the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California in Seattle v. DHS enjoined the Department of Homeland Security from requiring use of the new version of Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver. USCIS has noted this in the corresponding Policy Manual guidance and reinstated the prior fee waiver policy guidance at AFM 10.9 (PDF, 2.87 MB) (PDF, 2.55 MB) and 10.10 (PDF, 2.87 MB) (PDF, 2.55 MB).
This technical update replaces all instances of the term “foreign national” with “alien” throughout the Policy Manual as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].
1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures
2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants
7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status
8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility
9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief
10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding services USCIS provides to the public, including general administration of certain immigration benefits, online tools, and up-to-date information.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance on its standards in customer service.
Version History
No historical versions available.