| U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) |
The
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a part of the
Department of Homeland Security. On March 1, 2003, services formerly
provided by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
transitioned into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under
Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS), presently known
as U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).
In support of the DHS overall mission, the priorities of the USCIS are
to:
-
promote national security
-
continue to eliminate immigration case backlogs, and
-
improve customer services.
Created
as a separate bureau by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, USCIS allows
the DHS to improve the administration of benefits and immigration
services for applicants by exclusively focusing on immigration and
citizenship services. |
| U.S.
Embassies |
U.S.
Embassies are agencies representing the U.S. Government and its
interests in foreign countries. Most U.S. embassies accept and process
non-immigrant visas and green card applications. |
| U.S.
Consulates |
U.S. consulates are diplomatic posts maintained by the U.S. in foreign
countries. Consular officers accept and process non-immigrant visas and
green card applications. |
| U-1
Visa |
Victims
of crime such as rape, domestic abuse or torture. |
| U-2
Visa |
Spouses
of U1 visa holders. |
| U-3
Visa |
Children
of U1 visa holders. |
| U-4
Visa |
Parents
of U1 visa holders. |
| Underrepresented
Countries |
The
Immigration Amendments of 1988, Public Law 101-658 (Act of 11/5/88)
allowed for 10,000 visas to be issued to natives of underrepresented
countries in each of fiscal years 1990 and 1991. Under-represented
countries are defined as countries that received less than 25 percent
of the maximum allowed under the country limitations (20,000 for
independent countries and 5,000 for dependencies) in fiscal year 1988. |
| United
States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement |
Public
Law
100-449 (Act of 9/28/88) established a special, reciprocal trading
relationship between the United States and Canada. It provided two new
classes of nonimmigrant admission for temporary visitors
to the United States-Canadian citizen business persons and their
spouses and unmarried minor children. Entry is facilitated for visitors
seeking classification as visitors for business, treaty traders or
investors, intracompany transferees, or other business people engaging
in activities at a professional level.
Such visitors are not required to obtain nonimmigrant visas, prior
petitions, labor certifications,
or prior approval but must satisfy the inspecting officer they are
seeking entry to engage in activities at a professional level and that
they are so qualified. The United States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement
was superseded by the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as of
1/1/94. |