USCIS Updates Projected Naturalization Processing Time
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it continues to make steady progress in reducing the significant number of naturalization applications it received last year.
USCIS field office projections are listed below. These projections indicate the average time it will take to complete a naturalization case as of the end of September 2008.
Estimate of Local Office Naturalization Processing Times by September 2008
Office Months Office Months
Agana, Guam……………………………. 5.0
Albany, N.Y. ……………………………. 5.6
Albuquerque, N.M…………………….. 8.4
Anchorage, Alaska ……………………. 5.0
Atlanta, Ga……………………………….. 6.7
Baltimore, Md. …………………………. 7.0
Boise, Idaho……………………………. 10.5
Boston, Mass. …………………………… 8.8
Buffalo, N.Y. ……………………………. 7.0
Charleston, S.C……………………….. 14.1
Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands…. 7.2
Charlotte, N.C…………………………. 14.9
Chicago, Ill. ……………………………… 5.1
Cincinnati, Ohio ……………………….. 7.0
Cleveland, Ohio………………………… 6.8
Columbus, Ohio………………………… 5.7
Dallas, Texas ………………………….. 11.0
Denver, Colo. …………………………… 5.2
Des Moines, Iowa……………………… 5.7
Detroit, Mich. …………………………… 5.0
El Paso, Texas ………………………….. 7.9
Fort Smith, Ark…………………………. 7.6
Fresno, Calif. ……………………………. 6.7
Harlingen, Texas ………………………. 5.0
Hartford, Conn………………………… 14.3
Helena, Mont. …………………………… 5.0
Honolulu, Hawaii ……………………… 5.0
Houston, Texas…………………………. 5.1
Indianapolis, Ind……………………….. 5.0
Jacksonville, Fla. ……………………… .7.4
Kansas City, Mo……………………….. 7.0
Las Vegas, Nev…………………………. 9.0
Los Angeles, Calif…………………… 12.5
Louisville, Ky…………………………… 7.1
Manchester, N.H……………………….. 5.3
Memphis, Tenn. ……………………….. 8.4
Miami, Fla……………………………… 12.0
Milwaukee, Wis. ………………………. 6.6
Mount Laurel, N.J. ……………………. 5.0
New Orleans, La. ……………………. 14.5
New York, N.Y. ……………………… 10.0
Newark, N.J……………………………… 7.4
Norfolk, Va. …………………………….. 7.2
Oklahoma City, Okla. ……………….. 8.6
Omaha, Neb. ……………………………. 5.0
Orlando, Fla. ……………………………. 9.5
Philadelphia, Pa………………………. 10.0
Phoenix, Ariz. ………………………….. 8.6
Pittsburgh, Pa. ………………………….. 6.0
Portland, Maine………………………… 5.5
Portland, Ore. …………………………… 5.4
Providence, R.I…………………………. 6.7
Reno, Nev………………………………… 5.0
Sacramento, Calif……………………… 5.0
Salt Lake City, Utah………………….. 5.0
San Antonio, Texas …………………… 5.0
San Diego, Calif……………………….. 5.0
San Francisco, Calif. …………………. 5.5
San Jose, Calif………………………….. 5.0
San Juan, Puerto Rico ……………… 10.4
Seattle, Wash……………………………. 9.0
Spokane, Wash…………………………. 5.0
St Albans, Vt. …………………………… 9.5
St Louis, Mo…………………………… 10.3
St Paul, Minn……………………………. 5.5
Tampa, Fla. ……………………………… 8.6
Tucson, Ariz…………………………… 12.0
Washington, D.C…………………….. 12.7
West Palm Beach, Fla. ………………. 5.0
Yakima, Wash………………………….. 5.0
HIV Travel/Immigration Ban Repealed
The House passed H.R. 5501, which includes a provision that would repeal the HIV travel/immigration ban by amending the current health-related ground of inadmissibility to exclude any reference to HIV. The Senate passed the same bill a week earlier. The bill has now been signed by the President. The long-standing discriminatory ban against individuals with HIV/AIDS designated HIV as being the only disease that holds ground for inadmissibility.
USCIS Changes Vaccination Requirements for I-485 Applications
USCIS announced changes to the vaccination requirements for adjustment of status applications. Those seeking permanent residency now require the following age-appropriate additional vaccinations: Rotavirus, Hepatitis A, Meningococcal, Human papillomavirus and Zoster. The June 5, 2008 edition of Form I-693 must be used for any medical examination completed on or after August 1, 2008.
Sneak Preview of ESTA Web Tool Now Available
On July 21, 2008, CBP announced that a preview of Electronic System for Travel Authorization under the Visa Waiver Program is now available. The ESTA is an electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States. Applicants will need to provide biographical information and VWP eligibility information for the CBP to determine if they are fit to travel under the VWP. Travel authorization will become mandatory as of January 12, 2009.
Immigration Raids Updates
Over the past year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has intensified immigration enforcement activities by conducting several large-scale worksite raids across the country.
In May, Rep. Braley (D-IA) sent letters to the DOJ, DOL, and DHS requesting further information about a possible investigation into labor practices at Agriprocessors facility in Postville, Iowa. On July 17, 2008, after receiving contradictory responses from ICE and the DOL about coordination before the ICE raid, Braley issued a follow-up letter.
On July 16, 2008, ICE announced that a former and current top executive for a McDonald’s franchisee in Nevada pled guilty to federal felony immigration offenses for encouraging undocumented foreign nationals to reside in the United States.
On July 21, 2008, ICE announced that it executed nine federal search warrants and arrested 43 foreign nationals in a raid on a Waipahu apartment complex. The men were employed by The Farms, an agricultural business. Two days later, the ICE arrested 58 employees at eight Casa Fiesta Restaurants throughout northern Ohio.
This information is not intended to provide solutions to individual problems and does not constitute an attorney client relationship. Readers are cautioned not to attempt to solve individual problems on the basis of information contained herein and are strongly advised to seek competent legal counsel before relying on this information. The above information should not be construed as legal advice. Please note that laws change frequently.