USCIS Update and FAQs on the Addition of Form N-400 to the Direct Mail Program (.

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USCIS Update September 15, 2008

Direct Mail Program Adds Form N-400, Application for Naturalization

WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS) announces publication of a

Federal Register Notice that expands the Direct Mail program to include Form N-400, Application for

Naturalization. The notice advises the public to file non-military N-400 applications with the appropriate

Lockbox and provides a 30-day transition period whereby the Service Centers will forward any N-400

applications received at their facilities to the appropriate Lockbox. Applicants should continue to file

Military N-400 cases at the Nebraska Service Center (NSC). In addition, in order to assist military

spouses, NSC will also accept and process N-400s filed by spouses of active members of the military.

Beginning on October 14, 2008, applicants must submit Form N-400 and related supplements to one of

two new USCIS Lockbox facilities for initial processing, using the following addresses:

If You Reside In: File N-400 with:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,

Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,

Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,

North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,

Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Territory of

Guam, Northern Mariana Islands

USCIS Lockbox Facility, USCIS,

P.O. Box 21251

Phoenix, AZ 85036

Private Courier (non-USPS)

USCIS, Attn: N400

1820 E Skyharbor Circle

S. Floor 1, Phoenix, AZ 85036

If You Reside In: File N-400 with:

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, DC,

Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,

Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New

Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,

North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto

Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee,

Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, U.S.

Virgin Islands.

USCIS Lockbox Facility, USCIS,

P.O. Box 299026

Lewisville, TX 75029.

Private Courier (non-USPS)

USCIS, Attn: N400

2501 S. State Hwy 121, Bldg. 4

Lewisville, TX 75067.

Since 1998, Form N-400, Applications for Naturalization, have been filed at the four Service Centers.

The Service Centers completed initial processing on the cases before the cases were forwarded to the

local USCIS Field Offices for interviews. During 2008, the processing of N-400s is undergoing change

through a two-step process. First, N-400 cases were transferred internally, by the Service Centers to the

National Benefits Center (NBC). The NBC, located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, began to accept N-400

cases from the Service Centers in June 2008. During the time that the first step was taken, there was no

change to where the applicants filed their applications.

The Federal Register Notice begins the second step of the process, requiring the public to file their

applications directly with a Lockbox facility beginning October 14, 2008. Each Lockbox facility will

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scan the documents submitted and complete the data entry and fee processing steps before forwarding

accepted applications on to the NBC for further processing. The NBC will not accept any N-400 filings

mailed directly from the public.

The N-400 form instructions have been updated to reflect the new filing procedures. Other updates to the

form instructions include inserting the requirements to submit two passport-style photographs and a copy

of the Permanent Resident Card for applicants who are lawful permanent residents.

– USCIS –

Office of Communications

www.uscis.gov

Frequently Asked Questions September 15, 2008

Direct Mail Program Adds Form N-400, Application for Naturalization

Questions & Answers

Q: How will filing N-400 applications directly with a Lockbox improve business processes or

streamline the application process?

A: In the past, these processing steps occurred at a Service Center or Field Office. USCIS has studied its

model of using numerous locations for various processes and has found that, in many instances, a more

centralized approach will improve efficiency for the government and the paying customer. USCIS has

learned that having any process completed at numerous locations can lead to inconsistencies, which

include, but are not limited to, variance in processing times and different handling procedures evolving at

various sites. By centralizing key functions relative to N-400 case processing, USCIS customers will deal

with only one entity for this application type. Customers filing an N-400 application will experience little

visible affect due to this centralization.

Q: Is it a cost-saver for USCIS to centralize N-400 processing at Lockboxes and the National

Benefits Center (NBC)?

A: Yes. The centralization of application handling, case processing and subsequent staging of the N-400s

will result in cost savings to the government and faster, more efficient processing times for USCIS

customers. This change is also part of the USCIS initiative to further centralize filing and pre-interview

processing for cases that require an interview at a local USCIS Field Office.

N-400 processing is a multi-step operation that has involved Service Centers around the country, which

receive applications from customers within each Service Center’s geographic jurisdictional boundaries.

Service Centers have performed fee receipting, data entry, file set-up, required security checks and file

staging for numerous Field Offices for many years. Having four centers perform these tasks has led to

various inconsistencies due to logistical/space related issues, staffing irregularities and differing

interpretations of procedure and policy. All N-400 applications received at a Service Center are

ultimately adjudicated at a Field Office where applicants are scheduled for an interview. An operational

model requiring four USCIS Service Centers to move thousands of N-400 case files to numerous

adjudicating offices has not proven to be the most effective processing model. That is now being

changed.

Centralizing the initial processing of N-400s at the NBC increases the efficiency of case management and

improves customer service. The NBC will focus on creating and maintaining applicant files, completing

national security checks, and various other processing steps. The NBC will also hold all N-400 cases

waiting for adjudicative interview. Field Offices will make requests to only one site, the NBC, for cases

to be retrieved and mailed in a much more efficient and time-sensitive fashion. Customer inquiries will

only travel back to this one site, affording quicker response time and daily resolution for customer

inquiries.

Q: How is this change beneficial to the applicant?

A: As stated above, the centralization of N-400 staging and distribution will have numerous positive

effects for USCIS customers. Eventual decreases in customer waiting time and increased productivity in

overall N-400 case processing are the ultimate goals of USCIS. These results, coupled with overall

sustained quality and adherence to all tenants of national security, will be the final measure of success for

this transitional effort.

Q: How is this change beneficial to USCIS and will this result in improved security?

A: USCIS falls within the Department of Homeland Security and one of the cornerstone functions for

USCIS is to protect the American people through the implementation and completion of numerous

policies and procedures related to national security. This processing change will NOT affect the

completion of these procedures. USCIS remains committed to the highest standards regarding national

security. The centralization of all N-400 applications for those seeking this country’s highest immigration

benefit will afford this agency the opportunity to streamline and standardize security checks. All

applications will be reviewed at one facility and communication will flow in and out of this one location.

Disparity among different processing sites will be an item of the past. If an item related to security arises,

it will be addressed and reported immediately at this one site. The end result is an overall improved

response to security related matters by USCIS.

By implementing a centralized collection and deposit process, USCIS will also benefit from improved

financial controls. This will enhance the security related to fee collections and timely deposits and the

reporting of financial data.

Q: What steps did USCIS go through to determine centralized processing would result in faster

case adjudication?

A: USCIS has spent the last several months planning every aspect of this centralization. Legacy

procedures, practices and systems have been reviewed, tested and modified to make this proposal a

success. USCIS has worked in conjunction with Service Centers, Field Offices, legal counsel,

information technology and numerous other divisions to ensure that every aspect of this process has been

scrutinized. This collaboration has helped to ensure that customer applications will not be delayed

following newly implemented procedures. The overall goals, as stated in the various responses above, are

to increase quality, decrease processing times, and decrease customer inquiry response times.

Q: How will this change impact the staff at the Service Centers who used to process the

applications?

A: Service Center staff that was previously assigned to N-400 related processing will be reassigned to

other tasks. With the exception of abandonment denials, adjudication of N-400 applications has never

occurred at the Service Centers, so the adjudicative impact will be minimal. Clerical staff, quality

assurance personnel and customer inquiry personnel will be assigned to other processing workloads and

will continue to complete critical processing, quality review and national security procedures at each

USCIS site.

Contract personnel responsible for N-400 processing at the four centers will be affected to a certain

extent. Contractual understanding has been in place for some time allowing communication, awareness

and progressive planning for this transition to occur. Some downsizing may occur at the Service Centers

due to this centralization; however, staffing adjustments will be made where possible and on an as-needed

basis to continue employment of displaced personnel.

Q: Will the NBC now be responsible for adjudicating N-400 fee waiver requests for cases filed at

the Lockbox?

A: USCIS staff at the Lockbox will review cases with a fee wavier request that are mailed to the

Lockbox. USCIS staff will determine whether a fee waiver request is granted based on the circumstances

and evidence supplied by the applicant in support of a fee waiver request.

Q: What types of N-400 cases will be filed at the Lockbox and processed by the NBC?

A: All N-400 cases will be filed at the Lockbox except for N-400s filed by two categories of applicants:

1) N-400 filed by a veteran, or an active member of the US Armed Forces, who is filing under

section 328 or 329 of the INA; and

2) N-400 filed by the spouse of an active member of the US Armed Forces.

The two categories of applicants listed above will file at the Nebraska Service Center. The NBC will not

accept N-400 filings mailed directly from the public to their location. Any N-400 application that is

mailed to the NBC from the public will be returned.

Q: What will the N-400 process be at the NBC?

A: The NBC will perform pre-interview processing in much the same manner as the Service Centers have

done for the last several years. Background checks will be initiated and completed, and applicant A-files

will be requested and received. A complete file review will be performed on cases and NBC will issue a

notice to the applicant if the applicant needs to bring additional evidence to the interview at the local

USCIS Field Office. Further improvements of the N-400 process will be implemented as the NBC

process is refined to provide, to the extent possible, decision-ready cases for Field Offices at the time of

interview and to reduce the number of continuances at the time of interview.