Pearl Chang, Acting Chief, Office of Policy and Strategy

Pearl Chang is the Acting Chief of the Office of Policy and Strategy of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  The Office of Policy and Strategy (OP&S) was created by the Homeland Security Act of 2003 to provide policy and strategic recommendations to the director of USCIS on all immigration matters. It also oversees a broad program of immigration policy research and evaluation to facilitate informed decision making and program direction.  

A career government official with 20 years of experience in immigration and naturalization, Ms. Chang, the Deputy Chief of OP&S in her normal capacity, previously directed the Regulations and Product Management Division of Domestic Operations, USCIS, where she was responsible for managing the development of policy guidance and regulations to implement immigration statutes.

Prior to the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, Ms. Chang managed Residence and Status Services, and served as acting chief of the Naturalization and Special Projects Branch, for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and was a special assistant to the Associate Commissioner of Examinations.  She began her career with the INS in 1987 as a manager of the F-1 Student Visa program.  Prior to joining INS, she coordinated the exchange visitor program (J-1 visa) for the United States Information Agency, and worked as a radio news journalist and broadcaster for the Voice of America.

Ms. Chang is herself a naturalized citizen, who first came to the United States as a student.  She holds a B.A. degree from the Taiwan Normal University in Taipei and an M.A. from Central Michigan University.