Part A - Public Services

In May 2020, USCIS retired its Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM), a collection of our immigration policies and procedures. We are working quickly to update and incorporate all of the AFM content into the USCIS Policy Manual, the agency’s centralized online repository for immigration policies. Until then, we have moved any remaining AFM content to its corresponding Policy Manual Part. To the extent that a provision in the Policy Manual conflicts with remaining AFM content or Policy Memoranda, the updated information in the Policy Manual prevails. If you have questions or concerns about any discrepancies among these resources, contact USCISPolicyManual@uscis.dhs.gov.

AFM Chapter 10 - An Overview of the Adjudication Process (External) (PDF, 2.87 MB)

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

5 U.S.C. 552a(b) - Conditions of disclosure

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

INA 101(i)(1) - Referral to nongovernmental organization

INA 103, 8 CFR 103 - Powers and duties of the Secretary, the Under Secretary, and the Attorney General

INA 210, 8 CFR 210 - Special agricultural workers

INA 244, 8 CFR 244 - Temporary protected status

INA 245A(c)(4) - Limitation on access to information

AR-11, Change of Address

G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative

I-131, Application for Travel Document

I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant

I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

I-589, Application for Asylum or Withholding of Removal

I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility

I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition

I-765, Application for Employment Authorization

I-854, Inter-Agency Alien Witness and Informant Record

I-864P, Poverty Guidelines

I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service

I-914 Supplement A, Application for Family Member of T-1 Recipient

I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status

I-918 Supplement A, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of U-1 Recipient

I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status

Report Misconduct (Office of Inspector General)

Appendices

Dissatisfaction with USCIS: Terms and Definitions
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 Cases outside normal processing times (ONPT) Inaccurate or incomplete responses to case-related inquiries Case processing errors Confusion regarding a notice or correspondence sent by USCIS Non-Case-Specific Complaints Rude treatment by USCIS employees or contractors Facility-related issues Difficulty understanding forms, notices, instructions, or other general information Administration of immigration laws or USCIS policies Contact Information USCIS offices, in-person or by mail. See Find a USCIS Office page on the USCIS website. USCIS Contact Center Phone: 1-800-375-5283 (TTY: 1-800-767-1833)
Misconduct Actions of a USCIS employee or contractor that can be considered extreme or outrageous, including, but not limited to, criminal activity.^[2]	Fraud, corruption, bribery, or embezzlement Perjury or falsification of documents or information Physical assault or inappropriate conduct Unauthorized release of classified information or unauthorized use or misuse of official government systems Misuse of official position for private gain Theft or misuse of government funds, vehicles, badges, credentials, secure forms, sensitive property, or other property Arrest of an employee or contractor by law enforcement personnel Contact Information DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) Phone: 1-800-323-8603; Fax: 202-254-4297 Mail: DHS, OIG/MAIL STOP 0305 Attn: Office of Investigations – Hotline 245 Murray Lane, SW Washington, DC 20528-0305 USCIS Office of Security and Integrity (OI) Fax: 202-233-2453 Mail: Office of Investigations Attn: Intake MS 2275 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 633 Third Street NW, 3rd Floor, Suite 350 Washington, DC 20529-2275

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].

Updates

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 our litigation summary.

Affected Sections

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 (EB-4) 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 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) between the AFM and the Policy Manual.

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

3 USCIS-PM - Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole

4 USCIS-PM - Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees

5 USCIS-PM - Volume 5 - Adoptions

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

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”].

Affected Sections

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

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

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.