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Goodbye INS. Hello BCIS. 03.01.03
Effective March 1, 2003, the Immigration and Naturalization Service ("INS") transitions to the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") and splits in two in the process. The DHS website may be found at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp. Enforcement and border management functions will now reside in the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security ("BTS") and immigration benefits will be administered by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services ("BCIS"). See DHS website at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/theme_home4.jsp.
What does this change mean for aliens and employers? Right now, probably not much. The immigration laws remain essentially unchanged and BCIS will continue to process and accept INS forms. See BCIS Informational Brochure found at: http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/ChangingINSbrochure.pdf. The DHS website will provide useful information and access to forms and filing fees as did the INS website. Operations at the INS satellite office in Bangor, Maine will remain unchanged for the time being. Although the BCIS has been charged with eliminating application backlogs, expect delays at the Vermont Service Center, which handles most employment-based applications, to increase with the transition; at least temporarily.
Please contact Matthew S. Raynes, mraynes@eatonpeabody.com, for further information.
This paper is provided as general information, and is not a substitute for legal or other professional advice.
Effective March 1, 2003, the Immigration and Naturalization Service ("INS") transitions to the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") and splits in two in the process. The DHS website may be found at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp. Enforcement and border management functions will now reside in the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security ("BTS") and immigration benefits will be administered by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services ("BCIS"). See DHS website at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/theme_home4.jsp.
What does this change mean for aliens and employers? Right now, probably not much. The immigration laws remain essentially unchanged and BCIS will continue to process and accept INS forms. See BCIS Informational Brochure found at: http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/ChangingINSbrochure.pdf. The DHS website will provide useful information and access to forms and filing fees as did the INS website. Operations at the INS satellite office in Bangor, Maine will remain unchanged for the time being. Although the BCIS has been charged with eliminating application backlogs, expect delays at the Vermont Service Center, which handles most employment-based applications, to increase with the transition; at least temporarily.
Please contact Matthew S. Raynes, mraynes@eatonpeabody.com, for further information.
This paper is provided as general information, and is not a substitute for legal or other professional advice.
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