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USCIS to require certain family-based and related immigration applications to be mailed to Chicago instead of filing in Maine
On November 19, 2004, USCIS published a notice directing aliens to file certain immigration applications, which were formerly filed with the USCIS District Office in Portland, Maine, directly with the Chicago lockbox. The USCIS announcement regarding the change may be found at: http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/LockBox11_23_04.pdf. Aliens living in Maine are affected as Maine is listed in the first phase of the rollout for what is termed “direct filing.”
Common applications are affected by this rule, including family-based Applications to Adjust Status (I-485) and attendant Applications for Advance Parole (I-131) and Employment Authorization (I-765). As of December 1, 2004, these applications must be mailed directly to a USCIS lockbox in Chicago. In the past, these applications were subject to “indirect filing.” This meant that they were filed initially with the Portland, Maine District Office and then forwarded on to the National Benefits Center in Missouri for adjudication. Once processing of the paperwork was essentially complete, the file was returned to the District Office for interviews, if necessary.
This development is generally in line with the movement to centralize and standardize processing of many immigration applications.
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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USCIS to require certain family-based and related immigration applications to be mailed to Chicago instead of filing in Maine
On November 19, 2004, USCIS published a notice directing aliens to file certain immigration applications, which were formerly filed with the USCIS District Office in Portland, Maine, directly with the Chicago lockbox. The USCIS announcement regarding the change may be found at: http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/LockBox11_23_04.pdf. Aliens living in Maine are affected as Maine is listed in the first phase of the rollout for what is termed “direct filing.”
Common applications are affected by this rule, including family-based Applications to Adjust Status (I-485) and attendant Applications for Advance Parole (I-131) and Employment Authorization (I-765). As of December 1, 2004, these applications must be mailed directly to a USCIS lockbox in Chicago. In the past, these applications were subject to “indirect filing.” This meant that they were filed initially with the Portland, Maine District Office and then forwarded on to the National Benefits Center in Missouri for adjudication. Once processing of the paperwork was essentially complete, the file was returned to the District Office for interviews, if necessary.
This development is generally in line with the movement to centralize and standardize processing of many immigration applications.
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.
<< Back to News