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Direct Mail Program expanded for Forms I485, I765 and I131

Two-phased rollout effective December 1, 2004 and April 1, 2005

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expanding its Direct Mail Program to provide that certain filings of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status; Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; and Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, be filed at a designated Chicago, Illinois lockbox facility for initial processing. The Direct Mail Program allows USCIS to more efficiently process applications through standardization, by eliminating duplicative work, maximizing staff productivity, and introducing better information management tools.

USCIS intends for this Direct Mail rollout to be completed in a two-phased approach. Phase One will begin on December 1, 2004 and will affect certain aliens filing Form I-485, Form I-765, and Form I-131 who live in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States. Phase Two will begin on April 1, 2005 and will affect certain aliens filing Form I-485, Form I-765, and Form I-131 residing in: Alaska, California, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

The notice affects only the address location where certain filings involving an adjustment of status application, employment authorization and travel authorization requests are to be mailed. These forms, previously filed at several locations nation-wide, will now be filed under the Direct Mail Program at one specific address in Chicago, IL.

Effective December 1, 2004, those aliens described in Phase One as established by this Notice, and effective April 1, 2005, those aliens described in Phase Two, as established by this Notice, must send their Form I-485, and/or Form I-765, and/or Form I-131, and all supporting documentation for each application, directly to one of the following addresses:

U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, P.O. Box 805887, Chicago, IL 60680-4120; or

For non-United States Postal Service (USPS) deliveries (e.g. private couriers): U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 427 S. LaSalle--3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60605-1098.

USCIS notes that the above lockbox addresses are different than the Chicago USCIS offices located on West Jackson Boulevard, S. Dearborn, or at 539 S. La Salle.

USCIS is currently amending the instructions to Form I-485, Form I-765, and Form I-131, as well as the procedures listed on the USCIS website to reflect the new filing address. With the exception of the new filing address, all other filing procedures remain unchanged.

During the first 30 days following the effective date of this notice, other USCIS offices will forward to the Chicago Lockbox address any filings of Form I-485, Form I-765, and Form I-131 they receive that are covered by this Notice. Applications forwarded from the other USCIS offices will be considered properly filed when receipted at the Lockbox.

After the 30-day transition period, any application-type mentioned in this Notice, received at a location other than the Lockbox address will be returned with an explanation directing the applicant to mail the application directly to the Chicago Lockbox address for processing.

For complete Federal Register notice, click here.

New version of Form I102 released

The USCIS has released the new version of Form I-102, Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document. This form is used by a nonimmigrant to apply for a new or replacement Form I-94 or I-95 Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document.

Number of Pages: 6 pages

Edition Date: 7/7/04. Prior editions may not be used.

Where to File:

•	If you are filing to replace a Form I-95, file this application at the local office having jurisdiction over where you are temporarily located.
•	If you were not issued a Form I-94 at admission to the U.S., or are filing this application with an application for extension of stay or change of status, file this application where you are filing the accompanying extension of stay or change of status application.
•	To request to correct an inaccurate Form I-94, I-95 or I-20ID, submit your application at the local office having jurisdiction over where you are temporarily located. Contact that office for further instructions.
•	In all other instances, file this application with the Service Center having jurisdiction over the state where you are temporarily located.

Filing Fee: $155.

You do not need to pay a fee to request to correct your Form I-94, I-95 or I-20ID if the error(s) on your document was made by USCIS, through no fault of your own.

Please consult the "Paying Fees" section of your local office or Service Center page to learn which forms of payment are accepted. Acceptable forms of payment may vary by office.

EOIR announces new photo standard

The format requirement for photographs filed with the Immigration Court in conjunction with forms EOIR-40, EOIR-42B, I-485, and I-881 will change effective Monday, October 4, 2004.

http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/photostandards.htm

New USCIS photo rule from today

To: REGIONAL DIRECTORS
SERVICE CENTER DIRECTORS
DISTRICT DIRECTORS, INCLUDING OVERSEAS
ASYLUM OFFICE DIRECTORS
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

From: William R. Yates /S/
Associate Director for Operations
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Date: August 25, 2004
Re: Reminder of Change in Photograph Standard

Background
On July 29, 2004, I issued a memorandum on the change in photograph standard for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The purpose of this memorandum is to remind offices that the change to passport style photographs is effective on September 1, 2004, and to provide additional guidance on implementation of the new standard.

New Photograph Standard
USCIS is adopting the Department of State’s photograph guidance for passport style photographs in its entirety. The new guidance completely replaces previous USCIS (or INS) guidance on photographs, including guidance on the dimensions, age and religious accommodations for photographs. Guidelines for producing passport style photographs are located at http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotoreq/pptphotoreq_5333.html.

Implementation
On August 2, 2004, all Application Support Centers began capturing only passport style photographs. On that same date, all USCIS offices began accepting both ¾ profile photographs and passport style photographs. Beginning on September 1, 2004, all USCIS office will begin accepting only passport style photographs. This will complete the public rollout of the new USCIS photograph standard. Additionally, USCIS will take the following steps to implement the new photograph standard internally:

20 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20529
Change in Photograph Standard

1. Grace Period. USCIS offices will allow a six (6) calendar day grace period after September 1, 2004, for acceptance of ¾ profile photographs. This grace period will apply regardless of the delivery method of the photographs, i.e. by mail, in person or at a drop box.

2. Document Production. Until further notice, USCIS will produce documents (e.g. Permanent Resident Cards, Employment Authorization Documents, and Naturalization Certificates) with the photograph that was acceptable at the time the application was filed, regardless of the date of document production. USCIS offices should continue cases in order to request new photographs only if an application or petition was submitted with a ¾ profile photograph after the conclusion of the 6-day grace period on September 6, 2004.

A Press Release and a flyer (Form M-603) [to replace the Color Photograph Specifications (Form M-378)] on the change to the new photograph standard have been posted to the USCIS website. The flyer is also available through the USCIS forms centers.