CISOMB_AnnualReport_to_Congress_2007__June_11_2007_ _Appendices E33542 6 Cisomb Annualrpt07 June 11 2007 Appendices

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Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
APPENDICES
Appendix 1: USCIS Servicewide Domestic Data for Selected Application Types (FY
1992 – 2007 YTD), USCIS Performance Analysis System Data
1992 Total 1993 Total 1994 Total 1995 Total 1996 Total 1997 Total 1998 Total 1999 Total
Service-wide Total
1
Initial Recei
p
ts 4,234,919 4,498,017 4,137,670 4,878,930 5,447,097 6,276,857 5,562,803 5,398,594
A
pp
roved 3,990,705 4,009,598 3,612,379 3,917,624 4,966,986 4,485,217 4,201,666 4,513,318
Denie
d
217,239 278,930 299,313 347,822 579,822 468,332 491,019 706,151
Percent Denie
d
5% 7% 8% 8% 10% 9% 10% 14%
Pendin
g
(
End of 656,065 679,982 987,484 1,667,606 1,651,850 3,050,701 3,891,365 3,972,943
I-485 Adjustment
of Status/Green
Initial Recei
p
ts 327,856 385,547 317,164 577,719 646,585 759,500 527,453 456,233
A
pp
roved 313,279 353,880 317,544 339,399 505,230 448,044 382,447 264,753
Denie
d
12,834 14,613 24,215 18,168 36,637 29,930 33,945 35,137
Percent Denie
d
4% 4% 7% 5% 7% 6% 8% 12%
Pendin
g
(
End of 120,353 125,253 121,067 320,730 435,250 699,332 808,507 950,987
I-130 Petition for
Relative
Initial Recei
p
ts 922,919 736,483 663,472 630,138 708,727 886,053 742,917 466,044
A
pp
roved 924,470 776,174 573,339 573,456 692,936 703,925 540,066 401,052
Denie
d
38,394 54,155 45,874 55,707 65,452 59,897 53,249 48,487
Percent Denie
d
4% 7% 7% 9% 9% 8% 9% 11%
Pendin
g
(
End of 130,735 83,897 181,740 230,662 241,745 407,115 554,275 593,235
I-140 Petition for
Alien Worker
Initial Recei
p
ts 67,043 50,721 47,130 51,511 61,046 68,824 67,511 78,879
A
pp
roved 60,371 55,450 47,563 48,935 55,484 61,367 44,912 50,498
Denie
d
4,816 4,666 4,750 6,180 8,295 7,508 9,005 8,585
Percent Denie
d
7% 8% 9% 11% 13% 11% 17% 15%
Pendin
g
(
End of 4,316 5,272 6,961 5,757 6,743 7,737 20,309 43,418
I-765 Employment
Authorization
Initial Recei
p
ts 745,306 801,083 707,222 864,991 952,613 1,160,680 1,211,514 1,357,320
A
pp
roved 693,701 643,403 633,998 790,074 875,047 1,037,412 1,139,453 1,192,727
Denie
d
27,159 33,007 46,216 56,966 63,840 68,130 88,948 65,027
Percent Denie
d
4% 5% 7% 7% 7% 6% 7% 5%
Pendin
g
(
End of 48,794 60,261 44,135 70,324 76,674 135,352 114,722 186,036
I-131 Travel
Document
Initial Recei
p
ts 216,065 261,596 280,741 283,013 335,426 384,508 453,323 449,438
A
pp
roved 209,549 247,701 237,934 254,937 306,552 334,571 475,080 368,664
Denie
d
8,564 14,302 26,520 28,520 24,429 21,887 31,451 29,690
Percent Denie
d
4% 5% 10% 10% 7% 6% 6% 7%
Pendin
g
(
End of 11,490 9,376 27,615 28,187 33,757 78,337 42,418 73,371
I-90 Application to
Replace Green
Initial Recei
p
ts 476,789 715,248 543,919 460,753 408,849 321,107 335,956 359,578
A
pp
roved 478,825 677,563 436,680 533,237 470,137 248,562 138,900 250,034
Denie
d
4,419 4,142 6,229 9,934 16,769 11,447 7,541 9,352
Percent Denie
d
1% 1% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 4%
Pendin
g
(
End of 54,086 37,942 200,324 174,242 44,446 47,886 167,578 170,400
I-751 Removal of
Conditions on
Residence
Initial Recei
p
ts 92,530 97,748 105,847 112,578 114,231 95,468 119,718 107,422
A
pp
roved 80,523 72,217 91,201 94,228 105,988 92,526 85,582 88,873
Denie
d
6,414 4,250 6,671 3,701 9,359 6,918 3,270 4,070
Percent Denie
d
7% 6% 7% 4% 8% 7% 4% 4%
Pendin
g
(
End of 8,888 14,514 20,286 25,762 23,187 26,201 54,005 57,116
N-400
Initial Recei
p
ts 342,238 521,866 543,353 959,963 1,277,403 1,412,712 932,957 765,346
A
pp
roved 242,740 346,692 403,513 459,846 1,104,338 582,478 473,152 872,427
Denie
d
19,293 39,931 40,561 46,067 229,842 130,676 137,395 379,993
Percent Denie
d
7% 10% 9% 9% 17% 18% 23% 30%
Pendin
g
(
End of 199,385 269,192 314,236 705,266 684,069 1,440,396 1,802,902 1,355,524
N600/N643
Certificate of
Citizenshi
p
Initial Recei
p
ts 28,335 27,963 29,861 33,749 48,549 81,645 68,058 61,162
A
pp
roved 24,027 24,069 28,280 26,390 30,730 61,932 50,692 52,956
Denie
d
1,169 1,725 2,065 1,856 2,226 4,764 4,826 5,350
Percent Denie
d
5% 7% 7% 7% 7% 7% 9% 9%
Pendin
g
(
End of 14,164 14,111 10,439 15,458 30,267 51,956 64,443 81,610
1
Servicewide Totals include all USCIS forms.
June 2007 www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman email: cisombudsman@dhs.gov Page 113
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
2000 Total 2001 Total 2002 Total 2003 Total 2004 Total 2005 Total 2006 Total Oct. 2006-A
p
r. 2007
Servicewide Total
1
Initial Recei
p
ts 6,058,298 7,949,554 7,137,988 7,043,721 6,017,694 6,293,255 6,317,159 3,452,386
Approved 5,716,542 6,341,470 6,405,391 5,379,790 6,289,682 6,577,399 5,795,111 3,017,006
Denied 770,762 704,587 796,206 774,989 885,540 902,716 943,779 409,343
Percent Denied 12% 10% 11% 13% 12% 12% 14% 12%
Pendin
(End of 3,892,056 4,815,869 5,090,511 6,073,156 4,871,014 3,793,841 3,415,409 3,486,838
I-485 Adjustment of
Status/Green Card
Initial Recei
p
ts 562,021 754,133 710,244 685,928 601,757 629,568 606,425 380,054
A
pp
roved 483,863 695,184 764,252 365,059 604,246 782,475 826,974 338,987
Denied 80,268 126,370 97,603 90,648 138,903 145,101 166,064 55,599
Percent Denied 14% 15% 11% 20% 19% 16% 17% 14%
Pendin
(End of 1,001,479 971,866 967,249 1,231,321 1,105,867 891,495 569,476 580,507
I-130 Petition for
Relative
Initial Recei
p
ts 597,569 1,495,375 714,232 719,837 697,950 661,204 747,012 406,821
A
pp
roved 342,260 565,875 695,433 372,188 690,642 1,105,918 777,222 301,773
Denied 41,208 52,306 77,264 71,379 116,289 130,352 127,875 39,625
Percent Denied 11% 8% 10% 16% 14% 11% 14% 12%
Pendin
(End of 797,343 1,585,410 1,605,016 1,875,108 1,833,905 1,276,598 1,129,602 1,228,079
I-140 Petition for
Alien Worker
Initial Recei
p
ts 96,001 137,695 104,361 96,578 80,348 75,009 140,158 114,783
A
pp
roved 89,583 99,659 93,533 62,281 67,552 94,211 104,168 65,098
Denied 8,908 14,084 35,866 17,673 18,294 24,325 19,699 10,669
Percent Denied 9% 12% 28% 22% 21% 21% 16% 14%
Pendin
(End of 48,076 68,928 49,005 67,585 73,595 32,414 50,132 92,356
I-765 Employment
Authorization
Initial Recei
p
ts 1,451,527 1,813,479 1,745,976 2,156,095 1,640,703 1,744,961 1,462,583 644,186
A
pp
roved 1,325,840 1,698,448 1,573,842 1,977,344 1,694,623 1,541,531 1,188,770 666,484
Denied 65,785 87,519 134,551 169,191 206,236 217,184 186,826 96,372
Percent Denied 5% 5% 8% 8% 11% 12% 14% 13%
Pendin
(End of 256,451 267,329 392,907 430,306 283,218 274,368 341,571 212,150
I-131 Travel
Document
Initial Recei
p
ts 522,054 476,830 471,366 469,962 452,026 379,165 371,880 220,524
A
pp
roved 442,421 420,301 447,628 335,035 520,517 391,027 318,021 188,339
Denied 26,005 29,645 31,829 23,182 37,539 30,800 29,649 13,522
Percent Denied 6% 7% 7% 6% 7% 7% 9% 7%
Pendin
(End of 102,045 116,562 106,237 217,603 108,887 60,770 66,977 84,301
I-90 Application to
Replace Green Card
Initial Receipts 705,086 773,865 880,462 717,174 630,663 681,407 680,957 354,578
A
pp
roved 706,196 815,306 668,660 470,286 1,071,443 668,647 632,121 360,549
Denied 11,976 10,696 9,411 19,941 40,035 29,314 50,360 13,537
Percent Denied 2% 1% 1% 4% 4% 4% 7% 4%
Pendin
(End of 238,631 257,628 500,422 761,953 276,293 244,226 246,491 206,308
I-751 Removal of
Conditions on
Residence
Initial Recei
p
ts 103,937 56,375 99,752 131,832 163,395 107,031 132,952 77,111
A
pp
roved 88,044 53,280 91,157 38,045 115,281 168,825 135,328 68,206
Denied 3,872 4,980 7,342 4,516 7,643 8,342 11,252 5,463
Percent Denied 4% 9% 7% 11% 6% 5% 8% 7%
Pendin
(End of 84,227 76,965 68,467 159,708 150,523 63,054 40,156 57,486
N-400
Initial Recei
p
ts 460,916 501,646 700,649 523,370 662,794 602,972 730,642 596,363
A
pp
roved 898,315 613,161 589,728 456,063 536,176 600,366 702,663 348,719
Denied 399,670 218,326 139,779 91,599 103,339 108,247 120,722 49,925
Percent Denied 31% 26% 19% 17% 16% 15% 15% 13%
Pendin
End of 817,431 618,750 623,519 628,025 653,128 552,296 473,467 692,504
N600/N643
Certificate of
Citizenshi
p
Initial Recei
p
ts 71,468 70,269 69,943 60,894 59,519 56,321 60,021 42,895
A
pp
roved 56,990 84,134 88,312 61,794 61,866 50,288 58,766 34,365
Denied 7,762 11,600 11,243 8,857 8,487 7,428 7,873 4,575
Percent Denied 12% 12% 11% 13% 12% 13% 12% 12%
Pendin
(End of 95,143 76,454 52,269 43,284 35,618 36,536 28,971 35,618
Page 114 www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman email: cisombudsman@dhs.gov June 2007
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
Appendix 2: International Visits
Australia. The Ombudsman traveled to Australia in mid-August 2006 to
exchange views with Australian government entities regarding immigration-
related issues such as migration, detention, integration, citizenship, processing,
and customer service. The Ombudsman had extensive discussions with Australian
immigration officials, including the Commonwealth Ombudsman, on practices
and systems related to the delivery of information, public outreach, and resolving
complaints. U.S. Embassy Canberra and the Consulate General Sydney arranged
a full schedule of meetings with Australian officials, including with the public and
national radio as part of the Embassy’s speaker program. The Ombudsman
explained the role of this office and exchanged views on immigration.
Among the government contacts the Ombudsman met in Sydney were the
New South Wales (NSW) Deputy State Director, the NSW Detention Review
Manager, officials of the Australian Migrant English Programme, and the Auburn
Migrant Resource Center. In Canberra, the Ombudsman’s hosts included several
Assistant Secretaries in the National Office, including the First Assistant
Secretary in the Citizenship, Settlement, and Multicultural Affairs Division, and
the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
Canada. The Ombudsman met with Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(CIC) officials and stakeholders about immigration best practices and processes.
Best practices include: (1) a CIC values and ethics code; (2) senior
public servants perform naturalization ceremonies; (3) two-year and six-week
rotational assignments for domestic officers to work at CIC; (4) case
conferencing where CIC officers share details of specific cases with other CIC
officers to help clarify points and develop ideas; (5) call center operators having
full access to CIC immigrant databases with case information; and (6) CIC plans
to introduce email at its call centers as a way to inquire about case status and/or
case comments and concerns.
Italy. The Ombudsman visited Rome to review operations at the USCIS
Rome District Office and to participate in meetings at the U.S. Embassy,
International Organization of Migration Mission, Italian Ministry of Interior, and
the UNHCR Regional Office. Issues identified include:
(1) Military naturalization. Overseas operations facilitate USCIS efforts
to conduct military naturalization ceremonies. Interviews to validate military
naturalization applicants’ backgrounds are frequently conducted via video
teleconference.
(2) Refugee processing. USCIS obtains fingerprints for certain refugee
applicants and conducts post-adjudication DNA testing for Form I-730, follow-to-
join refugee petitions, applicants.
June 2007 www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman email: cisombudsman@dhs.gov Page 115
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
Appendix 3: USCIS Facilities Visited
Number Date Visited Facility
1 9/11/2003 Administrative A
pp
eals Unit
2 9/16/2003 New York District Office
3 9/18/2003 Miami As
y
lum Office
4 9/18/2003 Miami District Office
5 9/19/2003 Orlando A
pp
lication Su
pp
ort Cente
r
6 9/19/2003 Orlando Sub-Office
7 9/23/2003 Los An
g
eles A
pp
licant Su
pp
ort Cente
r
8 9/23/2003 Los An
g
eles District Office
9 9/24/2003 California Service Cente
r
10 9/24/2003 Western Re
g
ion Office
11 9/25/2003 Central Re
g
ion Office
12 9/25/2003 Dallas District Office
13 9/26/2003 Texas Service Cente
r
14 10/15/2003 San Antonio A
pp
lication Su
pp
ort Cente
r
15 10/15/2003 San Antonio District Office
16 11/6/2003 Detroit A
pp
licant Su
pp
ort Cente
r
17 11/6/2003 Detroit District Office
18 11/7/2003 Chica
g
o As
y
lum Office
19 11/7/2003 Chica
g
o District Office
20 12/12/2003 Washin
g
ton District Office
21 12/23/2003 Baltimore District Office
22 1/15/2004 San Juan A
pp
licant Su
pp
ort Cente
r
23 1/15/2004 San Juan District Office
24 1/21/2004 Phoenix District Office
25 2/11/2004 Kansas Cit
y
District Office
26 2/12/2004 Missouri Service Cente
r
27 2/13/2004 National Records Cente
r
28 3/23/2004 New York District Office
29 3/30/2004 Dallas District Office
30 3/31/2004 Central Re
g
ion Office
31 3/31/2004 Texas Service Cente
r
32 4/13/2004 Western Re
g
ion Office
33 4/13/2004 California Service Cente
r
34 4/14/2004 Los An
g
eles District Office
35 4/15/2004 San Die
g
o District Office
36 5/3/2004 Chica
g
o District Office
37 5/3/2004 Chica
g
o Lockbox
38 5/4/2004 Chica
g
o As
y
lum Office
39 5/14/2004 Tam
p
a Sub-Office
40 7/16/2004 New York District Office
41 7/21/2004 Atlanta District Office
42 7/22/2004 USCIS Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center (FLETC)
43 7/26/2004 Vermont Service Center
44 7/28/2004 Eastern Re
g
ion Office
45 7/28/2004 Eastern Forms Cente
r
46 7/29/2004 Nebraska Service Cente
r
Page 116 www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman email: cisombudsman@dhs.gov June 2007
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
47 7/31/2004 Omaha District Office
48 9/20/2004 San Jose Sub-Office
49 9/20/2004 San Francisco District Office
50 9/21/2004 Anchora
g
e District Office
51 9/23/2004 Seattle District Office
52 9/29/2004 Corbin Card Production Facilit
y
53 9/29/2004 Pearson Contract Corbin Call Cente
r
54 9/30/2004 Louisville Sub-Office
55 10/12/2004 Buffalo District Office
56 10/13/2004 Cleveland District Office
57 10/14/2004 Detroit District Office
58 10/15/2004 Chica
g
o District Office
59 10/28/2004 Tam
p
a Sub-Office
60 11/3/2004 Central Re
g
ion Office
61 11/4/2004 Dallas District Office
62 12/9/2004 Philadel
p
hia District Office
63 12/10/2004
N
ewark District Office
64 1/4/2005 Central Re
g
ion Office
65 1/4/2005 Dallas District Office
66 1/5/2005 Dallas District Office
67 2/22/2005
N
orfolk Sub-Office
68 2/24/2005 Washin
g
ton District Office
69 2/28/2005
N
ational Benefits Cente
r
70 3/1/2005
N
ational Benefits Cente
r
71 3/2/2005
N
ational Records Cente
r
72 3/3/2005 Seattle District Office
73 3/21/2005 Dallas District Office
74 3/21/2005 Central Re
g
ion Office
75 3/21/2005 Texas Service Cente
r
76 3/22/2005 Texas Service Cente
r
77 3/23/2005 Western Re
g
ion Office
78 3/23/2005 California Service Cente
r
79 3/24/2005 California Service Cente
r
80 4/4/2005 Chica
g
o Lockbox
81 4/5/2005 Vermont Service Cente
r
82 4/6/2005 Vermont Service Cente
r
83 4/7/2005 Eastern Re
g
ion Office
84 8/8/2005 Phoenix District Office
85 8/8/2005 Phoenix Call Cente
r
86 8/9/2005 Los An
g
eles District Office
87 8/9/2005 Los An
g
eles Call Cente
r
88 8/10/2005 Los An
g
eles Lockbox
89 8/10/2005 Los An
g
eles As
y
lum Office
90 8/11/2005 San Die
g
o District Office
91 8/11/2005 Chula Vista Satellite Office
1
92 8/24/2005 Boston District Office
93 8/29/2005 El Paso District Office
June 2007 www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman email: cisombudsman@dhs.gov Page 117
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
94 8/29/2005 Ciudad Juarez Sub-Office
95 8/31/2005 Houston District Office
96 9/1/2005 Dallas District Office
97 9/2/2005 Texas Service Cente
r
98 9/26/2005 Orlando Sub-Office
99 9/27/2005 Miami District Office
100 10/25/2005 California Service Cente
r
101 10/26/2005 California Service Cente
r
102 11/15/2005 Hartford Sub-Office
103 11/17/2005 Chica
g
o Lockbox
104 11/18/2005 National Benefits Cente
r
105 11/20/2005 National Records Cente
r
106 1/30/2006 Charlotte Sub-Office
107 1/31/2006 Atlanta District Office
108 1/31/2006 Atlanta A
pp
lication Su
pp
ort Cente
r
109 2/1/2006 Jacksonville Sub-Office
110 2/2/2006 West Palm Beach Sub-Office
111 3/1/2006 Pittsbur
g
h Sub-Office
112 3/13/2006 Los An
g
eles District Office
113 3/15/2006 California Service Cente
r
114 3/16/2006 Chula Vista Satellite Office
115 3/28/2006 New York District Office
116 3/29/2006 New York Tier II Call Cente
r
117 4/18/2006 Portland
,
ME District Office
118 4/19/2006 Vermont Service Center
119 4/20/2006 St. Albans Sub-Office
120 4/20/2006 Field Support Center, Office of Procurement
(Williston, VT)
121 4/21/2006 Eastern Re
g
ion Office
,
VT
122 4/21/2006 Eastern Forms Cente
r
123 5/12/2006 Orlando Sub-Office
124 5/25/2006 Dallas District Office
125 8/3/2006 Honolulu District Office
126 8/3/2006 Honolulu Application Support Center
127 8/28/2006 Kansas City District Office*
128 8/29/2006 Burlington Region Office*
129 9/13/2006 Des Moines Sub-Office*
130 9/13/2006 St. Paul District Office
131 9/14/2006 Chicago District Office
132 9/15/2006 Chicago Asylum Office
133 9/15/2006 Chicago Lockbox
134 9/19/2006 New York District Office
135 9/25/2006 Denver District Office
136 9/26/2006 Sacramento Sub-Office Office
137 10/3/2006 National Records Center
Page 118 www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman email: cisombudsman@dhs.gov June 2007
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
138 10/11/2006 Newark Asylum Office*
139 10/25/2006 California Service Center*
140 10/27/2006 Sacramento Sub Office*
141 11/8/2006 Vermont Service Center*
142 11/14/2006 Digitization Center, Kentucky
143 11/14/2006 Tier 1, Call Center in Kentucky
144 11/29/2006 Los Angeles Asylum Office*
145 12/11/2006 Harlingen District Office
146 12/12/2006 Texas Service Center
147 12/12/2006 Dallas District Office
148 12/12/2006 Chicago Lockbox*
149 1/10/2007 Arlington Asylum Office*
150 1/18/2007 New York Asylum Office*
151 1/30/2007 Miami District Office
152 1/31/2007 West Palm Beach Field Office
153 2/1/2007 Tampa District Office
154 2/1/2007 Miami Asylum Office*
155 2/2/2007 Orlando Field Office
156 2/12/2007 New York District Office
157 2/21/2007 Newark District Office
158 2/21/2007 Office of Contracting in Burlington*
159 2/21/2007 Vermont Service Center*
160 2/22/2007 Philadelphia District Office
161 3/8/2007 Baltimore District Office
162 3/17/2007 Rome, Italy Field Office
163 4/16/2007 El Paso Field Office
164 4/17/2007 Oklahoma City Field Office
165 4/18/2007 National Benefits Center
166 4/18/2007 National Records Center
167 4/26/2007 Washington District Office
168 5/8/2007 Nebraska Service Center
1
Omitted from 2006 Report in error.
* Offices visited by Ombudsman's staff members.
June 2007 www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman email: cisombudsman@dhs.gov Page 119
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
Appendix 4: Homeland Security Act Excerpts
Homeland Security Act Sections 451, 452, and 453
(6 U.S.C. §§ 271, 272, and 273)
SEC. 451. ESTABLISHMENT OF BUREAU OF CITIZENSHIP AND
IMMIGRATION SERVICES.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF BUREAU-
(1) IN GENERAL- There shall be in the Department a bureau to be known as the `Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services'.
(2) DIRECTOR- The head of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services shall be the
Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, who--
(A) shall report directly to the Deputy Secretary;
(B) shall have a minimum of 5 years of management experience; and
(C) shall be paid at the same level as the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Border
Security.
(3) FUNCTIONS- The Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services--
(A) shall establish the policies for performing such functions as are transferred to the
Director by this section or this Act or otherwise vested in the Director by law;
(B) shall oversee the administration of such policies;
(C) shall advise the Deputy Secretary with respect to any policy or operation of the
Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services that may affect the Bureau of
Border Security of the Department, including potentially conflicting policies or
operations;
(D) shall establish national immigration services policies and priorities;
(E) shall meet regularly with the Ombudsman described in section 452 to correct
serious service problems identified by the Ombudsman; and
(F) shall establish procedures requiring a formal response to any recommendations
submitted in the Ombudsman's annual report to Congress within 3 months after its
submission to Congress.
(4) MANAGERIAL ROTATION PROGRAM-
(A) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after the effective date specified in section
455, the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services shall
design and implement a managerial rotation program under which employees of
such bureau holding positions involving supervisory or managerial responsibility
and classified, in accordance with chapter 51 of title 5, United States Code, as a
GS-14 or above, shall--
(i) gain some experience in all the major functions performed by such
bureau; and
(ii) work in at least one field office and one service center of such bureau.
Page 120 www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman email: cisombudsman@dhs.gov June 2007
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
(B) REPORT- Not later than 2 years after the effective date specified in section 455,
the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the implementation of such
program.
(5) PILOT INITIATIVES FOR BACKLOG ELIMINATION- The Director of the Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services is authorized to implement innovative pilot
initiatives to eliminate any remaining backlog in the processing of immigration benefit
applications, and to prevent any backlog in the processing of such applications from
recurring, in accordance with section 204(a) of the Immigration Services and Infrastructure
Improvements Act of 2000 (8 U.S.C. 1573(a)). Such initiatives may include measures such
as increasing personnel, transferring personnel to focus on areas with the largest potential
for backlog, and streamlining paperwork.
(b) TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS FROM COMMISSIONER- In accordance with title XV (relating to
transition provisions), there are transferred from the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization
to the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services the following functions, and all
personnel, infrastructure, and funding provided to the Commissioner in support of such functions
immediately before the effective date specified in section 455:
(1) Adjudications of immigrant visa petitions.
(2) Adjudications of naturalization petitions.
(3) Adjudications of asylum and refugee applications.
(4) Adjudications performed at service centers.
(5) All other adjudications performed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service
immediately before the effective date specified in section 455.
(c) CHIEF OF POLICY AND STRATEGY-
(1) IN GENERAL- There shall be a position of Chief of Policy and Strategy for the Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services.
(2) FUNCTIONS- In consultation with Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services
personnel in field offices, the Chief of Policy and Strategy shall be responsible for--
(A) making policy recommendations and performing policy research and analysis on
immigration services issues; and
(B) coordinating immigration policy issues with the Chief of Policy and Strategy for
the Bureau of Border Security of the Department.
(d) LEGAL ADVISOR-
(1) IN GENERAL- There shall be a principal legal advisor to the Director of the Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services.
(2) FUNCTIONS- The legal advisor shall be responsible for--
(A) providing specialized legal advice, opinions, determinations, regulations, and any
other assistance to the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services with respect to legal matters affecting the Bureau of Citizenship and
Immigration Services; and
(B) representing the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in visa petition
appeal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
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Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
(e) BUDGET OFFICER-
(1) IN GENERAL- There shall be a Budget Officer for the Bureau of Citizenship and
Immigration Services.
(2) FUNCTIONS-
(A) IN GENERAL- The Budget Officer shall be responsible for--
(i) formulating and executing the budget of the Bureau of Citizenship and
Immigration Services;
(ii) financial management of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services; and
(iii) collecting all payments, fines, and other debts for the Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services.
(f) CHIEF OF OFFICE OF CITIZENSHIP-
(1) IN GENERAL- There shall be a position of Chief of the Office of Citizenship for the
Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.
(2) FUNCTIONS- The Chief of the Office of Citizenship for the Bureau of Citizenship and
Immigration Services shall be responsible for promoting instruction and training on
citizenship responsibilities for aliens interested in becoming naturalized citizens of the
United States, including the development of educational materials.
SEC. 452. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES OMBUDSMAN.
(a) IN GENERAL- Within the Department, there shall be a position of Citizenship and Immigration
Services Ombudsman (in this section referred to as the `Ombudsman'). The Ombudsman shall report
directly to the Deputy Secretary. The Ombudsman shall have a background in customer service as
well as immigration law.
(b) FUNCTIONS- It shall be the function of the Ombudsman—
(1) to assist individuals and employers in resolving problems with the Bureau of Citizenship
and Immigration Services;
(2) to identify areas in which individuals and employers have problems in dealing with the
Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services; and
(3) to the extent possible, to propose changes in the administrative practices of the Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services to mitigate problems identified under paragraph (2).
(c) ANNUAL REPORTS-
(1) OBJECTIVES- Not later than June 30 of each calendar year, the Ombudsman shall report
to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate on the
objectives of the Office of the Ombudsman for the fiscal year beginning in such calendar
year. Any such report shall contain full and substantive analysis, in addition to statistical
information, and--
(A) shall identify the recommendations the Office of the Ombudsman has made on
improving services and responsiveness of the Bureau of Citizenship and
Immigration Services;
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Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
(B) shall contain a summary of the most pervasive and serious problems encountered
by individuals and employers, including a description of the nature of such
problems;
(C) shall contain an inventory of the items described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) for
which action has been taken and the result of such action;
(D) shall contain an inventory of the items described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) for
which action remains to be completed and the period during which each item has
remained on such inventory;
(E) shall contain an inventory of the items described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) for
which no action has been taken, the period during which each item has remained
on such inventory, the reasons for the inaction, and shall identify any official of the
Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services who is responsible for such
inaction;
(F) shall contain recommendations for such administrative action as may be
appropriate to resolve problems encountered by individuals and employers,
including problems created by excessive backlogs in the adjudication and
processing of immigration benefit petitions and applications; and
(G) shall include such other information as the Ombudsman may deem advisable.
(2) REPORT TO BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY- Each report required under this subsection
shall be provided directly to the committees described in paragraph (1) without any prior
comment or amendment from the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Director of the Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services, or any other officer or employee of the Department
or the Office of Management and Budget.
(d) OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES- The Ombudsman—
(1) shall monitor the coverage and geographic allocation of local offices of the Ombudsman;
(2) shall develop guidance to be distributed to all officers and employees of the Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services outlining the criteria for referral of inquiries to local
offices of the Ombudsman;
(3) shall ensure that the local telephone number for each local office of the Ombudsman is
published and available to individuals and employers served by the office; and
(4) shall meet regularly with the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services to identify serious service problems and to present recommendations for such
administrative action as may be appropriate to resolve problems encountered by individuals
and employers.
(e) PERSONNEL ACTIONS-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Ombudsman shall have the responsibility and authority--
(A) to appoint local ombudsmen and make available at least 1 such ombudsman for
each State; and
(B) to evaluate and take personnel actions (including dismissal) with respect to any
employee of any local office of the Ombudsman.
(2) CONSULTATION- The Ombudsman may consult with the appropriate supervisory
personnel of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in carrying out the
Ombudsman's responsibilities under this subsection.
(f) RESPONSIBILITIES OF BUREAU OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES- The
Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services shall establish procedures requiring a
June 2007 www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman email: cisombudsman@dhs.gov Page 123
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
formal response to all recommendations submitted to such director by the Ombudsman within 3
months after submission to such director.
(g) OPERATION OF LOCAL OFFICES-
(1) IN GENERAL- Each local ombudsman--
(A) shall report to the Ombudsman or the delegate thereof;
(B) may consult with the appropriate supervisory personnel of the Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services regarding the daily operation of the local
office of such ombudsman;
(C) shall, at the initial meeting with any individual or employer seeking the assistance
of such local office, notify such individual or employer that the local offices of the
Ombudsman operate independently of any other component of the Department and
report directly to Congress through the Ombudsman; and
(D) at the local ombudsman's discretion, may determine not to disclose to the Bureau
of Citizenship and Immigration Services contact with, or information provided by,
such individual or employer.
(2) MAINTENANCE OF INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS- Each local office of the
Ombudsman shall maintain a phone, facsimile, and other means of electronic
communication access, and a post office address, that is separate from those maintained by
the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, or any component of the Bureau of
Citizenship and Immigration Services.
SEC. 453. PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND QUALITY REVIEW.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services shall be
responsible for—
(1) conducting investigations of noncriminal allegations of misconduct, corruption, and fraud
involving any employee of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services that are not
subject to investigation by the Inspector General for the Department;
(2) inspecting the operations of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services and
providing assessments of the quality of the operations of such bureau as a whole and each
(3) of its components; and
(4) providing an analysis of the management of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services.
(b) SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS.—In providing assessments in accordance with subsection (a)(2)
with respect to a decision of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, or any of its
components, consideration shall be given to— H. R. 5005—66
(1) the accuracy of the findings of fact and conclusions of law used in rendering the decision;
(2) any fraud or misrepresentation associated with the decision; and
(3) the efficiency with which the decision was rendered.
Page 124 www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman email: cisombudsman@dhs.gov June 2007
Appendix 5: DHS Organization Chart
U.S .
OF
Department of Homeland Security
Organizational Chart
SECRETARY
________________
DEPUTY SECRETARY
HEALTH AFFAIRS
Assistant Secretary
Chief Medical Officer
LEGISLATIVE
AFFAIRS
Assistant Secretary
INTELLIGENCE &
ANALYSIS
Assistant Secretary
POLICY
Assistant Secretary
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Assistant Secretary
CHIEF PRIVACY
Officer
COUNTER-
NARCOTICS
ENFORCEMENT
Director
FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT
TRAINING
CENTER
Director
OPERATIONS
COORDINATION
Director
GENERAL
COUNSEL INSPECTOR
GENERAL
CIVIL RIGHTS &
CIVIL LIBERTIES
Officer
CITIZENSHIP
&
IMMIGRATION
SERVICES
OMBUDSMAN
MANAGEMENT
Under Secretary
NATIONAL
PROTECTION &
PROGRAMS
Under Secretary
SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
Under Secretary
DOMESTIC
NUCLEAR
DETECTION
OFFICE
Director
Chief
Financial
Officer
TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION
Assistant Secretary/
Administrator
U.S CUSTOMS &
BORDER
PROTECTION
Commissioner
U.S. SECRET
SERVICE
Director
U.S. CITIZENSHIP &
IMMIGRATION
SERVICES
Director
U.S. IMMIGRATION
&
CUSTOMS
ENFORCEMENT
Assistant Secretary
FEDERAL
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
AGENCY
Administrator
U.S.
COAST
GUARD
Commandant
Chief of Staff
Executive
Secretariat
Military Advisor
Approved 4/1/2007
-Part of the former INS which was combined with part of U.S. Customs
-Formerly part of the INS Immigration Services Division
-Newly created agency under Homeland Security Act As of June 6, 2007 from www.dhs.gov
Office of the
Citizenship and Immigration Services
Ombudsman
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Mail Stop 1225
Washington, DC 20528-1225
June 2007 www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman email: cisombudsman@dhs.gov Page 125
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Annual Report to Congress June 2007
Appendix 6: Biography of Prakash Khatri, Ombudsman
Prakash Khatri was appointed as the first Department of Homeland Security (DHS),
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman in July 2003 by Secretary Tom Ridge. The
Ombudsman assists individuals and employers who experience problems with United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). He also identifies systemic problems with
USCIS processes and recommends solutions. Mr. Khatri has provided executive leadership,
vision, and direction to this office from its inception as a one-person entity to its authorized total
of 24 full time staff plus six contractor staff.
As the Ombudsman, Mr. Khatri has made numerous recommendations to the Director of
USCIS for changes to the immigration benefits process based on data collected through various
outreach activities including: traveling to over 150 USCIS and other DHS facilities, meeting
with DHS immigration officials, and conferring with countless private individuals and
community based organizations. Mr. Khatri also meets with federal and state government
leaders as well as stakeholder organizations to learn of the difficulties they experience with
USCIS. In addition, Mr. Khatri has served as an advisor on numerous DHS immigration reform
initiatives and acted in a key leadership role for the DHS Second Stage Review’s Immigration
Policy Team.
Mr. Khatri earned his B.A. from Stetson University (1981) and J.D. from Stetson
University College of Law (1983). Mr. Khatri was admitted to the Florida State Bar in 1984, and
at the age of 22 was the youngest attorney in the state’s history. He was among the first 35
members of the Florida Bar to pass the Immigration and Nationality Board Certification
examination. Mr. Khatri subsequently served on the Florida Bar Immigration and Nationality
Board Certification Committee where he developed and evaluated board certification exams.
In private practice, Mr. Khatri spent almost two decades representing individuals and
businesses from more than 100 countries in the area of immigration law providing strategic
planning and visa processing advice to corporate clients. He also conducted immigration
seminars in Taiwan, India, and South Africa.
Mr. Khatri also worked for five years as Manager of Immigration and Visa Processing for
Walt Disney World in Florida. While working for Disney, Mr. Khatri traveled to U.S. consular
posts in more than 18 countries. At Disney, he developed and implemented an automated high-
volume visa processing system and other innovations that reduced unnecessary paperwork and
improved efficiencies related to handling employee visa applications.
In addition to serving as a former President of the Central Florida Chapter of the
American Immigration Lawyers Association, Mr. Khatri is a past President of the Asian-Pacific
American Heritage Council of Central Florida.
Page 126 www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman email: cisombudsman@dhs.gov June 2007

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