The Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman is an independent office within the Department of Homeland Security and is not part of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The Ombudsman's Office is here to help individuals and employers who have not been able to resolve a problem directly with USCIS.
Before You Submit a Request to the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman

USCIS may be able to provide the answer to many frequently asked questions such as:

  • What type of form do I file?
  • Where do I file a particular form?
  • How do I notify USCIS of a change of address?
  • How do I find out about processing times at various USCIS Service Centers or Field Offices?
  • How do I receive an update on my case status?

Before asking the Ombudsman's Office for help with your application or petition, you should first try to resolve the problem with USCIS by using the following methods:

  • Obtain information about your case status at My Case Status at www.uscis.gov.
  • Contact the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) for assistance at 1-800-375-5283.
  • Make an appointment to speak directly with a USCIS Immigration Services Officer at a local office through the InfoPass system. Appointments may be made online at infopass.uscis.gov.

While there is no time limit to complete this form, this form cannot be saved. Your session will time out after 20 minutes of inactivity.

You will need to have the following information available in order to complete this form, if applicable: (1) A-Number; (2) All USCIS receipt numbers related to each application or petition; (3) Documents submitted to or received from USCIS; (4) Attorney/Accredited Representative information, if represented; and (5) Other information or documentation that is important to the case.

--NOTICE--

Please note that while the Ombudsman's Office provides impartial and independent recommendations to USCIS on how to resolve problems, the Ombudsman's Office does not have the statutory authority to make or change USCIS decisions.
Privacy Act:

All information submitted to the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman is collected and protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act. By submitting this information to the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, you consent to our review of your information and allow us to contact USCIS on your behalf. Your consent allows the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman to resolve your case inquiry and identify systemic immigration issues.

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice:

The public reporting burden to complete this information collection is estimated at one hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the necessary data, and completing and reviewing the collected information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number and expiration date. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, [E-mail: cisombudsman@hq.dhs.gov; Mailing Address: Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C. 20528-0180], ATTN: PRA OMB 1601-0004.
1. Name: The applicant/beneficiary/petitioner encountering difficulties with USCIS (not the attorney/representative/legal office).
*        
or
2. Contact Information: The contact information for the person encountering difficulties with USCIS (applicant/beneficiary/petitioner).
*  Click to show help information
3. Date of Birth: The person encountering difficulties with USCIS (applicant/beneficiary/petitioner).
        
4. Country of Citizenship and Birth:


Hold down the Ctrl key for multiple selections.
5. A-number: The A-number appears in the following format: A123456789.
A Click to show help information
6. Person Preparing this Form: Please indicate who is completing this form.
Important: If you are the beneficiary of a pending petition, and you are not a lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen, the petitioner must provide consent to the release of information relating to your case.
 * I am:
 * I am:

7. Applications/Petitions Filed: List all applications and/or petitions pending with USCIS related to your case inquiry.
Dates received
by USCIS: 		USCIS Forms: Receipt Numbers:
List all available
USCIS Receipt
Numbers. Click to show help information
8. Type of Immigration Benefit: Check all that apply:
9. Reason for Inquiry: Check all that apply and provide a description in Section 10 below.
 
 
 
 
 
Click to show help information
11. Prior Actions Taken: Check all that apply:
 
 
 
13. Supporting Documentation: Additional information related to your case, such as paperwork you submitted to USCIS, documents you received from USCIS, or other information or documentation you feel is important to your case. Click to show help information
Please Note: Any files greater than 5MB in size will be rejected. In addition, the total size for all files for each request cannot exceed 5MB in size.
Attachments
Fax Attachments
Mail Attachments
14. Consent: If you are the beneficiary of a pending petition, the petitioner must sign to give consent to the release of his or her information.
I certify, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America, that the foregoing is true and correct, and that I am the the person encountering difficulties with USCIS (applicant/beneficiary/petitioner) and I understand that any falsification of this statement is punishable under the provisions of 18 U.S.C § 1001 by a fine of not more than $10,000 or by imprisonment of not more than five years or both, and that requesting or obtaining an record(s) under false pretenses is punishable under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. § 522a(i)(3) by a fine of not more than $5,000. Alternatively, I am the legal representative of record for the person encountering difficulties with USCIS (applicant/beneficiary/petitioner). I have included a copy of Form G-28 previously filed with USCIS.

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C § 522a(b), I authorize the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman to release any and all information relating to me to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.


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