Immigration Law - Introduction
Federal Agencies and Immigration Services
Immigration law is a complex area involving several different agencies within the United States federal government. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), both bureaus within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), are forefront in immigration services, as are the Department of State (DOS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The DHS and the DOS share oversight of the visa process for the U.S. The DHS ensures that homeland security is a consideration in the visa policies it develops, and the DOS, as part of its management of foreign policy, manages the visa process.
Department of State (DOS)
The Department of State is the lead agency for foreign policy and affairs. As such, it coordinates agencies whose activities touch on foreign affairs, including the issuance of visas and passports. The DOS maintains consular officers at American embassies and consulates that perform the first check in the immigration process-- issuing visas after ensuring that applicants are eligible to enter the U.S. for a specific purpose. The web site for the travel-related services of the DOS is located at http://travel.state.gov.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
In 2003, the DHS, specifically the USCIS, took over many of the responsibilities for immigration services with which the Immigration and Naturalization Service had previously been tasked. The DHS is charged with monitoring borders and ports-of-entry, preventing illegal immigration and the illegal importation of goods, and works overseas to prevent illegal smuggling and immigration. The DHS has the final say on policy areas including alien admissibility and the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The DHS web site is located at http://www.dhs.gov.
USCIS
USCIS is the bureau within the DHS tasked with immigration-related services, including naturalization and work authorizations. The USCIS web site is located at http://uscis.gov.
CBP
CBP is the unified border patrol agency in the U.S. government. Previously, those entering the U.S. encountered three separate governmental officers from customs, immigration, and agriculture. In 2003, DHS, through the CBP, initiated a program through which a single officer will interact with the public, known as "One Face at the Border." This integrated position is expected to expedite entry into the U.S. The CBP web site is http://www.cbp.gov.
U.S. Immigration And Customs Enforcement (ICE)
ICE works to enforce federal immigration, customs, and air security laws and to investigate those areas. The ICE web site is located at http://www.ice.gov.
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