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Original Date Announced
March 12, 2019USCIS reportedly "told senior staff members this week that the international division, which has operations in more than 20 countries, would close down by the end of the year...The overseas division provides logistical assistance to American citizens, lawful permanent residents and refugees seeking to bring family members to the United States; people who have been persecuted and wish to resettle in the United States; Americans who adopt children internationally; and members of the military and their families applying for citizenship. It also plays a crucial role in immigration fraud detection." [ID #73]
NYT reportSubsequent Trump-Era and Court Action(s)
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August 9, 2019
USCIS Will Adjust International Footprint to Seven Locations
USCIS announced that it plans to maintain operations at its international field offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, Nairobi, New Delhi, Guatemala City, Mexico City, and San Salvador. USCIS plans to close the remaining 13 international field offices and three district offices by August 2020. View Document
Current Status
Fully in EffectOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/ActualTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeSubject Matter: Humanitarian Immigrant Visas CitizenshipAgencies Affected: USCISAssociated or Derivative Policies
- February 5, 2019 USCIS closes field office in Moscow, Russia
- August 9, 2019 USCIS announces closure of Seoul office
- August 9, 2019 USCIS plans to close several international field offices
Pre Trump-Era Policies
- November 28, 2018 The International Operations Division (IO) is the component of USCIS’ Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Directorate (RAIO) that is charged with advancing the USCIS mission in the international arena. Reuniting families, enabling adoptive children to come to join permanent families in the U.S., considering parole requests from individuals outside the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, and providing information services and travel documents to people around the world – all with unique needs and circumstances – are just a few of the responsibilities our officers assume on a daily basis. Operating in a dynamic global environment with constantly changing political, cultural, environmental, and socio-economic contexts, IO has approximately 240 employees located in the U.S. and in three international districts composed of 24 field offices in 21 countries. USCIS: International Operations