98-364. Expansion of the Direct Mail Program for the Atlanta, Baltimore, Helena, and Washington District Offices; and the Boise, Charlotte, Charleston, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Norfolk Suboffices; Form N-400  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 891-892]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-364]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
    
    Immigration and Naturalization Service
    [INS No. 1883-97]
    
    
    Expansion of the Direct Mail Program for the Atlanta, Baltimore, 
    Helena, and Washington District Offices; and the Boise, Charlotte, 
    Charleston, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Norfolk Suboffices; Form N-400
    
    AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.
    
    ACTION: Notice.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS or Service) is 
    expanding the Direct Mail Program to include the Atlanta, Baltimore, 
    Helena, and Washington District Offices and the Boise, Charlotte, 
    Charleston, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Norfolk Suboffices on the 
    current list of direct mail sites for filing Form N-400 Applications 
    for Naturalization. Applicants residing within these districts and 
    suboffices will mail their Form N-400 directly to the designated INS 
    service center for processing. This expansion is intended to improve 
    INS service to the public by reducing processing times for Form N-400, 
    limiting in-person visits to local offices, and improving the quality 
    of case status information provided to the public.
    
    DATES: This notice is effective January 7, 1998.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Susan Arroyo, Adjudications Officer, Immigration Operations, 801 I 
    Street, NW., Room 935E, Washington, DC 20536, telephone, (202) 514-
    8247.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background
    
        Under the INS Direct Mail Program certain applicants and 
    petitioners for immigration benefits mail their applications or 
    petitions directly to an INS service center for processing instead of 
    submitting them to a local INS office. The purposes and strategy of the 
    Direct Mail Program has been discussed in detail in previous rulemaking 
    and notices (see, e.g., 59 FR 33903 and 59 FR 33985).
        The Service is continuing expansion of the Direct Mail Program as 
    applied to Form N-400 by adding the Atlanta, Baltimore, Helena, and 
    Washington District Offices; and the Boise, Charlotte, Charleston, 
    Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Norfolk Suboffices, as Direct Mail Sites.
    
    Where to File
    
        Effective January 7, 1998 applicants for naturalization residing 
    within the
    
    [[Page 892]]
    
    jurisdiction of the Atlanta, Baltimore, Helena, and Washington District 
    Offices; and the Boise, Charlotte, Charleston, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, 
    and Norfolk Suboffices must mail the Form N-400, Application for 
    Naturalization directly to the following addresses:
        (1) The Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, currently filed 
    with the Service's Atlanta District Office and the Charlotte and 
    Charleston Suboffices must be mailed directly to the Texas Service 
    Center at the following address: USINS Texas Service Center, Attention: 
    N-400 Unit, P.O. Box 851204, Mesquite, Texas 75185-1204.
        (2) The Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, currently filed 
    with the Service's Baltimore and Washington District Offices and the 
    Norfolk Suboffice must be mailed directly to the Vermont Service Center 
    at the following address: USINS Vermont Service Center, Attention: N-
    400 Unit, 75 Lower Weldon Street, St. Albans, Vermont 05479-0001.
        (3) The Form N-400, Application for Naturalization for persons 
    residing within the jurisdiction of the Helena District Office, and the 
    Boise, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee Suboffices must be mailed directly 
    to the following address: USINS Nebraska Service Center, Attention: N-
    400 Unit, P.O. Box 87400, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-7400.
    
    Transition
    
        During the first 60 days following the effective date of this 
    notice, the Atlanta, Baltimore, Helena and Washington District Offices 
    and the Boise, Charlotte, Charleston, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and 
    Norfolk Suboffices will forward in a timely fashion to the appropriate 
    service center any Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, which 
    has been inadvertently filed with the respective district or suboffice. 
    Applicants will be provided a notice at the time of filing at the 
    district or suboffice advising them that their application is being 
    forwarded to a service center for initial processing. The applicant 
    will receive written notification from their respective district or 
    suboffice of the date, place, and time of their interview for 
    naturalization. When applications are forwarded from the district or 
    suboffices, they will be receipted and filed when they arrive at the 
    service center. After the 60-day transition period, applicants 
    attempting to file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, at the 
    offices listed above will be directed to mail their application 
    directly to the appropriate service center for processing.
    
        Dated: December 31, 1997.
    Doris Meissner,
    Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
    [FR Doc. 98-364 Filed 1-6-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4410-10-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
1/7/1998
Published:
01/07/1998
Department:
Immigration and Naturalization Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
98-364
Dates:
This notice is effective January 7, 1998.
Pages:
891-892 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
INS No. 1883-97
PDF File:
98-364.pdf