[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 53 (Thursday, March 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13434-13435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7104]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Immigration and Naturalization Service
[INS No. 1888-97]
Expansion of the Direct Mail Program for the Dallas, El Paso,
Harlingen, Houston, and San Antonio District Offices and the
Albuquerque and Oklahoma City 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 its Direct Mail Program to include the Dallas, El Paso,
Harlingen, Houston, and San Antonio District Offices and the
Albuquerque and Oklahoma City Suboffices on the current list of direct
mail sites for filing Form N-400, Application for
[[Page 13435]]
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 April 15, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susan Arroyo, Adjudications Officer, Immigration and Naturalization
Service, Office of Naturalization Operations, 801 I Street, NW., Room
935E, Washington, DC 20536, telephone, (202) 514-8247.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Direct Mail Program, certain
applicants and petitioners for immigration benefits mail their
applications and 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 have 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 Dallas, El Paso, Harlingen,
Houston, and San Antonio District Offices and the Albuquerque and
Oklahoma City Suboffices as Direct Mail sites.
Where to File
Effective April 15, 1998 applicants for naturalization residing
within the jurisdiction of the Dallas, El Paso, Harlingen, Houston, and
San Antonio District Offices and the Albuquerque and Oklahoma City
Suboffices must mail the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization,
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.
Transition
During the first 60 days following the effective date of this
notice, the Dallas, El Paso, Harlingen, Houston, and San Antonio
District Offices and the Albuquerque and Oklahoma City Suboffices will
forward in a timely fashion to the Texas 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 forward to the 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 Texas Service Center
for processing.
Dated: March 12, 1998.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7104 Filed 3-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-01-M
