[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-363]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service
[INS No. 1839-97]


Expansion of the Direct Mail Program for the Cleveland and Omaha 
District Offices; and the Cincinnati, Columbus, Des Moines, Sioux 
Falls, and Toledo Suboffices; Form N-400

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the Immigration and Naturalization 
Service (INS or Service) is expanding its Direct Mail Program to 
include the Cleveland and Omaha District Offices and the Cincinnati, 
Columbus, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, and Toledo Suboffices on the current 
list of direct mail sites for filing Form N-400, Application 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 and Naturalization 
Service, Office of Naturalization 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 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 Cleveland and Omaha District 
Offices and the Cincinnati, Columbus, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, and 
Toledo Suboffices, as Direct Mail sites.

Where to File

    Effective January 7, 1998, applicants for naturalization residing 
within the jurisdiction of the Cleveland and Omaha District Offices and 
the Cincinnati, Columbus, Des Moines, Sioux Falls and Toledo Suboffices 
must mail the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, directly to 
the Nebraska Service Center at 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 Cleveland and Omaha District Offices and the Cincinnati, 
Columbus, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, and Toledo Suboffices will forward 
in a timely fashion to the Nebraska 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 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 appropriate service 
center for processing.

    Dated: December 31, 1997.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 98-363 Filed 1-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-M