[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]
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