[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 16828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8871]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service
[INS No. 1887-97]


Expansion of the Direct Mail Program for the Boston, Buffalo, 
Newark, Philadelphia, Portland, Maine, San Juan District Offices and 
the Albany, Cherry Hill, Christiansted, Hartford, Pittsburgh, 
Providence, St. Albans and the St. Thomas 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 Boston, Buffalo, 
Newark, Philadelphia, Portland, Maine, and San Juan District Offices 
and the Albany, Cherry Hill, Christiansted, Hartford, Pittsburgh, 
Providence, St. Albans and St. Thomas 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 the 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 5, 1998, or March 30, 1998, 
whichever is later.

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 Boston, Buffalo, Newark, 
Philadelphia, Portland, Maine, and San Juan District Offices and the 
Albany, Cherry Hill, Christiansted, Hartford, Pittsburgh, Providence, 
St. Albans, and St. Thomas Suboffices as Direct Mail sites.

Where To File

    Effective April 6, 1998, or March 30, 1998, whichever is later, 
applicants for naturalization residing within the jurisdiction of the 
Boston, Buffalo, Newark, Philadelphia, Portland, Maine, and San Juan 
District Offices and the Albany, Cherry Hill, Christiansted, Hartford, 
Pittsburgh, Providence, St. Albans, and St. Thomas Suboffices must mail 
the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, 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.

Transition

    During the first 60 days following the effective date of this 
notice, the Boston, Buffalo, Newark, Philadelphia, Portland, Maine, and 
San Juan District Offices and the Albany, Cherry Hill, Christiansted, 
Hartford, Pittsburgh, Providence, St. Albans, and St. Thomas Suboffices 
will forward in a timely fashion to the Vermont 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 their application is being forwarded to the service 
center for initial processing. The applicant will receive written 
notification from his respective District or Suboffice of the date, 
place, and time of this 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 Vermont Service 
Center for processing.

    Dated: March 27, 1998.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 98-8871 Filed 4-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-M