[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78818-78820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30531]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[CIS No. 2457-08; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2008-0036]
RIN 1615-ZA74


Revision to Direct Mail Program for Submitting Form N-400, 
Application for Naturalization, Implementation of Program

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising 
its Direct Mail Program so that certain filings of Form N-400, 
Application for Naturalization, will now be filed at a designated 
lockbox facility instead of a USCIS Service Center. Furthermore, if you 
are the spouse of a current member of the Armed Forces, this notice 
instructs you to now file your Form N-400 at the Nebraska Service 
Center (NSC), whether you are filing from within the U.S. or abroad. 
This notice does not change the filing location for Forms N-400 filed 
by members or certain veterans of the Armed Forces who are eligible to 
apply for naturalization under sections 328 or 329 of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (the Act). All naturalization applicants filing 
under the military provisions, sections 328 or 329 of the Act, should 
file their application at the NSC regardless of geographic location.

DATES: This notice becomes effective January 22, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Stanley, Chief, Lockbox 
Operations Division, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 
20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20529-2130, 
Telephone (202) 233-2385.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

What Is the Direct Mail Program?

    The Direct Mail Program allows applicants for certain immigration 
benefits to send their application or petition directly to a USCIS 
service center or lockbox facility instead of submitting it to their 
local USCIS office.
    The Direct Mail Program allows USCIS to:
     Standardize and more efficiently process applications by 
eliminating duplicative work;

[[Page 78819]]

     Increase staff productivity; and
     Introduce better information management tools.
    The purpose and strategy of the Direct Mail Program has been 
discussed in detail in previous rulemaking and notices. (See 59 FR 
33903, 59 FR 33985, 60 FR 22408, 61 FR 2266, 61 FR 56060, 62 FR 16607, 
63 FR 891, 63 FR 892, 63 FR 13434, 63 FR 13878, 63 FR 16828, 63 FR 
50584, 63 FR 8688, 63 FR 8689, 64 FR 67323, 69 FR 3380, 69 FR 4210, 70 
FR 30768, 72 FR 3402, 73 FR 50336 and 73 FR 53034.)

Explanation of Changes

Will this notice change my eligibility for naturalization?

    No. This notice will not affect your eligibility for 
naturalization. This notice only affects the filing instructions where 
certain Form N-400s must be mailed. Some Form N-400s that were 
previously filed at USCIS Service Centers must now be sent to a 
designated lockbox facility.
    Please note that applicants filing under the military provision, 
sections 328 or 329 of the Act, as well as spouses of current members 
of the Armed Forces, have separate filing instructions. Filing changes 
will be discussed in detail in the following charts.

Where should I send my Form N-400 and all supporting documentation?

    Please refer to the following charts for the filing location to 
send your completed Form N-400 and supporting documentation.

   Armed Forces Applicants and Spouses of Current Members of the Armed
                                 Forces
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                If . . .                        Then mail to . . .
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You are a member of the Armed Forces or  Nebraska Service Center, P.O.
 a veteran, and you are eligible to       Box 87426, Lincoln, NE 68501-
 apply for naturalization under           7426.
 sections 328 or 329 of the Immigration
 and Nationality Act (the Act); or.
You are the spouse of a current member   Courier and Express Mail
 of the Armed Forces.                     Deliveries: Nebraska Service
                                          Center, 850 S. Street,
                                          Lincoln, NE 68508.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       Non-Armed Forces Applicants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                If . . .                        Then mail to . . .
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You reside in:
    Alaska.............................  USCIS Lockbox Facility
                                         USCIS, P.O. Box 21251, Phoenix,
                                          AZ 85036.
                                         Courier and Express Mail
                                          Deliveries, Attn: N400, 1820 E
                                          Skyharbor Circle S Floor 1,
                                          Phoenix, AZ 85034.
    Arizona............................
    California.........................
    Colorado...........................
    Hawaii.............................
    Idaho..............................
    Illinois...........................
    Indiana............................
    Iowa...............................
    Kansas.............................
    Michigan...........................
    Minnesota..........................
    Missouri...........................
    Montana............................
    Nebraska...........................
    Nevada.............................
    North Dakota.......................
    Ohio...............................
    Oregon.............................
    South Dakota.......................
    Utah...............................
    Washington.........................
    Wisconsin..........................
    Wyoming............................
    Territory of Guam..................
    Northern Marina Islands............
You reside in:
    Alabama............................  USCIS Lockbox Facility
                                         USCIS, P.O. Box 299026,
                                          Lewisville, TX 75029.
                                         Courier and Express Mail
                                          Deliveries, USCIS, Attn: N400,
                                          2501 S State Hwy 121 Bldg.
                                          4, Lewisville, TX
                                          75067.
    Arkansas...........................
    Connecticut........................
    Delaware...........................
    DC.................................
    Florida............................
    Georgia............................
    Kentucky...........................
    Louisiana..........................
    Maine..............................
    Maryland...........................

[[Page 78820]]

 
    Massachusetts......................
    Mississippi........................
    New Hampshire......................
    New Jersey.........................
    New Mexico.........................
    New York...........................
    North Carolina.....................
    Oklahoma...........................
    Pennsylvania.......................
    Puerto Rico........................
    Rhode Island.......................
    South Carolina.....................
    Tennessee..........................
    Texas..............................
    Vermont............................
    Virginia...........................
    West Virginia......................
    U.S. Virgin Islands................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

What happens if I file a Form N-400 covered by this notice at the wrong 
location?

    During the first 30 days after this notice takes affect, USCIS will 
forward incorrectly addressed Form N-400s to the proper address, rather 
than reject it. USCIS will forward any improperly addressed Form N-400s 
covered by this notice as follows:
     Any Form N-400 from non-Armed Forces applicants will be 
forwarded to either the Dallas or Phoenix lockbox facilities.
     Any Form N-400 from Armed Forces applicants and the 
spouses of current members of the Armed Forces will be forwarded to the 
Nebraska Service Center.
    Any applications forwarded within this time period will be 
considered properly filed when received at either the Dallas or Phoenix 
lockbox facilities, or the Nebraska Service Center. After this 30-day 
transition period, any Form N-400 covered by this notice, which is 
received at a location other than the appropriate location as defined 
in the updated Form N-400 filing instructions provided in this notice, 
will be returned with an explanation directing the applicant to mail it 
to the appropriate processing facility.

Is USCIS amending the Form N-400 Instructions?

    Yes. USCIS is currently amending the instructions to the Form N-
400. The revisions will include the new filing addresses, the 
requirement for passport style photos and the revision will provide 
clarification of the grounds for rejection of an application. When 
available, the new form will be posted on the USCIS Web site (http://www.uscis.gov).

Where may I find information related to eligibility requirements for 
naturalization?

    You may find general eligibility requirements for naturalization at 
our Web site (http://www.uscis.gov). You may also download ``A Guide to 
Naturalization (Form M-476),'' which provides information on the 
benefits and responsibilities of citizenship, an overview of the 
naturalization process, and eligibility requirements.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    We will be amending the instructions to the Form N-400 to reflect 
the new filing instructions. Accordingly, we will provide the Office of 
Management and Budget with a copy of the amended form through the 
automated Regulatory Office Combined Information System (ROCIS). 
Changing the filing instructions will not have any effect on the 
reporting burden hours. The OMB control number for this collection is 
1615-0052.

    Dated: December 17, 2008.
Michael Aytes,
Acting Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
 [FR Doc. E8-30531 Filed 12-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-97-P