USCIS charges

What is USCIS?

USCIS is a component agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), created on March 1, 2003, following the dissolution of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The agency handles a wide range of immigration benefits including naturalization, green cards, employment authorization, and asylum, employing approximately 24,200 staff with an annual budget of $6.81 billion. Unlike most federal agencies, USCIS is funded almost entirely through user fees paid per application or form filing rather than congressional appropriations. Applicants and petitioners interact with the agency through online portals, phone support, and physical service centers across the country.