Local USCIS Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The federal agency U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers a wide range of immigration-related services. Some of these services are available online on the USCIS website while others are available through offices located throughout the U.S. and overseas. Some of the services on offer include:
- Citizenship: Eligibility, application processing, and oath ceremonies. The website contains a Citizenship Resource Center where visitors can go to see everything from eligibility requirements and application procedure to citizenship test updates and free study materials.
- Family immigration: Managing the process for family immigration of citizens, Green Card holders, and refugees for living and working in the country. The family page provides information about which relatives are eligible to immigrate based on the applicant’s legal status, along with links to useful resources.
- Work: Managing the process for temporary and permanent work and business. The USCIS also manages the e-verification of employees, enabling employers to see if the hired person has a legal right to work in the country.
Besides these services, the USCIS is involved in many other important areas, including several humanitarian programs, adoption, information and tools for civic integration, and maintenance of historical immigration and naturalization records.
The Philadelphia Field Office
There two field offices in the State of Pennsylvania: the Philadelphia Field Office and the Pittsburgh Field Office. Working under the directorship of Angela Klapakis, the Philadelphia Field Office is situated at:
1600 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
The areas covered by the Philadelphia field office include:
- Adams
- Berks
- Bucks
- Carbon
- Chester
- Cumberland
- Dauphin
- Delaware
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Huntingdon
- Juniata
- Lackawanna
- Lancaster
- Lebanon
- Lehigh
- Luzerne
- Mifflin
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Northampton
- Perry
- Philadelphia
- Pike
- Schuylkill
- Susquehanna
- Wayne
- Wyoming
- York
The USCIS has divided the country into 26 districts. The Pittsburg district is administered by Tony Bryson.
Case Processing Times
- Application for Certificate of Citizenship (N-600): 8 months to 15.5 months
- Application for Naturalization (N-400): 13.5 months to 18 months
- Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 (N-600K): 8 months to 23.5 months
Field Office Appointments
Some of the important SOPs USCIS has put in place for visitors include:
- Visitors must make an appointment – walk-ins are not allowed
- The USCIS may move the application to an office where it will be processed faster
- Bringing weapons like knives, pepper spray, firearms, and ammunition into the office is prohibited
- The field office may be closed because of bad weather or an unexpected event
- The lawyer or other representative can accompany the applicant or participate via telephone
- Interpreters usually work telephonically, but, depending on the case, their physical presence may be needed
- The number for calling to reschedule an appointment is 800-375-5283. For asylum seekers, the rescheduling steps are given in their interview notice