United States citizenship and immigration services, Miami and Caribbean district reopens to the public
On March 18, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) suspended in person non-emergency services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This policy was implemented by the agency nationwide and included all USCIS Field Offices, Asylum Offices and Application Support Centers. During the suspension, USCIS employees continued to work and adjudicate applications with some working remotely and some working in the USCIS offices.
As of June 4, 2020, USCIS offices in the Miami and Caribbean District, with the exception of the San Juan, Puerto Rico office, reopened to the public and resumed non-emergency in person services. The San Juan office is targeted to reopen sometime in late June. Application Support Centers, where biometrics are collected, will also reopen at a later date. The USCIS offices included in the Miami and Caribbean District are Miami, Oakland Park, Kendall, Hialeah, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Since reopening to the public, the Miami District is scheduling naturalization oath ceremonies, interviews and InfoPass appointments. Individuals scheduled to appear at any of the Miami USCIS offices must take note that they are expected to follow strict guidelines such as:
- Arriving timely, but not earlier than 15 minutes before the appointment (30 minutes for naturalization ceremonies);
- Mandatory face masks covering the nose and mouth are to be worn upon entry and while inside the USCIS building at all times;
- Applicants are to supply their own pens;
- Social distancing, with markers throughout the offices must be followed;
- Anyone who feels sick should NOT come to their appointment but instead is asked to reschedule;
- All applicants are requested to be thoroughly prepared for their interviews in order to reduce the duration of time they will need to spend in their interview and exposure to others in the field office.
The Miami District will be limiting the number of individuals allowed into their offices. For example, the individuals who are admitted to the USCIS offices must be parties to the matter. Concerning legal representatives, attorneys are given the option to appear in person or by telephone. Interpreters are no longer allowed inside the building and if needed, can appear by telephone, only.
In general, USCIS will not be scheduling as many interviews as the agency was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Naturalization oath ceremonies will be condensed to just a few minutes in length and conducted in small groups of up to ten individuals. As long as these guidelines are necessary, family members and guests will no longer be permitted in the building to observe and celebrate the naturalization ceremonies with their loved ones.
If you are scheduled to appear at USCIS and in need of representation, please contact one of the Immigration Attorneys at Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney.