USCIS Revises Security, Name Check Requirements
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a memorandum to the field on February 4, 2008, on revised national security adjudication and reporting requirements. The memo notes that USCIS is revising its guidance in response to a need to align the agency’s background and security check policies with those of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In the context of removal proceedings, ICE has determined that Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint checks and Interagency Border Inspection Services (IBIS) checks are required. If an FBI name check reveals “actionable” information after an immigration judge has granted permanent residence, the memo states, the Department of Homeland Security may detain the permanent resident and initiate removal proceedings.
USCIS said that a definitive FBI fingerprint check and an IBIS check must be obtained and resolved before approval of an Application for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485), Application for Waiver of Ground of Inadmissibility (Form I-601), Application for Status as a Temporary Resident Under Section 245A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Form I-687), or Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident (Under Section 245A of Public Law 99-603) (Form I-698).
USCIS said it will continue to initiate FBI name checks when those applications are received. Where the application is otherwise approvable and the FBI name check request has been pending for more than six months, USCIS said the adjudicator will approve the I-485, I-601, I-687, or I-698 and proceed with card issuance. “The FBI has committed to providing FBI name check results within this timeframe,” the memo noted. There is no change in the requirement that name check results be obtained and resolved before the adjudication of a naturalization application.
