Welcome to NBC Overview Thank you for joining us today. We will begin

Welcome to NBC Overview Thank you for joining us today. We will begin the call shortly.The call number is: In the United States Call in number: 1- 800-619-0355 Passcode : Meet Outside the United States The toll numbers : 1-210-234-0102 Passcode: Meet National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 1

National Benefits Center Overview May 2, 2011

Topics Past and Present NBC Leadership NBC Mission Lockbox Applications Processed at the NBC Volume of Applications Processed at NBC Processing Steps for Family Based Adjustment of Status and Naturalization Intercountry Adoption Processing NBC Resources and Contact Information National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 3

Past and Present The National Benefits Center (NBC) was established in 2001 under the name of the Missouri Service Center. This is why most cases at the NBC have MSC-00-000-00000 receipt numbers The NBC was originally formed to process cases associated with the Legal Immigration Family Equity (LIFE) Act, but now processes numerous types of applications The NBC has approximately 225,000 square feet of space It currently employs approximately 440 federal employees and 872 contract employees National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 4

NBC Leadership National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 5

NBC Mission The NBC serves as a centralized hub for: Pre-processing certain applications that require an interview at a domestic USCIS Field Office as part of the adjudicative process; and Adjudicating certain applications for immigration benefits. National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 6

Lockbox NBC receives applications through three Lockbox facilities: Chicago Lockbox: Family Based Adjustment of Status, LIFE, Legalization Phoenix Lockbox: N-400s Dallas Lockbox: International Adoptions, N-400s Agreement in place under agreement with US Department of the Treasury and the Lockbox Provider USCIS provides technical oversight for Lockbox - defines requirements and performance standards National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 7

Applications Processed at the NBC NBC processes more than 20 different types of applications and petitions including: Family-based Adjustment of Status (AOS) & ancillary benefits (I-485/I-130, I-765, I-131) Naturalization (N-400) International Adoptions filed in the U. S. (I-800/I-800A, I-600/I-600A) Legal Immigration Family Equity (LIFE) Act applications (I-485 (LIFE) & ancillary benefits I-765/I-131, I-817 and I-539 (V1/2/3)& (K) Legalization Northwest Immigration Rights Project (NWIRP Class Membership Worksheet with either I-290B or a new I-687 or a letter) CSS/Newman (I-687, I-698, I-694, I-690) National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 8

NBC Receipts in FY 2010 Form/Activity FY 2010 Receipts I-765 412,308 I-131 88,141 Adoption 13,707 FB I-485 302,065 CF I-130 189,777 N400s 700,925 EB I-485s 10,687 Other 14,566 Completed at NBC Completed at FO Completed at both NBC and FO National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 9

Processing Steps for Family-Based Adjustment of Status and Naturalization For the two largest quantities of cases filed with the NBC, the I-485s and N-400s, the NBC’s role is to: Provide decision-ready cases to Field Offices in a timely manner Adjudicate ancillary benefits in support of Family Based I485s (I-765 and I-131) Serve as centralized hub for appointment scheduling and notification National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 10

Processing Steps for Family-Based Adjustment of Status and Naturalization (continued) 1. Customer files application/petition via mail to appropriate Lockbox facility 2. Lockbox: Reviews case for required criteria (e.g., signature, correct fee, visa availability) Accepts fee Sends receipt notice to applicant/representative Assembles case Captures data and transmits to NBC Ships application/petition to NBC National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 11

Processing Steps for Family-Based Adjustment of Status and Naturalization (continued) 3. NBC: Schedules biometrics appointment and mails biometrics appointment notice to applicant/representative Ensures application contains required initial evidence Consolidates application with existing applicant files Conducts security checks Makes application available for interview scheduling Adjudicates ancillary applications associated with I-485 I-765s and I-131s will separate from I-485 once all initial evidence is received Mails interview notice to applicant/representative Ships applications to Field Offices National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 12

Processing Steps for Family-Based Adjustment of Status and Naturalization (continued) 4. Field Office: Schedules interview Conducts interview Gathers and considers additional information required to render decision Adjudicates application(s)/petition(s) Records decisions in appropriate systems The systems will generate I-551 card production (I-485) Schedules and conducts oath ceremony (N-400) National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 13

NBC Requests for Evidence – I-485s On average, 32% of all I-485s received at the NBC require the need to request evidence to prepare it for the Field Office interview/decision The NBC has completed an analysis of the common reasons why RFEs are generated and developed a tip sheet for how to avoid processing delays. The tip sheet can be found at www.uscis.gov/forms/I-485. The most common reasons why Requests for Evidence for Family Based Adjustment of Status (I-485) are sent: Reason FY 2010 Affidavit of Support (I-864) 56% Medical Report/ Vaccination Record (I693) 20% Birth / Marriage Certification 19% Other 5% National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 14

Intercountry Adoptions The NBC is now the central USCIS location for all domestically filed intercountry adoptions Hague Convention Adoptions: Entered into force in the US & Began Processing at the NBC: April 1, 2008 Non-Hague Adoptions: Centralization to the NBC occurred in two phases: Phase One: April 1, 2010 Phase Two: July 2010 National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 15

NBC Adoption Contact Information Dedicated customer e-mail boxes and phone line for inquiries relating to international adoption cases filed domestically E-mail boxes: Non-Hague (I-600A & I-600): [email protected] Hague (I-800A & I-800): [email protected] Phone line: 1-877-424-8374 Staffed Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM CT National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 16

NBC Resources WWW.USCIS.GOV contains the following information relating to NBC processing: NBC Processing Time Information (under “Customer Tool/Check Processing Times”) Tips for Filing Petitions and Applications to the National Benefits Center (under Forms) National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 17

NBC Resources WWW.USCIS.GOV contains the following information relating to NBC processing: NBC Processing Time Information (under “Customer Tools/ Check Processing Times”) National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 18

Contact Information For case specific inquiries, please contact the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283 NCSC will forward inquiries regarding NBC’s process and case specific questions to the NBC National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 19

Contact Information (continued) NBC Community Relations Officer Ya-Mei Chen Dedicated to promoting transparency of NBC and its processes Provide information regarding new initiative for the NBC via public webinar sessions E-mail box is [email protected] Please use this e-mail box to Provide your feedback or follow up on NBC outreach meetings Provide ideas on topics of interest for NBC future outreach meetings Please do not use this address to request: Case-specific information Legal advice National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 20

Thank you for your time and attention. Questions? National Benefits Center May 2, 2011 21