[Federal Register: March 19, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 53)]
[Notices]               
[Page 13434-13435]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19mr98-107]

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service
[INS No. 1888-97]

 
Expansion of the Direct Mail Program for the Dallas, El Paso, 
Harlingen, Houston, and San Antonio District Offices and the 
Albuquerque and Oklahoma City Suboffices; Form N-400

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS or Service) is 
expanding its Direct Mail Program to include the Dallas, El Paso, 
Harlingen, Houston, and San Antonio District Offices and the 
Albuquerque and Oklahoma City Suboffices on the current list of direct 
mail sites for filing Form N-400, Application for

[[Page 13435]]

Naturalization. Applicants residing within these districts and 
suboffices will mail their Form N-400 directly to the designated INS 
service center for processing. This expansion is intended to improve 
INS service to the public by reducing processing times for Form N-400, 
limiting in-person visits to local offices, and improving the quality 
of case status information provided to the public.

DATES: This notice is effective April 15, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susan Arroyo, Adjudications Officer, Immigration and Naturalization 
Service, Office of Naturalization Operations, 801 I Street, NW., Room 
935E, Washington, DC 20536, telephone, (202) 514-8247.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Direct Mail Program, certain 
applicants and petitioners for immigration benefits mail their 
applications and petitions directly to an INS service center for 
processing instead of submitting them to a local INS office. The 
purposes and strategy of the Direct Mail Program have been discussed in 
detail in previous rulemaking and notices (see, e.g., 59 FR 33903 and 
59 FR 33985).
    The Service is continuing expansion of the Direct Mail Program, as 
applied to Form N-400, by adding the Dallas, El Paso, Harlingen, 
Houston, and San Antonio District Offices and the Albuquerque and 
Oklahoma City Suboffices as Direct Mail sites.

Where to File

    Effective April 15, 1998 applicants for naturalization residing 
within the jurisdiction of the Dallas, El Paso, Harlingen, Houston, and 
San Antonio District Offices and the Albuquerque and Oklahoma City 
Suboffices must mail the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, 
directly to the Texas Service Center at the following address: USINS 
Texas Service Center, Attention: N-400 Unit, P.O. Box 851204, Mesquite, 
Texas 75185-1204.

Transition

    During the first 60 days following the effective date of this 
notice, the Dallas, El Paso, Harlingen, Houston, and San Antonio 
District Offices and the Albuquerque and Oklahoma City Suboffices will 
forward in a timely fashion to the Texas Service Center any Form N-400, 
Application for Naturalization, which has been inadvertently filed with 
the respective District or Suboffice. Applicants will be provided a 
notice at the time of filing at the District or Suboffice advising them 
that their application is being forward to the service center for 
initial processing. The applicant will receive written notification 
from their respective District or Suboffice of the date, place, and 
time of their interview for naturalization. When applications are 
forwarded from the District or Suboffices, they will be receipted and 
filed when they arrive at the service center. After the 60-day 
transition period, applicants attempting to file Form N-400, 
Application for Naturalization, at the offices listed above will be 
directed to mail their application directly to the Texas Service Center 
for processing.

    Dated: March 12, 1998.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7104 Filed 3-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-01-M