Topics

Select a USCIS Topic

Adoption

Find information about the intercountry adoption process, background checks, visa types, immigration through adoption, home study, and after-adoption approval.

A-Z index

You can use the index to find links to relevant content.

At USCIS, we oversee legal immigration to the United States. You can help people build better lives while defending the integrity of our nation’s immigration system. Employees find value, meaning, and personal satisfaction in their work.

Family

Learn how U.S. immigration law applies to families of U.S. citizens, of refugees and asylees, of Green Card holders (permanent residents), and of couples in same-sex marriages.

File Online

Create a free online account first to file your application and start exploring all our online services and tools.

Find a USCIS Office

Find a field office, international office, or asylum office, and learn about office closures.

Glossary

USCIS.gov now has an online dictionary (glossary). You can use this dictionary to quickly look up a definition or explanation for a topic. Get started by clicking on the letter your word begins with.

Humanitarian

Find information on topics such as temporary protected status (TPS); deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA); protections for battered spouse, children, and parents; humanitarian parole; refugees and asylum; victims of human trafficking and other crimes; special situations, female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C); and forced marriage.

I-9 Central

Federal law requires that every employer who recruits, refers for a fee, or hires an individual for employment in the United States must complete Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Form I-9 will help you verify your employee’s identity and employment authorization.

Military

Find information and resources about naturalization through military service, citizenship and adjustment of status for family members, family-based survivor benefits, and discretionary options.

Outreach

We hold a variety of public engagement events. Learn about upcoming local and national events, how to avoid scams, how to provide feedback, and other public engagement information.

Records

Place Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, access our electronic reading room, and request genealogy records.

SAVE

SAVE is a fast, secure, and reliable online service that helps federal, state, and local benefit-granting agencies verify a benefit applicant’s immigration status or naturalized/derived citizenship.

Scams, Fraud, and Misconduct

Use this section to report immigration fraud, access the USCIS Tip Form, and learn about scams and how to avoid them.

Visit the U.S.

If you want to visit (and not live in) the United States, you must first obtain a visitor visa. Travelers from certain countries may be exempt from this requirement.

Website Policies

USCIS.gov is the official source of immigration policy, forms and information. Always check USCIS.gov first before searching private sites.

Working in the U.S.

Many aliens want to come to the United States to work. This page provides a summary of employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visa classifications and other categories of noncitizens who are eligible for employment authorization.