US Citizenship and Immigration Services

What US Citizenship and Immigration Services does

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the federal government agency, established March 1, 2003 under the Homeland Security Act of 2002, that adjudicates lawful immigration benefits to the United States. Operating as a component of the Department of Homeland Security with 10,000+ employees headquartered in Camp Springs, Maryland, USCIS processes applications for permanent residence (Form I-485 Green Cards), naturalization (Form N-400), employment authorization (Form I-765), humanitarian protections (asylum, DACA, TPS), and temporary worker visas (H-1B, L-1). The agency also operates the E-Verify employment eligibility system used by over 900,000 employers and the SAVE verification system used by federal, state, and local benefit-granting agencies.

USCIS delivers services through a digital platform anchored by the myUSCIS online account system and the Electronic Immigration System (ELIS), supplemented by over 200 domestic field offices and Application Support Centers for biometrics, 11 international offices across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and consular processing coordinated with the Department of State. Recent platform additions include the Trump Gold Card investor program (Form I-140G), an overhauled SAVE system repurposed for voter verification, and a new Asylum Office in San Antonio opened June 2026. Product portfolio spans core immigration forms, verification services (E-Verify, SAVE), humanitarian programs, and specialized visa categories including EB-5 investor visas.

USCIS is funded primarily through filing fees collected from applicants, with proposed fee increases of 75-80% on naturalization applications and premium processing surcharges of $1,780-$2,965 per expedited request. The agency serves a long-tail base of individual applicants and a broad enterprise base of employer and government users, with the case backlog expanding from 3.5 million in Q1 FY2016 to 11.6 million in Q4 FY2025, reflecting sustained volume growth across all benefit categories.

Name

US Citizenship and Immigration Services

Legal name

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Website

https://uscis.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the federal agency within DHS that adjudicates immigration benefits including green cards, naturalization, work authorization, and asylum, operating 200+ domestic field offices, 11 international offices, and digital platforms serving millions of applicants and 900,000+ E-Verify employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigration Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigration Law (BPAHAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Work Permit & Employment Authorization Services (THACAKAB), Immigration, Visa & Work Authorization Support (HSAKAJAF), Destination Immigration Services (In-Country Registration, Residence Permits, Renewals) (THACAKAI)

Keywords

• Immigration benefits processing
• Citizenship and naturalization
• Visa adjudication services
• Employment eligibility verification
• Humanitarian immigration protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Immigration Filing Fees: USCIS is primarily funded through filing fees collected from immigration benefit applications including Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status/Green Card), Form N-400 (Naturalization), Form I-129 (H-1B and other worker petitions), Form I-90 (Green Card replacement), Form I-765 (Employment Authorization), and numerous other immigration forms. Fee increases have been proposed, raising Form N-400 from $760 to $1,330 for paper filing and from $710 to $1,280 for online filing.
2. Premium Processing Fees: USCIS offers expedited processing services for additional fees, including $1,780 for OPT applications and $2,965 for H-1B and L-1 petitions, providing faster adjudication timelines for applicants willing to pay premium rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

USCIS adjudicates and processes applications for lawful immigration benefits in the United States, including green cards (Form I-485), naturalization (Form N-400), employment authorization (Form I-765), refugee/asylum status, temporary protected status, and travel documents. The agency also operates the E-Verify employment eligibility system for employers and the SAVE immigration status verification system used by other government agencies for benefit eligibility determinations. Services are delivered through online portals, more than 200 domestic field offices, and 11 international offices.

Product overview

USCIS operates a comprehensive digital immigration services platform centered on the myUSCIS online account system. The platform provides electronic filing for major immigration forms including Form I-485 (Green Card applications), Form N-400 (naturalization), Form I-765 (employment authorization), Form I-9 (employment verification), and Form I-131 (travel documents). Supporting verification services include E-Verify for employer employment eligibility checks and SAVE for government benefit eligibility verification. The agency also administers specialized visa programs (H-1B, EB-5), humanitarian programs (DACA, TPS, asylum, T Nonimmigrant status), and provides the USCIS Contact Center for customer support. Recent initiatives include the Trump Gold Card program for investors and expanded biometric screening requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Green Card)

Quantifiable outcome

• 843,593 naturalizations in fiscal year 2019
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Parent Agency)coreOthersUSCIS operates as a component of DHS, receiving policy guidance, budget allocation, and oversight from the parent department. DHS Secretary oversees agency operations and major policy decisions.
• U.S. Department of StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Department consular offices process immigrant visas abroad that are prerequisite to USCIS adjustment of status. The agencies coordinate on visa bulletin availability, consular notification, and the Trump Gold Card initiative.
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICE handles immigration enforcement, detention, and removal operations while USCIS adjudicates benefits. ICE's Form I-9 enforcement work intersects with E-Verify employer compliance programs.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBP inspects arriving travelers at ports of entry and refers individuals for USCIS benefits processing. Shares data through SAVE system for benefit eligibility verification.
• U.S. Department of LaborcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOL certifies labor condition applications for H-1B and other employment-based visas, conducts prevailing wage determinations, and participates in PERM labor certification for green card processing.
• U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEOIR immigration courts handle removal proceedings while USCIS adjudicates asylum applications and related benefits. Coordination on case processing and information sharing is ongoing.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) International OfficescoreOthersUSCIS maintains international field offices in 11 countries providing immigration services, document production, and support for overseas applicants and beneficiaries.
• E-Verify EmployersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 900,000 employers use E-Verify to check employment eligibility of new hires. The program is operated by USCIS in partnership with employers across the United States.
• SAVE User AgenciesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment agencies at federal, state, and local levels use the SAVE system to verify immigration status for benefit eligibility determinations.
• Accredited Representatives and Legal Service ProvidersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDOJ-recognized organizations and accredited representatives assist applicants with immigration forms and procedures, expanding access to legal immigration services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): IRCC is Canada's federal department that adjudicates permanent residence, temporary visas, citizenship, and refugee claims, making it the closest governmental counterpart to USCIS in mandate, scale, and adjudication function.
• UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI): UKVI is the division of the UK Home Office responsible for processing visas, settlement, citizenship, and asylum applications, mirroring USCIS's core adjudication and verification mandate within a comparable legal framework.
• Australian Department of Home Affairs: Australia's Department of Home Affairs administers the country's visa, citizenship, and border programs, operating as a federal immigration benefits agency analogous to USCIS in scope, fee-funded model, and international service footprint.
• Immigration New Zealand: Immigration New Zealand (part of MBIE) processes residence, work, and student visas and citizenship, serving as a direct governmental peer with a comparable adjudication mandate and digital service delivery model.
• Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority: ICA administers Singapore's immigration, citizenship, and registration functions with a heavy digital-first posture (MyICA, e-services), making it a strong functional peer for USCIS's digital adjudication and identity management capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Fragomen: Fragomen is the largest global corporate immigration law firm, providing employment-based immigration services (H-1B, L-1, green cards) that complement USCIS's adjudication function and serve as a private-sector comparator for service quality and pricing.
• Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL): BAL is a leading global corporate immigration services firm processing high volumes of employment-based visa and green card filings, making it a strong private-sector peer to USCIS for employment-based immigration workflow and scale.

Emerging players

• Envoy Global: Envoy Global is an immigration services platform combining attorney representation with a tech workflow for employers managing visa and green card cases, positioning it as an emerging digital peer to USCIS's myUSCIS-style e-filing ecosystem.

Others

• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): ICE is USCIS's sister agency within DHS handling immigration enforcement, detention, and removal; while focused on enforcement rather than benefits, it is a tightly coupled operational peer through E-Verify and Form I-9 enforcement.
• U.S. Department of State (Bureau of Consular Affairs): The Bureau of Consular Affairs processes immigrant and nonimmigrant visas at US embassies and consulates worldwide, operating a complementary visa-issuance function that intersects with USCIS's adjustment-of-status adjudication.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uscis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/uscis
• Facebookfacebook.com/uscis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uscis
• Instagraminstagram.com/uscis

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about US Citizenship and Immigration Services