New York USCIS Shifting Cases to Albany, NY and Newark, NJ Offices

The New York District Office of USCIS issued the following announcement regarding the shifting of cases from New York to Albany, NY and Newark, NJ Offices.  There are two major changes:

1) Permanent Change to Albany, NY 

Albany, NY Jurisdiction Change Details

·         Applicant cases from the zip codes in the following counties will be permanently realigned from the New York City, NY Field Office to the Albany, NY Field Office: Ulster, Dutchess, Sullivan, Orange, and Putnam.  This permanent change will go into effect on Monday, May 27, 2019 and will apply to all immigration benefit types adjudicated in the field office, including naturalization applications and adjustment of status (green card) applications and petitions.  The Albany, NY Field Office is located at 1086 Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham, N.Y. . In most cases, applicants will find a trip to the Albany office easier and more convenient than a trip to Manhattan.

o   This jurisdiction change applies not only to adjudications, but also to other applicant and stakeholder services (e.g., in-person appointments, community outreach, congressional inquiries, etc.). 

o   It is important to note that locations where applicants in these five counties complete their biometrics (i.e., fingerprint and photo) and where applicants approved for naturalization take the Oath of Allegiance will remain the same.  Applicants will go to their local Application Support Center for biometrics and the local court to take the Oath of Allegiance to naturalize.

2) Temporary Shifting of N-400 Naturalization Petitions to Newark, NJ

Newark, NJ Temporary Caseload Shift

·         A portion of application cases filed by applicants from Kings and Richmond counties, which are usually adjudicated at the Brooklyn, NY Field Office, will be temporarily realigned to the Newark, NJ Field Office.  This temporary change will occur in June 2019.  The caseload shift to Newark, NJ applies ONLY to naturalization applications (Form N-400 – Application for Naturalization).

o   Applicants will complete their naturalization interview and civics test at the Newark, NJ Field Office on 970 Broad Street in Newark. 

o   Due to legal jurisdiction, applicants approved to naturalize will take the Oath of Allegiance in the Eastern District Court in Brooklyn, NY.

o   There are no changes to applications/petitions (e.g., replacement green cards, employment-based visas, etc.) that must be mailed to a USCIS lockbox.

If an applicant is unsure about where their scheduled appointments will occur, they should check their appointment notice or call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283.