Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CISOMB)

Message from Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Maria M. Odom in the 2016 Annual Report to Congress

Read Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Maria M. Odom's message introducing the 2016 Annual Report to Congress.

CIS Ombudsman's Recommendations to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 2015

Recommendations to USCIS and their response for the year 2015.

Message from Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Maria M. Odom in the 2015 Annual Report to Congress

Read Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Maria M. Odom's message introducing the 2015 Annual Report to Congress.

Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman 2015 Annual Report Executive Summary

The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman’s (Ombudsman) 2015 Annual Report contains:

• An overview of the Ombudsman’s mission and services;
• A review of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) programmatic and policy achievements during this reporting period; and
• A detailed discussion of pervasive and serious problems, recommendations, and best practices in the family, employment and humanitarian areas, as well as in customer service.

Ombudsman Recommendation: Employment Authorization for Asylum Applicants

Administration of U.S. immigration laws is a shared responsibility divided among different departments and agencies. There is no doubt that this division sometimes creates challenges for both applicants and immigration officials.  The recommendations in this report address such a challenge: employment authorization for asylum applicants involving what is commonly referred to as the asylum clock.

Ombuds AR 2014 ES

Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman 2014 Annual Report Executive Summary.

Ombudsman Message in 2014 Annual Report

Read Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Maria M. Odom's message introducing the 2014 Annual Report to Congress.

Ombudsman J-2 Recommendation

International medical graduates in the United States make important contributions in clinical care in underserved areas, as well as research and teaching. These recommendations, issued by the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, seek to ensure that spouses of foreign medical doctors accepted into the Conrad State 30 program are able to obtain employment authorization. Under this program, each state may receive up to 30 physicians each year to provide medical services to rural, inner city, and other medically underserved communities. USCIS currently does not permit spouses to change to an employment-authorized nonimmigrant status, even where the dependent independently qualifies for such status.

Informe Anual 2013

Read the Spanish version of the 2013 Annual Report to Congress.

DHS Form 7001 with Instructions

DHS Form 7001, Case Assistance Form, is used to request case assistance from the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman).