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Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman

The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman is dedicated to improving the quality of citizenship and immigration services delivered to the public by providing individual case assistance, as well as making recommendations to improve the administration of immigration benefits by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

  • CIS Ombudsman Brochures

    The CIS Ombudsman has provided the following resources. Feel free to download these files for distribution.

  • Informe Anual 2013

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

  • Executive Summary of 2013 Annual Report to Congress

    The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman’s 2013 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 humanitarian, family, and employment areas, and in customer service and Transformation.

  • Ombudsman Maria M. Odom's message for 2013 Annual Report

    This Report describes the work of the Ombudsman, including the key issues and areas of study addressed over the year.

  • Comprehensive Recommendation Review

    Since its creation by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Ombudsman (Ombudsman’s Office) has issued over fifty-one recommendations to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Each recommendation identifies systemic issues impacting the delivery of immigration services and benefits, highlights stakeholder concerns about a particular issue, suggests possible solutions to resolve the problem, and always provides an independent, impartial perspective. This comprehensive review offers an update on the status of implementation by USCIS for each recommendation as of February 2012, and further enables the Ombudsman’s Office to continue working with USCIS to effectuate positive change that will make our immigration system better for everyone.