Thread: Immigration extends service for evacuees

www.nashvillecitypaper.com

Immigration extends service for evacuees
By Vandana Atreya, vatreya@nashvillecitypaper.com
October 04, 2005

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is extending additional customer service support to legal immigrants displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

The New Orleans immigration office has been temporarily moved to Memphis. The hurricane did not damage any files, said spokesperson Chris Bentley.

Murfy Alexander, spokesperson for Congressman Jim Cooper, whose office is closely involved with immigration and citizenship issues, said they are not aware of any paperwork problems.

Normally, people with questions or concerns about their immigration status, including citizenship and green card issues, have to set up appointments with immigration officials via the internet. This rule has been relaxed for Hurricane Katrina victims.

“They can go to their local USCIS office and have questions answered on the spot. The question may be as simple as change of communication address or as complicated as transfer of status,� Bentley said. “People have relocated to different areas of the country. We don’t have a way of mailing all displaced immigrants about the change.�

Immigrants who have relocated to Nashville can go to the local office at 247 Venture Circle or visit uscis.gov. for more information.

Just make sure the services are for only legal residents and citizens. Alipac will be watching you closely.